To my friends, thank you

This past year has been one of the toughest/best and craziest years of my life. I didn't think coming back to church would impact me so greatly in such a short period of time.

As many of you know, I don't have a great home life. I argue with my dad all the time and there's just this weird awkwardness where I can't be myself at home. So I try and get out a lot to escape it.

I've become incredible friends with the most amazing people I know in this past year. My journey to get where I am now would not be the same without you. The countless amounts of Cha runs, Chick-Fil-A hangouts, hanging at the Thompson's saying we'll watch Spy Kids but end up playing Smash (which is totally more than ok), Yogi's runs, late nights at Disneyland, shredding in Guitar Center, Pagliacci runs... I could keep going on. You know who you are, you've been a shining example of Jesus' love in my life and a reminder of His unwavering dedication to me. In highschool, I struggled to find myself. As Lauren Borden affectionately puts it, "The Dark Ages" were two years where I didn't go to church, because at one point I realized I was just going because I felt obligated to, rather than wanting to go. This past year, I've struggled to find who I am in my own house. But you all have helped me through that.

But now, I've found a home.

You are my home. I'm who I am because of YOU.

And I'm not saying that just to say that. If Everett didn't get into his little stretch of aluminum forging and made me stay back and help him collect cans at a COS conference, Emily Saenz would not have caught me sing. If it weren't for Emily catching me singing Love On Top, I wouldn't be singing today. If Lou didn't text me out of the blue to go to the Philippines, I would not be with this group of amazing people around me today. Seeing you is like coming home from a long day of school and knowing you can just unwind into who you are. I know that I am loved and cared for. Because of you, I know who I am: a son of a Father whose love relentlessly pursues after me regardless of any circumstances.

So, thank you. Thank you for being a part of my life. Thank you for dealing with my endless sarcasm and sass (sorry Chan). Thank you for laughing, crying, and sharing and cherishing small moments with me. Thank you for all the bits and inside jokes that will one day give me abs from laughing too much. Thank you for sharing Jesus' love for me.

Thank you for being YOU. I know that God loves me deeply because He's placed you in my life.