Alaina, known to me as: Lainer-butt, Momia, La, Lainey, and Naina. Alaina is my big sister and the nickname "Naina" was actually my baby-attempt at saying Alaina, which was my first word. She was clearly special to me from the very beginning and has been my sister, confidant, life coach, fellow cotton candy tycoon, world-traveling buddy, fellow water skiing semi-professional, and best friend. I am so fortunate to have grown up with such a wonderful playmate. We had wild imaginations and would have elaborate life stories for our beanie babies and barbies, make up dances to NSYNC, invent our own songs and dances, "clean the river" (basically use sticks to remove soggy leaves from a creek), and even concoct our own sister language. Now as adults we have traveled to 6 countries together, our cotton candy business is both a success and a total blast, we have each other's backs, and we have conveniently fallen in love around the same time and will be getting married only 2 months apart! The phrase I like to say about us is, "everything together" because we really do love doing just about everything, together.

Tayler, known to me as Tank. Tank and I were originally friends back in about 4th grade and we would play "wolves" together- which as you can imagine involved us pretending to be wolves and living our happy wolf lives. We became close again in high school and have been great friends ever since. Honestly, Tank is more than just a friend to me, she is a sister. She knows just about everything about me and my life, she has been there for me through some incredibly tough times, she asks great questions and listens passionately, and we regularly try to say goodnight/goodbye and end up talking for at least another hour. Quite honestly, I would not be the person I am today if it weren't for the deep love and support I have had from this amazing friend of mine. I think every person needs a Tank in their life.

Anna and I have a very unique friendship. On certain days when we hang out together if you were to observe us and the way we interact you might really start to question if we are friends or not. But I assure you, we are, we are just extremely different people and yet more alike than either of us will likely ever admit. I am so close with Anna and yet it seems like we disagree about just about everything, there is no other friendship in my life like this one. Anna brings out my wild side sometimes- the first time (and only times) I ever "snuck out" was to hang out with her. She knows how to have a good time, and I sure love having good times with her. But also, this girl is honestly the strongest person I know; she has showed tremendous maturity, persistence, and courage in the midst of major heartache and for that I deeply admire her and consider myself fortunate to call her friend.

Molly, known to me as Stitch. I met this gem of a friend at Youth With A Mission (YWAM) Los Angeles and we did our Discipleship Training School (DTS) together. This meant we were together basically 24/7 for almost 6 months straight in 3 different countries. I remember the very first day when I met her I thought she was the coolest person ever, and now I have proven that to be true. I was partnered with Stitch and another friend to do some incredibly challenging ministry while in Thailand, and not only did we work well together but we got to pray and process through our experiences together. After serving together in YWAM we have never lost touch, I believe our record skype call was well over 3 hours! I even had the honor of traveling to Denmark to stand in her wedding and I am beyond thrilled that she will be flying here to stand in mine.

Jenn and I were paired together at random as roommates in college. We were both from Minnesota, straight out of high school, and both wide-eyed and bushy tailed for the "college experience". In the midst of first impressions I found out Jenn likes to take baths and I called her a nerd, she has since told me this solidified in her mind that we would be friends. We jumped right into college life together, made lots of new friends, took classes together, and stayed up way too late way too often. We weren't roomies the whole time, which we now both regret, but our close bond always remained. A bond tested by hardships and great physical distance, and yet she has always remained an incredibly faithful friend. The first time I was ever in a wedding was hers, and I am so grateful I get the privilege of having her be in mine.

This chick has been an absolutely fantastic friend of mine during and after high school, and (Lord willing) we plan on staying friends until we are old gray-haired ladies talkin' about the good ol days. Some of my favorite times with Hannah are when we are out on the lake or just sitting on a bed having a sincere heart-to-heart for hours on end. We talk about nothing and everything at the same time. We certainly can't solve the world's problems, but we may give it a shot and while we are at it we usually end up helping each other through our own problems. It is not always serious talk though, obviously. Sometimes when we hang out we will be laughing so hard for so long that we don't even remember what we were laughing about anymore. Hannah is one of those well-rounded, dynamic, funny, and deep friends that I plan to keep around for LONG time.

Whoever says you can't or won't stay close with your high school friends is just simply wrong. And this girl stands to prove that point. Brooke, known to me as Brookie and originally Brookie D until she got married recently (that rhymed). We have known each other for many years, but yet it seems we become even closer friends every time we hang out. She is the first one in our group of friends to get married, own a home, get a "big-girl job", get a dog, and start a family. It has been a joyous and even inspiring process to watch and, in a way, be part of. She is such a beautiful sister in Christ, and I love getting into faith-based convos with her. After I get married we will only live 3 miles apart from one another and for that I am most grateful because we will be able to continue to do this crazy thing called life, together.

Joe Lundsten is the man. From the days of drinking Arnold Palmers, playing Gameboys, and sleeping through classes in Watertown High School to working together at Fridley High School to enrich our nation's youth...Joe and I have taken some twists and turns. Joe has had my back through it all. Neither of us should have graduated high school, gone to college, and graduated from college. So, the fact that we will both be graduating with our master's degrees in the spring together will be an absolute tribute to what happens when you "choose life."

When asked what nice things I should say about her, Large Marge said, "Just that we’ve been best friends since we were 11 and always support each other." I can't really say much that will top that. No matter what happens, one of us is there for the other to pick the other one up or give them the harsh reality of a situation. From Mrs. Lynch's class to late nights at Lyon's to goodness knows what's next for the both of us, I will use the always eloquent words of Leo Forsman to describe this great woman. "You are a good shit."

Nick has known me my whole life. Growing up, I would be so excited to see him and his family. Now that I'm grown up, I get so excited to see him and his new family. We used to stay up way too late eating ice cream sandwiches, drinking Mountain Dew and talking about Star Wars. Now, we stay up way too late eating his wife's snacks, drinking whatever is good in the great state of Minnesota...and talking about Star Wars.

Ian has known me my whole life. Like Nick, I used to be so excited to see him. As a kid he taught me what it meant to be lactose intolerant and some of those smells can never be forgotten. As an adult, when I was fortunate enough to be living in the same state as him, I would race up to Denver on weekends to spend as much time with him as I could. Movies, fine libations, and great conversations got me through a not so fun time in my life. I don't get to see Ian a fraction of how much I wish I could, but no matter what, he rocks.

I have known Stephen his whole life. He was such a sweet kid growing up. Now, he's one of the most caring guys I know. He puts up with me and he's willing to go the extra mile for just about anyone. He's the one person in the world I can't run an effective pass defense on in Madden. For sure he is probably the best player of Clue in the history of time. And on top of it all, he's never complained about me waking him up late at night or early in the morning with the hours that I keep.

I have known Matthew my whole life. Matthew used to fit in my arms. Matthew still fits in my arms...but my back doesn't really appreciate it as much. He is a complete goofball and always has been. And hopefully he always will be. For some strange reason I still think I could take Matthew on in a fight. But at the end of the day, I would much rather have him with me than against me.