the babysitter's club

WAY, way back in the day

(before I even knew the city Sparks existed)

I had a wish.

I wished my life might someday be like the babysitter's club book series.

I didn't care so much about being a talented teen entrepreneur or

having a bank-breaking babysitting monopoly in my hometown.

I just wanted the BFF's.

I wanted, more than anything, to have an inseparable group of girls.

A little posse I could count on to be there for me through thick and thin.

With Sisterhood-of-the-Traveling Pants-type relationships

where each of us were so close and had such overlapping and unique bonds

that the only way you could see us was as one collective unit.

A band of buddies that needed all the parts to make a whole.

I've been putting off this post because it's too hard to write.

We've had too much history.

Shared too many memories.

And had way too much fun together for me to sum it all up in just a few words.

I have too much to say.

Even for me.

So I'll keep this simple.

I did find that babysitter's club.

We've been besties since we were Beehives

and will all be bridesmaids on each other's big days.

We're the fab four.

"The girls."

The best of BFF's.

And we always will be.

And tonight I wanted to tell each of you

my dear Tiff-o-puff, Colie, and Jilly-bean

I love you!

I do.

For being just exactly who you are.

Because the truth is

if we weren't so very different

our friendship wouldn't work.

It's that simple.

So I'm happy we're each so wonderfully unique!

It's the reason we're all the very best of the friends

and the reason we'll stay that way forever.

Some days I wish I'd been an easier roommate.

A perpetually positive influence.

And a better friend.

But then I remember that,

if I hadn't been so perfectly imperfect,

you'd all be a whole lot more like all my other friends

and a whole lot less like family.

So here's my tribute to you.

I tried to capture each of you in words.

And I have to say.

On paper we don't fit.

at all.

But because in writing

we don't

it seems even sweeter to me that

in real life

we really do.

Thank you for giving me my babysitter's club.

And thank you for always being you!

I love you for it.

And I always, always will.

Tiffany

20. Calls Sparks, NV home. BYU junior studying exercise science with high (and highly promising) hopes of Physician’s Assisting School. Anatomy & physiology expert. Best studier I know. Second to oldest of six. Very responsible. Very organized. Always on time. Has the smile that lights up the room. The life of the party at every party. Wacky. Crazy. Chatterbox. Realist. Will tell you anything and everything you want to know about anything. Spills all her secrets without even being asked. Queen of the quote wall because of her frequent failure to censor. Has an infectious and ever-changing laugh. Loves all things active, especially soccer. Likes lifting more than cardio and has the best arms because of it. Enjoys boarding both in the snow and on the water. Political pundit and conservative to the core. Talk radio listener and FOX fanatic. All-American girl with a soft spot for our nation’s soldiers. Adores old people and goes out of her way to befriend them. Respects them for their wisdom. Appreciates their humor. And feels her heart break anytime she sees a senior feeling lonely or forgotten. Very grounded and down to earth. Works for everything she gets and never fails to give her best. Currently works as a CNA. Is on the hunt for a cowboy-firefighter and is waiting for the day when we’ll all jump on board and join her for a spontaneous road trip to Texas. Has a habit of slipping into Southern accents—with the occasional Bon Qui Qui or hillbilly twist. Loves Glee, Grey’s Anatomy & Ghost Whisperer. Blue-eyed brunette with an athlete’s build. Has the coziest blanket named “bear.” Talks in her sleep. Extremely loyal to those who’ve earned her love and respect. Family always comes first. A Daddy’s girl through and through. Has the softest and kindest heart. Appreciates animals. Loves all country music and always sings along in her best country twang. Has an obsession with Rascal Flatts. Master of the moral compass. Sees the world in black and white too. Always chooses right and wonders why so many people are willing to give up real happiness to go the other way. Confident in her testimony. Loves to share what she knows. Strong spirit. Future missionary. A good goal-setter. A great leader.

A best friend.

Nicole

20. Calls Sparks, NV home. Elementary Education major and Art History minor who’s endured every misconception, judgment, and joke tied to her major (despite the fact that she’s likely 10x smarter than the people who like to offer these clichéd criticisms). BYU junior. Future fifth or third grade teacher. Loves kids and arts & crafts. The baby of four who still spent most her time at home as an only child (and is still fighting the “surprise” vs. “accident” battle as a result). Reads anything and everything with a good review but loves classics and love stories most. A teaser. A dreamer. A very light sleeper. Has the most girlish flirty giggle you’ve ever heard. Fun-loving. Friendly. Fantastic secret-keeper. An introspective thinker. A quiet observer. A realist. Enjoys the social scene but could get along just fine without it. Best journal-keeper I know. Loves her family—her nieces especially. Naïve, but in the best way. Child-like and wise beyond her years all at the same time. Loves the Food Network and all the fall primetime favorites—Modern Family, The Office, Glee & Community. Watches Disney Channel shows on those days her mind needs a break. Can quote Billy Madison in its entirety. Appreciates Adam Sandler & Nacho Libre-type humor. Sassy. Sarcastic. Silly too. Keeps her secrets to herself but eventually breaks. Can’t ever keep a straight face when it comes to boys. Lives for traveling. Loves gardening. Likes games too. My greatest arch-nemesis in Demon but very best Taboo teammate. Loves kitties. Would prefer to live without slobbery dogs. Loves country & Jack Johnson. The “original” Rascal Flatts fanatic of the group. Very tidy. Very organized. Maybe a little OCD. Will be the most put-together wife and mother and the classic Utah jam-making Grandma. Famous for perfectly painted and manicured nails. Beautiful smile. Bright green eyes. Natural blonde with a wispy little figure. Sensitive to the Spirit and strong Latter-day Saint. Has an adorable boyfriend. Looks very much in love. It takes a lot to make her care but once she does she will forever. A good listener. A great girl.

A best friend.

Jillian

20. Calls Sparks, NV home. Paul Mitchell School of Beauty & Aveda Institute student. Future hair stylist and salon owner. Oldest of six. Brunette bombshell with the brightest green eyes. Trendy. Stylish. Skinny-jean sporter. Loves to read. Flies through novels like they’re children’s books. Alternative music listener. Falls in love with songs long before the mainstream music world finds them. Quiet in some circles but crazy in others. Outspoken when she has a strong opinion. Generally a listener but always willing to add her two cents. Adores her five younger siblings. They absolutely adore her too. Loved her yellow lab Tag. Lives in the moment but thinks about the future. Worries about being out on her own. Happy-go-lucky. Free spirited. Friendly. Fun. Keeps an open mind about everything and everyone. Remembers everything. Can quote movies from start to finish. Hates scary movies. Hid under a blanket the first time we ever watched The Ring. Loves to laugh. Likes to sing. Hates crowds. Has the sweetest smile. Working girl making her way through school as a hostess at Macaroni Grille. Gets hit on all the time because she’s gorgeous. But right now she’s taken and so, so happy. My go-to girl for all things fashion. Always willing to lend a helping hand. Gives willingly and never expects anything in return. Famous for her fluttering eyelids and Facebook know-how. Likes to be in the know but could live without always being in the loop. Will tell you anything you’d like to know about her as long as you ask. Honest. Straightforward. Social. Silly. Only ever gives sincere compliments. Talented texter. Believes in the Gospel and the blessings it brings. Caring and kind-hearted. Loves the Discovery Channel and Spongebob too. A good judge of character. A great giver.

A best friend.

Chelsey

21. Calls Sparks, NV & Elk Grove, CA home (truly a Nevadan now but will always be a California girl at heart). BYU broadcast journalism major. Just shy of graduation with not the slightest idea of where to go from there. Middle child of three. Type A times a thousand. Too ambitious for her own good. Highly competitive. Loves all things active, especially soccer. Lives for her social life and any kind of events planning. Loves playing games. Sees the world in black and white (life's grey areas drive her crazy!). Night owl. Never on time. Believes in saving, but tends to spend. Loves shopping but hates what it costs. Queen of buyer's remorse. Messy car. Immaculate closet. Loves doing laundry and washing dishes (but loathes putting either away). Binge cleaner. Optimistic. Cheerful. Happiest when she's the center of attention but tries to pretend it's not true. Can't survive a day without her iPhone yet drops it every other minute. Loves sunshine, water, wakeboarding and tube wars. Lives for June weeks spent on Lake Shasta. Wishes she could afford a season pass for snowboarding. Likes bigger dogs, especially labs. Loves her family. Absolutely impatient. Feels a need to know everything. Curious. Zero fear of asking questions and really anything else. Likes to know how things work. Loves figuring out how people work. Loves being busy. Always tries to make things bigger and better. Wants to change the world. Wishes she could see the future now. Can't wait to live life and see it all play out. Lives for "I love you's". Likes kisses. Loves Parker. A good thinker. A great gabber.

A best friend.

"Sometimes in life, you find a special friend.

Someone who changes your life just by being a part of it.

Someone who makes you laugh so hard you can't stop.

Someone who makes you believe that there really is good in the world.

Someone who convinces you that there really is an unlocked door just waiting for you to open it.

This is forever friendship.

When you're down and the world seems dark and empty, your forever friend lifts you up in spirit and makes that dark and empty world suddenly seem bright and full.

Your forever friend gets you through the hard times, the sad times and the confused times.

If you turn and walk away, your forever friend follows.

If you lose your way, your forever friend guides you back and cheers you on.

If you're sad your forever friend holds your hand and tells you that everything is going to be okay.

And if you find such a friend, you feel happy and complete because you need not worry.

You have a forever friend,

and forever has no end."
-Unknown

we really always will be

best friends forever

love you girls...