Johanna Estrada

I never thought I'd find a person so opposite of me, that I can relate to and get along with so well. 

Johanna has been my friend throughout junior high and high school, but we haven't had the chance to really talk until this year. Since Survey of Jazz is a waste of time, we have lunch dates almost every week. She is just the kind of person that is interesting to talk to. 

Very rarely do you find someone who is intelligent enough to discuss ideas and concepts instead of just gossip or news. We analyze different relationships and feelings and come up with some pretty interesting things. I admire her relaxed outlook on school, yet extensive knowledge and excellent grades. 

Without much effort at all she always manages to pull everything off. 

and she is hilarious. Who else would do this besides maybe me? 

Ah i love just hanging out with her and being with her, she's fantastic. 

She is most definitely an honorary Chi Omega. I'm inspired by her ability to make friends and be so likable. She makes friends with random people in classes, and is brave enough to come to st. george with the Chio pledges. I love her personality and friendliness.

Another thing about Johanna is she never judges. She hung out with a group of people who did all sorts of things contrary to her standards, but she still stuck with them, hung out with them, and was a great friend to them despite the fact that she never participated. She has such great relations with people who seem too different or not good enough. I love her friends and the people she knows. 

Thanks

Love you

<3

Will Watkins

Will Wat. Is there a better guy?

I became good friends with Will my junior year of high school. We were so lucky to have a class together, physics. I respected and admired him from the moment I met him and we always had a blast together. He is a great person, and overall, I'm inspired by him. 

First, he is so smart. You could ask him any question and he could tell you. If a 4.0 GPA and 33 ACT score isn't enough, he took all AP classes, and always challenged himself. He played basketball as well, and was the friendliest person. I admire people who have to ability to put knowledge and education first, but not be completely adsorbed in it. He was able to get into MIT as well as keep up a relationship with his girlfriend, play on the basketball team, and be a great person. 

I love that even though he isn't mormon, he demonstrates excellent values. He looks at life very logically and makes decision based off common sense instead of religion. My goal is to convert him someday:) 

Only Will would bake a cake and frost it with calculus. Best Valentines answer ever. Love it. 

He's amazing and I treasure the fun times we had! 

<3 

Mary Stevens

This is my shout out to my owl pal! She is the best person you will ever meet. Never a dull moment, yet a definite serious side as well. I'm inspired by what she shared with me. 

<3 <3 <3

Mary is fun. The second you meet her you want to be her best friend. She could talk to anyone and make friends with them too. She always is looking for something fun to do, and something worth doing. She cares about you, is very inclusive, and most importantly is an amazing friend. I don't know the details about her relationship with Tessa, but I know that she is a person who will always be there for you no matter what. I've only known her for a few months, but even I can trust her with my thoughts, feelings and secrets, and I am blessed to have met her. 

"No, life cannot be understood flat on a page. It has to be lived; a person has to get out of his head, has to fall in love, has to memorize poems, has to jump off bridges into rivers; has to stand in an empty desert and whisper sonnets under his breath... We get one story, you and I, and one story alone. It would be a crime not to venture out, wouldn't it? It might be time for you to go, time for you to leave. Time for you to change, and time to try something new. And you will not be alone. You have never been alone. Don't worry, Everything will still be here when you get back. It is you who will have changed."

-Through a Painted Desert By Donald Miller

10 Things MVS Knows:

1) Everyone has a story worth hearing.

2) It doesn't matter how old you are, life is coming to a close quickly.

3) There is definitely light at the end of the tunnel.

4) NEVER STRESS.

5) Life is about relationships.

6) You determine your life, and thoughts become things-- Stay positive.

7) Nothing in life in constant.

8) Time will sharpen or dull your senses by the way you move through life and its experiences, don't fall into repetition. 

9) Look out for the underdog.

10) LIVE IN THE PRESENT. 

"I've learned one thing. And that's to quit worrying about the stupid things. You have four years to be irresponsible, relax. Work is for people with jobs. You'll never remember the class time, but you'll remember the time you spent hanging out with friends. So stay out late. Go out with your friends on a Tuesday when you have a paper due on wednesday morning. Spend money you don't have. Don't be scared. Stop swallowing your words, and say what you think. Wear what you want. Say what you want. Listen to the music you want, and play it as loud as you want. Then dance to it. laugh til it hurts. Go out for a drive at midnight just because you want to. Forget you have school the next day, and stop waiting for Friday. Do it now. Take risks and tell your deepest secrets. This life is yours so never miss an opportunity to have fun. There are a lot of things we don't have to do in life, but its these things that make all the difference. Have fun. Do what you want to do when you want to do it. Don't worry about your past or your future, because life is the moment you are living right now. Because the work never ends, but college does."

-Mary Stevens, November 3rd, 2011

Matthew Driggs

Matthew Danger Driggs

Thank you for inspiring me to be a better person. Thank you for putting up with me, and making me feel like an amazing person. Thank you for being an amazing boyfriend and most importantly, a best friend. 

I love you so much!

I love Matt for soooo many reasons. I fell in love with Matt the second I met him. I had just moved into the ward, and he was in my sunday school class. His dad was our teacher, and he was so cute, outgoing and funny, and at that instant i wanted to be his friend.  I had a crush on him for 3 years, and we finally hung out thanks to MBG. During those times he told me his stories about all the girls he had dated and kissed. I was immediately attracted to him because he was so likable and popular. He had dated so many people, and he had so many girls after him. He makes everyone he talk to feel like they are the only person that matters. Even if he really dislikes someone, he would never do anything to be mean. I love the way he treats others. 

My journal says, "I wish I could say I had my first kiss with Matt tonight, but it didn't happen." I wanted to kiss matt ever since my first sneak out in ninth grade. I love the way that he is always down to do something. Even when he's tired, and has other things to do, he always says yes. I wouldn't really feel like sneaking out, it was so much work and I was tired, but he came all the way up to my house alone, one night, and knocked on my window. I didn't even come outside, he just talked to me from my window. I love that about him.

I'm so glad we had the opportunity to experiment with each other a little bit, but then make our separate ways during sophomore and junior year. When we grew really really close over the summer before senior year, I knew that he was the guy I really had been in love with in seventh grade, and that I wanted to date him. I was so lucky to be his girlfriend in December. Despite the millions of girls chasing after him, he chose me. I loved him so much. We had a fantastic relationship and a blast dating.

Throughout everything, I love the way he treats me. I know we've been through a lot, and it's sometimes hard, but he never fails to tell me how much I mean to him. He leaves me notes, tells me stories, gives me massages, and even writes me songs!! He tells me that I'm the only girl for him, and even if I don't shower or put effort into what I look like he still thinks I'm beautiful. I love the way he makes me feel, the way he kisses me and hugs me and holds me. I love his family, and his personality, and his voice. He's so talented and he will make an amazing husband. 

I love you. 

Abby Gilson

My Little Sister <3

I always thought that I would be the one to teach my brother and sisters, and to show them what to do in my example and experience. But Abby has taught me so much. 

Guitar: She wanted to play the guitar, so she asked for one for Christmas, and immediately learned chords and songs and practiced all the time. She has now taken over the Taylor Swift songbook and can play almost any song from the fearless album. She teaches me chords and sings with me. She has the most beautiful little voice, and I have full confidence in her. She has already written a few songs. I'm so proud of her. 

Relationships: Abby has always been a mama's girl, but she continues to be so kind to my mom. I love the way that she hugs and cuddles with her. She sticks up for her when I'm rude, or asks her advice or questions.  I wish I had that relationship with my mom

Abby is also an excellent spanish student. I love that she is the one Megan goes to when Megan needs help, and that Abby actually knows the answers. She's so smart and lucky. 

The thing I love most about Abby is that she loves me. I can just tell that she wants to be just like me. She always is excited to tell me stories, show me her accomplishments, talk tumbling and dancing and fun activities. She doesn't hesitate to come with me on errands or talk to me. She is my mini-me but better, and she is going to be an excellent person when she grows up. 

I LOVE YOU ABBY! 

Thanks for your inspiration.

Winder

There are a million things I could say about Kenzie Droubay. I am blessed to know her and am so thankful to have her as my cousin. I know we will be best friends forever, and that we're always here for each other. Linder & Winder

Kenzie gives up anything she wants at the moment for herself, and puts others first. She doesn't worry about how something will effect her, she instead worries about always being there for someone. She cares about Austin, Connor, Jared, and her parents as well as her friends. Even if she has an argument with her mom, I know she respects and loves her always. She also has this amazing caring relationship with her dad. He cares about her, and she cares so much for him. She's always worried about him, and caring about him. Most of all, she cares about me. Even though I have bitten her, been rude, ignored, and thought of her below me in the past, she still loves me. She has overcome anytime in our past where we weren't close and forgiven me. She always texts me, writes me letters, shares her stories with me and accompanies me to the temple. She is one of the most caring people I know, and i love her.

I'm proud of you kenz, you have dealt with relationships much more complicated than a simple romantic interest. You care for people who genuinely need you, and you want to help them. You're an amazing person, so don't settle for less. You don't need Ryan. You're perfect on your own.

It's the little things too. Her temple attendance and dedication is admirable. I love going to the temple with her. She has a very strong testimony of the gospel despite her dad not often going, or a "forced" church attendance like I have grown up with. She takes the time to appreciate and pass on meaningful and helpful quotes. She knows what she wants, and tries her very hardest to achieve it. Basketball is lucky to have a player like you. 

"So chill, way cool girl, who anyone would be lucky to be friends with" -Matt Driggs

"Linds, i love your cousin, she's the cutest, nicest girl." - Alyse Morgan

Don't waste your time with people who don't realize how amazing you are. Keep up what you're doing. You have been strong for so long, it's who you are. Never stop running even when you're about to pass out running up that hill. Just make it to the top, and everything will be okay. 

In your honor. 

"What lies behind us and what lies before us

are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

True Love

This is a book about two lovers that are from completely different worlds, but somehow, they HAVE to be together. Every time they touch, sparks fly and they are so in love nothing could ever come between them. This is inspiring because they don't need money, friends, family support, or convenience to be together. They don't worry about cheating or other interferences because they're in love. Truly in love, and that's all that mattered, over everything. I hope to find something like this someday. 

"I love you, Ethan"

For a second, I didn't know what to say, because "I love you," didn't seem like enough. It didn't say everything I wanted to say--that she had saved me from this town, from my life, my dad. From myself. How can three words say all that? They can't but I said them anyway, because I meant them.

 "I love you too, L. I think I always have."'

"That part of her I thought I would never be able to reach, the part she kept closed off to the world. I felt it open up, just long enough to let me in. She was giving me a piece of herself, the only piece that was really hers."

True love is inspiring <3

Emma Watson

If I could be any other person in the whole world, I think I would choose Emma Watson. She is such a respectable, intellectual, and put together person. She knows what she wants, and she is so accomplished. I adore everything about her, and she inspires me to be better everyday.

Education: 

"I've have felt for the last 10 years i have had this battle; I've been fighting so hard to have an education." "I always loved school- I was a proper, proper nerd. I always miss school, I want to go back and discover what else there is."

"I'm going to do what i want to do. I'm going to be who I really am. 

I'm going to figure out what that is."

Standards:

"I find the whole concept of being ‘sexy’ embarrassing and confusing. 

My idea of sexy is that less is more. The less you reveal the more people can wonder."

"I have never had coffee or tea. I have never had the desire, 

and I don't think that caffeine for particularly healthy."

Life: 

 "I have way too much money to know what to do with it. 

I bought a laptop and a Toyota Pruis, but that's the most expensive things

 I've spent my money on outside of education."

"Cleanliness is good."

"Believe in yourself and go for it."

"I realized at a very young age that I was responsible for myself"

<3 <3 <3

Taylor Swift

"I think most of us fear reaching the end of our life, and looking back regretting the moments we didn't speak up. When we didn't say 'I love you.' When we should've said 'I'm sorry.' When we didn't stand up for ourselves or someone who needed help."

"I think love is FEARLESS"

Fearless is having fears and doubts

It's living in spite of those things that scare you to death

It's falling in love again, even though you've been hurt before.

It's fighting for what you want over and over even though you always fail.

Fearless is saying goodbye to someone you can't live without.

It's fearless to fall for your best friend, even if he's in love with someone else

Loving someone despite what people think is fearless. 

That's why love is FEARLESS"

"Just be yourself, there is no one better."

Taylor Swift is one of my very favorite people in this world. She is so unique, not afraid of chasing her dreams, and has accomplished so much. I love all of her songs, and her amazing ability to put feelings into words. When people aren't there for you, music is. She is one of the reasons I have been so into music, piano, and writing lately. 

"These days I've been trying to classify my thoughts into two catagories: "Things I can change" and "Things I can't."

 It seems to help me sort through what to really stress about."

Will you take a moment. Promise me this.

That you'll stand by me forever <3

Marjorie Hinckley

“The only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it. You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh. Crying gives me a headache.” 

“I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. 

I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp.

I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches

 for a sick neighbors children.

I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden.

I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my checks and the tears of a friends on my shoulder. 

I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived."

“The trick is to enjoy life. 

                                                                                  Don't wish away your days, 

waiting for better ones ahead.

 The grand and the simple. 

They are equally wonderful.” 

President Hinkley is the first prophet that I remember listening to and loving. I love his wife and all she has to say, and the reminders that she has of living a good life. She's inspiring

Forever Friendship

A man bought his lion as a cub in the 60's and when it got too big, he let it into the wild of Africa. Years later, this lion was the alpha male in a nature reserve and was supposedly really violent. This man went to visit the lion and it walked right up to him and gave him a hug. 

I'm inspired to make forever friendships so that no matter how long it's been since we've been together or talked, we can greet each other with a hug and it will be as if no distance ever came between us. 

Sophie Rose Barton

 April 9th 1993- June 28th, 2010

This is a life that is beyond comparison. Sophie Rose Barton taught me more than I ever could have asked for! She set the most amazing example of spirit, act, deed, service, and friendship. She is beautiful in every way, and I am so thankful for her life. She accomplished her earthly task in only 17 short years, a task most of us take a life time to achieve. Her inspiration:

Humility

Bigger Person

Thankful for what you have

Laughing always

Being happy

Gospel strength

Putting the gospel first

Music

Reaching out to others

Not judging

Understanding

Forgiving

Don't settle too long, for too less

Those are just some of the main points that I have learned from Soph's life. Because of her I want to take every opportunity for friendship, everyone has a story to tell and something to teach. I never want to take for granted my family and I should never miss an opportunity to tell them how much I love them. You never know when a simple note can mean the world to someone. Because of her I want to never judge anyone, and give everyone a chance. And most of all I want her to never be forgotten <3

"The years have come and gone and your still standing strong
oh I've never met anyone like you.
You stay up late at night, work until the morning light
oh your making all our dreams come true
when I look into your eyes, something in me comes alive
oh i just hope you know that
you really do shine through and I know i never showed it enough, but I wrote this just for you
so you can see your light shines on me
and I know your never giving up on me.

I've been thinking of the memories.

I want you to be there when your gone, I want you to hear me sing my song

you are the one who calls my name, and I'll always think of you the same

cause you really do shine through and I know I never show it enough

but I wrote this just for you

so you can see your light shines on me and I know your never giving up on me"

-SRB

Love and miss you always