at the end of the day

last night, jess visited me.

she and i have been friends since 6th grade...when she convinced me to perm my hair with her. which was a mistake. but one that brought us together. 

she's been a favorite ever since. 

this morning i woke up bright and early and made french toast with reneé.

she's a fabulous person -- really sincere and genuinely kind, and full of passion and energy and drive. 

she's roommates with kim,

whose contagious happiness and optimism is unstoppable. if kim believes in you, you can do anything.

then i watched brooke perform at the farmers market. 

brooke is a true friend, through and through. she'll stand up and fight for any friend in need, and won't be ashamed to do so.

i met up with tricia and her husband logan

whom i have had the blessing of knowing for quite some time (tricia has been a best friend since high school -- logan is a newer addition but i couldn't have hand-picked a better companion for her).  among many other things, they are willing to put themselves second to a friend in need. which happens often. and they do it together.

we explored the farmer's market --

and saw chilcoat there! he was my 8th grade history teacher

...whom i hadn't seen since early high school. he always encouraged me to pursue art, and was contagiously passionate about school and especially history. 

i've never thought of the jfk assassination the same way since. 

tricia and logan and i had amazing sandwiches. 

amazing.

then i came home

decided not to hike the Y with my ward

because i'm very much injured from the last hike 

but didn't regret that hike  

at all

[see previous post]

and attended a wedding reception for tim and lyndsie.

i don't know her well but she has a nice smile. he is very intelligent and willing to help.

there, i saw mark, brooke (again), gina and rocio -- 

and this group is so solid. always there for each other and always so much fun. inclusive and caring. 

talked with jeff on the way back 

who is like a male-version of me. so we get along pretty ploxily. he provides perspective and empathy and a shoulder to cry on and someone with whom to laugh 

then i drove to another wedding reception with my friend and old roommate whitney

who is level-headed and so wonderfully supportive of her friends. and of people in general. she's always up for adventure.

the wedding reception was for aubrey

who is one of the sweetest, most thoughtful people i know

...seriously. 

came back and saw whit's roommate/my old roommate/our dear friend carolyn

who is loving and down-to-earth and a wonderful listener

and now i'm off to do stuff with mama. 

who has always been there for me. kind, loving, supportive, tons of fun. she's just so good. it's nice to be with her.

...

at the end of the day, my to-do list doesn't have a lot of checkmarks on it...but i feel like the way my day went, my time was spent productively.

i realized something. i realized that one of my favorite things about my life is, by far, the people in it. God is so good to bless us through other people. i feel like my time is best spent when i'm in the company of someone i love, whether it be a someone or lots of someones. i know that most have already come to this realization and it's pretty cliché, but -- 

in the end, people matter.  

note: this was an account of one day which brought with it these certain people. there are obviously other days and other wonderful people in my life.  lest anyone feel left out. :)