Jason, Taylor, Abbie & McKay

The hardest part of this whole surgery thing has been not being able to run everyday. This week I've really missed that and I've realized what it does for me, it's when I think about my life. So in hopes to spark some creativity for next weeks photo project and more importantly to plan my February 15th portfolio I decided to take the long walk home from the library tonight in lieu of running. During the walk I couldn't think of anything I wanted to add to my portfolio but rather everything I have been blessed with... my friends, to be at BYU, talents, hobbies, my parents and certainly my siblings. I spent the next few hours thinking about all my brothers and sister have done for me over the past 20 years and the impact they've had on me. They have all married amazing people as well but there's just something about actual siblings...

Just over a year and a half ago Jason and I had a conversation that I can fully credit why I am where I am today to. It started as a casual conversation about Jack's Mannequin's song "I'm Ready" because he found the lyrics interesting but before I knew it we were talking about my future, what I really wanted to do with my life and how to get there. That night he advised me to write down where I saw my life going. Where I envisioned myself in 1, 5, 10 and 20 years, etc. Yeah maybe I haven't even hit the 5 year mark on the time line but he made me realize the importance of planning my life out. At this time I was planning to study business but I felt like I belonged in photography and he helped me come to this realization. Jason is a perfect example of one who plans out his life. I mean come on, how many 10 year olds really know they want to be an orthodontist when they grow up? Jason certainly did. I just love him because he inspires me to do my best.


Taylor has the personality and charisma like no one else. He's the life of every party. I know everyone else likes to be around him just as much as I do. He's a machine; I don't call him Harold Crick for nothing. Only Taylor has a "mail sorting mix" on his i-tunes, knows how long each red light is within a 2 mile radius of his house in Philadelphia, plans his life out down to the second and can make grandpa clogs seem cool. I admire his ability to do fifty seven million things in a day and still have spare time for running, biking, amber and zoe. This kid is insane. I don't know anyone who works harder in school and will do whatever is necessary to get the results he wants. I'll never forget his advice last summer that I will actually loose 4 pounds a year if I eat healthy cereal every morning for breakfast. Thank you Taylor. I love the music swaps and airplane game whenever we're in the same state, or the recent addition of the leg/gas stretches. I just love Taylor.

If someone asked me who my best friend was I'd say my older sister. A day doesn't pass without talking to her on the phone. I love hearing all about what she's up to and she always wants to know what's going on in my life. Shopping with Abbie might be some of my favorite memories, well that and sharing a room (and bed) when we were younger. She is an amazing cook, she taught me how amazing yams and cottage cheese are. That in-and-of-itself is priceless. I always have admired her amazing voice and talent on the piano. I didn't quite luck out like her. I can't think of anyone I would have rather spent the first 10 years of my life matching with every Sunday to church as well as every other day of the week.

Today was a perfect example of why I love McKay. I wasn't having the greatest day and the first person I thought to call to go to dinner with was McKay. After talking with him during dinner everything seemed alot better. Even my best friends will never replace McKay. No one can replace a brother :) I have loved being in Provo with him these past few years, it's been fun grocery shopping, weekly lunch outings, taking classes together, study nights in the library and the occasional vent sessions. I really have been blessed having him here over the past few years and love how close we've become from being here together.


I am grateful for my brothers and sister and can't say thank you enough for being the examples they are to the youngest in the family...