This year for my birthday Justin put together a favorite memory of my list gathered from many of my friends and family and it made me cry. Full on crying on the couch because I love you all. Thank you. Thank you for sharing your lives with me and letting me be a part of it. Sometimes I wonder if I have made an impact on anyone and reading all those recollections means so much to me. I'm saving it forever to read on rainy days. Thank you.
So here are some of my favorite memories of you lovelies.
Carli: I am so lucky that you made such an effort to befriend me when I honestly had no real friends in Pennsylvania. You took me under your wing and adopted me into your squad and coming to rehearsals to talk with you was a highlight! You got so excited to wear the "mermaid" wigs and then the struggle with "do I wear shoes or not." And then eating at Plaza Azteca and the mariachi band kept playing trying to get us to leave ahhahah. And of course always down for a very serious discussion of fictional universes... I remember you explaining how Kylo could maybe not be dead and were so passionate about it. I love you!
Joshua W: I remember when you were younger you would do anything to get a laugh! Such a born comedian. And one time I called you on your birthday when you were probably five and I asked how you were doing and you said, "You know, Rebecca, I'm pretty busy these days." I loved taking you to the aquarium! I love you!
Lydia: I remember when you came to Utah for your eye surgery and I got to see you. I was sorry that you had to go to surgery but was so impressed with how brave you were. When we went on our Florida adventure a few years ago I loved being your buddy for part of it and taking you on the Spiderman 3D ride-- I think I was more scared than you were! I also loved taking you to the aquarium. I love you!
Elise: When I interviewed for moving into the Bunker Hill house I was so overwhelmed and coming from a bad breakup and not ready for more rejection, which I was sure was coming. But I got the room! And from day one you were so kind and welcoming and were like "you can't sleep on the floor let's bring your mattress upstairs" hahaha. Talking with you in the house was like chicken soup for my soul and I have so many fond memories in my journal-- in one of the early ones I wrote "Elise makes it easy to be myself" and I am so blessed to know you! Also I remember you took me clothes shopping before a date once and helped me figure out things that would look good and that is a skill I do NOT have so I'm really grateful. I love you and I value your friendship so much!
Nicole: I was so impressed with your generosity and kindness to let me and Nova stay with you before our flight, and how you and your family came to help me pack up the Utah apartment before the move. You are such a great sister in law and I know if I have questions where I need "a more adult adult" I can ask you. I remember coming to your house for a singalong, around Christmas, I think? and thinking "Wow this is such a cute little house and a cute happy family and I'm glad I know them."
Emily: I loved working with you at WGU and sometimes getting lunch and giving real talk about the questionable management decisions that were being made hahaha. I remember inviting you to the preview performance of Oliver and I was so nervous because I was sick and I really wanted you to like the show. And then after you were so excited and supportive and it made me feel like I could do it. I also love your crafts and someday I am definitely going to order a blanket from you because they are simply the best!
Dad: I remember during my opera at Northwest you left a note on my door that said "Good luck with the show, I love you!" and it meant a lot to me. I also remember in middle school my math teacher jokingly said "what does your dad know?" when I said you'd helped me with my homework and I said "He is a math professor at Northwest College!" because I have always been so proud of you and wanted people to know I was your daughter. I love you!
Colette: I just love talking to you! And I love hearing you DM Justin's game in the background on Wednesdays and how much fun the boys have playing with you. You are so imaginative and quick on your feet, and also I was freaking dying when you were playing the tiefling in Carli's game and teasing Jason. I'm so glad to have met you!
Shelbey: I had pretty much written off making real friends in that huge First Christmas cast but then we got assigned to the same dressing room and the rest is history! I remember when you told me you were pregnant with Marius and I was almost screaming I was so excited. You are a true friend and I always know that you'll give me real talk for whatever problem I'm having. And it was so fun to see you for Christmas a couple years ago. Also I loved when you messaged me about Harry Potter house compatibility between you and Nathanael because that stuff is important! I love you!
Emma M: I loved getting to know you during Drowsy Chaperone! And how we would run around backstage raving about Hamilton and Welcome to Nightvale and everyone called us twins. I could be so silly with you and it was such a joy to find someone with the same sense of humor. I remember OF COURSE coming up with Meet the Neighbors and Shimmer, the trophy wife of Gandalf. And playing Cards Against Humanity with you and Jeremy. You are awesome!
Jeremy: I remember going to see your sci fi murder mystery at the science museum, the one where you were a robot (or android? something like that) and being impressed with how you stayed in character the whole night. I also remember me and Emma casting you in the role of "scientist bee" in our movie because you kept correcting our science and no, I can't explain it any better than that. You are a gentleman and a scholar and I'm glad to know you.
Matthew: I still haven't got to see you since your mission! But from your letters and calls I've seen you really grow up and it's crazy to me that my little brother is a real adult now, out there living life! I remember once you gave me a Valentine in code and I still have it in a memory box. Can't wait till we can see each other again, I love you!
Julia: I love being your sister! You are so funny and kind and totally get me. I remember when we went to Florida just you, me, and Beth and were flying standby on the way home because we missed our original flight. The flight attendant put us behind the door of the loading hallway and was like, "I need to tell the people that the plane has been loaded." I was so happy we all made that flight. And from that same trip I remember our bus driver, Terry, "B for best!" I remember telling you that we were changing our wedding date so that you could be there and being so happy that you were one of my bridesmaids! I love you!
Dallin: I remember playing the Harry Potter board/card game with you guys over Christmas and you were Neville and totally the healing master! I remember watching Star Wars: The Force Awakens in Virginia and sitting by you and we both were so excited! I love you!
David: I have loved watching you grow up and when I get to visit you! I remember a long time ago, in 2012, when we were at Disneyland me and you were on Mr Toad's Wild Ride when it shut down in the middle and we had to walk out on foot. I have never had to do that on a Disney ride before! I love you!
Bethany: Honestly one of the funniest people I know. I remember camping FOREVER ago and you coming up with a story about a failing court jester who wasn't funny, but the story was. "Haha. Ho ho. You have great potential as a jester." I remember playing paper dolls and mixing up all the clothes and Ariel looked good in everything. I treasure your book of Lord of the Rings illustrations and I remember how obsessed we were with John Dee and Niccolo Machiavelli and that we hated the series ending. I love talking to you and hearing about college and I love you so much!
Mama: I have so many memories! I remember coming home to surprise you for Thanksgiving the first year that I moved to Utah and you were so happy and surprised. I remember taking senior pictures at the church by the library and being so proud of my blonde hair. I remember when we were driving to Utah on Christmas for Joshua to be born and everything was so scary and I put my hat weaving loom around my face and said I was Padme Amidala from Episode I and you smiled and I felt good. I remember when it seemed like my wedding dress wasn't going to fit and you sewed it up perfect while I was freaking out. I loved getting to see you in Philadelphia and showing you the Navy Yard. I love you so much!
Scott: I remember you just sending the craziest memes to me after you gave your two weeks notice and I was like "I don't get these at ALL." And then I took the screenshot of The Face and you set it as your desktop hahhaha. I remember having a rough day once and we went hiking and it was a really nice thing for you to do. Also, when you came to help me pack up the Utah apartment and let us use your car to take trips back and forth to the truck. That meant a lot to me that you came to help; I appreciate your friendship. And Kylo Ren is emo.
MaryAnne: You have always been such a firecracker, MaryAnne! I remember when I came home for Christmas one year you just kept hugging me and it made me feel so good to know that I had been missed. I remember seeing YOUR play in Virginia and how good you were in it. I also remember when we stayed at the house in Florida over Christmas I found you sleeping all sprawled out across the bed like you had been dropped from the sky. It didn't look comfy at all but you were totally sound asleep! I love you!
Aaron: I loved seeing you in Philadelphia, it was such a surprise! And I remember waiting for you to be born and thinking every day, this has got to be the day! I love you!
Emma W: It was so awesome to have three days with just you visiting us last year! I was so struck by how much you have grown up since I lived at home and what a mature person you are now. You told me you wanted to try a real Philly cheesesteak and so I decided I would try again, since the first one I tried I didn't like. But the ones we got were amazing and I'm so glad that was your request! I remember walking all over that huge art museum and thinking "how could there possibly be more??" And getting lost on the subway with you in New York trying to find the Empire State building. But we found it! I love you!
Tessa: I remember the first time you came over to my house and I really wanted you to like me and we filmed "commercials" on your video camera. And that was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. I remember calling you at all hours of the night to talk about whatever guy I was crushing on at the time, and how I wrote that crazy letter to Nick and you and I went and watched the ants to distract me from him reading it, hahahahha. I remember sitting in your car before/during/after seminary and drinking purple panther juice. Doing Midsummer Nights's Dream and Awesome 80s Prom and dealing with Fred, hahah. You have taught me to dream big and not to get discouraged if things don't work out the way I want them to right away. I never feel judged by you. We have so many shared experiences-- seeing "Bartholomew" throwing javelins, haha, or stalking the Catholic church. I am so lucky to have your friendship and I can't wait to see you once I get back in the west!! I love you!!
Grandma Midge: I remember when I was eight or nine winning a prize of memorizing the Articles of Faith and getting to bake cookies with you and feeling so lucky and special! You were such a wonderful teacher and role model for me! And of course I have loved spending time with your family and feeling lucky to be included with those wonderful Cozzens. I love you!
Jess and Jaden: Oh my GOSH the My Little Pony fiasco was TOO MUCH TO HANDLE. I remember when Trevor, in response to a bananas in pajamas reference, said “Do your bananas go natural?” and I had to grab Jess’s wrist to stop from completely exploding. I remember Jess and I coming up with Jaden's future food cart / tattoo shop -- Jatertots Jatertats. And Jess, I remember driving to the U with you to get our IDs and having such a great time and Matt making cryptic passive aggressive comments hahhaa. I remember you guys coming over to feed Nova while we were in the process of moving and it was so much less stressful for me knowing that she was in such good hands. I love you guys!
Amber: I don't even know where to start! You are a true kindred spirit. I was worried when you moved to Oregon that we wouldn't talk anymore but thankfully that has not been the case! I remember when we were in the ward with Sister Smith, I think her name was, and we were making chicken for something and part of it had to be vegan and I forgot and then just said, "......we're almost done." I remember watching Downton Abbey with you and making fun of almost everyone, and sitting talking late at night watching the DVD icon bounce around. I remember taking pictures at your wedding reception and a butterfly landed on your bouquet and a fly landed on me. The photographer said "maybe you'll get a butterfly on your birthday" and I said "IT IS MY BIRTHDAY." When Justin and I came out to visit you guys after Sam was born is one of my favorite memories; it was so wonderful to see you again and with a baby no less! I love you so much!
Grandma and Grandpa Sharp: I always remember how generous it was for you to take me in when I first moved to Utah and had no plan or any idea what I was doing! I remember being really unsure of what was going to happen, and you made me feel like I could figure it out, and eventually I did. I remember waiting for you at the airport after your mission and being so happy to see you. I loved coming over for so many Sunday dinners and holidays and family reunions and have always felt like I could talk to you about anything. I remember when I was younger Grandma calling me on the phone and that made me feel really special to talk to her like an "adult." I remember borrowing Grandpa's Lord of the Rings books to read and then talking about them with him. I am so grateful for you being my grandparents and I love you!!
Katie G: Oh man so many. I remember scheming with you to start fake drama at the house by leaving out my library books on the counter and you were going to group text "WHOSE ARE THESE." You planned the perfect bachelorette party and then I thought I lost my phone and you accidentally called the host of the escape room who was like five feet from us. I remember us sneakily looking at apartments together and Nova running at your door full speed to open it. I love going over to your house and playing games and telling you whatever weird neurotic anxiety I'm having at that moment. And I remember when Elise was reading us Harry Potter trivia and we were just SCREAMING the answers before she'd even give us the options. I love you!
Grandma Karan: I remember going to your house for a summer reunion the summer after I graduated high school and you giving me life advice. I have always looked up to you and all the things you've done in your life. I also remember going river rafting with you and getting sunburned but having a blast. I love you!!
