Ode to Jules

February 2, 1988.
This monkey was born.

Same monkey. A few months later.

This monkey has changed my life and because of that, I have chosen to dedicate an entire post to how. Let's go back a decade and a half when I was minding my own business in primary. I had friends, I wore old dresses that had been passed down from 3 older sisters, I always knew the answer was either "reading scriptures" or "saying prayers". Basically, I had it all. That's when Julia Bird showed up. She didn't have these things. She didn't have any friends (yet), she didn't have older sisters to inherit dresses from (she got brand new ones), & she still hadn't learned the primary answers. Ha. It was at this moment that I made a decision that would forever impact my life. I became friends with said monkey.

The next few years were a roller coaster with us. Sometimes we'd hang out, and sometimes we wouldn't. (mostly because I was jealous how she was always picked first out of the girls for kickball, basketball, etc).

That is until cheer nationals our sophomore year. That trip created a special bond between us, and for that I would like to personally thank Ryan Timoney. He yelled at us one night for coming back to the hotel late, and that sealed the deal, we've been best friends ever since.

We were inseparable after that. Often we'd go to parties and if we weren't by each other, people would ask, "where's your other half?" Sometimes this would bother us, but then we realized how AWESOME it was to always have someone to hang out with, someone who would always have your back, no matter what.
Speaking of backs, ignore the random kid in the back of this picture.

She has been such a great example to me. Her example of how to eat and live healthy has prevented me from becoming like.....well, this.

High school was a blast with this little badger. I mean, look at her. Look at how adorable she was. (yes, she's the brace face on the left).

Don't you fret. Those braces came off. And the next day she had a boyfriend. But that's another story altogether.

We even decided it would be best if we became related somehow. The outcome? My sister married her brother. And then they produced these.

Then college began. I forfeited dorm life so I could live with her. What a good decision that was! Rather than spending pointless time dating, we found other things to occupy our time.

We were never bored.

Or afraid to be ourselves.

I even accompanied her to her first gyno appointment.

But then things happened. We realized we must choose suitors and continue on our path called life. She chose this guy.

Which resulted in this gal.

I chose this guy.

Which resulted in this guy.

And while she has now deserted me for Nevada, I couldn't be happier for her. She has married someone who loves her (probably even more than I love her, which is hard to do), and she is making beautiful babies. What more could I ask for? Beautiful babies to marry my beautiful babies. I miss her like crazy, but I'm grateful for all the wonderful memories we've created together.
Thanks Jules!