Graduation Shout-Out

This is the first picture I ever saw of Ellie-Bellybutton:

I didn't realize at the time what a huge part of my life I had just stumbled into.  I had just finished my on-campus housing assignment and (being the thorough and inquisitive sort of person I am), I felt a pressing need to google and facebook my future roommate.  "That's got to be her," my mom said when I showed her the list of people that facebook pulled up.  "She's wearing a princess crown.  Only LDS girls post pictures of themselves wearing princess crowns at age 18."

What Ellie-Bellybutton didn't know at that moment: I was creepin' on her facebook :) jk.

What I didn't know at that moment: she was in the hospital with appendicitis.

Obviously, she survived appendicitis and I quickly learned how to be less creepy thorough and inquisitive.  Despite her hatred for country music and my dislike of dancing and board games, we quickly became best friends:

She was there to help me the time I got stuck while trying to wear two pairs of jeans on a very cold day.  I was there to brush the snow off her coat and make her hot chocolate after snowy days at school:

You know how Anne of Green Gables talks about kindred spirits?  Yep.  Ellie-Bellybutton is one of those sorts of friends.  We used to call each other up and watch entire episodes of "Chuck" together on the phone while she was living in Hawaii.  And I got to be there the day she married a really cool boy I had introduced her to:

She, meanwhile, introduced me to Thai food, "The Mummy", and Casimir Pulaski day.  It has been five years, two international trips, one husband, one baby, and now, two graduations since I first saw Ellie-Bellybutton's picture on facebook.  She and I are both very different from who were then.  But through it all, we have remained the best of friends.  This past month, she graduated from BYU.  People!  She did this while getting married, changing majors twice, and having a baby!!!  Does it get anymore hardcore than that?!  I am so very proud of her and so very grateful to be her friend.

So this is a shout-out to my remarkable friend, Ellie-Bellybutton!  You're awesome, girlie!

Lotsa' love,

me.