Mikele Renae Cluff

Gratitude Night.
It started at 11:45. Out in the Rexburg chill, you would have found two little girls.
Sitting, pondering, writing...
We had hot chocolate and our blankets in hand.
We had a goal in mind.
We had a rough week...until then.

How do I even begin? Mikele and I needed something. We were lacking.
We had nothing to say.
So we knew something was wrong.
Across from Autumn Winds apartments is a new found..reflection spot.
Us two little girls, wrote down [[everything]] we have to be grateful for.
I know we missed a lot. But it didn't take much for us to fill 3 pages.
We know it will be an ongoing list, and we plan to add to it daily.
We needed the reminder that we do have great things in our life.
We have each other, and many others.
We finished our list, for the night, and just sat there.
Planning.
Dreaming.
Goals were set.
Priorities were set straight.
There are two things I learned from this night.
One- Appreciate what you have. This world is so caught up in the technology, the fashion, the money. I'll admit it, I get caught up in it just as much as the next person. I NEVER fully appreciate something that is sitting in front of me. So what I learned. College is my new opportunity. It was an answer to my prayers, and now that I am here, experiencing it...I fill my time with the materials of the world.
Two- Mikele Cluff. Another answer to my prayers. I met you here at college Mikele. And since then, my life has been a little bit brighter. Don't get me wrong, I had a great life before college. But coming here, meeting the people I have...things have been better. Mikele has shown me the happiness to life. She has shown me that life goes on with or without you. Drama is for wimps. She is herself. She doesn't try to be someone she isn't. She is braver than she thinks, and stronger than she'll ever know. I love that you are constantly changing out of jeans as fast as you can. I love that sweatpants is your thing and dreads is your wish. Thank you Mikele. For showing me another way of life. We are freakishly linked, and I don't wish it any other way. I love that people notice we are always together, always laughing. Through this rough week...or should I say month?...we have stuck together. Roommates are not an easy thing to deal with, neither are boys, and I am glad that through it all we had each other to lean on. The level of comfort between us cannot be broken. We get each other. You said it just the other night. We opened up to each other, and fast. I'm so so happy we did. You are an example to me Mikele. I love you! :)

Tonight was good, something we both needed...and are grateful for :)
A shortened list:
Family.
Hot Chocolate and Blankets.
Mikele...obviously.
Gospel.
Daisies.
Stars.
Imagination.
The chance to be me.
Nick names.
Sleepovers.
Green.
Baseball pants.
Laughing.
Crying.
Rain.

That doesn't even begin to cover the list. Some silly small things ranging to important and life-changing.

Goals we set: --For the rest of our semester and next--
Serve someone daily.
No phones for a week.
No Facebook.
Anything negative...gets turned positive.
Only happiness.

Here is my promise Mikele:
To always listen to you. I love listening to it all :). I know you think I don't, but I do.
To do the spontaneous we planned on.
To always help you laugh.
And no matter what- I promise to always be your best friend.

“It’s not where you are in life, it’s who you have by your side that matters.”

"This is a wonderful time to be living here on earth. Our opportunities are limitless. While there are some things wrong in the world today, there are many things right, such as teachers who teach, ministers who minister, marriages that make it, parents who sacrifice, and friends who help.

So this is where I am.
A girl who is constantly trying in life.
Who makes mistakes, and sometimes forgets her blessings.
No regrets, I am who I am.