Heroes: Studio C

Two years ago, just after coming home, I went to see a psychiatrist.

She told me that I needed to watch something every day that would make me laugh.

Not a whole lot was funny to me at this point.

But these guys were.

I'd watch at least an episode a day...

And I would laugh.

God gives everyone gifts.

These peeps got the gift of humor.

And I am so grateful.

Heroes: Papa Harold

A few days after I came home from my mission, I got the flu.

Spent the whole day on the couch feeling ill and anxious.

#party

When dad came home from work that day, he suggested that I accompany him to shovel dirt at my sister's house.

And though that sounded like the worst idea ever, I went.

And it was like magic.

I sweated out all my impurities and felt good as new.

Manual labor man.

Whooda thought?

A few weeks into life at home, dad came home at 3:30 pm to find me laying in my bed, looking like a zombie.

Dad: What's wrong?

Me: Nothing.

Dad: Oh yeah? Most people who are okay aren't laying in bed at this time of day...

*throws me car keys*

Dad: Go to the gym.

And again, he was right.

I felt much better after that.

A few months later I decided to do a sprint triathlon.

Dad did too.

He never left my side.

He biked in front of me to break the wind.

When I fell off my bike and started to cry, he tough loved me into getting back up and carrying on.

During the run, (mind you, my jog is the speed of most peep's walk) he jogged backwards so he could keep pumping me up.

He wouldn't let me stop.

He stayed with me until we crossed the finish line.

That's how my dad rolls.

And I could not be more grateful.

Heroes: Shirlay

 Sometimes, life just really sucks.

Just really bad.

And that's a fact.

And admitting that is an okay thing to do.

More facts:

Misery loves company.

When your life sucks, it's oddly comforting to spend time with someone else whose life sucks.

So Shern and I (dear friends since pre-pubesance) were especially useful to each other in the early months of 2014.

We were both miserable.

So we ate out.

A lot.

Comfort food man.

It helped.

So one night we're driving back from Liberty Market and we start LAUGHING HYSTERICALLY.

Why?

Cause we were so unhappy.

Things were really bad.

And we laaaaaughed about it.

And that helped.

We were each other's date for Valentine's that year.

It was great.

My birthday was fraught with fruitless hope.

Shern did everything she could to make it not horrendous.

I will always love her for that.

We've had years and years of amazing friendship.

Those months represent the epitome of that bond.

And though there's no way I'd ever go back and repeat that time,

because of Sheridan....

I'm glad they happened.

Heroes: Shmadeleine Rose

This little angel has my middle name.

Which is really great.

She also likes to make visits with me.

Which is also really great.

She also chooses to attend funerals of her own volition.

Which is astounding because she's like...6.

So we're at this funeral and I'm terrified that I won't be able to make it through my musical number without weeping.

It was a ROUGH funeral.

Well, it was beautiful. 

But rough for me.

Anywho, it's my turn so I grab Shmaddie's hand and have her come up to the stand with me.

She stood next to me the entire time, our hands clasped.

She didn't even have to start singing the words from me.

She gave me strength that I really needed.

Thanks Shmaddiecakes.

Heroes: The J-Money Kids

Once Upon a Time...

There were some awesome kids. Like seriously, they were a great time. They had an aunt serving a mission and would send her beautiful pictures. One day, thesekids found out that their "Nat Nat" was very sick. Not doing well at all. These angels decided to fast for her. They 'd never fasted for 24 hours before. But they did that time. For their Nat Nat.

 Abigail, Avery and Nat Nat all auditioned for a play. Abigail and Nat Nat were cast in lead roles. Avery got put in the ensemble. When she heard the news of her part, her exclamation was, "I get to be with Nat Nat!"

After Nat Nat cut her hair, she didn't exactly look like herself. The big kids wanted to make sure that Parker would still know who Nat Nat was, so they sat him down and gave him a little lesson about how Nat Nat just didn't have hair anymore, but she was still Nat Nat.

Rain is Nat Nat's favorite thing ever. So when a freak rainstorm hit Mesa and she didn't have to go to work, Nat Nat spent the day in the rain with the J-Crew. Sometimes rain could make Nat Nat a little wistful for things she didn't have yet, or memories of rain from her mission. But on this day, she was swept up in the love and joy of these fabulous humans.

Nat Nat used to be all about finding "Happily Ever After." But these days, the goal is to "Live after the manner of happiness." 

And these peeps make it a whole lot easier.

Heroes: Mah

Mom's like to fix things.

It's what they do.

They see a problem, and they fix it.

But what about when your kid comes home early from their mission?

What about when that kid is constantly moving around because that's the only way to not panic?

What about when she cuts off all her hair?

There are no quick fixes for issues such as these.

Sometimes you have to Beatle it out and just LET IT BE.

But that doesn't mean you turn your back on the problem.

On the contrary, you're there, arms outstretched, just in case someone decides to fall into them.

My mama gets this.

Over the past two years she's been my constant.

Constantly there if I need something.

Constantly supporting me in whatever I choose to do.

But not trying to fix.

She lets me feel what I'm feeling.

Lets me go through my process.

Only stepping in when asked.

That couldn't have been easy. 

Who wants to watch their kid suffer?

But my mom has faith in Christ.

And she has faith in me.

My mom loves Christ.

And she loves me.

And that's made all the difference.

Heroes: Cute Gym Guy

Today's featured hero doesn't have a name, just a title: 

Cute Gym Guy.

He used to work at 24 and I'd see him several times a week at the front desk.

After I'd log in, he'd greet me by name, smile his ADORABLE smile and my dormant heart would pitter pat a little bit.

A week or two went by and he'd greet me by name when I walked through the door.

HE REMEMBERED MY NAME.

And did I mention how darling his smile was???

Annnnyway...this was at a time in my life when I was very unhappy with my body and...everything else. long story short; my confidence was at an all time low.

Speaking to male humans was not something I did.

So looking back, these small interactions with Cute Gym Guy are a very big deal to me.

The little things he did had a large impact on a girl who really really needed it.

Thanks Cute Gym Guy. Thanks a million.