Week 5, Day 4: Friendship

Today I have been thinking about friends. It all started this morning at a press conference with none other than DAVID ARCHULETA. Yeah, I was told that I could only work it if I promised not to scream. It took every thing in me not to freak.

Yeah, he was about 15 feet away. I caught him looking at me twice. L.O.V.E. him.

Anyway, now that I have once again relived that moment, I will go on to why I was thinking about friends. A reporter asked him about how he remains true to his standards amid his fame. He look thoughtfully and then answered his family and his friends. He went on to talk about doing what the Lord wants, but I thought that was an interesting answer. I have thought about it off and on today, especially as I've enjoyed a few sweet friendships today.

ISABEL & RYAN

Isabel, Ryan and I work together. We have similar senses of humor, and do lunch together often. Today was an especially funny moment in our friendship. A few days ago, a colleague of ours ate lunch with the three of us and we asked him what he wears when he's not dressed up for work. He planned to answer "sweaters in the winter", but it came out "swinters". Needless to say, a swinter is our new favorite joke. The other day, a swinter appeared on this man's desk and he thought it was us, but we honestly had nothing to do with it... but it gave us an idea. I have a mannequin named Lenny who wears a swinter. We decided that rather than just leaving a swinter, we would leave Lenny wearing a swinter on his chair while he was out of his office. We had time to plant Lenny while our office was at our Christmas party, and this is what our colleague had to come back to:

It was HILARIOUS, and we ended up planting him around the office in several other places. How grateful I am for conspiring and funny friends. They have helped me out more than they'll know, especially Isabel. She listens to my worries while I vent them and then helps me find a solution. I am lucky to have found great friends at work.

STEPHANIE & MARIANNE

I went to an Eclipse concert tonight with my friends, Stephanie and Marianne. Stephanie is the sister of one of my very dear friends, and Marianne and I have worked together and/or lived near each other for awhile. They know each other because they work together, and every once in a while, they let me in on their fun. We went to Stephanie's house after the concert and drank cocoa and chatted. They listened (very patiently) to many of the lessons I have learned in the past few months. I felt bad for talking for so very long, but am grateful to have friends that truly listen and care. It is a sweet blessing to feel understood. They claimed that my learning helped them, but I think it mostly helped me to talk about it...

Steph is to the left of me in this picture and Marianne is in front of me.

SARAH J.

Say and I grew up together. We were born in the same hospital, lived in neighboring houses growing up, but never at the time time until 3rd grade. We have been best friends since and have spent many years as friends, roommates and mission correspondents. Today as I thought about her, I am very convinced that we were put together as roommates and particularly room-roommates to help me in this time of my life. She and I just get along... except when we don't, but even then, it's just something small that rolls off as fast as it came-- kind of like a sister. She is my besty and I love her.

Love you forever, Sairuh-girl.

All that being said, sometimes I feel like I am not the best friend. How grateful for those who are patient and forgiving and kind. I was looking online about the elements of a true friendship, and I loved what Wikipedia had to say about it:

• The tendency to desire what is best for the other
• Sympathy and empathy
• Honesty, perhaps in situations where it may be difficult for others to speak the truth, especially in terms of pointing out the perceived faults of one's counterpart
• Mutual understanding and compassion
• Trust in one another (able to express feelings - including in relation to the other's actions - without the fear of being judged); able to go to each other for emotional support
• Positive reciprocity - a relationship is based on equal give and take between the two parties.

All this being said, I feel, like Brother Archuleta, that my friends help me stay true. They inspire me to do better and help me become more Christlike as I love and serve.

Also to add, I want to put each of you reading this on my list of friends. I do that because you mean so much to me. I love reading your blogs, hearing your commentary and enjoying your lives pass as quickly as mine is passing. What a wonderful day in which we live!