Memories & Thank Yous...

I happened to stumble upon my old high school year books and was reading a few of the entries from fellow students. Some were rude... go figure, some were random, some were as impersonal as you can get and then there were the ones that made me miss being in high school again.

What a care free time of my life. Although my trials in high school were a little more than term papers and tests I was pretty blessed to have some really good friends and am even more blessed that they are still my friends.

I have been trying to keep in good contact with my friends & family members while I am out here and last night called my grandmothers house. To no avail she was not at home but I did get to talk to my uncle whom I have always loved so much.

His words made me cry when he said. " I am so proud of you... you have surpassed what we could have asked of you... you are strong, smart and beautiful. You have turned into such a wonderful person and better than anyone could have expected."

I was blessed with an amazing family who has gone to great lengths to make sure that I always knew that I was loved. Some took me in when I had no place else to go... others made sure on Christmas morning that I was given not always what I wanted but what I needed and was lacking... and there are those who always were there for me emotionally.

I have come to realize that I was communally raised by my family and sometimes close friends and I want to say thank you.

Thank you to my Grandma... who took such good care of me. You always made me feel special even when no one else did. You believed in me and gave me a roof over my head... you have always made your home my home and I am so grateful to have such outstanding hospitality.

Thank you to my Uncle Trent... you have always been supportive of me in my life and gave me the praise of doing more than I was expected.

Thank you Kori... I love you so much. I could not describe how much your love and friendship means to me and how much of an inspiration you have been in my life. You made me feel special and protected. You cleared the path for me when I wasn't strong enough to do so and was there to wipe my tears when I broke down. You have always been my best friend and I couldn't have asked for a better cousin.

Thank you to my Aunt Debbie and Uncle Mike... You always made sure that I was financially taken care of and that on Christmas morning I always had a present to open... even when "Santa" couldn't afford one. I never went without because of you... I had food... clothes... school supplies... and so on. Your kind gestures made me feel that I was someone and never forgotten.

Thank you Papa... I will always remember our talk after you and mom had gotten divorced... "It is just me and you kid... I will always be here for you no matter what." You gave me the respect I so desperately wanted and the independence that was in need of. You have been so strong and such a great example. I am grateful for having such a wonderful father and best friend in my life. You have been everything from my own personal comedian, my confidant, a human punching and bullying bag to a shoulder to cry on when the boys broke my heart and life seemed to hard to push on any longer.

Thank you Mom. I love you for your strong love and loyalty towards me. You have made me into who I am now and never stopped believing in me. You pushed me to be strong, intelligent, faithful in the church and independent. I owe you a thousand apologies and even more thank yous.

Thank you to my friends... all of my friends. I value our friendships so much and in one way shape or form have grown from having you in my life.

Thank you Emily for showing me that ins and outs of the gospel... being a loyal friend to me and at some points in our friendship holding my hand and guiding me closer and closer to the strait and narrow.

Thank you Melinda. You were always so selfless and helped me so many times in high school and in college. You were kind and loving and filled me with hope and creative inspiration. You are so beautiful inside and out.

Thank you Lani... for taking me in a welcoming me into the singles ward. Your outgoing and loving nature made me feel so welcome and put me at ease at a time in my life where all I needed was someone to be friends with. I am so blessed to have you as my friend.

Thank you Lacey... I had so much fun living with you and being your roommate and I couldn't have asked for a better roommate at that time. You took me in and put me under your wing... held me close and told me that everything was going to be ok. You helped me to believe in myself again and gave me hope and guided me into the direction that I am in now. I love your goofy sense of humor and you brought back the goofy side of me that I had missed so much. I love just thinking about our days in Rexburg together... what a fun time in my life.

Thank you Marianna and Jackie... you make my life brighter just being a part of it. I love how selfless you both are and how much fun you made my life. I am so glad to call you my friends and love that I can still call you friends.

Thank you Amy. You were by far my funniest roommate and made my stomach hurt so many times from the laughter. I loved our bedroom parties we would throw. I loved how comforting you were my freshman year of college. You were my little piece of home and it meant so much to me that you were so strong in who you were... made me strive to become more strong in knowing who I was and what I stood for.

I know that this entry was long... but I wanted to make sure that you all knew how grateful I am for all of you... You continue to bless my life and have made such a strong impression on who I have become. I still look back at my memories with each and every one of you and feel so blessed that the Lord gave me you. As my friend Stella always says... "Nothing ever happens by accident".

Thank you. Your friendship warms my heart even from such a far distance. While some of you fed me and told me everything was going to be ok... others influenced me and held me up when I couldn't stand on my own. I love you for that.

Dani