January 12, 2011- Josh Perez

It is honestly pathetic that it has been maybe twenty-four hours since I last saw you, but not seeing you all day left everything a little more cloudy. I met Josh one of my first days in Boone, playing Cranium at a friends apartment where he was forced to be my partner. Poor kid hasn't gotten rid of me since. He was lucky enough to have a class with me, that we either did not attend or talked enough in that I managed to not learn a thing. Little did he know, hanging out with me results in a lot of scheming and moments where you wonder why I am so weird. Josh toughed it out though, and with that became a truly wonderful friend that I have grown to rely on in ways that vary from buying me coffee, to making me a paper tetris game so I could play in class. From listening to my tireless rants about nonsensical things, to sitting three extra inches away on the couch so there is less chance of you accidentally touching me and ergo making me twitch in my sleep. Really though Josh, all that you do does not go unnoticed. 


Josh Perez is truly a gem. His heart is so selfless and so loving, I don't think there is a thing he wouldn't do if I asked him nicely enough. (Except for when he didn't come to Orlando, but we won't get into that.) Josh has an ease about him that makes everybody a little more comfortable and a laugh that lights up the room when he enters. A day without Josh Perez is like a day without the sunshine; doable but nowhere near as fun as it could be. His spirit is so happy and you can't resist a smile in his presence.


I was blessed with the opportunity to spend a few days with his entire family in the Boro, and saw where he gets his love for life from. His family was one of the most encouraging and loving groups of people I have ever been able to witness. They truly love each other so, so much and give you the feeling of comfort and inclusion, no matter who you are or how long they've known you. It was an incredible blessing to spend time with them and get a feel for why Josh is so wonderful.


My favorite thing about Josh was hard to pick. He has influenced me in so many ways and I am so thankful for his friendship, but the thing that stands out to me the most is his acceptance of people regardless of who they are. He loves without concern for who the person is, where they are from or what they do with their life; he loves because he was loved first. His love is inspiring and fresh, it's beautiful to see a man who desires the Lord and because of that, can love unconditionally. I am lucky to know him and have his friendship as an influence in my life. You are incredible Josh and I hope you know how much I appreciate you. I love you forever Ydna.


Ephesians 4:32
"Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you."

January 11, 2011- Mary Hartnett

As most of you know, when I decided to go greek, the world stopped spinning. Not really, but there were hundreds of dropped jaws across the world. Bid day, when I chose the best sorority(go KD!) we were given our set leaders and mine happened to be none other, then then beautiful Mary Hartnett. I have come to find that God places people on my heart that I am drawn to for no specific reason, but feel as though I am being called to get to know them. Mary was one of those people. 


We rode down the mountain for our bid day adventure of laser tag and bumper cars, and on the way back I got to ride up front and chat with Mary for a while. Nothing but small talk and get to know each other questions came up but when she dropped me off, I was still eager to know her better. Our first mixer, Mary brought one of those horse's that have sticks for a body and(of course) named it Harry Potter. Her laughter and pure, simplistic joy brightened my spirit and made me feel comfortable in a place I never dreamed I would be. Mary and I got coffee a few days later and I got to hear about her life; the things that make her heart smile, fill her head, consume her days and make her tick. From that point on I knew God had incredible plans for our friendship. He has taught me so many lessons through her and she probably has no idea how comforting she is for me.


The greatest thing I have learned from Mary, is to care for people. That sounds incredible broad, but Mary has a way of cheering me up when I need it the most and making me feel loved when i'm having a tough day. She goes out of her way to help others and would be there for me in the blink of an eye if I asked her to be. May's heart is so beautiful and I am so blessed to have her in my life, teaching me more every time I see her!! Thank you for being a friend to me Mary, I love you forever. 


Romans 12:9-10
"Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other."

January 10, 2011-Sallie Gurganus

First and foremost, Happy Birthday Sal Pal!! We have come a long way since your birthday in Orlando...


Sallie and I met and were instantly friends. Not the kind of friends though that we are today, our relationship was shallow and surface level. Sallie had the same heart she still has today though, it reaches out to the seemingly unreachable and longs to help those who desperately need it. Her spirit inspires everyone around her and she has a way of making you feel on her level regardless of age or walk in faith. We have a constant joke about our friendship because we couldn't be more different from each other! Sallie's need for structure and neatness in life is unbelievably contradictory to my need for spontaneity and mess, but we have come to learn how beautiful it is that our one common factor keeps us close. Jesus is the only thing we seem to have in common, and that is truly all we need. She laughs and my lifestyle and I don't think I will ever understand hers, but having Christ in the center of our relationship has taught me so much about how to be a true friend.


The greatest thing I have learned from Sallie, is the thing I tease her about the most. Sallie is drawn to brokenness. Brokenness in relationships between others and brokenness in the hearts of people around her. She has a gift of relating to those who need a friend, or even just offering an ear to listen because nobody else ever has. Sallie's heart is so pure and so beautiful, I am blessed to have her as a friend. No matter how far apart we are, or how different we will grow to be, I know I will always be able to rely on the friend I have in her. Thank you for being there Sallie, I love you forever.


Ephesians 4:2
"Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love."

January 9, 2011- Zach Hoffman

It's funny the people God places on your heart. Today's was unexpected, but such a blessing to be able to pray and think about what this person means to me. A month ago, if you asked me who Zach Hoffman was, all I would be able to tell you is that he is Jordan Howell's roommate. Today I got to think about pray for who Zach Hoffman really is. The Zach that is debatably the best dancer I have ever seen and looks more put together on a bad day then I do on a good one(but lets be honest, it's not that hard to.) The Zach I got to know today is a Zach that I am excited to get to know better.


This morning, a beautiful group of people came over to "The APT." and we had house church. We began to pray for each other, and ask the harder questions. We began to dig deep and find out what was on each other's hearts. Zach had the ability to sugar coat his burdens, struggles and oppression; he had the opportunity to brush off the question entirely and sit in silence. He didn't though. He had the boldness, and the courage to speak up and be vulnerable with his brothers and sisters in Christ. Those of you who know me a lot or a little all know that I have trouble with vulnerability, and to see Zach in a complete state of it, trusting that God would be glorified through it was incredible.


Zach you are the first of these entries to effect me the greatest, the same day I write about you. I know God has placed us in each other's lives for a reason and I could not be more excited to see what that reason is. Thank you for sharing your heart and helping me understand how beautiful vulnerability can be. 


Ephesians 4:25
"So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body."


(no picture of us together, but you know how much I love this one!)

January 8, 2011- Haley Fulford

Haley Elizabeth Fulford. I don't think I could hear that name and not smile. I met Haley when I was fifteen at camp Merri-Mac and all I could have told you about her up until last semester is that she earned her gold with both hands in tennis (as I ran laps around the court for hitting tennis balls at the boys), that she lived in BFE, GA (aka Albany) and that she was chief of the worst tribe ever, Iroquois. Haley was just another face in the sea of camp faces I couldn't quite remember. Hales, however, was introduced to me this past semester. Hales smooshes every food substance known to man on the front of her teeth, puts on a mean "single ladies" dance show in little red every night before we go to bed, and shops for shoes more than I drink coffee. Hales is a bundle of pure joy and it cracks me up!


Hales has a way of making everyone in the room smile. Her silly domineer creates a feel of comfort everywhere she goes and her laugh is contagious to all who hear it. No one else can quite make my stomach ache with post laughing pains the way she can, put up with me sleeping in their bed every night or borrowing the amount of clothing articles I do from her. Hales' selflessness is so evident and truly a blessing to all that she comes in contact with. Her spirit for life is a beautiful thing to witness first hand; I am so lucky to have a God that loves me enough to put a friend like her in my life.


The most wonderful two-cents I have taken away from Hales is to embrace your childish ways and never be afraid to have a blast. Her confidence in who she is, inspires me to always remember who I am and not be afraid to show the world that. Thank you Hales for never ceasing to amaze me with your selflessly beautiful heart. Remember always how stunning you are and how precious you are to Christ. You are an incredible blessing to me and I will love you forever.


Psalm 139:14-16
"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them."
  

January 7, 2011- Cece Owens

Aunt Cece. Who would have thought the fifteen year old that caused such trouble with your daughter would be writing about how much you have impacted my life? I can remember the days where PG-13 movies were unacceptable in your house...at age seventeen and when I would beg Hayley to drive us somewhere for dinner because all that was in your house was leftover meatloaf and low fat EVERYTHING. I remember sticking a bar of soap in my mouth  for saying "stupid" and losing my life's savings to the "sarcasm jar." I remember when you bought french vanilla creamer and icing, aka the day I started eating at your house! But most importantly, I remember your selfless, and compassionate way of loving me.

I look to your wisdom so much because I know it is completely of the Lord. You have a beautiful way of relating to people because of how you ask questions and how often you go out of your way simply because you love someone. I have loved how our relationship has grown over the last few years, and how you aren't at all afraid to have fun! Your adventurous spirit to live life simply because it is a gift from God is hysterical to watch and be a part of! It has been incredible to just experience life together with you, from tetherball matches to Quelf, to backyard baseball. From reading the word to living it out. From eating icing by the spoonful to drinking coffee out of mugs that will never quite go together. From praying for each other to praying together. You are an unbelievable daughter of Jesus and I am inspired by you daily.

Thank you for all that you have given to me from your wisdom, to your children who have changed my life immensely because of how God raised them through you. I so appreciate all that you have done for me and I love you forever.

1 Peter 3:8
"Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude."

January 6, 2011- Chelsea Dougherty

CHELS! If I had a penny for every time either LinLan or I said that this past summer, I might be able to buy a coffee. Chelsea and I grew up going to the wonderful Camp Merri-Mac together but never really got to know each other as campers. This may have had to do with the fact that Chels has always been the MOST caring, MOST loving and MOST selfless woman I have ever known, and at the ages of 14-16 I was the COMPLETE opposite. Regardless, Jesus had a much bigger plan for us and in the time that I did get close with Chels, Jesus was the complete center of our friendship and I am eternally grateful for that.

The majority of our days together were spent doing one of these three things: eating candy from the bitter box in the Moonmist counselor section, dancing with unbelievably wonderful thirteen year old girls, or sharing the life of Jesus with our campers and with each other. The endless nights that we stayed up to hear  how the other's heart was doing or just laugh at the awkward years we both went through meant so much more to me then she might realize. Chels asked every question in the book in the most loving and encouraging way I have ever encountered. She had a way of caring without words, or touch(even though I loved her words and hugs!) and she would listen for hours as I rambled on about life. Chelsea's way of loving is so beautiful to see and be a part of. Her heart is incredible and I cannot wait to see the woman she will become in Christ. Chels taught me that just being there for someone is often the best way to start a relationship and that when you care for someone, they should be a priority to you.

Chels I am so blessed to know you and to have your friendship. It truly means the world to me to know that wherever I go and whatever decisions I make, you will always be there to listen, laugh and love while we eat candy and dance around in pajamas. Jesus has created a bond between us that will never be broken by distance, time or other people and I couldn't be more grateful for that. I love you forever Chels.

Proverbs 18:24
"There are "friends" who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer then a brother."