Liz, my best friend from high school is leaving on a mission March 27th (which is also her 21st birthday!) to Melbourne Australia! Liz and I grew up in the same ward, played when we were little, occasionally hung out up until middle school and from then on we were inseparable. Ever since we were in Young Women's I knew that she would serve a mission. She has that light and countenance about her that just screams "missionary" and boy does she have a strong testimony! I know she'll be a great missionary and will be loved by everyone she comes into contact with. I'm so excited for her!
Since Liz is leaving soon and her birthday is coming up, I wanted to dedicate a post to her. So Eliza, these are 21 of my favorite memories of you and I. I have tons of photos of us and not all of them will match up with the memory but I'll try my best :) here it goes!
21 FAVORITE MEMORIES OF THE LIZ & MADDI DUO {in no particular order}
ONE: when we would fly in your dad's 4 passenger airplane to Salt Lake and how that one time it was one of the windiest days in St. George but Nathan didn't care, we were going to take off anyways. and the whole airport staff came outside to watch in hopes we wouldn't die. and as we were speeding down the runway and the plane was fish tailing, momma joyce was bracing herself and yelling at me to close my eyes and take a nap. i still laugh every time i think about it.
TWO: 2 words. speed parking. i've never laughed so hard in my life and whenever one of us was having a rough day we would go for a drive to the high school and drive like maniacs through the parking stalls, reversing, spinning and we dubbed our made up sport speed parking.
THREE: how we dressed up for halloween until we were way too old. and we never had the intent of looking cute. we were crayons, a dragon slayer and raccoon {with a mask that was way too small}, swiss girls {in dresses that were made for 6 year olds}. but the one that took the cake was when we dressed up as grandmas for a costume contest and won a gift card to olive garden.
FOUR: when we were little and we'd play in your backyard with your toy horses and sometimes we'd put them in your pool and dive for them. and how we would ride our razor scooters everywhere and you still claim to this day that i always made you ride the crappy one. i don't remember that at all.
FIVE: that one time when you wanted to find a big rock to answer someone for a dance so you went down by the river while i jumped on your tramp. and you came back dragging the boulder in your jacket through horse poop and mud. i should have helped you. sorry. but it was pretty hilarious watching you.
SIX: how we would diligently paint our faces for every football, basketball, volleyball game. and by faces i mean our whole face. not just some wimpy jersey number. and the next day we'd have a colony of zits from the paint. the best was when we went to the D.I. and picked out crazy outfits to wear to the basketball game. you chose an 80's track suit, berk looked like mr. rogers and i had leather pants that melted before the game was over.
SEVEN: that one time we bought goldfish from the pet store and put them in a certain someone's courtyard fountain. and how we would go over every couple days to feed them until we showed up one time and the fountain was completely gone. our fish probably broke it.
EIGHT: all of our many boulder trips to pirates cove. endless amounts of ice-cream. huge rooftop teeter totters. gypsy hut. trains on the water slide. oh and don't forget how we used to pretend we were princesses and we had to keep the gold pirate medallion safe. we did that when we were like 16...
NINE: walking home from middle school every day. even when it was freezing and we looked like eskimos. and sometimes you'd leave me to walk alone because becca would pass us on her way home and you would run to catch her at the light.
TEN: when we were young and you would come to my house to play all you wanted to do was eat pop tarts and white bread because they weren't allowed at your house.
ELEVEN: spending weekends at your ranch. probably the most wonderful place on earth. we'd ride horses and i always got stuck on the one that liked to kick the horse behind it. i believe his name was bo? again we would pretend i was a rich girl from the old days and you were an indian and we'd ride off on our horses. we were probably 18 at this point. no shame. and you took me to your secret favorite spot. that's when i knew we'd be best friends forever.
TWELVE: when you hurt your leg and had to be on crutches and got the key to the elevator at the high school. of course i'd ride with you. but the crutches were too painful so you found a walker with a seat at your grandma's house and i would push you around the school. and sometimes around the neighborhood and we'd laugh our heads off when i tried to push you through grass.
THIRTEEN: every single prank we pulled on people. shredded paper in the car. two cars actually. that time we told our baseball buddies that we were up at their state game but we weren't. and then the next day we decided to drive up on a whim. my personal favorite "the ceiling gets lower so you should probably duck"
FOURTEEN: all the baseball games we attended. for dixie high school. and how we left our secret mark in their dugout and football bench. and had to deal with a certain evil little sister. good times with that girl. or dinner that one time "do you want some french bread with that butter?"
FIFTEEN: all the many nights we spent hanging out by ourselves at your grandma's house. riding golf carts. and that one night we went tearing through the lawn chasing the glowing eyes that we later found out were birds? then our chase ended when you launched us in the gutter.
SIXTEEN: another fun grandma's house memory. when garrett christensen was swinging and the swing broke and he went flying into the gazebo. and he laid there whimpering for a good 5 minutes and we couldn't stop laughing. i have never seen anything funnier.
SEVENTEEN: high school lunch. we ate so many good things. paninis. joyce's famous salads. quinoa. bajio's quesadilla lunch special. those costco crackers with that delicious honey on them. pretty much everything you could ever dream of.
EIGHTEEN: when i would come over before all your basketball games to braid your bangs. and i would be your number one fan to all your sporting events. i had no shame cheering for you. probably because you were the best player on all the SC teams. and how i would join you at the high school track just to time you. i would never and probably will never run with you. you're legs are 3 times longer and faster than mine will ever be.
NINETEEN: that one time our dixie friends got me to be in on their trick to scare you when you were home alone. and you were so scared that you were almost crying with a curling iron in one hand and a track shoe in the other. i'm sorry. that was a mean trick.
TWENTY: every time i gave you a birthday gift you would cry. and then i would cry. and then we'd cry happy BFF tears together. you're welcome.
last but not least TWENTY-ONE: last week when i had the chance to attend your farewell. and how my testimony grew by listening to your talk. it always does when i get to hear yours :) and how we didn't even cry when i left because we know it isn't "goodbye" and only a "see you later"
And to think this is only a handful of the memories we've made together! Thanks for being one of the greatest examples and best friend a girl could ask for. I love you lots Liz and can't wait to hear about all your adventures!! Oh and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! See ya later Juke :)
