Why friendship is the most important relationship you will EVER have besides your family

So there is this thing called friendship. What is it? Why is it valuable? What's the point?

I have this theory that all humans strive for a connection with other humans. It's a basic need of human life. I am sure that it is psychologically proven somewhere... but I simply want to relay what I have experience and observed in my experience of friendship.

This picture is missing two

Impromptu survey about this idea of "friendship": *brace yourself*

What is friendship?
Kadee: "Finding the good in other people and caring enough to find that 'good' in other people"... "And popping each others back"

Ashley: "Can you come back to me?"...  "I'm just trying to make my brain think... its been a long day"... "Friendship is making each other go to dances and dress up as crazy 80's ladies"...  "Friendship is counting down the days until you go to Florida together even though you spend every single day together!"...

Emma: "Umm, what is friendship?".... "Being able to be your true self without fear of being judged" ..."Being able to tell your deepest secrets without fear"

Sierra: "Friendship is cuddling without feeling weird"

Mac: "Ummmm.... ummm.... erase that. Uri. Friendship is... *pause for effect* being able *pause for effect again* to have a good time no matter what you're doing"

Uri: Understanding that you have the potential to be connected with them on the deepest level

What is the most important aspect of friendship?
Kadee: "Trust and charity = package deal"
Ashley: "Reliability"
Emma: "Loyalty"
Sierra: "Trust"
Mac: "Trust"
Uri: Unwavering trust and complete acceptance

The faces that we make when we realized that we would be going to Florida in less than two weeks!!!!!
... all together...
...with each other...
.... for a week....

What first draws you to a friend?
Kadee: "There isn't something that actually draws me to friends. I just want to know everybody. I want to know everything about them, but I don't go out of my way to know them"
Ashley: "Their attitude"
Emma: "Similarities, something to connect with them. Isn't that how you make friends?"
Sierra: "If we have something in common"
Mac: "If they actually talk to me"
Uri: They can break through my awkwardness to see to the real me... even if the real me is awkward too

Cuddling without feeling weird

What is going to make you lose a friend?
Kadee: "If they don't put forth the effort that I am willing to put forth into them"
Ashley: "I lost them more because they don't try to hang out and make connections."
Emma: "Utter Betrayal. Not just betrayal, but if you betray me and don't feel guilty"
Sierra: "If they do something to seriously offend me or what I believe in."
Mac: "Betrayal"..."Once you give me the wrong wi-fi password its all over"
Uri: Trust is the hardest thing for me to give. And once you break it, it's not likely that you are going to get it back. I think distance is what does it. I think there is emotional distance, physical distance, spiritual distance, and intellectual distance. I think if you have any two at the same time, you are going to begin to lose a friend.

What makes best friends?
Kadee: "When you can fart around each other... and just open the window and ignore it..."

Emma: "I make everyone listen to me"... "A best friend is someone who will finish a song when you start it... every time."... "A best friend is someone who you can come home to your bed and they will be asleep in your bed and its okay"

Ashley: "People that care about you on your worst days and your best days. Who are there for you no matter what"..."When you know you're going to do bad on something, or you don't look great but they still give you a pep talk and tell you you'll do great"..."Pillow talk"...

Sierra: "People who can laugh with you at 2 in the morning and then turn around and give you the most heartfelt advice".. "A best friend is someone who knows that you love sour patch kids and still takes them from you."..."A best friend encourages you to buy a 2lb bag of Sour patch kids, and pie, and four boxes of popsicles and chocolate and cookies...  "..."and then will throw up with you a day later"..."When they support you on ratchet-Thursday"

Mac: "When no matter what happens you know that that person is going to be there for you. It could be something very little that is going upset, or something huge. All that matters is that you know they're going to be there for you. And you can talk to them about anything... and buying matching thongs"..."Someone who would help you bury the body"

Uri: Someone who knows exactly what you need to hear when you need to hear it. Someone who isn't afraid to tell you what is on their mind. Someone who will support you when you are PMSing and hating every male on the planet. Someone who you knows you better than you know yourself. Someone who will let you bounce your crazy ideas off of them. Someone who will reply to your text at 2 o' clock in the morning to help you sort out your late night thoughts. Someone who gives you an ab workout from laughing so hard. Someone with who you make pact to not shave your legs until you go to Florida (Gross... I am sasquatch). Someone who thinks your every joke is hilarious. Someone who lets your barge into their dorm in your bathrobe just so you can tell them something stupid. Someone who hates the boy you hate just because you hate them (DeBORah/Delores & Spawn of Satan & SOI [Who is SOI? I don't remember...]). Someone who sends you the grosssssest snapchats. Someone who will steal your phone and take pictures of themselves 'pinching' your booty. Someone who doesn't mind cuddling even though its only a twin sized bed. Someone who doesn't believe you when you say that everything is "fine". Someone who sends you pins from pinterest during class so that you look stupid when you are trying to hold in your laughter. Someone who tags you in relate-able instagram posts. Someone who talks about living together in a house when you're old so that your kids can be best friends and so that I can raise yo babies. Someone who you can tell your greatest doubts to and they reassure you. Someone who you are completely comfortable with.

I told you I would post it somewhere :'D

When you are all wearing tights and boots... you have to take a picture.
We didn't even plan this...

Quotes via Pinterest (thanks Emma)
"A true friend is one who lifts you up to a higher standard."

"Family isn't always blood. It's the people in your life who want you in theirs. The ones who accept you for you who are. The ones who would do anything to see you smile & who LOVE YOU no matter what."

"Best friends: They know how stupid you are and still choose to be with you in public."

"Best friends are people who  make your problems their problems, just so you don't have to go through them alone"

"Friendship isn't about who you've known the longest. It's about who walked into your life and said 'I'm here for you' and proved it'."

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Friendship is^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

~Vicious and Delicious~

#SVUFamily

Winter Wonderland, or just SVU?

When asked: "What do you think about the snow?"

Kadee: "Hell." (She is from Arizona) "If I have a honeymoon in a cabin and there is snow- I will love it. But until then, I hate snow"

Ashley: "I think It's wonderful. I just think it's funny how everyone is freaking out about it." (She is from Utah)

Emma: "I love it. It's comforting. It makes me feel like I'm in a snowglobe" (She is from Canada)

Sierra: "I HATE IT" (She is from Idaho Falls)

Mac:"Hmmm, I like it in moderation. I don't like a lot of it. I like powdery snow. I don't like icy snow. It reminds of me of Sun River" (She's from Oregon)

Uri: I LOVE IT I LOVE IT I LOVE IT I LOVE IT I LOVE IT I LOVE IT! I love the snow because it makes the Earth beautiful. I love it because of the memories I have associated with the gentle glide of the downfall of the small ice particles. I also love fantasizing over the idea of classes being cancelled. I love the snow because it leads to impromptu photo shoots. I love the snow because sometimes it leads to creating a cave under a desk and you crawl in there and plan to never leave (MAC). I love the snow because it leads to store runs to buy ice cream, chocolate, a 2LB bag of sour patch kids, reeses and cookies.  I love the snow because it gives me validation of cold weather--> At least it is pretty and cold at the same time and not just cold and miserable! 

It also gives me an excuse to have the most awesome day in the snow flurries with my bestest friends in the whole wide world. 

I love it here in this winter wonderland. I love it here with you gals. Just make sure you don't flip someone off in the "Canadian Way". Make sure that your lip isn't ticklish. Make sure you aren't a Popsicle whore. Make sure that if you are going to pick a wedgie--> please please make sure that someone isn't filming. Make sure that you don't commit to eating a 2LB bag of Sour Patch Kids before you realize how much sugar that is. Make sure that you move your beds together to make a "cuddle puddle".  Make sure that when you have a snow day that you spend it with the best people on this planet. (See Pictures Below). 

Ladies, I love you. Thanks for being who you are. <3 Vicious and Delicious

"On Monday's we wear black" ~Mac Cottle~

What am I doing with my arm?

Little did they know that when I said, "Wait, take another picture" that I was planning on getting some
great candid shots. I guess you could say that Sierra is a little bit ticklish  :')

My absolute favorite picture of all time.

When you slip on the ice

My favorite people.

Let's keep the wonderland but move on from the winter. 

From the High to the "U"

Let me tell you about the difference in High School and University.

 The difference between the two is like the difference between soy sauce and frosting. (If you don't get it, that's a big difference...)

My Freshman year- I started out going to a charter school that 9th grade, 10th grade and 11th grade. There was no senior class. This school had 25, maybe 30 high school students. And I was was one of them.

The first few weeks were awful. I didn't know anyone. I hit it off pretty quickly with another new girl there- and eventually we made a good group of friends that we did a lot of things with. But it was still hard. I had to be ready to go to school by 5:30AM because right after 6AM seminary I had to catch the bus at 7 and ride for an hour to get to school.

As a freshman- I was taking AP biology (that was the only option they had for science)- and my courseload was a lot. They used this weird integrated math system- so the math was extra challenging as well. It was hard. I was up late and awake early in order to get everything done that I needed. It was exhausting. Through all the hard work and exhaustion- I managed to finish my freshman year with a 4.14GPA and a good group of friends. But I knew that I wasn't going back there for the rest of my high school career.

Literally the most awkward person alive

So here comes sophomore year. I am starting at a new school, again, and a school that was much larger than any other school that I had previously been to. On the bright side, I already knew people from sports and church so I wasn't going to be completely alone. Soccer was going to be starting and I had the impression that it was going to be awesome. And you know, it pretty much was.

Sarah, Hannah, Kailie, Toni, Coby, Kaylee, Me
This was the first real dance that I had been to. We went to dinner
rode in a Limo and it was SUPER fun!

Trying to beautify myself

 The summer in between sophomore and Junior year was SOOOO fun! I did everything with these two below-- and for Toni's 16th birthday we had the opportunity to go to disneyland for three days! It was SO SO SO SO much fun!!!

To be a little sentimental--> I miss these two a lot. They are both engaged now and Kaylee will be married in April and Toni probably in the summer! And that just blows me away! Its crazy to think about how things have changed. Three years ago we were running around D-Land like crazy psycho's and now I am still a psycho and you two are going to be settling down and marrying the men of your dreams!! I love you guys!

This picture is really awkward... but just go with it.

On a side note- I want to give a shout out to Mary. Through high school she was my second mother. I could tell her anything and she was seriously one of my best friends. I called her "mama Workman". She always gave me good advice and Mary I looked up to you so much! You were an amazing example to me! Let's just say that when Toni and Mary moved to Utah... it was traumatic for me. Lots of tears and lots of heart-break... but even though we live thousands of miles away from each other I still consider you guys family! And I intend for it to always be that way! I love you guys!

And Toni-- you know the way I feel about you! haha <3


Alright---- So we move on to Junior year. And I was dang excited for junior year. My friend group had shifted slightly... but not that my friends had changed-- just the time I spent with them began to shift. I was taking some semi-hard classes... but I loved them. I had a really good class schedule my junior year. Overall, it was good year...

I pretty much did everything with these two--> Junior year was a critical time for
our relationships

My 16th birthday--> The beach was super fun!

A hard season- but well fought

The Juniors won the spirit competition!

Junior year was absolute roller coaster for me- emotionally, mentally, intellectually. There were a lot of times when reality smacked me on my back. Junior year was a year where I learned a lot about myself, how I perceive the world and where I fit in relative to the universe around me. I built some strong relatioships--> relationships that were going to withstand some of the greatest trials that I would've never expected before. Overall- Junior year was challenging, but SO SO awesome.

These two are the goofiest

This gal was my best friend for most of my junior year and one of my best during senior

Yearbook signing have us looking fierce!

This was a fun experience... we had this big idea that we were going to sell candy and drinks at the master gardener sale and make a couple bucks for "college" (that's what we told people)-- but I don't even think we broke even... on the bright side the taco's in the next tent over were really good! :-) 

Let me tell you, the water in May is not warm in Oregon-- this is Nesmith park (another part of the adventure of selling candy and soda [see picture above]). We have a lot of memories here.. and a lot of inside jokes... but I pretty much lived at Kynna's for that weekend. It was fun. I learned a lot... Like what "as happy as a clam" means... and how to scale down a cliff...  Sorry, I am beginning to ramble

Kynna, as much as you hate this picture^^ It means a lot to me. Us rebels skipped school and decided to drive to the beach because we were sick and tired of life. I stayed the night at your hosue (ON A SCHOOL NIGHT! *gasp*). Got up early, drove the beach.  We walked ALL THE WAY down the beach (it felt like 10 miles... I'm sure it was only like 1...). Took naps in the freezing cold (because what friends don't nap when they're together?) and just talked. A lot of things went down that day-->  and I am glad that we took that day to just reset:)

When they take your phone and take a bajillion selfies... they are bound to be posted on the internet eventually

Film as Lit (best class EVER)

Lunch time parties
(Me, Al, Tay, Kai, and Kenz)

Kynna loves her Chickens 

Anatomy was one of my favorite classes

So this girl right here has been with me since the womb (literally, our moms were pregnant together). Our relationship has gone through moments of being close and moments of not really talking but she is one of those girls that I can not talk to for months and then see each other and be up until 4AM talking. I love this girl and I feel like our life-long friendship is going withstand the burden of time. <3

Spring break 

We don't know how to surf-- but we sure try

Aright--> So I have finished my junior year of high school. I have my senior summer and I already know that it is going to be awesome! Girls camp was amazing! I got to go to Fresno with Toni and Kaylee and that was AMAZING! I went on a SUPER fun camping trip with Al and Kynna... and we had just a ton of fun day trips that we took! It was SO much fun! And senior year of soccer was starting and let me tell you, it was simply awesome. 

Wacky tacky day at girls camp... we rocked it. 

This was a prank gone bad... we do take credit... but at least we looked good on Camo day...

Kynna--> I know you hate this picture... but I love it. It captures your personality of reflection and analysis... and I love it. But you hate it. Good thing its my blog so I can post it if I want to;)

Goofy and hilarious and gorgeous--> a great group of gals

Love these gals so much---> They made senior year AWESOME

Alli, you're gorgeous, hilarious, a little snarky at times (but I appreciate it), strong-willed and awesome! I'm glad that we became friends! 

Always playing with fire-- toeing the line. And I love it. You keep life real, Kynna. 

Taylor, you are seriously one of the sweetest girls I know--> But as we became better friends I saw a fire in you that I did't know existed. You rock--> and I hope college is treating you well!

Again, GOOFS!

 AND ON TO FRESNO!

Let's just say that the trip was super super fun! 

I look really really really gross in this picture--> but ya'll look great. Especially after scooting through all that goose poop...

You know, I look really really really gross in this picture too

The Two Best Friends <3

...When we almost tipped the canoe :'D

I love you both so much!

"Somebody bring me the peanut butter!"

One of my favorite memories from our friendship was when we went and laid down on the boat dock for hours and just watched the stars and talked. This trip was fun and meant a lot to me. And you guys got to meet my awkward but crazy extended family. 

Alright--> So this is enough of that summer. It's time for senior year to start. Soccer has started- and it's awesome. I have really hard classes my senior year. I'm in AP calculus and in AP European history along with College Writing. (Yes, I am complaining just a bit)... but even though my classes were hard it was super fun. Soccer was amazing--> it sucked at the end, but that is a different story. It was all awesome. I went through some rocky points with my friends--- but we got it all figured out by the end. 

My #1 fan. My main supporter. My rock. The best woman on this planet. Love you to the moon and back mum. 

Soccer season rocked with this rock-start (yes, I am being a goof)

Yes, I am a little aggressive. Sorry to those who play against me now... I'm a little physical

 So I am going to skip from senior soccer to senior prom... just because nothing of consequence really happened in between.

Prom was awesome. 

I can't remember why we were making this face... but I love the picture regardless

Why are we so awesome?

Alright--> So we had a good time at prom. Now it's time to focus and finish this last stretch of classes and finals to make sure that we actually can get into college and all that jazz. 

Bam! I made it. I pass my finals. It's time for graduation. Holy crap. I'm going to graduate. Like... I am going to be getting out of high school and into the world where things aren't so easy. Anyway--> Here's some pictures because I am tired of typing. 

Kynna, I just want to give you a shout out for awesome you are. You taught me a lot about what being a friend truly means and  you taught me a lot about what it means to talk to one another. I'm sorry for the things that I messed up on--> but I am glad that we go through them. Darling I think you are one of the strongest girls I know and I admire you a great deal. I love you Kynna!

Grad Parties!

Hallelujah I am finally done with High School. Hallelujah that I was going to be moving on to bigger and better things. 

Alright. So I have finished High School. I have graduated. I am going to be playing college soccer. I am going to be attending SVU. And I am going to be needing $$$$$$$$$ for school. So I start to work. And I work two jobs meaning that I am now working seven days a week for nearly 60 hours. I am bussssssy. But it's okay. It felt good to be working and to be bringing in some cash flow. Summer was fun! 

Because I knew that I would be leaving in a few short months I devoted a lot of time to my family. My priorities shifted a lot because I knew that I wouldn't be seeing my family every day like I was used to doing. Granted, I did spend time with my friends (we went hiking and all that stuff) but I spent the majority of time with my family. 

Summer was so much fun! As exhausting as it was--> It was really awesome. My brother got home from his mission. We spent a week at the beach and overall it was just awesome. 

Alright. So now you all know about my awesome high school experience. And hopefully if you have kept up on this insane blog you know about college. So what about the differences between the two? What makes college SO much different than this little thing called high school. 

Well first off-- You usually don't live at home when you are at college. So that's a huge difference. I regulate my own schedule. I set my own alarms- I control when I eat, when I do homework, when I work out. I am the master of myself. HELLO ADULTHOOD! It's awesome but can sometimes be very intimidating. 

Second, classes are WAY harder. It takes a lot more dedication and TIME to be able to do well. It takes a lot more intiative to be able to be successful. Now try being a student athlete on top of that. It is so hard but so rewarding. So just be ready to work way harder than you have in high school. 

Third, FRIENDS! Man, the idea of friends has changed SO much for me being here. The majority of my friends like within 15 steps of my dorm. If I need them... I just barge in. If my bathroom is occupied and need to pee... I just barge in. If I need to be irrational, I just barge in. I love it. I love being so close and having parties and sleepovers with them. I love being able to just talk to them about anything. I love that we can be laughing our guts out one minute and talking about deep spiritual things the next. The friends you make in college are your forever friends. (Now I just need all of you guy to move to Oregon... So I can raise your babies) 

Sleepovers are my favorite

There are honestly so many more things that I could say about what the differences are between college and high school-- but I am tired. It's taken me like 10 hours to write this post and my fingers are tired. But just let me tell you something. 

If people tell you that high school is the best time of your life, they are lying to you. 

If people tell you that college sucks, they are lying to you. College is what you make of it. It is only going to suck if YOU make it suck. College is awesome. College is worth every dime. College is the best decision I have ever made in my entire life.

So if I am coming down off of a "High" I don't believe it because SVU is the only cloud nine I need