So I’m gonna do a thing.

I don’t like making New Year’s Resolutions, mainly because I think that the New Year is arbitrary and people should mark a new year in a way that is important to their lives. I will say that the goal for me is always that I try to make the world a better place, for my part. I don’t think that I’m always successful, but I think that trying and failing are just as important, maybe even more so, if only for the fact that it allows me to be reflective and self-aware. But I digress…

February is commonly the month associated with love, mostly because…you know…Valentine’s Day. Now I know this may surprise some of you who know me, but I really do love Valentine’s Day, not for all the romance and what have you, but really because I think that it is an excellent opportunity to tell those you love that you love them. Call me cheesy but I think that love spans much further than that of romantic love and to hell with those that try to convince me otherwise I’m looking at all the stores that have had red and pink lining their aisles since Dec 26th and Kay Jewelers. All throughout my school life and long after it was required I usually took it upon myself to send valentines to all my friends, be it something small or something large, chocolate, Crush orange soda, or those brilliant High School Musical cardboard valentine cards. But I’ve lost touch with this tradition and would like to do something a little more drastic this time around.

I’ve been looking around the world recently and I have realized that I just don’t think one day dedicated to love is enough, so I’m extending it to 14 days. Please know I don’t think 14 days is enough, every day should be a day dedicated love, but bear with me.

Starting tomorrow (Feb 1st) I will highlight someone in my life who I love and a little as to why I love them. Normally I would just do this without any fanfare, but I want everyone to know about these fabulous people in my life, and I think that we could all use a little more love on the inter webs. So stay tuned as I will update this post every day with a new person.

Here goes nothing…

First a couple of guidelines that needed to be created to help me formulate my list.

No immediate family…mostly this is due to the fact that I tend to love on them on their birthdays but also because they would take up five days in this venture…and honestly…it seemed too easy to utilize them and I wanted to challenge myself further. Now this isn’t to say that I don’t love my family. I do. Very much. And I know I’ve already gushed about them in previous posts so go and check out the archives. The next guideline is that I can’t post anything about the person that they wouldn’t want on the internet…made a smidge difficult as they are finding out who they are at the same time you are dear reader! Surprise!

Day 1

Krista

Krista is one of my oldest friends. This is not hyperbole, but fact, I have known Krista since we were about 4 years old. There is something so astonishing about the fact that I have known this person for so long, we’ve been through a lot together and not for nothing the friendship survived both middle and high school. And because of that simple fact I knew that college would be no different. It is always comforting to know that there is a person in the world who knows you like the back of your hand, that time and distance can separate you physically but because of your shared history and strength of friendship when reconnected there is nothing awkward just friends catching up on life and discussing new adventures.

Krista is one of the strongest people I know. I cannot aptly put into words what I know to be innately true, but if you know her or you get the chance to know her, this will become evident to you very quickly. I have been with her through first loves and heartbreaks, laughter and tears, weird eating habits (Kraft Mac & Cheese powder on popcorn, it’s  a thing), holidays, backyard campouts and so much more. She has been more of a support to me than she probably knows, but on the good and the bad days she always just knows, and what more could you possibly need in a friend. She is kind and beautiful both inside and out, and she has this ability to make those around her feel as if they are the most special and beautiful people in the world. It’s why I know that she is loved and treasured by so many.

Something she may or may not know is that she was my champion through late elementary and middle school, the friend that stood up to those who sought to bring me down for whatever reason they may have had for the day. From her I learned the value of self-confidence and to stand up for myself, but that it was okay to crack from time to time, we’re all only human. I could love her for this reason and this reason alone, but there is so much more. I’ve watched her become a wife and a mother, and have seen the joy that radiates from her when she is with her daughter. Krista has a lot of strong women in her life and I know that they helped form who she is, and I thank them too, because Krista is one of the strong women in my life and has shaped it permanently. Without her I don’t know who I’d be. I am thankful everyday for the people in my life that have helped me up when I’ve fallen down, and today I am especially thankful for Krista and all that she is. Krista, thank you for being such a beautiful example to me of what it means to be a good sister, a generous wife, a loving mother, and a strong and kind-hearted friend I love you.

Day 2

George

George is one of those friends that you just look around and the next thing you know you’ve got this new friend! You’re not entirely sure how they entered into your life, but you sure are happy that they are there.

I met George his Freshman (my Junior) year at Carroll. Now I will fully admit, that I was not George’s biggest fan when I first met him. We bumped along just fine but for the most part he wasn’t a person that I would have gone out of my way to spend time with. (Don’t worry George already knows this…we laugh about it often). Somewhere along the road of knowing George we entered into a friendship and at one point I remember thinking to myself, “Hey when did you become friends with this guy?” and then promptly responding, “Does it matter? He’s great!” and from that point I never looked back (or at least over analyzed).

George has taught me a lot in life, not the least of which was how to solve a Rubik’s Cube my last semester of college, but mostly he’s taught me that it isn’t always about having the words but that being present to a friend is the most important thing. When my grandfather passed away outside of talking to my family the only other person in the world I wanted to tell was George, because I knew he wouldn’t smother me, he’d just sit with me, help me stand back up, and take the time to check back in. I don’t think I would have survived the rest of that summer without him. To this day he is still one of the first people I reach out to, when I just need someone to be there for me. And that’s just another one of George’s best qualities, he’s dependable, you can always count on him to make you laugh, give you a hug, sing with, pray with you, play a board game, watch a movie, and nerd out endlessly with.

George is a passionate person, when he loves something the world knows it, because he’s not quiet about what he loves, he is unashamed of what loves, and it’s beautiful and as a husband and a father I know that it is such a gift to his family. I greatly admire him for this, he’s taught me to not be afraid, to love what I love and not apologize for it. He loves loudly, something I think that we could use more of in this world, and more than that he loves with his whole heart. George, thank you for loving fully and loudly and for always being a rock in the storms of my life. Love you brother.

Day 3

Rachael

Have you ever had a friend that is like a burst of fresh air in a stale room AND a ray of sunshine at the same time? The friend that when they smile it seems like all of your burdens become a little lighter and your heart swells in your chest? I hope you have that friend and if you don’t I hope you find that friend. Rachael is that for me. Whenever I think about Rachael three words pop into my head almost simultaneously, sparkle, rainbow, and explosion.

Sparkle, because she has this ability to light up a room with a smile, a hug, a song. My face keeps breaking into a stupid grin every time I think of her and sparkle. Honestly it’s hard to describe, but I will tell you that if you’ve ever met Rachael I bet you’re reading this and nodding your head. She’s like a cold freshly fallen snow, you know the kind that is powdery and soft, it is beautiful, no matter the angle, now matter the light, and it brightens up the dark, and when the sun is shining, this snow, that’s already beautiful, becomes even more beautiful catching the light and making everything it covers look like it has new life and new purpose. That’s why Rachael sparkles.

Rainbow, because I grew up living in a valley – like an actual geographical valley – and while it’s nice to grow up surrounded by mountains, in the winter there are a lot of grey days. And when spring rains come  it’s just more grey, but then you get these days where the clouds roll in and the rain comes then the sun breaks through, and you have a beautiful rainbow. It’s relieving because you know there is something out there and beyond and that even grey days have their purpose if only to allow for the rainbows in life. Rachael has been a rainbow in many of my life’s grey days. Her warmth and kindness are extended to all and her smile comes easily to her face, almost as if it’s always meant to be there. Rachael has taught me what compassion really looks like, and what kindness really is; so many days has she sat with me while I poured out anger and frustration, and all those days I walked away feeling like a totally brand new person, because she was willing to sit and listen and then kindly remind me of who I am a nudge me back in that direction.

Lastly explosion- I know this may seem like an odd choice, but it makes sense to me. It’s like a recipe for fun; you take a room full of friends prepping for a night out, add Rachael with her sparkle and rainbow-ness and boom you have a good time just bursting at the seams. I have yet to have an experience with Rachael when we’re out to dinner, out on the town, or even sitting at home, where I don’t think to myself the next morning, “Man last night was a blast.” It just never happens because she is a happy additive to everything and the best part is that it’s JUST WHO SHE IS. And I cannot wait for the next adventure.

Rachael, thank you for the hugs and shoulder to cry on, for the nights of dancing and endless laughter, for running through the sprinklers with me, and so much more. I love you.

Day 4

Megan

Every summer while I was growing up I went to camp at this magical place called Legendary Lodge. The fun part about the Lodge was that not only was it on a lake and in a beautiful location but mostly because I got to meet new people. One of my last summers at camp I met this gal named Megan, we were seated next to each other at dinner. I didn’t know Megan, but Megan seemed to know everyone else who happened to be sitting with us that evening, and I was in awe of the way that she easily navigated the conversations at the table. Laughing at jokes, bringing up old stories, but most importantly making everyone feel included in the conversation. Honestly after that night and after that week I had very little contact with Megan, until my freshman year of college.

Freshman year I re-met Megan, but it didn’t even feel like a reconnection, and I know that this seems to be a trend, but it was like one day she was just there and the next day we were talking via phone or MSN messenger every day. The incredible thing is that Megan remembered that night at camp and that dinner, and so for all intents and purposes we tell people that we met at camp, and for me at least, that is where I started to get to know Megan.

Megan is a people person, and is unafraid to jump in the conversation and meet new people. She puts me to shame when it comes to being an extrovert, but if I have learned anything about myself in life, it’s that even those most extraverted people, need their introverted days, we just usually like to do that around other people. I have always, always, admired Megan’s ease of fitting in and more so her quick inclusion of others. Megan is a gentle and loving person and that is reflected in her heart and in her soul.  She’s taught me so much about myself over the years, but if I had to pick the one that seems to be the most important to me right now it’s that Megan taught me what true, honest vulnerability is. That emotions aren’t something to be afraid of but lived and that being vulnerable doesn’t make you weak, but rather makes you strong.

Megs, we’ve lived through a lot together, laughed, and cried, made mac n’ cheese, watched good and really bad movies, shopped, wandered, and laid in bed for hours just swapping stories and looking back on the path that our lives have lead us on. Thank you for loving me when I know I wasn’t always the most easy to love, thank you for listening, and thank you for sometimes just knowing that I needed to get up and get out. I am so incredibly proud to be your friend, and I love you.

Day 5

Nick

The first time that I ever met Nick he was standing in line at the student services office at Boston College, and he wanted to talk to them about the type of parking pass that he needed to buy for his summer of school. I remember thinking to myself, “Well this guy seems super self-assured.” Fast forward two days as we are dishing up clam chowder during lunch and I mentioned that there could never be such a thing as too many oyster crackers when it came to clam chowder. He looked up across the table at me and said, “I like the cut of your jib sailor.” My immediate response, “I think we’re going to be good friends.” He smiled and we sat down and were officially introduced by a mutual friend of ours. Little did I know that it would be the beginning of a beautiful friendship (that would really only span 6 weeks a summer for possibly three years).

Nick is a sarcastic, sassy, dude with a dry sense of humor and a love for dogs. Minus the dog thing, we’re pretty much a match made in friendship heaven. Nick is the kind of person that doesn’t want you to know that he has a heart of gold, but with just a little prodding you can quickly see that this is simply just not true. Nick is honest; sometimes to a fault and with his honesty comes an argumentative side. But even that is something that I cherish in him as a friend, because he’ll never be passive aggressive with you, but tell it like it is, and while he may seem like he doesn’t care for your feelings, he really does. He’s also not afraid to be told how you feel honestly, because he understands that the mark of a respectful friendship is that you can’t be the honest friend if you don’t appreciate when the honestly is turned on you. Did I mention he’s a Franciscan Friar?

Nick is an incredibly genuine human being and his friendship reminded me that you don’t always need something to last forever, but that sometimes the friends you meet and make in a particular time and point in your life, may only exist in that time and space, and that’s okay. There is beauty in knowing, embracing, and practicing friendship in the short term. If it continues past what would normally be it’s expiration date, then great, but if it doesn’t that’s okay too, because you know that somewhere out in the world is a person who you will remember fondly without feeling guilty about having lost touch. I think we sometimes forget that this is a necessary part of our growing up. Thank you Nick for always being quick with a joke, for your friendship for three summers, for engaging in enlightening and enriching theological conversation with me, and for always being willing to grab a beer with me at the end of a long school day. Blessings on you my friend wherever life may lead you. I love you.

Day 6

Karen

There are so many places to begin, and yet I can’t seem to nail down where to begin when talking about Karen, so maybe I’ll just start in the middle.

Karen is a go-getter, she is the most committed person I have ever met. Seriously, she’s the type of person that sets her mind to do something and then makes it happen, and quickly too. She’s adaptable and humble and get things done. I’m sure most people have heard the Dane Cook joke about having a friend named Karen, and I am here to tell you that, that just doesn’t apply to my friend Karen. Also, Karen is hilarious, intentionally or unintentionally, it doesn’t matter, she just is.

Karen was my compatriot in ministry for many years and while I miss having her here with me in Montana she married a stellar guy and is currently kicking a** and taking names as high school teacher. Karen probably doesn’t know this but she helped reignite my passion for ministry, professionally and personally. She challenged me to grow in my own personal formation and in doing so spurred me onto to greater and more worthy endeavors in youth ministry. How lucky am I to have that in a friend? Stupid lucky. And more times than I can count she got me out of my own head, and reminded me that I am young and that sometimes it’s okay to put the work and troubles aside, and to go out and dance with your friends. She taught me to live and to celebrate what it means to be alive and to seize opportunities when they come along. It’s a gift I can only hope to repay in time.

Karen has such strength of character and heart that you always feel supported as her friend, even when time passes and distance separates you. Karen, thank you for being such a good friend, for always having my back, and for continually pushing me past my comfort zone to remind me that there is always more and that maybe that ‘more’ is exactly where I need to be. Thank you for sharing cute animal pictures and .gifs, for staying up late, for laughing about ridiculous things, and most importantly for your friendship. Love you KRN!

Day 7

Jake and Tiff

Yes, I am aware that I am using multiple people on one day. But they are married, so it counts. Also this is my thing and I make up the rules. Moving on…

Thinking about my friendship with Jake and Tiff is kind of like a riddle that makes perfect sense, but will also make your brain hurt, because it doesn’t sound simple. As friends I have always had the pleasure of knowing them as individuals, but also at the same time as a couple. I knew Jake from college, but didn’t really befriend him until his last couple of months in school when a mutual friend suggested we meet to talk about ministry, but by that point I had met Tiff and knew that she and Jake were an item. Though it wasn’t until after that initial coffee date that I really got to know Tiff because we worked at camp together (this is only made more confusing by the fact that Tiff and I both lived in the same town). Don’t think about it too much, because the end result is that I was blessed with wonderful friends.

There is always something special about having friends who are married or in a relationship where you have solid friendships with both parties individually, but also a solid relationship with them together as a couple. I’m never going to be able to it justice with words on a page, but just trust me, it’s special and Jake and Tiff are one of those couples, (and I’m lucky to have many of those in my life).  I love that when I go to visit them and spend time with them that it’s just as easy to hang out with them as a couple as it is to do so individually, and really it’s a gift to the people in their lives that they make it so easy.

Tiff is this beautiful effervescent soul, that just welcomes you in with a smile. She’ll always keep you laughing even through the rough spots in life. She’s unafraid and unapologetic to be who she is and just being around her makes you want to live as authentically as possible.

Jake has a hundred watt smile that draws people to him, though it’s really just because you can sense his genuine happiness through it. As a friend he will joke and make you laugh and quietly listen to you as you vent frustration or hurt, and his gentle presence is always a comfort even when he doesn’t say anything.

And together, Jake and Tiff are still those exemplary people but magnified, because they are warm and authentic, and everything that makes them great as individuals makes them even better as a married couple. They will sit and laugh at and with you (trust me I need to be laughed at) they will challenge each other and you, and they will simply love you. One last story to better illustrate how phenomenal they are; they were married during the summer of 2014 and it is the first wedding, of good friends, I had ever missed. The reason for missing was because I had been accepted to a grad school program that would take me across the country for the summer, and it just wasn’t financially feasible to fly back for their wedding. When it became official that I had been accepted into the program after telling my bosses and my family, I wanted to tell them, partially because I wanted to share the good news, but also because I wanted them to know. We’d all known that it was a possibility and through it all they cheered me on and encouraged me because they knew that this was a big deal for me. I don’t remember if I told them or not, but their excitement and happiness for me was something that bolstered my spirit that entire summer. They have reminded me time and time again that love and friendship can support and lift a person up, no matter the mileage that is between them. Jake and Tiff, thank you for always supporting me, for cheering me on, and for welcoming me into your lives and into your home. Thank you for being you and authentically sharing that with me and all those you encounter. I love you guys!

P.S. Jake and Tiff also welcomed into the world a beautiful baby girl a couple of weeks ago, and I know that they are going to be amazing parents, because they are amazing friends.

Day 8

Steph

Have you ever sat and had a ten hour marathon of Friends, and thought to yourself how lucky it is that all those guys seemingly found each other as roommates? For any person who’s ever had to look for a roommate or replace a roommate there is no better episode than when Chandler is trying to find a new roommate and ends up with crazy Eddie. I have lucked out in the roommate department many a time, but my first apartment-mate was a match made in Friends heaven. Seriously, that ten hour marathon I speak of, it happened with her and yes we definitely ordered in Chinese food. Stephanie is the Phoebe would-be, actually Monica of my life.

I actually met Stephanie because I was friends with her older brother and now sister-in-law in college, then life brought us together again for two fabulous years of apartment living and I am all the better for it. Steph is one of those friends that has such a fantastic work ethic, that just being in a room with her will make you want to better yourself; to test your own limits. She’s the type of person that when she sits in a room she elevates it, elevates the conversation, elevates the respect, elevates kindness, etc, but she’s not asking for this to be the case, I’ve just found over the years that people want to be better when they are around her. She inspires everyone to be the best version of themselves, and she does this with kindness and love.

Steph is one of the most thoughtful people that I have ever met, she will send you a care package just because, or bake you cookies, or write wonderful notes of encouragement on your mirror just to give you a pick me up. She asks for very little in return, but that won’t stop her from graciously accepting the gratitude that is heaped upon her. Steph thank you for showing me what true kindness is, for allowing me and so many others into your heart, for laughing with me and crying with me, and for always being willing to sing stupid songs out loud just because we could. Thank you for showing me what deliberate outreach and care for others can really do for a person. Because you’ve got that one thing. Love you Stephanie.

Day 9

Eric

My senior year of college I was lucky enough to have a week off in the fall, cleverly referred to as Fall Break. It was early October and I was out of my skin excited to be getting on a plane to spend a week in the Big Apple. But really I was excited to spend a week in exploring the city with my pal Eric, who was spending the semester there doing an internship. The week was a blast, not to mention totally gorgeous, seriously the weather that week was phenomenal, and the memories I made there will last a lifetime and that is due to the fact that I spent the week exploring with Eric.

I’ve known Eric for a while, since somewhere between 8th and 9th grade, and we’ve adventured A LOT. We went to Europe after high school graduation for World Youth Day, we had a last minute Spring Break road trip in college, not to mention the countless retreats, driving to and from home, and all the things in between. It has been a pretty splendid adventure, one that is now filled with marriage and fatherhood, beer and music. It reminds me that growing older is always made better when you can do it with friends like Eric.

I could reminisce for days, re-hashing old stories of this and that, but let’s be honest that would really only be fun for a few people. So let me get to it, Eric is a dreamer, he dreams big and somehow even when the dreams don’t seem to work out as planned, they always seem to work out better. I would attribute this to Eric’s determination, he’s always looking to make the world a better place for those who live in it, and he does this simply by doing what he loves. Eric is a photographer and the way he views the world is full of light and optimism, every time I see his shots I see beauty and love and hope. Eric is a musician, he started a band, because he loves music and just wanted to share it with other people, now their CD is in constant rotation in my parents music collection and the crowds they draw when playing around town is like a reunion of old friends; they bring people together. Eric is the friend that always knew just how to keep me distracted, to keep me involved, to not let me collapse in on myself when the going got rough. Most of the time I don’t think he even has a clue if I’m having a bad day or not, but that’s the day I get a snapchat with his “sweater of the day” or his oldest son drawn to look like Batman. This is Eric, he just wants to share what he sees with the world and it’s always thoughtful, sometimes profound, always funny. Eric, thank you for your continued friendship, for always being there with a beer and a smile, for showing me how to dream bigger, and for always giving me hope. Love you brother.

PS Remember that one time in NYC when we walked past people filming Friday Night Lights, or the time we filmed a music video in Brooklyn, or the time we played on the Big piano in FAO Schwartz?!

Day 10

Raven

Working in ministry is one of the best jobs in the world, because if you’re like me, you enjoy forming relationships based on faith with all sorts of people. For me it’s mostly high school aged kids. And every once in a while you meet a kid who’s just got a light, a light so bright that you look at them and think to yourself, “That kid is going places,” and sometimes that bright light of a person sticks around in your life and you become one of the lucky people that get to witness their ascent from awesome high schooler to awesome young adult, and if you’re even more lucky you get to walk with them through it all.

Meet Raven.

I met Raven when she came across the channel to attend her very first leadership camp at Legendary Lodge. It was my first week of camp as a counselor and her first week of camp ever. We struck up a conversation about why she came to camp, and she told me she wanted to grow in her faith and hopefully help others grow in theirs, but it wasn’t easy because she’d had to arrange to take all of her high school finals early in order to come to camp for the week. Little did I know that, that conversation would lead to 10 years of walking with and growing in faith together.

Raven will make you smile and sometimes make you cry because, well, she just reaches into your heart and pulls right at the string which most needs pulling. She’s patient and kind and always knows just what you need. She’ll always listen to you, even while you ramble and try as I might to deflect from answering the question she asks, she’ll always bring me right back to it. Growing up with brothers I never really wanted a little sister, but I found one with Raven, and learned very quickly what I had been missing out on, and for that too I am grateful. 

Raven is a burst of sunshine when she walks into a room, everyone is drawn to her because she is always warm and kind to all those she meets. Raven is strong and loves fiercely and those who have experienced this, know that she will be there for you regardless, she’s that person you call knowing she will stop whatever she’s doing and be there for you. She’s shown me what true sacrificial love is, and to put it bluntly, if anyone in the world has taught me what it means to reflect the love of Christ, and to lay down one’s life, it’s Raven.

Raven, I cannot thank you enough for all the light and love that you have brought into my life the last 10 years, but I can only hope and pray for many more years of dancing, laughing, crying, praying, friendship, and whatever else life throws our way. I love you.

Day 11

Lauren and Eugen

I have some of the best married friends and these two are no exception. I have been blessed by their friendship since college, though Lauren and I met at camp initially, it wasn’t until I transferred to Carroll where I found friendship with both of them.

Eugene and I “officially” met in our moral theology class and right away I knew it was going to be a good semester, mostly because Eugene wasn’t afraid to speak his mind in class, and to challenge all of us in our way of thinking. It also helped that he was snarky and was always willing to continue the conversation post class over food or beer. Lauren and I never had class together because she is much smarter than me, and highly gifted in the science department, but that didn’t stop us from becoming friends who enjoyed joking around and being a goofy as possible.

I can’t sing their praises enough because they’ve just been fabulous friends and humans and have always been willing to sit and hang, or play board games, grab a beer, sit quietly and listen intently, or just swap stories and chill. After Lauren and Eugene got married they moved to Boston for school opportunities and life, and I would be lying if I said that didn’t play a big part in my desire to attend Boston College for grad school. After a couple of years of Skype dates and trying to catch each other during holidays I was going to be able to see them on a regular basis for six weeks every summer…and let me just say, it was magical.

Both Lauren and Eugene are my sounding board, they listen as I talk about life and ministry and  they both have always encouraged me to follow my dreams. Eugene is the friend that pushes me not to just plan for something in the future but just to do it, and that it okay if it’s not perfect the first time around, that the important thing is to just start. Lauren is quieter about it she encourages me to be realistic, to try new things, but most of all that its okay to be afraid of stepping out your front door into a new and unknown adventure.

Thank you both for your friendship and advice. For pushing me to be the best that I can be, for nerding out for hours about Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. For spending hilarious amounts of time watching soccer and playing board games, for walking around downtown Boston just catching up and for all the moments in between. Love you guys!

Day 12

Alex

Part of me really wants to just post a picture and leave it at that, with no explanation, just a picture and a blank page. Those who know Alex would probably laugh, because they know, but I feel whatever world is reading these posts without knowing would just be confused, also that would be the easy way out.

Alex is the friend that probably infuriates me the most, but really it’s just because our personalities are very opposite in certain respects. Alex takes his time, and I never realized how much I needed to learn how to sit in silence with another person until he came along. I also wouldn’t have really considered my self a “planner” until Alex showed me that sometimes trusting in the Lord, means not having a thousand back-up plans, but that sometimes you just have to take the plunge.  And while he may infuriate me, I wouldn’t want anyone else in my life to remind me to take a deep breath, say a prayer, listen, and it’s okay to take your time.

I first met Alex when I volunteered at camp and we got plopped into a small group to be co-leaders together. Sometimes he wouldn’t be at small group and the times that he was there he usually just let me take the lead, this was the first time I became infuriated with him, but he quickly diffused my annoyance when he told me that I didn’t need him to take the lead, that I was doing well and that I didn’t need his permission to guide our small group. How else was I going to know if I could do it if I wasn’t allowed to at least try? How could I be mad at him for allowing me to try? How could I be mad at him, when it wasn’t because he was lazy but because he understood that it wasn’t about him, but the young people we were working with, our goal was the same, it didn’t matter who was helping guide them along. In a two minute conversation (which he definitely doesn’t remember) I learned more about ministry and myself than I would have previously believed possible.

Alex, thank you for showing me what trust is, thank you for being patient with me and in turn teaching me when to push and when to wait. Thank you for your presence in my life, and thank you for continuing to do the good works of the Lord around the world. Love you friend and peace in Christ.

Day 13

The Trediks

One of the best parts of my job is that it brings people from all over and in all walks of life together. I met the Tredik family 6 years ago when they were dropping their kids off at camp, and if you had told me then that they would become a second family to me, honestly, I totally would have believed you. They are pretty stellar humans and I am forever blessed that as my ministry continued and grew that they became more involved and our lives intersected more and more. They are kind and generous, hospitable and loving, and I am continually thankful that this career in which I was called to has brought me such rich and beautiful relationships and community.

Craig and Diane are two of the most wonderful people in the world. They are kind and generous and love their boys fiercely. I cannot tell you how many times they have sat and listened to me drone on and on about ministry. They are excellent sounding boards but also excellent ministers themselves. Their hearts are open to all those they meet (young and old) and they always want to make sure that you’re getting what you need. They are fantastic parents and they are inspiring to many, parents and non-parents alike. Craig and Diane, thank you for all your thoughtful responses, the laughs, and a bed to crash in whenever I need it. Love you guys.

Cody, in all fairness and in full disclosure I did meet Cody first sans family, and I always new that this kid was going places. It has been such a pleasure to see the kind and loving young man who has a heart for ministry he has grown into. Cody is dedicated to all those whom he loves and the things that he loves, we can sit and talk for hours about movies, pop culture, ministry, prayer and everything in between. Cody, thank you for all your prayers and the time spent watching movies and discussing them ad nausea with me. I’m so blessed to have you in my life. Love you.

Spencer, ahhh man Spencer is just one of the funniest people, from texting you memes and hilarious selfies he always knows just what you need to have your spirits lifted. Spencer is also one of the kindest people that I’ve ever met. I know I’ve used the term “kindest” a lot, but if you know Spencer you’ve definitely experienced his giant heart. Spencer, thank you for the laughs and the time spent convincing me that my insecurities are dumb, and then reminding again me when I let them get the better of me. Love you brother.

Mason well Mason is one of the most convicted humans I have ever met. When he knows what he needs and what others need he will stop at nothing to make it happen. It’s truly inspiring and I know that he will achieve great things. Mason is also sarcastic and witty as hell and it is usually my goal to at least make him chuckle on occasion. At the end of the say though the kid has a heart of gold…it’s just buried under a lot of ice. Mason, thank you for keeping me laughing, for always being willing to deflect from uncomfortable situations or  just wallow in them with me, for always being quick with a cynical joke, and thank you for serving our country. Love you brother.

Love you Trediks! (Except Trixy)

Day 14

Rebecca

One age old adage that I heard over and over again in my high school days was, “You’ll meet some of your best friends in college,” and boy, I couldn’t be happier that this adage turned out to be true.

I met Rebecca when I accidentally locked myself off of our floor Freshman year, she was the only one who heard me knocking, she came out iPod in hand and earbud in ear and opened the door. We didn’t exchange anything more than a thank you and you’re welcome, but in maybe another weeks time we were sitting down to lunch together in the Food Zoo, and that my friends is the beginning of our beautiful friendship.

It’s crazy to think that I have known this spectacular human for over ten years and it just goes to show that time only makes us stronger. Rebecca is one of the funniest, nerdiest, kind, and loving humans to ever walk this earth, and I am astounded that dumb luck, fate, or, for me, God brought us together on the 9th floor of Jesse Hall all those years ago. Rebecca has picked me up and dusted me off more times than one should have too and yet she is one of the first people I want to talk to when my day sucks and when my day is good. Our constant nerding out over Harry Potter and other literary and fictional characters cannot be contained (seriously, have you ever seen our Facebook profiles, we share A LOT of stuff). We can sit and watch The West Wing for hours, and she is possibly the only person in the world that I will tolerate cats for. Rebecca is my voice of reason, she reminds always that it’s okay to feel what I’m feeling, and to be unashamed of being hurt or angry, because at the end of the day it’s how you use those emotions for better or for worse that will define what happens next.

Most importantly Rebecca is the glue. She’s the glue that holds our relationship together, I

try to not be flaky but even I know that when I have a good thing going I sometimes take it for granted and Rebecca brings me back task. She’s the glue that holds a lot of things together including other friendships, relationships, work, etc. She’s quiet and strong and exceptionally organized, I am envious and inspired by her gentle leadership of others, by her passion for her work and for her support of others in finding their passions. I can most honestly say that I don’t know who I would be without her, she argues with me and even when we don’t agree she has made me more compassionate and understanding to others’ view points. She has helped me excel in what I do, because she listens to all the stuff, even though she doesn’t live in my world of ministry, but her advice knows no bounds and is often just what I need because it’s real world and concrete.

Rebecca, thank you for all the years of love and laughter, thank you for holding us together when I started to drift, and thank you most of all for your kindness and strength of spirit and for teaching me that I can always be better. I love you Pows.