let the craziness begin.

as much as i am looking forward to 2009, it is going to be one of the craziest years yet. i'm finishing up my bachelor's degree in communications, striving to become a youth pastor, helping start up a whole new way of conducting youth ministry at my church, going on multiple trips with EPIC youth (one of which being africa), as well as working a real job and pseudo interning at another. this seems so insane and out of control, but as i sit here and type about it i am becoming super excited. i cannot wait to see what this year is going to hold for me!

i am so glad to have such an awesome group of friends by my side through this madness. the people i've been spending most of my time with lately seemed to sort of come out of no where. we were all friends before, but we've sort of become this really tight click (a term i am using losely in this context). it feels really strange to me to be the oldest of this group, too. for so long i was the youngest of my group of friends, and now i'm taking on a whole new role in the group. some people may think that i am a little weird for spending so much time with these young ones, but for the first time in my life, i'm ok with people thinking odd of me. if you for just one moment stopped to listen to these kids, you would see that they have more insight into God then most people my age. while my close group of friends has an average age of 16, i carry on amazing conversations with them about life, faith, callings...its pretty amazing.

i love how close we have become, i love how close me and my cousins are, and i love still having my best friend, Alisha, to share life with. no one can replace my friends, their my family.

the other half...

wow. i can't believe that thirty minutes ago, lorel left for six months. it hasn't really hit me yet, but i know it will in time. she is one of my greatest friends, and its going to be really hard to go through life without her here in california. even though we are miles apart, i know in my heart that this is what she is meant to do. i can't wait to hear all her stories and see her change into what God has created her to be. in fact, i'm sort of excited about it all. its going to be rough not getting to talk to her everyday, but i get to pray for her everyday and hear from her often, so it will be ok.

the last night spent with her is something i will never forget. seven of us gathered and watched the sunset from a hill at riverwalk park. it was so incredible to be able to witness something that great with the people i have grown to love like family. to think, one year ago i didn't even really know all of them, and yesterday we experienced something truly amazing...together. i could not have asked for better friends, or a more awesome other half.

the sunset reminded me of so many things. how everything comes to an end at one point, but that it only means something new will come about soon. how great the creator of the universe is; he made something that beautiful and gave me such awesome friends to share it with. as christian, christopher, lorel, ashley, nathan, jake, and i laid there on that hill and watched the sunset over the mountains, i felt an overwhelming sense of calm. i know everything is going to be ok. i can't wait to see what the sun rises on in the months to come.


i'll miss you other half. until our sunrise in august...

a true friend...

a true friend…

can make you laugh when you feel like crying.
can brighten your day with just one thoughtful act.
will drop plans to help you through a rough time.
will always be there when the world turns its back on you.
can handle your deepest secret with the greatest care.
can understand you even when you don’t make any sense.
will listen to you rant and rave no matter how long.
will answer the phone at three in the morning if they see its you.
accepts your bad qualities and brings out the good ones.

a true friend is the person you want to spend free time with because you know they will be ok with doing random, spontaneous things with you.

how did i get so lucky.
i definitely have more than my share of true friends.
and hopefully i fulfill all of these to them, too.