My HeroeS

I've heard the saying, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder." It has definitely become applicable to my life, but not in the way you might think when you first hear it. I do not have a "significant other" in my life at this time, whom I'm missing as they are apart from me. I do, however, have family members, who mean the world to me, who are not living in the same area as I am anymore. I was spoiled rotten for many years of college and even afterwards, when I had the opportunity to live with my best friends, my siblings. I had the privilege of living with these great people for 7 years. How many people can say that they were able to live with their siblings beyond the age of 18?! I am sure that I am part of the few, the proud, the lucky.

As I have ventured into the territory of living alone this school year, I have struggled. I have wondered if I'll ever meet someone to share this crazy journey of life with. I have missed being able to talk to someone at home; to laugh with someone; and to know I'm cared about by someone. Zach got to visit a few weeks ago, which brought back memories full-swing. When he was here, it was like time had stood still and restarted with both of us together just like before. He had his old room back; he helped me to stay awake again; he made me laugh harder than I had in such a long time. Having a taste of that life again was wonderful. It was nice to be reminded of what I was missing out on. I will treasure those memories always and save them in a special place in my heart.

The siblings I am honored to be related to have so many great qualities. They are wonderful people, who are trying to make a difference in this world. I have learned more from them than they probably realize. For a long time now, I have wanted to spotlight them on this blog. I want the people who read this blog to know the great impact my brothers and sisters have made in my life. I desire for others to know the great attributes they possess and what makes them unique from one another.

Without further ado, I present to you my heroes. I love them more than life itself and would do anything for them.

Best Qualities

• Accepting: Chris has this way about him of making other people feel very comfortable in his presence. Since I was a young girl, I always loved the way that he validated others and made their ideas/opinions feel valued. He has always been inclusive of other people, never turning anyone away as a friend. Chris was bullied in Junior High and I believe that those unfortunate experiences shaped his character into the kind, accepting person that he is today. As a result of what he went through, he tried to be inclusive of anyone and everyone; making people feel so loved and important in the process. He has a genuine love for others and people can feel that sincerity when they're around him. I remember being an awkward teenager and feeling down on myself about this and that and it always meant a lot to me that Chris could see the good in me. He tried to help boost my confidence and never laughed about ideas I had or made me feel stupid when I "put myself out there." This quality Chris has will take him far in life with the people he is around. He accepts everyone and impacts people's lives for good on a daily basis.
• So intelligent! Being the younger sister of two older brothers, whose intelligence far surpassed my own, was no easy task in school. I marveled at Chris' ability to easily understand information and use it in his education/life in general. He has a great ability to think logically and scientifically, which has aided him in becoming the successful person he is today.
• Funny: Chris has a humor that makes people laugh without even trying to. Sometimes he'll say things and not even realize how freakin' funny they sound! I have died laughing at his wit many times! Beyond his ability to crack jokes, he is so talented at doing impressions of people from movies and even some people we know in real life. 
• Caring: Chris is the oldest in our family and a part of him will always assume a more paternal role over each of his five younger siblings. He has cared about our welfare more times than I can recall or probably even realize. When we were in college and started to live with each other in a town house, Chris paid significantly more rent so that we could pay less during our poorer financial times. He was known on many occasions to pay for our dinners, movies, and other recreational activities. He was so selfless and those acts of kindness will never be forgotten by me. To this day, I try to "pay it forward" where that kindness is concerned, with my siblings and others.
• Musical: Boy can this boy sing!!! Since I was a young girl, I can remember him singing so beautifully. My mom would play the piano on Sundays and other days and I remember when she would play Stevie Wonder's songs for Chris to sing along to. You couldn't help but listen and enjoy the talent that came out of Chris' mouth. He began making up his own songs when he was a young teenager, I believe, and I just idolized him. I even made up a song that totally copied one he had written because of how awesome I thought he was. Some of the best memories I have with Chris include moments of getting to sing duets together. I always considered it a great privilege to get to sing with him. We sang at church, we sang "My Grown Up Christmas List" at a ward Christmas party, and have even sung karaoke together before. Truly, I just get lost hearing him sing. Beyond his singing abilities, Chris has been able to use music software and devices to make amazing songs. He knows music inside and out. One time, we played a game where we had to name a movie based on its musical scores, and Chris was so talented in it! He could name the movie quickly and even could hear a movie title and sing or hum the melodies of scores from it so quickly. I marvel at his musical abilities!
• Protective: Chris helped me and many of his siblings growing up. He still does now. I remember when I was in 7th grade, a boy in 8th grade was bullying me at lunch time each day at school. I began to feel very self-conscious and even scared to go to school each day because I dreaded what would come to me at lunch. Chris became aware of this matter and like the awesome big brother that he was, found the kid's phone number and called him. He told him to leave me alone and was very helpful at stopping more bullying from ensuing. Even when Jenni and I were in college together, there were instances we went through where people were very hateful to us at Walmart and one time, at a concert. Chris and my other brother, Josh, were ready to drive to where we were and beat up the people involved. I will always be grateful to my brothers for watching out for me. Not all younger siblings of older brothers are lucky enough to experience that kind of protection.
• Hopeful/Encouraging: When Chris served a mission for our church, I remember being so excited to write to him. I was in 9th grade when he left, I believe, and I think at that time, my self-esteem was low. I was down on myself, but Chris saw the good in me and helped to remind me of it. When I got closer to taking my SATs and preparing for college applications, he believed in my ability to get into Brigham Young University (BYU), which was my dream school since I was a young girl. He never made me feel like I was less than him in intelligence (even though I was) and remarked on how proud he was of me and my work ethic in school. He also made such a difference for me when I broke the tibia of my leg, which has a bone disease in it. I remember his letters being filled with advice for how to get through such a hard time. He was confident in my ability to recover and that boosted my morale so much.

What I Hope You Know

You taught me that if I swallowed toothpaste, a moth ball would grow in my stomach... and I believed you. You also told me that dust particles were little fairies, who were avoiding getting caught by an evil monster... and once again, I believed you. You told me that I was smart and a good singer... and I thank you for helping me to believe in myself. You also molded a Little Debbie snack into a turd shape and pretended to eat it in front of mom so there's that! Not sure if your credibility is shot! Haha! Your example to me growing up shaped me into the person I am today. I could not have asked for a better big brother to model exemplary attributes for me to follow suit. I know you'll always have my back and support me. I know you'll never make me feel dumb for being me. I have seen you go through hard times in your life and your persistence and drive to keep going helps me to keep going when things get rough in my life. You are so important to me. Someday soon, I hope that the great traits you possess will get to be shared with a wife and family of your own. You would make a great father. You are great with kids and would effortlessly make them laugh and feel loved/valued. Our family would not be complete without you.

Songs That Make Me Think of You

"Ribbon in the Sky" by Stevie Wonder

"Do You Remember the Time" by Michael Jackson
(I remember singing this on our old-school karaoke machine)

"Stay Gold" by Stevie Wonder

"Feel the Night" by Baster Robinson

"The Boy Who Could Fly" Score by Bruce Broughton

 Best Qualities

• So talented! The title, "A Jack-of-all-trades" should be called, "A Josh-of-all-trades!" As was the case with Chris, it was no easy task following after Josh in school and life, in general. Josh has a vast array of talents under his name. 
• Extremely Intelligent: Josh, like Chris, has a natural, innate gift to understand/retain information so easily and effortlessly. He also has the ability to break it down into simpler components for others, who struggle, to absorb it. I remember him helping me to write a term paper in my Junior year of high school, which paper stressed me the heck out! He enabled me to take the information and research I had collected and use it in manageable chunks in my paper. He was patient as he did so. His intelligence will take him far in life. It already has up to this point, as he is now in his first year of residency. He took on medical school and came off conqueror, which many would say is a feat all on its own.
• Amazing Artist: When he was a kid, he drew Sebastian from "The Little Mermaid" and entered it into a contest. The people in charge of the contest didn't believe that a 2nd grader (or whatever grade he was in) drew it so they sent it back and nixed him from the contest. His artwork is incredible. He drew a beautiful portrait of our Great Grandma Aston, which was used on the program of her funeral. His ability to capture the essence of people and make their portraits look so life-like was impeccable.
• Great Dancer: I was always proud to say that he was my brother when we were at dances or at youth events because his break dancing rocked! He could pop, glide, and bust all the moves so well. 
• Amazing Cook/Baker: Josh can make just about any dish without a recipe to guide him. I think that's the artistic part of him coming out once again. He is amazing at putting ingredients together and combining them in such a way that makes for a tasty dish/dessert. I am so impressed by how easy cooking/baking comes to him.
• Profound Public Speaker: Josh's ability to communicate with others is unparalleled. He has a way of conveying information in a way that pierces people to their core and impacts them so much emotionally. I have heard him speak many times and have felt strong emotion as I have listened. Many times, I have come away from his speeches/talks feeling rejuvenated and encouraged to make changes in my life to improve it. I marvel at the vocabulary and intellect Josh is able to effortlessly incorporate and use as he addresses others. Beyond relaying information to people in a profound manner, he is also able to debate with people well. Josh uses his intelligence and quick wit to respond to others' viewpoints/opinions. He is able to remain sound/logical as he respectfully disagrees with others and presents information to prove his points. I always believed that he could become a lawyer (an occupation he thought about pursuing). He has a way with words.
• Spiritual Giant: This brother of mine has impacted me more than he could ever know simply by being his natural self. As a young girl, I have memories of my brother bearing his testimony about the gospel of Jesus Christ in such a pure, unadulterated way. I remember many nights, when I was going to bed, seeing him in our entertainment room or on the couch holding his green scripture case, getting ready to read the words of God. I knew he believed in God and the Savior because he shared his testimony with no hesitation or doubt. The scripture, Romans 1:16, depicted his attitude about the gospel well because he "[was] not ashamed of the gospel of Christ." He knew the great impact it had on his life and on the lives of others. Josh could recall quotes from prophets and general authorities at the drop of a hat, when they needed to be shared, which leads to another point about his spiritual giant stature- he lived worthily to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost with him. His morals and virtues enabled him to make a difference in others' lives because when they needed his assistance, he was spiritually prepared. I cannot even begin to describe how many life-lessons I learned and still learn, from this brother where the gospel is concerned. I had the privilege of hearing him speak in church and bear his testimony, not just in my childhood and youth, but also during college and adulthood. His words resonated with me and impact my life to this day. One example of this was a time he bore his testimony at our singles ward. He talked about the love Heavenly Father has for His children. He said that he thought about how each of the people in this world are "Heavenly Father's little boy or little girl" and how that very thought changed his whole perspective about them. I have never forgotten that lesson- over 8 years later, it has remained with me. That is just one example of the way that Josh's spirit has touched mine. I look up to him so much and rely on his testimony and example more than he probably realizes. He motivates me to be a better person and to live in such a way that like him, I can be a spiritually-enlightened individual, who makes a difference in others' lives by sharing my testimony.
• Inclusive/Nice Person: Our mom raised us to be caring individuals, who loved others in a very genuine, authentic way. Josh was no exception to this. I saw my brother stand up for others even if it meant he was standing alone in the process; he didn't care if popularity was taken away if he helped or defended others. He cared about God's children and standing up for what was right more than popularity or fame. I am reminded of Josh befriending a boy named Chris White in his 6th grade year of elementary school. This boy was in dire need of a friend at a time that is so crucial in a kid's life. He came from a home life that was nothing short of difficult. He came to school in clothing that kids made fun of and was ridiculed for the way he talked or acted. Josh was popular at that point in time and he noticed Chris White. He saw the need he had for a friend. When he befriended him, Chris was skeptical of his motives and couldn't believe that someone would actually want to be friends with him. Josh continued to genuinely love him and show him that he mattered to this world. Josh's popular friends wondered why he was befriending Chris and even ridiculed him for doing so, but Josh stalwartly told them that Chris was worth it; that he was deserving of love. He later found out that Chris White had contemplated taking his own life during that time and it was Josh's friendship to him that helped him to refrain from making such a permanent choice. I am also reminded of the Fisher family, who was bullied/made fun of by so many people at school and on the bus. I, as a Kindergarten student at that time, have memories of riding the bus with Josh and Chris and hearing people on it singing, "Go home Fisher" as they clapped and jeered. My soul still feels sorrow thinking about this and realizing what they were doing. That family came to school in pajamas and worn, tattered clothing. Those children came from such a hard home life, where I am sure they wondered if they would be fed or cared for on a daily basis. Josh was so impacted by an experience he had with one of them when he offered them a lollipop. They asked him if he had done something to it when Josh offered. His heart was devastated that a poor, innocent little child like this one, had learned to question people's motives at such a young age, due to the bullying he had endured up to that point in his life. Josh tried to befriend him. These experiences have stuck with me for so long because they show me that like all of my siblings, Josh has a heart that reaches out to anyone. Much like the Ultimate Shepherd, who cares about one wayward sheep, so does my brother, desire to love any of God's children placed in his path, particularly those who feel they are undeserving of love. I am so thankful that I had him and Chris as older brothers because their examples taught me what it means to truly love others and reach out to anyone, no matter their social status, socioeconomic status, etc.
• Hilarious: Josh is one of those people that is funny without even trying too (like Chris). He has a laugh that sounds like a cough and when it starts, it's hard for anyone around it to refrain from laughing. I have memories of him talking in hilarious voices/accents or using his body language/dancing in a way that made me burst into hysterics (Sugar Plum Fairy of Christmas past bring back memories?). I have memories of sitting near him in church when something funny happened or was said and all it took in those moments was for him to look at me and I would lose it! When I was in 7th grade, he helped to be a narrator in my "Hera Hospital" video and I literally peed my pants a little bit at portions of it because he was so hilarious! He kept breaking paper hats he wore in it and made the craziest faces before he started talking. Another time, I recorded him and Chris doing the weirdest monologue of all time, and as he danced around like a freak on it and said the funniest things, I laughed so hard my stomach hurt! Even this summer, he joked about how he thought I would sleep walk when a guy he and I both knew from high school came to visit. I had a crush on this guy and was nervous about him coming over and staying the night. Josh was impersonating what I "would do" while this guy was at their house and I swear I couldn't breathe in the process of seeing him show it! I have seen this kid make people laugh so easily and I think a trait like this will take him and his own family far. Having the ability to laugh in the face of adversity, especially, is a trait that many people do not have in this world. Josh does; he definitely does!
• Thoughtful: Josh dreams big. When we were kids, I remember us daydreaming/even drawing plans about the tree house or club house we would have one day (which unfortunately never got built). Josh's eyes lit up as he paid close attention to the most minute details and his excitement spread to all of his brothers and sisters. I think that trait has stayed with him today. When he plans events or dreams of things for his future, he thinks about them so much and in such great detail that he makes them so enjoyable. Before any of us visit his family in Ohio, he spends a great deal of time planning the kinds of food he'll prepare, movies we'll watch, activities we'll do while we're there- all catered to our unique personality types. He is already planning an awesome Christmas trip I'll get to experience with his family in Ohio this year. I can hardly wait for that! Even beyond trips or family time, Josh thinks about things more than the average person. He has done things for his wife and kids that are so sweet. The way he proposed to Ani or announced different baby's arrivals was so creative, which goes back to his artistic traits. He has made beautiful videos for each of his children's birthdays, which videos he put a lot of thought into. 
• Generous: Josh has been known to give of himself even when he doesn't have much to give. I remember hearing stories about him giving money to homeless people or helping people during a summer when he had a hard time finding a job/didn't have much money. He recognized that those people needed it more and that he would receive blessings for doing so. I was so impressed by his generosity and like many attributes Josh possesses, felt a strong desire to follow in his footsteps and be more "giving" of what I have to others.

 What I Hope You Know

 You showed me you cared when you stayed with Jenni and me after we couldn't sleep due to watching a scary movie on a night when you dreamed you were turning into a fish. You told me you had gingivitis on your nipples as you held up squash in front of your chest. You jacked Casey Picket up against the wall when he was bullying me. You rode your bike with me to Chikies in the summer and taught me how to fish. You told the people they could "touch me" in the haunted house when I won the glow necklace. You even told me about the birds and the bees after mom and dad educated you. You could say that I learned a lot from you. You and I butted heads growing up because of how similar we were and in spite of those trivial fights, I loved (and still love) you more than you could ever know. I have felt a closer connection to you as we have gotten older. You have set the bar high for our siblings to follow after when it comes to your work ethic and your beautiful family. You are my own personal spiritual giant- when I tell others about my family and the great attributes they possess, I tell them about the life lessons you taught me and continue to teach me. My testimony and desire to be a better person is impacted by you. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father placed you ahead of me in the Merris family. You are a better man than you give yourself credit for. It's so easy to be our own worst critics (I know from experience), but I hope you know that our family is so proud of the hard work you've put into school and life. We would not be the same without you and truly, are better people because we know you and the goodness you possess.

Songs That Make Me Think of You

"Hard to Say I'm Sorry/Get Away" by Chicago

"Operator (That's Not the Way It Feels)" by Jim Croce

  

"She's Always a Woman" by Billy Joel 

"Pure Imagination" by Gene Wilder

Rudy Score (Main Theme) by Jerry Goldsmith

Best Qualities

• Rain Man of Movies/TV Shows: Zach has an uncanny ability to recall the most minute lines from movies or TV shows and give them as clues. I am so impressed by the details he remembers from them! Beyond being incredible at remembering lines from them, he also has the ability to do the most SPOT-ON impressions of characters from them. It is eerie at times, how much he sounds exactly like the characters he is impersonating!
• So Hilarious: Zach was (and still is) one of the few kids in our house who could make our mom laugh when she was angry with us. The voices, body movements, impersonations, dances, etc. that he does make me die laughing and pretty much almost pee my pants every time! He is so witty and fast on his feet when it comes to humor! I have so many memories of sitting next to him at church when something funny was said or done. When he laughed in those situations, I'd just see him put his head down and quietly try to gain his composure. He is so good at doing impressions of people we know in our lives and one of the funniest ones I can remember was when he pretended to be a girl who attended my mom's daycare named Claire, I believe. She used to say nonsensical stuff about trees and butterflies and I remember Zach prank calling my dad pretending to be her. SO FUNNY! This past Christmas, he had me in hysterics when he talked about how people walk differently when they pass gas. I was literally crying because of how hard he was making me laugh in that moment! Even this summer, he made me laugh hard when we played "Bean Boozled." When mom got the skunk flavor, which was so freakin funny, he got this tone in his voice that was hilarious! Zach has a chuckle that is so funny! When he laughs hard, his laugh gets higher and is so contagious! Zach's humor will take him far in life. He will uplift many people in his path.
• Courageous: Zach was a little "G" growing up. He was the most adorable boy, whose big brown eyes and happy demeanor made him look like a real-life Disney character. Josh and Chris asked him to say things or do things and he followed their pleas. I remember calling him Zachie and loving having the opportunity to be his older sister. Zach knew at a young age that he had a big role in life to represent the Savior. He understood how to be reverent and respectful and took the gospel seriously. Zach was no stranger to trials, particularly physical ones, growing up. He is the person in our family, who suffered the most broken bones, stitches, etc. When he went through these situations, he was so strong both mentally and spiritually. He believed that the Savior would help him through them. One particular instance I'm reminded of was when he broke his arm. At the tender age of 4 or 5 (I believe), he told my mom that he was going to be strong like Nephi before the doctor set his arm. He courageously took on this feat and handled that situation far better than most kids his age would have. Even just a year ago, Zach was having so many health problems, which caused him to lose over 20 lbs and feel awful every time he ate (and even when he didn't). He is the type of person that does not talk about pain much at all so you know when he does say something, it's bad. When he went home at Christmas, his health took a turn for the worse and he had to have surgery. The doctor found that Zach's appendix had wrapped around his bowels, something she had never seen in her many years of work. I am so proud of the bravery Zach has shown as he has gone through hard things in his life. This kind of bravery and courage will help him so much in his future if other tough times come.
• Amazing Rapper/Dancer: Zach is a talented rapper! He is so amazing at writing catchy lyrics that literally sound like poetry (the rhymes within them show immense talent). Not just anyone can write those kinds of things, much less deliver them well in front of a crowd. In his Junior and Senior years of high school, he wrote and rapped his own creations in front of his whole high school. It was amazing and just as I have felt pride when my other siblings show their talents in performances, I felt immense pride as I watched my little brother work the crowd at those events. Zach is also an incredible dancer! He has great rhythm and an ability to break dance so well! I remember him popping like a champ when he was just a little boy! He can definitely move!
• Great Writer: Zach has a way with words and is able to organize his thoughts and ideas well into his own writing. He is so eloquent and precise in the way he words things and relays information. Even in 4th grade, his teacher, Mrs. Azaroff, recognized the great potential he had in writing. I imagine that if Zach got to be a movie critic and write about the movies he sees, that could be the double threat for him in life. Who knows?!?! It could happen!
• Conscientious: Like all of my siblings, Zach has a heart of gold. He is a lovable person, who people love to be around. He is a "friend to all" no matter what. While in high school, he too, looked for the people on the outside, who felt like oddballs or outcasts, and extended the arm of sincere friendship to them. I remember hearing about his Junior or Senior year when a girl in his lunch period, who sat alone, seemed to be having a hard time in life. Zach asked this girl to sit with him and his friends at his table. I am confident that this act of kindness had a lasting impact on that girl's life. It took a lot of courage for Zach to do what others around him would not, but unsurprisingly to me, he did it because he loved the Lord's children and knew that he could be a part of making a difference in one of their lives.
• Intelligent: Not one of my siblings is not intelligent. I marvel at each of their work ethics and innate abilities to understand information and retain it. Zach is no exception to this! He was known to be successful in school and college. Learning seemed to come so naturally to him. He has an ability to think very logically and scientifically. I am impressed by his intellectual abilities!
• Adventurous: Zach is always willing to try new things. He is up for adventure any time. I love that when we go out to eat, he makes "game time decisions" and tries things that he's never had before. Zach tries to acquire new skills and hobbies too, which always inspires me. I have seen him long board, disc golf, get interested in vinyl records, etc. He's always up for learning something new.

What I Hope You Know

You helped me when the person at Field of Screams was trying to knock me down. You sneaked into my dorm room when you and dad brought the car to Utah after a road trip at Thanksgiving. You left me hilarious voice mails of impressions of people that were spot on! You always validate me when people do dumb things to me on the road. You are the perfect dinner & movie buddy around. You stump me all the time with movie/show clues. You effortlessly make me laugh all the time! You are such a catch, Zach. I think whatever lucky girl gets to marry you will be a significantly better person as a result of knowing you and your genuine, caring demeanor. You will be a great husband and father, who equally shares the workload with your wife, and loves/relates to children in a way many cannot. Your humor spreads like wildfire to people around you and makes this world a better place. Your talents will take you far in life. When you make it big, hook a sister up please! Always remember that you make up an irreplaceable part of our family; at times, it feels like you are the glue that holds us together! I have loved being your older sister and truly take pride in telling my friends all about you and how awesome you are!

Songs That Make Me Think of You

"Lose Yourself" by Eminem

"Let's Do It Again" by the Staple Singers

"Give Me One Reason" by Tracy Chapman
(I will never forget you singing this in the car when you were a little kid)

"Christmas in LA" by Vulfpeck

"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" by The Carpenters

Lucas Score by Dave Grusin

"A River Runs Through It" Score
(This is a tie for you and Josh)

Best Qualities

• Intelligent/Hard Worker: Jenni is a very bright individual. When she got into BYU, she proved to the university what we already knew about her, she is the double-threat: very smart and extremely dedicated to her studies. She worked her tail off in college and Physician's Assistant (PA) school. She was known to be able to tune out everything and focus solely on her academics. I remember so many nights when she would decline going out with me and the fam because she had to study. Night after night, she could be found in her room walking around at 2 or 3 am as she memorized/recited lectures in preparation for grueling tests. I walked around my room at that time too, but I did it because I was sleepwalking and offering "copies to my co-workers." Haha! Jenni has a drive that is unique. She has a focused vision of what she's working towards and she doesn't let anything else distract her from achieving her end goal. I saw this to be true with her during her two years in PA school. She did whatever it took and sacrificed sleep, social outings, and such things all so that she could graduate as one of the top students in her class. I would be the first to admit that I am not as devoted as Jenni- when I see something fun going on or people invite me to hang out, I leave at the drop of a hat even if I have work to do. Jenni motivates me to be more like her in life. I need to be more dedicated, at times, and when I do, I think of her example as a reminder.
• Funny: I never like to tell her this, but Jenni is very funny! She can be a dope just like my brothers and use her voice, body, dance moves, etc. to make me and others around me laugh hard. Jenni was shy growing up. As a kid, she didn't like to be front and center. If attention was on her, she'd act a certain way and I still see some of that shyness come out in her when she's doing ridiculous stuff! You'd have to know her to know what I mean! She has most definitely come out of her shell though! I cannot tell you how many hilarious texts she sent the past two years she was in PA school! The way she recounted stories about what happened while she was doing rotations was beyond funny and picturing her in those situations was enough to make me lose it! I am very glad that we were not together in any of the instances she described because all it would've taken at any point during them would've been for her to glance my way, and all hell would've broken loose! I would have lost it and not been able to stop. I'm confident of that because I know myself well. Jenni and I have laughed so much together in our lives and I think a big part of that is because we are about two and a half years apart in age; we grew up together sharing a room in our house. I remember when we were in college, our bishop gave a lesson on sexual purity and whenever he talked about sex, he used the word "fusion." That was enough to make me lose it. I just thought it was so funny that he would use those words. I forget what he was saying during a portion of his lesson, but I was terrible and started to laugh. When I did, I told Jenni to stop, as if she was the one who was laughing or making me laugh, which so wasn't true! Haha! Another memory I have with her laughing hysterically took place in our Seminary class. I had eaten oatmeal or something of the sort that morning or night before and as we sat on a couch far away from the other members in our class, I ripped one, which absorbed into the couch cushion mostly. In that moment, I swear Jenni's head turned faster than the girl on "The Exorcist," thankfully not the whole way around. She looked at me as if to ask if I had done what she thought and I could've lied to her in that moment, but I merely uttered the words, "I had to." When I said those words, she laughed harder than I had seen her laugh in a long time. She was laughing so hard tears were streaming down her face. The people in our class thought she was a crazy person; they didn't understand why she was laughing that hard and I would've killed her if she told them. So she just kind of looked like Lindsay Weir on the episode of "Freaks and Geeks," where Daniel lies about why he cheated on a test. Good times. Another time, when I was 17, I was in a cast up to my hip and for whatever dumb reason, Jenni and I decided to play the water game. It's not a technical game in the slightest. Basically, all it entails is filling your mouth with water and keeping it in there while you try to make other people with water-filled mouths, laugh. Its origins go back to the times when Jenni and I didn't want to go to sleep at night. To avoid sleeping, we would go the bathroom, fill our mouths with water, and play until someone spit their water out. These nightly rendezvous of water games often ended in getting slapped on the butt or thighs by mom. Not pretty... Worth it, but not pretty. Anyway, on this particular night when Jenni and I decided to play this game, I was sitting on the couch and she was standing near it. I don't know what she did or what caused it exactly, but she made me laugh really hard! I think I choked on my water, but more than that, I started losing control over my bladder. That's right- a different liquid (not water) was about to start coming out of me; I was about to pee my pants! Well, Jenni, the little turd she was, ran to the bathroom because, like me, she had to go too. I had crutches and couldn't beat her if I tried. So I ended up peeing my pants while sitting on the couch. Don't worry- it didn't go into my cast or run down my legs. It just stained my butt and left a mark of humiliation on me. No big deal. I really could go on and on about Jenni making me laugh or experiencing something funny with her, but I'll end it with her story about blaming a fart on her shoe. Jenni was popular in 5th or 6th grade and when a fart slipped out in front of her peers, she ACTUALLY got them to believe that her shoe made that sound. Yeah, I don't know how she did it, but hearing that story definitely makes me laugh!
• Good Listener: Jenni is a person that many people like to talk to and tell their innermost thoughts to. She is able to listen to them and offer advice if they seek it, but mostly she just listens. I think these good listening skills come from the fact that Jenni is a listener and observer in social situations. She will participate in conversations, but she also likes to just see people interact and hear what they're talking about. She has always said that people tell her personal things and she doesn't know why, but I think it's because she's easy to talk to and is non-judgemental when she listens. This trait already benefits her as she interacts with patients. She listens to what they say, avoiding interrupting them, and forms a recommendation based on what they tell her. This trait will also aid her in her future marriage and family.
• Peaceable: If Jenni could be a poster, she'd be a hippy one. She always loved the peace sign and the laid-back vibe it gave off. She never dressed up as a hippy for Halloween to my recollection. I unfortunately, did. I say unfortunately because my mom recommended I wear this hideous black wig that had dreadlocks on it; a wig we had previously used to dress up as a witch years prior. Needless to say- I stopped trick-or-treating after that year. Was it my age that caused me to stop? I assert to you that it was seeing the picture of myself dressed as a hippy... wearing "the wig" that did. Jenni and I always butted heads growing up and that didn't stop when we were in college. She never had a hard time disagreeing with me, and I her. However, she swears to me that with everyone else in her life, she is a peaceful person. I am sure she is because I've seen her interact with other people. She is the type of person who is respectful of others' opinions, so much so that she will not disagree with them to keep the peace. Obviously she would stand up for something if it went against her beliefs, but if the issue is minor, like many are, she'll keep it to herself. 
• Patient: Jenni is a great teacher, who patiently explains hard concepts in a simpler manner. When she was in college, she was a TA for O-Chem lab. For some reason, this sister of mine, loved O-Chem. Ugh! I have realized that I may be the only member of my family (1/6 kids) who is not scientifically or mathematically-minded. My siblings amaze me with their intelligence in these subject areas. I surely did not get those genes. Anyway, Jenni worked in the O-Chem lab and on countless occasions, taught people complex topics in ways that were easier to understand. I believe that a person who can do this is talented. Breaking down information into simpler units is hard to do, much less with a patient demeanor. When some TAs or teachers, even, would start to feel frustrated because the student they were working with just "wasn't getting it," Jenni would approach the situation from a different angle and not give up on them. She would continue to help them until they understood, never making them feel dumb or stupid for the questions they asked. I am so proud of Jenni's patience. Her patience will help her as she visits patients. Did you see what I just did there?! Haha! Seriously though, her patient demeanor will help her so much as she works with colleagues and even as she raises a family. She has learned a lesson many people in this world take a lifetime to learn and that is that people deserve to be respected in the midst of their struggles. When no one "gets them" or "understands them;" when they seem like they're not listening or retaining what you just said to them, patience must step in. They'll get it. It may take them a long time, but if you are loving to them and make them feel comfortable as they attempt to explain their confusions, they'll come around and more than that, they'll be so grateful to you for the way you treated them when they struggled.
• Great dancer: Everyone in my family is talented in music in some way. Many sing well, others dance well, some even play instruments well. Jenni can sing well, but she doesn't like to do it so if you ever get to hear her sing, it's because she doesn't know you can hear her. I think mom heard her singing in the shower before and just as I thought, she has a good voice. Beyond her singing, Jenni dances. Unlike Dudley on "Wild Hogs," the music doesn't "move [her] ugly." Haha! She has great rhythm and feels the music. She is able to effortlessly do moves and rock performances. I remember when she was showing Josh the crypt walk. His crypt walk will always crack me up. I feel like one of the things Jenni could "shine" in and show her talents in was dance. And boy, if you could've seen her dance to some Irish music from the movie "Leap Year," this summer, you would know what I'm talking about! She made mom and I laugh hysterically as she danced moronically for us! Oh, I WISH I could insert a clip of that here, but I will refrain from blowing the world's mind. People are definitely not ready for the greatness that was Jenni's Irish dance!
• Fantastic Piano Player: As I stated earlier, Jenni is very talented musically. She can sing and dance and she can also PLAY the piano like a boss! What is more impressive about Jenni's piano skills is that with the exception of 3 or 4 lessons, she is self-taught. That's right- she taught herself how to play the piano! I am blown away by her abilities. She isn't one of those people that just plays by ear; she reads the music and plays it out of whatever book you put in front of her. I loved to hear her play and many times, was lucky enough to have her play melodies as I sung along to them. This leads to the next attribute Jenni possesses.
• So Artistic: She won't say it to you, but she has a keen eye for art. She took art classes in high school and I was always so impressed by her ability to effortlessly draw. She helped me several times in my college years with some art tasks. I remember her drawing a rose for me to paint in an art class I had to take in my Junior year of college. I also remember her helping to draw a Halloween costume shop for a book I had to make for my music class called, "Hickety Tickety Jelly Bean." Oh the memories of that book- I procrastinated getting it done and I swear I almost pulled an all-nighter to finish it. That was an example of a night I was on "auto pilot;" I was coloring pictures I had drawn, but seriously had no idea how it got done. I was not conscious enough to know I was coloring them. But that's another story for a different day. Jenni can produce great artistic pieces. I think I remember her drawing a fish or something of the sort for a surrealism art piece when she was in high school and I was so impressed by it!  
• Supportive/Encouraging: When Jenni is on your side or on your team, you're set. She will never lose faith in you and will be your biggest advocate to the end. I think of our family members, particularly Josh, and I remember how Jenni believed in them. If they struggled or did something that seemed "out of their character," Jenni was the first one to give them the benefit of the doubt and keep believing in them. I've seen the pride that comes over my sister's face as she talks about people she loves/supports. She isn't the most "lovey-dovey" kind of person; she won't tell you her feelings or say that she loves you, often. In fact, she'll fake a yawn to pretend she's not crying, but boy does she love her family. She would do anything to help any of us and if any of us had a performance she could attend, she'd be there, front and center... with tomatoes. :)
• Determined: This trait goes along with Jenni being intelligent/a hard worker. Jenni inherited the drive our mom possesses when a task is placed in front of her. Jenni doesn't become ADD like me when she has to do something. I'm the type that if I'm cleaning my room, I'll start one task and then move to a different one to avoid finishing the first one I started and then I'll revisit it when I'm feeling up to it. Not Jenni. She will not stop until the task is done. She will not stop working her tail off until it's complete. Years ago, she helped me to organize my classroom, which was a very daunting task, but she kept at it and organized my stuff so beautifully it would make grown men cry. Her ability to keep up with something and never give up in the process has already taken her so far in her life. I am so proud of her and truly look up to her. When I have to do something hard or go through a trial in my own life, I often think of my sister and how she would handle it. Her drive to keep going motivates me to "never surrender." (Remember that line from Josh's video about Homer's "Odyssey?" Jenni, the Indian, uttered those words so triumphantly before she was killed with a wooden stick we used to keep the sun room doors shut. Hahaha! Just thinking about it makes me chuckle).

What I Hope You Know

You touched candles you weren't supposed to touch and tried to make me touch them too. You peed in the bathtub after I told you to. You laid in your puke after seeing that I had thrown up the strawberries we had sneaked all day. You played Shark with me at night. You took a "moment" when we reenacted "Titanic" to cry about Jack. You peed the bed with me in it at Disney World... and didn't tell me until the next morning. You were the object of "Vampire Boy's" affection in church. You kissed the wall when we pretended it was our boyfriends or Ken (when we played barbies). You played the water game and gargled your ABCs, making me practically choke to death on mine. You participated in a farting contest with me and the boys that ended in tragedy for me. You told a story about eating pizza that fell on the floor that makes me die laughing every time I hear it! You half laughed, half cried when we both had to get our moles removed at the dermatologist. You almost knocked someone's kneecap off when he was being a douche to us at the James Morrison concert. You danced like a freak to the "Leap Year" soundtrack. You could say that you and I have experienced a lot of life together. I am so proud of you and the accomplishments you've made in life. Your determination, your intelligence, and your humor make you the lovable, fun person that you are. You make people feel so happy to be around you. You are accepting of others and try to make them feel as our family would, important and loved. You are a beautiful girl and you are WAY too hard on yourself. I love your machine gun laugh and the look you get on your face when something is funny. I enjoy hearing your "middle child" agonies and bust out laughing when I think of the way you tell stories about mom grabbing you when you had a fork in your hand at the dinner table. You're a great person and I truly hope that someday soon, you'll get to marry a man who is worthy of you, who matches your greatness. You'll be a great mom. I can just picture you taking such pride in your kids' appearances as you hopefully make them wear matching outfits (like we did ) and squeeze their ears to put "stick-on" earrings on. Maybe you'll get lucky and have a girl that has a fro like you did. I'm so glad you are a part of our family. I couldn't imagine my life up to this point without you in it.

Songs That Make Me Think of You

"Your Smiling Face" by James Taylor

"This Boy" by James Morrison

"This is How We Do It" by Montell Jordan

"Where Dreams Have No End" ("The Parent Trap" Score)

Best Qualities

• Independent: Emily is a little "fire ball," who was no doubt, supposed to be the caboose of the Merris train. She is the only person in my family, whose birth I can remember. She was a little miracle, who was supposed to have Down Syndrome, and in spite of the odds, did not end up having it. I held that youngest sister of mine when she was born and would've given her the world if I could have in that moment. Emily was a hilarious toddler and kid. She made the craziest faces and said things that sent you into hysterics! She would say things to you without even fully knowing what she was saying; she just knew she could make you laugh. This girl struggled a bit in reading in her early elementary years, but she didn't let that bring her down. She kept trying and worked so hard to get to where she needed to be. Emi was fearless- she wasn't afraid to do things that put her outside of her comfort zone. When our mom got cancer in Emi's 6th grade year of school, she was more independent than ever. She did her homework, studied hard, and showed a maturity many kids her age never imagined they would have to. She loved our mom so much and did what she could to lessen mom's workload at such a trying time. I was always so impressed by Emi's ability to understand hard concepts and just take them on herself. This sister is one that I think could go to a new city she's never been to and figure out where to live, how to get around, what there is to do- all by herself. She is the definition of independent. And I admire that in her. When I'm taken out of my comfort zone, I get nervous, but Emi- she's just fearless in those kinds of situations. I believe that Emi was blessed to be independent for more reasons than the ones listed above. Emi went through something that none of the other siblings had to go through- she had to see all of us leave home. She had to see what it was like to have no siblings at home; to have no siblings to talk to or help her with her homework, in person. I know that I wouldn't have been able to do that, which is why I know she was meant to be the last kid in our family; she could handle it as a result of her resilience and independence.
• Intelligent: As I stated earlier, when my mom went through chemo, Emi was so smart and driven to work hard so that my mom would not have to worry about her academics. Emi has been blessed with a great deal of intelligence, particularly in the science and math areas of academia. She is currently attending the University of Toledo and majoring in Bio-engineering, which is a hard major to say the least. Yet, she's doing it like the champ she is, working so hard to get good grades and be successful. I have always been impressed by Emily's ability to solve problems on her own. Going back to being the last kid at home, Emi knew that she needed to use her intelligence to make it in life. She didn't have siblings with her in person to help her get her work done- all she could rely on was her own abilities and merit. Even now, I know that Emi was able to interview and use her intellect and charm to be accepted into a co-op (sort of internship) in Michigan, which she will begin in January. I can only imagine what kinds of things this little sister will accomplish in her life. The world is at her fingertips and I believe she is going to leave a big imprint on it.
• Gives Her Whole Heart: Emily doesn't remember a lot of her childhood, which is normal. We often forget things that people, who are older than us, remember. She was the best little sister an older sister could've asked for. I have so many memories of her being happy to be around me. She would put on lip gloss with me, do aerobics with me, sleep in my bed (and pee in it without telling me... dang sisters!), beg me to let her watch scary movies too, sing with me, etc. The innocence she possessed as a child was so evident to me because she saw the best in me. She loved me in a pure way, which I will never forget. She looked up to me and made me feel like I was something to be proud of. I remember how when she was really young, she would rub people's ears to show them she loved them. Haha! The way Emi loved me and my siblings has not diminished today. When she cares about someone, she gives her whole heart to them and becomes their biggest supporter. She would do anything for the people she loves. This trait will take her so far in life, as she gets married and has a family of her own. She always told me and Jenni that she would never have kids of her own. She just didn't think that was "for her." She has since, changed her mind about this since meeting her fiance, Dillon. I always knew that Emi would have children of her own because I saw the way she loved them and was able to interact with them so naturally. She never got to have a younger sibling to hold as a baby and teach things to. That didn't stop her from teaching her older siblings valuable life lessons. Emi is so great with kids- when I see her holding babies or around young kids, I see a future mother, who will make her kids the happiest people on the planet simply by being her happy, funny, loving self. Her heart will reach many, not just her own family.
• Strong: Emi has been through some hard things in her life. She had stress fractures and stitches growing up on multiple occasions. I will forever be traumatized by the heater situation of yesteryear when she and Jenni were playing in our bi-level and she fell on a baseboard heater (that was not on by the way) and got her head stuck on the corner. Thankfully, that situation ended in her going to the hospital and not having to get stitches. Her head was able to stop bleeding and heal on its own. Emily had a gull bladder that we later came to find out, was underdeveloped. I believe it was developed for an 8-year-old, which caused her so many health problems around her 8th grade year and years of high school. She ended up having to spend most of her 8th grade year at home doing school online and she suffered. It was no easy task going through those health problems, but she kept going and kept moving. She handled the situations well and in a strong manner. I am so proud of the way that she got through such tough situations. She missed out on some of her youth because of them, but she didn't let that affect her. Her example to me still impacts me now. If I'd ever have to go through something like that, I hope that I could handle it well like she did.
• Great singer: Emily is an amazing singer. She always was. Even as a little girl, she had such a pure voice. I know she hates this story, but there were different times we heard her sing, and on one such occasion, we heard her singing "Where Are You Christmas?" so beautifully. I loved to hear her sing then just as much as I do now. She was always pretty private and shy about her talent, but in her Senior year of high school, she put those inhibitions aside, and sang in her high school variety show. She sang the song "Treasure" by Bruno Mars in her first ever, performance and she rocked it just like I knew she would! I always wished that Emi would sing a duet with me, but she is too shy to do so. I dream of the day when maybe she'll be willing to. Until then, I'll just enjoy hearing her beautiful voice if/when she sings or performs for us.
• Daring Style: Let me first say that Emi, my little sister, whom I will always imagine as that adorable little girl, is TALLER than me! She is so tall and gorgeous! She recently got her hair cut, but for so long, she had the longest, most beautiful hair too, which length I could never get mine to if I tried. Emi has a daring style. She is not afraid to wear edgy clothes and make a statement. I would never be daring enough to wear the things she wears, but she wears them and works it in the process. She has an inner confidence that transfers to her outward appearance. You can't help but think she looks great!
• Entertaining/Funny: Emi has a chuckle that cracks me up every time I hear it. She has told me stories that have made me laugh so hard I cried! I love how dramatically and humorously she will tell us things that happened to her. When she told us a story about having to hold up a poster in her science class when something crazy was going on, I thought I would never be able to stop laughing! It goes back to Emi's fiery nature- when she tells a story, she gets you hooked and engaged so fast! I remember when she was a little kid, she got mad at Zach for something (a rare thing to happen) and as she was walking up the stairs, she said, "Are you my mother? No. Are you my father? No. Are you my brother? Sure heck not!" I think we all died laughing at that moment, but it probably made her angrier. We couldn't help it! Beyond that moment, Emi was so dang funny and witty when we played "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" in our house. She had props and things to say about them that cannot be repeated now. I was blown away by how fast she was at thinking of the most hilarious things! To the girl who said, "I can eat a whole can of beans in one sittin.' Like that sexy?!" and who makes me laugh at serious parts in movies, I just love you. Your laugh is contagious and I love being around it.

What I Hope You Know

You left your mark on Raystown Lake. You chased Jenni and me with toilet paper as you laughed demonically. You peed the bed with me in it... and like Jenni, didn't tell me. I was a part of your first accidental chipped tooth, which tooth made you even cuter, especially when you were angry. You randomly sang Hilary Duff's "Raise Your Voice" solo and made us die laughing! You put the "ein" in "ein shvein." Enough said. You watched "Gidget" with me often. You made me laugh until I cried during "Les Mis." You have brought so much joy and pizazz to our family since the day you came into it. You are an incredibly-talented, beautiful woman (it feels weird to say you're a woman), who is going to make your soon-to-be-husband such a happy, lucky man. When you love others, you love hard and you protect them. You're not afraid to stand up for what you believe and state your case or defend yourself/others. You are so artistic in drawing, writing, and singing. You have a lot to give to this world and you are using your vast talents to make it a better one. You will always be my little sister and I will always feel protective over you. My memories of the little girl who made faces and danced around like a crazy person will remain with me always and I will never lose my ability to be so proud of you and what you're doing in this world. I am so happy to be your older, now shorter, sister.

Songs That Make Me Think of You

"Bossy" by Kaya
(I'll always remember you singing this in the Giant parking lot when we were at Raystown. Haha)!

"Where Are You Christmas" by Taylor Momsen
(I'll always remember you singing this song so beautifully when you were a kid)

"Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?" by Arctic Monkeys

"Treasure" by Bruno Mars
(You rocked this at the variety show)

"While You Were Sleeping" Main Theme Score by Randy Edelman
(since you watched this movie just as much as me and love it too)

Best Qualities

• Contagious laugh! Ani has a laugh that is hilarious! It gets loud and comes out when funny things happen and you can't help but start joining in when you hear it. So many times, Josh has said or done something hilarious and made both of us crack up! Ani is witty and clever in the things she thinks up. When she was dating Josh, she told him about how he was going to "invade Albania" or something to that effect before he kissed her. Too funny!
• Thoughtful: Ani puts a lot of thought into the lives of the people she cares about. I have always been impressed by her ability to remember the most minute, intricate details about the day, time, year, etc. of when she met someone or what she and that person were doing when they met. She pays attention to what her friends and family love and never forgets those things. When we first met, she was such a warm, friendly person. I remember talking with her and feeling so happy to be around her. Then, when we got to know each other more, after she started dating Josh, she still remembered things I had told her in previous conversations. I remember her giving me a beautiful card when it was my birthday and I think she gave me a necklace too. The card's message was so personalized and well-written. I knew early on in meeting Ani that she would be my relative. How thankful I am to have such a thoughtful sister. She has been such a support to me and has remembered important life events for me and my family members, which has meant a lot to all of us.
• Great listener: Ani has a very calm, inquisitive demeanor. When you talk to her, you can tell that she enjoys listening to the things that you are saying. She remembers the things you tell her, which again, relates to how thoughtful she is. Ani gives off a very non-judgemental vibe. You can't help but feel like you can tell her anything. She would do anything for you, including giving you helpful advice if you seek it. I have had so many deep, meaningful conversations with Ani, which have helped me to feel the Spirit and know that life will work out. Her stories and experiences have impacted my life in ways she'll never fully realize. I am so thankful to have a person like her in my life, who is so good at hearing the innermost desires of my heart. When I dream big, she dreams big right beside me.
• Sees the Best in Others: Along the lines of being an incredible listener and being able to have anything told to her, Ani has an ability to see the "good" in people so easily. She looks for their best features and tries to understand them and their circumstances before jumping to being critical about them. Ani has a genuine desire to make people feel loved. I have seen the way she talks to others and have been impressed by her example. At times, people have been rude to Ani on the phone when they hear her accent (discrimination at its finest), but she has remained calm and shown them the respect they so rudely didn't give to her. Ani has always made me feel so good about the person I am or strive to be. I have memories of her making me feel happy when I showed her trivial stuff like the accents I do for my students. She never made me feel dumb or stupid when I allowed myself to be more vulnerable in front of her. Instead, she built me up and made me feel like the things I was doing were cool and unique. I am confident that this trait Ani possesses will impact her own children and anyone she works with/for in her future. Her ability to listen and look for the good; to make people feel confident and not judge them, will bless the world.
• Positive Hard Worker/Intelligent: Ani has been through hardships in her life, but you would never know it being around her. She came to this country all alone and had to adjust/acclimate to a different language and culture all at once. She is a bright individual, who can speak three or more languages. I am blown away by what she did when she came to America and attended BYU. I remember her telling me that she took classes, which had a lot of assigned reading, and she would have to translate the many pages of reading into Albanian so that she could comprehend the material. She worked her tail off in school, graduating in less than 4 years, I believe. I cannot even begin to fathom how lonely and scary coming to this country must have felt, but Ani took on this task and did it all so gracefully. She was a champion, in my eyes. She was so far from her home and her parents and she continued to work hard and give of herself in the hopes that she could find someone to share her life with in the process. She met Josh and life's doors opened up for her even more. Ani has been no stranger to heartache and trials. She went through miscarriages in between having her twins. She had to have a C-section when the twins were born and she didn't complain throughout that whole process. She kept moving (literally) and put in whatever effort was needed to get back on her feet and be the best mom she could be to her new babies. She has been such an example to me of hard work, as she has raised four kids while her husband attended medical school, and now, is in his residency. Amidst her sleep deprivation and sacrificing so many of her personal wants/needs, she provides her children with a great life. They are cared for and loved by her so much and they are so fortunate to call her their mother. Anyone that sees her with them can tell that they are "her world." She grew up an only child and was thrust into our crazy family. Now, she has four beautiful children to call her family too.

What I Hope You Know

You told a story about swimming near some guys in the ocean that made me laugh my freakin' butt off! Your Lady Gaga costume at the Halloween dance was spot on! You busted moves that people could only hope to replicate on our family's "Dynamite" dance video. You talked and got excited with me about makeup (and still do). You cried with me when we talked until all hours of the morning last summer (and you got up with the kids after probably only getting an hour of sleep because of it). You helped me to believe that someday, I'd be lucky enough to marry a worthy man and start a family with him. From day one, you were a kind person. In fact, we first met when you offered to help Jenni and I to carry groceries up our stairs when we were in the middle of a fight (but you didn't know that). You have a way about you, Ani. When people are around you, your spirit makes them feel uplifted. You inspire others to want to be their best selves. I have been the recipient of many acts of kindness and thoughtfulness by you too many times to count and your listening ear and great advice have blessed my life. You are a beautiful woman and I have no doubt that Heavenly Father knew you were supposed to join our family. You are the best sister a girl could ask for and I am thankful to be able to share a lifetime with you. I hope you know that you are more intelligent than you realize; that you are doing great things in this world by raising strong, valiant, gorgeous children. I also hope you know that your personality radiates positivity and love. People who meet you come away from you changed for the better. Never lose sight of the greatness that lies within you.

Songs That Make Me Think of You

"Poker Face" by Lady Gaga

(because of Halloween & the hilarious line you realized the real words to)

"Dynamite" by Taio Cruz

"Break Free" by Ariana Grande

"Photograph" by Ed Sheeran

"Patch Adams" Main Title Score

(Josh going through Medical School has something to do with it)

I have no doubts that the siblings I described above were supposed to be mine in this life. They could never realize how much who they are impacts who I am. I will forever consider it an honor to share my last name and genes with them. As weird as it may sound, I hope that the man I marry someday shares characteristics with them so that I'll continue to feel at home no matter where I live.

No matter where life takes us, no matter how far away we live from each other, please know that a part of my heart will always be reserved for each one of you. I miss you guys more than ever, but I enjoy the moments we reunite all the more now. Keep living your lives in a way that makes this world a better place. Thank you for filling our house with laughter and memories growing up, which I'll cherish all the days of my life. More than that, thanks for being a part of the "house that built me."

"The House that Built Me" by Miranda Lambert

I love you all. Class dismissed (Zach will get that). :)