Project 31: Day 15: Laura

Day 15. Write to encourage a friend. Inspire her beauty.

At the risk of someone thinking I'm writing in the 3rd person, this post is about my best friend, Laura.

Summer 2010

I love that in that picture we're both wearing our respective favorite colors. Believe it or not, people have asked us if we're sisters. We're not. But we have a lot in common. And a lot dissimilar about us.

January 2004

You should have known us seven years ago - been around us on a daily basis. There are only 3-4 four girls who've had that pleasure unfortunate fate. We had a frustrating beginning to our relationship. Were either of us the type of people who give up on relationships, we probably would have a long time ago. It's kind of humorous to think of now, but we fought. A lot. There were many angry IMing conversations late at night. But we got through it. And our perseverance has paid off.

We've been friends for seven years now, and I don't know what I'd do without her. She encourages me, supports me, loves me, confides in me, trusts me, makes me laugh, cries with me, reminisces with me, and spurs me to be the best I can be. She's my best friend. We supported each other through college classes. We've held each other accountable spiritually. We've gone on movie dates and dinner dates. We've watched many, many movies together. We've poured our hearts out to each other on many late nights in Muffitt. We've shared secrets. We've exchanged many birthday and Christmas gifts. We've shared boy stories.

Pre-wedding rehearsal massages, May 2008

My wedding, May 2008

I was so glad to have had her by my side throughout my wedding. I am not sure I would have survived the pre-wedding nerves without our massage/manicure date. It was absolutely the best thing we could have done together, and a memory I will always cherish. I am so excited to be by her side throughout her wedding in August. I can't wait to be there through all of the pre-wedding stuff for her. I am sure we are going to have another massage/manicure date before the wedding, and I'm so ready to be there for her as she was for me.

The Part Where I Encourage Her

Laura, thank you for all of the late night talks, the times you paid for me for things when you knew I couldn't, the times you've encouraged me, and the times you've been brutally honest with me when you knew I needed it. You're beautiful. I know you hear that from Andrew nearly every day, but sometimes you need to hear it from others, too. It never hurts!   You have such a great smile, and I don't have to tell you that your laugh is infectious. It never fails to cause me to laugh, too. Beauty is not only skin-deep, though, and you are beautiful inside, too. I love seeing you interact with kids and babies. You have a natural skill with them. You are going to be a great mom someday. You are so much more studious than I have ever been. I have been known to be diligent, but I also procrastinate. Not you. You can't relax until your work is done. I've always admired that in you. You are thoughtful, too. There is almost always Dr. Pepper waiting for me when I come to visit. The fact that you think about me when I'm not there means more to me than the actual Dr. Pepper, though I like that, too. Living far from you is super-hard for me. It was hard when we graduated college, but living over 1,000 miles from you is a lot harder. You have encouraged me that nothing will change, and I believe it. I love you!

A Confession of My Own

I recently read the confession of a friend of mine about how connected she feels to people she doesn't really know because of blogging. I can so relate. Countless times I have found myself telling Nate about people who have so willingly opened their lives on a blog that I feel like I know. If you don't blog or read other blogs, you probably can't really understand that. I know of people who feel a similar connection when watching certain reality television.

Now I have a confession of my own. I don't have very many friends I spend time with in real life. I still have my very best friend, Laura. We talk almost every week via text, phone, a few times a year in person, Facebook, email...you know. We still have a very strong friendship...but she lives 2+ hours away. Some of my other college friends that I would consider my "close" friends I see about once a year or so and we keep in touch much the same way. But since all of my friends live AT LEAST an hour away from me, I don't see people as often as I would like. We have zero friends at our church, and there is no one we spend time with on the weekends besides family. I love spending time with our families, but it would be nice to have some other friends in our town to socialize with. So, I have somehow subconsciously resorted to making friends on the Internet.

Before you go thinking that I'm off on some weird site meeting strange people in strange ways, no. I am just finding that I'm becoming friends with people who I used to think of as acquaintances. I probably friended them on Facebook because I knew who they were, not that we were really close. And I'm SO thankful I did. At the risk of sounding really cheesy, I want to mention a few of those people who probably mean more to me than they realize.

Angie

We were classmates in high school, but we probably never really even had a conversation then. We are both pretty good friends with my brother's fiance, and thus, we have begun talking a lot more. I talk to her almost daily, and I really love it. I enjoy hearing about her life, reading her blog, and watching her son (and soon-to-be daughter, too) grow up. We are both bridesmaids in Becka and Jonathan's wedding, and so we've had a few opportunities to see each other in real life, too. I feel like we are becoming friends on our own, and I've loved that. Without the Internet, it never would have happened.

Katie

We were also classmates for a year in high school, but since we were in the same grade, we had a bit more interaction than I did with Angie. That year, I was super quiet and not very social. At all. Looking back, I am pretty sure I was going through some sort of depression. I'll have to write another blog about that another time, but suffice it to say that I didn't get to know any of my classmates very well. Even if I had, I don't think Katie and I would have had that much in common then. Not that we weren't friendly, but we just didn't have had much to talk about. Now thanks to Facebook and the blogging world, I read Katie's blog daily, and I comment on it almost as often. I designed her logo for her Katie the Frugal Lady blog. She has awesome tips on couponing, which I love, but more than that, I've loved the feeling that I'm getting to know her better. She lives in California, so we definitely don't see each other in person ever. But like with Angie, I love watching her son grow up and hearing about her struggles and triumphs. The-learning-how-to-save-more-money part is more of a bonus.

Danielle

I can't believe I almost forgot to write about Danielle as well! Through Facebook, I've gotten to see Danielle's beautiful photography. She really has a natural talent. I wanted to start the tradition of getting our family's picture taken yearly, and Danielle has been our photographer the past two years. She does an awesome job. We've begun a working relationship with each other, which I've loved. We spur each other on in our own creative enterprises, mine with graphic design and her with photography. I've designed several things for her, and she tells people about me. I've had several customers come to me saying they heard about me from Danielle. It's been fantastic. But other than that, I've loved getting to know her personally, watching her go through all of life's ups and downs and always seeming to have a smile on her face. I'm continuing to pray for her pregnancy. I know she will make a wonderful mother. :o)

Amy

I've gotten to know Amy because, well, our husbands are best friends. They certainly don't see each other as much as they'd like, but I hope that in some small way, we can help them feel more connected. I always find myself telling Nate about what's going on with Amy and Brian's cats and ask him if he's seen pictures of their new house. Amy followed along with my crazy ventures at my former work. She loved hearing about the "crazy conspiracy theorist guy" who used to come in our office and tell us some of the strangest things I've ever heard. I used to find myself relaying them on Facebook just for her benefit. I think Amy and Brian and Nate and I would spend more time together if they also did not live 2+ hours away. I think it's high time we planned to meet up with them again.

So to those four ladies especially, I appreciate you! (Although Katie and Danielle might hate me now after reading my previous blog entry.) :o)

Wedding Update and Blessings in Disguise

Imported Livejournal entry from 04.23.08
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Wedding planning, and life, are going well. There are just 38 days until my life changes forever. I am hardly able to sit still because I'm so excited. There is so much to do, but I'm not stressing...at the moment.

Shower #2 went quite well, as did shower #1. Both showers were filled with people I love and gifts I never would have expected. It speaks of unconditional love and heartfelt support. Gifts aren't my primary love language, but everyone really "spoke" love to me via gifts at both showers.

I am feeling contemplative now, tonight, realizing how close the wedding is, and how real the marriage to follow is. I am so looking forward to my future with Nate, but right now I'm thinking about the past.
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The way the last 5 or 7 years of my life have unfolded is really quite amazing. I could write a book of the way God continues to surprise and delight me, even when sometimes circumstances have felt all but exciting in the moment, but looking back I can see what a true blessing in disguise certain things were.

People come in and out of our lives; we make new friends. Sometimes we stay friends with old friends, and sometimes we grow apart. I guess right now I'm just mourning the loss of some friends, people who I wish I could still be close to. Our lives go in different directions, whether we want them to or not, and looking back, I am sure I'll be able to see the blessings in disguise in this circumstance. I'm anxious to look back on this in 5-7 years to see how far I have come.

Deer and SAU

Imported Livejournal entry 02.11.08
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What a weekend I've had.


Friday Night
I got off of work at about 6:30. I decided to explore and find a different way home. The roads were decent that night, and I took a good look at Google Maps before I left. I was driving along, having a good ole time listening to the Father Gilbert Mysteries (which are amazing, Focus on the Family Radio Theatre dramatizations, btw) when I found my way into Hanover. I wasn't lost as I had known that much. I kept driving on what I thought would take me back to Moscow, the road I always take home. Well, this road became that road, which in turn became something else. I didn't want to get totally lost and waste a bunch of gas in the process, so I turned around. I wasn't entirely sure where I was, so I wasn't driving very fast, about 25 to 30 mph. All of the sudden, out of completely nowhere, a doe walks out in front of my car. NOTE: I said the deer walked, and she definitely did just that. She wasn't in any hurry, as far as I could tell. Anyway, she came out of a wooded area, and as there was no shoulder, I had no warning until she was on the road in front of my car.

Naturally, I slammed on my brakes, and thankfully, I didn't swerve. If I would have thought of it, I would have honked as I was breaking, but one doesn't think of EVERYTHING in situations like these. I don't think it would have helped much anyway. I screamed bloody murder as I nailed the doe in the center of her body with the center of the front of my car. I watched the deer from impact to landing, and I still can't believe it happened the way it did.  Well, after I hit her, she slid up on my car but just a little bit, and then it threw her to the left. Have you ever seen Twister, when the cow is spinning around in the tornado? This doe did at least 2 somersaults in the air, head over heels, before landing in the snowy ditch, hitting butt/back side down. That part of it is a bit humorous, looking back, but at the time, I couldn't believe it happened.

I stopped on the road, trying to catch my breath, hoping my car was okay, and glad no one was around to see it happen. All I could think of was 1) Calling Nate, and 2) Was the deer okay?


I drove forward, glad to see my car was still functioning normally. I got a hold of Nate and decided to turn my car around to find the deer and to figure out what to do next. I knew I wouldn't be able to rest until I knew that poor doe was okay. Well, she didn't exactly scamper off as though nothing had happened, but she didn't die on impact either. I pulled over as much as I could, as there was no shoulder, and when I saw her there, I started balling. I watched as she tried to get up once, then twice, but couldn't stand on her back two legs. Her front half was fine, but she couldn't walk! I couldn't handle that! I'm such a softy. Nate calmed me down over the phone, though I'm not sure how as by now I was sobbing uncontrollably. I finally left because we decided that since my car was the only vehicle involved, and I only have very basic car insurance, that it was unnecessary to call the police. I kind of wanted someone to come put her out of her misery...I hated to see her suffer! Nate found where I was on a map and gave me directions to get back to Moscow. It turned out I had been going the right way. I had to drive by the "scene of the crime" again, and the deer was gone. I couldn't see her anywhere. I have to say, I was relieved. Hopefully she was just stunned and was able to get up and go on with her life. Unfortunately, she probably was so frightened, she got up enough to make it to the woods, and died there. I try not to think about that.
I'm not a person who loves animals so much that I can't stand to see them hunted. On the contrary, I know there are far too many deer, especially in Michigan. But for her to die because of an accident, as a waste. Ugh, I was sickened at that thought. Oh well, such is life. I will never know what happened to her, and I will have to be okay with that.


Moving on.
Saturday was a fabulous day of shopping in Lansing with Becca. We had such a great day. Either we have the same taste in clothes or I am just a copycat, but I ended up buying the same lounge pants and shoes as she did. That night, the weather started to get really crappy, and when I drove her to Spring Arbor, it was to the point of dangerous. The snow was drifting really badly, and there were whiteout conditions. She invited me to spend the night, and I decided I didn't want to have another accident (after my literal run-in with the deer). 
I stayed. It was fun, too. We went to Ormston to visit my brother. That was hilarious. I remember 4 or 5 years ago, walking onto O3 on our way to O4 with some of my female friends and having ZERO guys talk to us. I was probably a freshman or sophomore at the time, and I knew a few of the guys that lived there from camp and/or classes. It was so ironic because this time, I'm at least two years older than all of the guys there, and more guys talked to me than I can even remember. I don't even remember any of their names! Maybe it was because I was "Jonathan's sister" and I was with Becca, but it was just really humorous. I had a great time looking at the Ormston pictures hanging on the walls. What a great tradition someone started. I knew so many of those names and faces. I didn't feel as much like a stranger when I was standing in Ormston, seeing and remembering those faces; guys like Peter Blair, Ryan Jones, Corwin Koppelman, Brian McKinley, MY FIANCE Nate Piatt, Kevin Eccles, Ron Holsworth, Tom Maynard, etc. Suddenly I didn't feel so awkward being there.  
College hasn't really changed since I went there. The faces are different, but the people and atmosphere are the same. Even M1 seemed to be decorated the same as it had been before. We watched High School Musical (which is actually really cute, kind of like the Lizzie McGuire movie), and then I crashed on Becca and her roommate, the RA's couch. I think I wouldn't mind spending the night there again, on weekends when my parents are up north. It wasn't awkward, but I think it would have been better had I been more prepared. There were a few things I would have liked to do, but I didn't have time, like:
1. Visit Nate Woods
2. Go to the library and see if they have any good audiobooks I could listen to on my commute
3. Hang out at the Cougar Den
4. Go to Chapel with them (on a Monday, of course)
5. Visit the Art Center
I did think that if I did visit them on a weekday, that it would be fun to go with them to class, with a teacher that I used to have, just for fun. I would also enjoy sitting in on an art class, though if it were drawing, I just know Mr. Bippes would do something crazy like call on me for a critique, and that would just be so awkward! I can still critique art, but I'm so out of practice at doing it in front of people who actually know what I'm talking about that I would just hate it. I basically would just like going to a class and not having homework. Even two years after graduating, that's still probably one of my favorite things...no more homework. Ever.
Oh, I forgot to mentioned that I bumped into the lovely Melanie Baldwin when I was picking Becca up that morning! How fabulous to see someone I live so close to but hang out with so rarely! We have decided that we need to get together, and soon!


Needless to say, the deer and the weather didn't ruin my weekend, but it sure was not a normal weekend by any stretch of the imagination. I will enjoy getting back to my normal life this week. Work, dog lessons, wedding planning, Valentine's Day, etc.


To my local friends: Drive safely on those crazy Michigan roads! And watch for deer!
Cheers.