Happy reunions and sad good-byes

I have been blessed to know some remarkable people. Not long after my mission I moved in with a fantastic group of girls who have been dear to me ever since. We were able to get together this weekend for a few hours before we all went our separate ways.


Audrey and I are the only ones who stayed in Utah after graduation. We both moved up to the Salt Lake Valley and ended up working at Westridge together for a year. She has always been a great support for me, as well as a guaranteed laugh. She and her husband have taken a position at another RTF and are in the process of moving to Texas as we speak. Except for her semester in Egypt, we've not lived much more than 30 minutes from each other since 2003. While I am genuinely happy for their excellent opportunity, it was sad saying good bye and she will be missed.

Liz lived with us for just a year before she got married. She has such a compassionate soul and a deep abiding testimony. What a great girl. She continues to be an example and an important part of my extended support system. She and her little family live in North Carolina right now which made her joining us for our brief reunion a bit tricky. She was definitely there in spirit though, and we did what we could to include her in the pictures of our afternoon.

Krysta and I lived together the longest and probably spent the most time together during our years at BYU. We had so many adventures together including road trips across the country and heading up an interfaith program. She is an inspiration to me and I think she might be one of the most Christ-like people I know. She recently returned from a mission in New Caledonia (an island near Fiji) and came out to Utah for a bit to visit some family and friends. She is doing so well and it has been great seeing her again.

Through Krysta and her family I have developed something of a relationship with Marvin Goldstein. We worked together on a big concert in LA a couple years ago, and I've enjoyed meeting up with him when he comes out to record in Utah. Krys and I went down to Lehi on Friday for a brief reunion.