“Everyone has a 'best friend' during each stage of life - only a precious few have the same one.”

Once upon a time, in a land called Gig Harbor, there was a very special birthday party. This birthday party was not just for one person, but two! Two girls happened to share a birthday, so they decided to share a party, too. This was a large party, full of food, games, and giggling. It started at one house, and then ended at another. At the very beginning of this memorable evening, something happened... we met.

(Playing soccer in 2006, I think)

Her name was Chelsey, and she had just moved into the ward with her large family of 13 (11 kids turned into 12). She thought I was a stuck-up ballerina, and I was. She knew me better than I did then, and still does. Some things never change, I guess. I was eleven years old, Chelsey was twelve. We've basically been best friends ever since. (Forget about the party, it's totally irrelevant now.)

(Trek, 2006. We still tell secrets.)

We've been through it all together: love, hate, sickness, death, boyfriends, breakups, sun, snow, rain, lots of puddles, and so, so, so, S O M U C H F O O D. We've definitely had our disagreements, but we have come out on top and are so much stronger for it. You know how you hear people say that they finish each others sentences? How cliche! ..... yeah, but we totally do.

(2007 in the Harbor - we totally cropped a boy out of this picture. haha!)

She is the one who comes over to snuggle in my bed and tell me that everything is going to be alright, or to sit on the phone and listen as I scream my head off about one thing or another. Or, God bless her, she tells me how wonderful I am and that I am worth so much more than I could possibly imagine. That boy that won't look my direction? Screw that, she says! He's not good enough for me anyway. I do the same for her. You know why? Because she is my best friend, and she knows me and loves me for who I am. No judgements, just patience. She is my angel, in every sense of the word.

(November 2008 - the premier of Twilight the movie)

Because of her, I know myself better, I know the world around me better, I know my Savior better and depend on Him so much more, and I know better how to love all those around me. She has been, and will always continue to be, an incredible example of what a person ought to be.

(You should have seen how much we ate this night.... yummm)

Maybe I should tell you about her a little:

Her name is Chelsey, with no middle name. She has eleven brothers and sisters, and loves each and every one as much as I love mine (which is incredible, considering she has twice as many!). She is tall, with legs that go on for miles; lots of thick sandy-blond hair with the perfect amount of wave; big, bright, honest eyes that are the same color as mine; gorgeous smile and an absolutely infectious laugh.... I could go on all day, I know her that well. She is absolutely hilarious, and she'll tell you that right off the bat. I'm serious. She also cooks and bakes beautifully, my stomach will tell you that. Basically, she's perfect. I say "basically" because she still has her faults, but I love her even more for them. She's a wonderful, beautiful person through and through, and any man good enough for her will end up being the luckiest, most fortunate man in this world.

(2010 DanceSport Nationals - she drove down and surprised me!)

She has loved me and helped me through some of the hardest times of my life, and been right next to me to laugh through the greatest. Nobody on this earth could possibly take her place, because she is entirely too precious and special to me. Someday I suppose I'll get married, and whoever I marry will be my best friend, but every girl needs her best girlfriend, and Chels will always be that. Hello! Our kids are going to marry each other and then we will be related, once and for all, and we will have the same grandkids (the luckiest grandkids in the world, I'm just saying...).

(March 2010, 1am and playing with a camera... always a good idea.)

We might be in two different states, doing two different things, but we live under the same sky, we look at the same stars at night, we love the world just the same, we love the same wonderful God, we have an undying love and appreciation for our families, and we are forever and always best friends.

Thank you for everything, Chelsey. I love you!