Happy 24th!

Pioneer day!! I know many who look at Pioneer Day and think to themselves, "Wow, this is a ridiculous excuse for a holiday..why are we celebrating pioneers?" Though many think of pioneers as the people who crossed the plains in extreme weather conditions, with worn shoes and clothes, we often overlook the pioneers of today.

There are many people in my life who I consider pioneers. A pioneer, by definition, may be someone who settled or entered a region for the first time, but I feel that a pioneer is also someone looked up to. Someone looked up to by everyone around them. Someone full of talent and fun. I can't even begin to count the number of people I know who fit this category, but I would like to recognize a just a few.



Meeshka! (yes the is the one being kissed :D)

Meeshka is a nick-name for my sister, Missy. We never really got along until a few years ago when she moved to BYU to go to college. You know that saying "You never know what you've got until it's gone?" Missy moving away gave new meaning to that for me. When she attended high school and I still went to Bonneville Elementary, Missy and I pushed each others buttons until we both went crazy. She always looked at me as the person who took her place as the baby and I always saw her as the mean older sister who didn't want anything to do with me. Now, however, Missy and I are BEST FRIENDS! Honestly, if someone were to ask me who my best friend is I would say Missy. I know it's cheesey to say your older sister, but it's only the truth. Missy isn't afraid to tell me if I'm being stupid (which I have been A LOT the last little while) and will help me even if I'm calling about a stupid boy problem at 1:00 A.M. on a school night. She always tells me when I need to shower because I smell terrible, and she tells me when I'm over reacting and helps me try to be less of a dramatic person. (those of you who know me well know I'm pretty good at being dramatic.) Though there are times when we don't exactly get along, Missy and I try to keep peace in our home, try to have fun hanging out with each other and making friends together. I love going to BYU to sleepover night and party with my sister. She may not have been the first person in the Salt Lake Valley, but she is the first person I turn to for help. She sets such a wonderful example to me of someone who keeps trying and does what she needs to to get the job done--no matter how hard it is!



Torio!

Tori Robison is someone I look up to whenever I feel like I just can't take one more step. There's a quote by Elder Neal A. Maxwell that says something like, "In the mutual climb on the straight and narrow path, sometimes we need friends shouting directions to us. But, sometimes it is the warm whispers that help us keep putting one foot in front of the other." Tori exhibits this quality of "giving a warm whisper" like no one I've ever met. Not by literally whispering in your ear, but by the way she walks the path of life. From the pain in her joints to the allergies to putting up with my insane bursts of hyper..ness..Tori keeps going and DOESN'T complain! One thing I know I do a lot is try to use support and sympathy from others to get through hard points in my life. In doing that I usually end up complaining and talking to everyone I know about how terrible this thing or that thing or the other thing are. She never does that. The most I've heard Tori complain about anything is "Ouch! My wrist hurts!!" It is by her amazing example that sometimes when I feel like I'm ready to give up I remember how easy she makes it look to keep going, and try to do the same.



Briiiiiiiiiiiiiigham!

Okay, now Brigham is one of those people who just makes everything good when everything's wrong! Ha, ever since the seventh grade, when we started going to school together, Brigham's been someone I've tried to live up to and be more like. His positivity shows that he loves life and has fun with whatever comes his way. We've had the same handshake for over a year now, and every time we see each other that's the first thing we do! *High ten!* *elbow!* *Bones!* *Blalalalalala!* Haha! For those of you who've seen it..you know what all that means..if not..use your imagination. It's epic. P.s. I DID start crying when I found out he was moving to Virginia :'(

Oh wow. I guess I should stop because if I don't stop somewhere this post will be...extremely long. Haha, I love all my friends and family members and look up to so many people. These are just a few who stood out to me at the moment. I hope some day I can live up to all of my friends and family, everyone sets such a wonderful example to me and I hope I can use each day to become closer and closer to as wonderful you guys are!