God's Greatest Gift to Women

"The world is a rose, smell it and pass it to your friends"

As it gets closer and closer to my final year at Michigan State University, a place where I have made a family of my own, I am realizing how beautiful God's gift of friendship is. There are three women that I have met during the past three years that have formed my experience at Michigan State.

I met Kristina my first day at Michigan State. She was my freshmen roommate. As I helped her carry boxes into our Yakeley dorm room, I had no idea she would be the girl I run to years later when I need to be consoled. Kristina bears one of the most beautiful gifts a friend could ask for, she is a great listener and passes no judgement. She is the one that Maggie, Lucy, and I all usually tell our stories to first, not because the rest of us won't listen or won't support each other, but because being in Kristina's confessional is truly like talking with God, she listens with a great deal of care and interest and always has her arms wide open when you most need it.
Kristina is amazingly thoughtful, whether it is picking up a box of your favorite candy or a cup of your favorite Starbucks or writing you a note that she stuffs into your travel make-up bag before you take a weekend trip. (I still carry that note around even though I have switch make-up bags a few times. It reminds me that her awe-inspiring and god-like way to love another is constantly flowing around me even when she is not there.)
I am more scared than I am willing to admit to Kristina not to have her there this year. She and I were west circle's definition of 'connected to the hip.' She has always been part of my definition of Michigan State, always someone to go home to and talk about my day with. I love Kristina for so many reasons and I will miss the moments without her, but believe me she will be getting an unruly amount of phone calls to come visit.

I met Margaret through her sister, who had become best friends with my sister their freshmen year at MSU. Margaret was like no other person I had ever met. Mrs. Studer, Margaret's mom, is always saying how the Mechs and the Studers are meant to be together, and I couldn't agree more. Being around Margaret becomes addictive. She reminds me of the wind on a hot day: it feels so dreamy that you don't want it to leave, but when it does it leaves your hair a bit tousled. She breathes new life into me and makes me feel fresh and excited about life. I have learned so much about faith by watching her and listening to her insightful thoughts on God. She gets me excited about living and constantly inspires me to change for the better without knowing it, whether inspiring me to be more out going or growing in my faith. I love knowing that no matter when I hangout with Margaret, it is going to be an adventure, whether an exploration of myself due to an in depth conversation or making me get the giggles as she shows her cartwheel off to an involuntary audience of MSU cheerleaders. Margaret knows how to enjoy herself, no matter what. She never takes herself too seriously. Maggie is overflowing with love and her love can be felt by all of those who surround her. One thing that Kristina, Lucy, and I can all count on anytime we hangout with Margaret, is that she is sure to tear up. When Maggie was in her Greys Anatomy phase, Lucy, Kristina, and I had to make sure we were ready to console her after each episode. When I start tearing up at church because of something the priest just said, I know I can look down the pew at Maggie and she will be looking back with tears in her eyes, and we'll both start to giggle. Margaret has taught me that world is your adventure, you just have to put on your hiking boots and start walking, you may trip over a few roots, but you'll get back up (even if it isn't too graceful), and you may have to look under a few rocks to find the adventure, but it's there.


I met Lucy (aka "American")because she lived on Margaret's floor in Yakeley. One thing I learned about Lucy this year is that she is a wonderful poet. It isn't that her poems have an catchy rhyme scheme or that her iambic pentameter matches Shakespeare's to a tee, it is that they expose Lucy's raw, unguarded self- her true fears, her scars, her dreams. The poems are written directly from her heart. On "poetry night"- where Kristina and I are the captive audience to Lucy's readings, Lucy gives us a glimpse of her vulnerable side, these are moments that I truly cherish because it is very rare that a person lets you see this deep into their soul.
Lucy reminds me of a bonfire, it takes a little bit to get it going, but once it warms up you don't want to move away from the heat. Lucy is my favorite person to be around when she is happy because she has one of the most ridiculous laughs, its hard not to crack up just hearing it. Her brother has titled her laugh "the pterodactyl", which suits it perfectly. It consists of an odd shrieking noise that makes everyone in the room look over at us to find Lucy's face full of tears and trying to catch her breath. Lucy is the most loyal friend a girl could ask for, once when someone said something to me that made me upset...Lucy was ready to fight. I have never had a friend that loves me so much that she will stand up for me no matter what.She hates to see a tear upon your cheek.For some reason Lucy holds some magical spell over me, whenever I am around her, we are like two twelve year old girls with the giggles. I just can't help myself, but to be silly around Lucy...She reminds me that its okay to act like a crazy woman(as long as your doing it with another crazy woman by your side.)

Kristina, Margaret, and Lucy are my reminders that God is all around. I was so scared my freshman year about making friends, little did I know that God had three guardian angels waiting for me.
Kristina, Margaret, and Lucy- I love you. You are beautiful, inspiring, and amazing women. I am so honored to have your friendship.