Birthday Blog: Meet Stacey

OH

MY

GOSH!!

Once upon a time I was the absolute, number one, worst friend in the world.

And I mean, THE WORST!!!

I have a dear friend named Stacey. One of whom I count as a very best friend. We tell each other everything. We love each other to death. We talk all the time, even though she left me for AZ years ago.

I AM THE WORST FRIEND!!! (and she didn't even tell me)

I missed her birthday blog. (ohhh, I am seriously welling up, here) She taught me how to blog. Ohhhh. I am horrible!

AND! AND! I'm a almost a MONTH late in this awful discovery! Bad. Very bad.

Please, please, please forgive. Please?

She will, she's nice. I just talked to her today. WHY DIDN'T YOU REMIND ME!!??
Was it because I called you a day late, thinking it was the right day, to wish you a happy birthday? You know I have lost 98% of my brain cells, right? Come on, help a girl out. Would ya?

You're going to divorce me now. Aren't you?

Well - here goes.

Stacey is the female version of my soul mate. She laughs at my jokes, and is terribly funny herself. Loves to go for a treat. Is my drive by Nie friend (if I did that, which I'll never tell). Work out pal. (once upon a time) Hang out by the pool friend. My 'lets make something' friend. (last year on her annual visit we stayed up til two while she read me 'Seriously So Blessed', in her best Utah accent, and I sewed her a new bag - we're quite a team)

I met Stace while we were both 'sub dwellers.' (just a little term the RS pres in our ward coined for those who rented - she was sweet, huh?) We were both living in out respective parents basements. Both in the throws of baby's, life as a poor wife (not much changed there), making fun of our chubby selves, wrestling kids all day, and looking for a laugh. Ahh, playgroup. What would we have done without you? That's where we met.

Stacey is a mother of three darling girls and wife of her "Brenty" who she adores more than life itself. (he should count himself lucky to be SOOO adored - I could use a lesson of how to adore like she does) She went back to work full time this year, with a smile on her face - and is loving it. She's educated, smart and again, funny.

I'm thinking of some great stories about Stace. I for sure won't tell the one where she wet her pants in the car. Or was in numero dos? Hmm. I think it was...oh, well. That's a story for another day. (now she's really not talking to me)

She's the first native Utahan I've ever loved. (okay, she'll tell you she's not native - moved here at 10. But really? A Timpview grad is a Timpview grad - and she's one of 'em.) She taught me to find the good things of life here. Things she now makes fun of, since leaving Happy Valley.

She hates mornings, always thinks she has bad breath (which I have never noticed- not once), is a fantastic pianist, retired soccer and tennis star, (okay, played them in HS at least) amazing mother and wife, she can tackle anything, always moves on with a smile on her face, makes other feel at ease, and is the dearest friend.

I truly count Stacey as a blessing. I am SO thankful for her. She has been there for me through so very many ups and downs. She's the one I call in any kind of emergency, big or small. When I have something to tell someone, she's first on my list. When I'm sad, I want her to answer when I call! When I have a funny story - she's the one I need to tell. She was adopted and I like to think that somehow we're blood related. (I can dream)

If you can't decide how much she means to me, (obviously, since I totally forgot a birthday blog for her!!!!) (arghhh!), when she moved away four years ago I bought a head set for my home phone and my cell, so we could talk for hours every day. And until she left me for another (work!), we did. Her mother in law thinks we're joking about our phone frequency, but nope - it's true. We're chatters.

So there you have her. Stacey LaVon (LaVaughn?, hmmm. not sure how to spell that).

If you know her, you are lucky. If you are her friend, you are blessed.

I love you, Stace.

Happy VERY belated birthday.

(oh yeah, and be glad I didn't raid Vic's photo stash - I could have found some great ones!)