It Will Rain

Friends are the best.

As I have discussed, the past little while has not been the easiest.

Rain is definitely pouring down on me nonstop so hard that it feels like it threatens to drown and you can't even dance in it.  You're just trying to stay afloat and just keep swimming. The past few days have been full of bad news. I have to admit Nation even I was a little down...

I get to work and my wonderful, amazing friend Paige-Madison surprised me with the most heartfelt letter that was like sunshine breaking through the storm clouds. 

I feel like some days I don't deserve the friends I have because they are so good to me.

Seriously Paige's letter was full of some of the best, most inspiring advice. I'm going to share the advice and inspiration of the letter.

"I love you! You will be okay! I just know it. You're the strongest, kindest girl I've ever met and absolutely will succeed. Think of all the great famous people/champions out there--they almost all have beginnings that were rough, frustrating, and scary--but it made their story that much more amazing in the end. Your story, my story, and many others are being made right now. Sometimes we don't always know why we are tested--but it's for a reason. If we didn't get through some of the trails thrown at us, we wouldn't be us, and we wouldn't be that much happier in the end. Fight girl. You have it in you. Sometimes, when things just couldn't seem to be worse--you just have to smile and know that everything will be okay so long as you're doing the right thing. Heavenly Father answers our prayers in his own way which is the best way. Remember that. He will never hide the reason from us, he will only have us search for it and reveal it when we are ready and it is best."
Love that girl and the words I know to be true in my heart but needed to be reminded of. I can't thank Paige enough for being the sweetest friend a girl could ask for.
Speaking of friends, it was my best friend since I was 4's birthday yesterday!
Happy 23rd Birthday to the incredible Aubrey "Brie" Ann Young :)

 Brie & CiCi

Aubrey & I photoshoot in 2009

 Best friends and rockstars...

 Easter Egging @ Brie's (which was my second home growing up)

 Brie and her equally amazing husband Tyson dancing during the Easter egg decorating session.

 Aubrey, me, & McHale (my little sister).

 The high school years...

Meeting Jesse McCartney (the Justin Bieber of our youth).

Brie isn't just a friend... she is basically my older sister and I'm her younger sister... since I don't have an other sister nor does she have a younger sister (or any for that matter).
The girl inspires me beyond comprehension.
In the words of the Little Rascals, "You only get a once in a lifetime friend, once in a lifetime."
Haha we are writers and journal-ers.
She wrote the following to me yesterday that makes me smile:
"Charley, I love you! I just thought I'd start off by mentioning that because you are awesome! You are thee best BFF ever!
And today, I'm old. That's scary...I'm getting into like my mid twenties. And you're only a year younger so you should be scared too! I can't believe that we aren't still like 17 or something."
The world, especially mine, is better because she is in it. I love my Brie Brie.
For her bday, we went out to dinner at a local restaurant called Tom's (it's amazing) with Tyson and Brie's parents and Heidi (Brie's sister-in-law basically). Then we went to the Young's and had cake... Fun times.
Love you lovelies.

The Power of 7 [Always believe]

7 really is a lucky number...

Everyday I read back on my old journals what I was doing a year ago to the day.

Well today I read back on what happened in my life on July 7, 2007 and realized how lucky the number 7 truly is...

"Jesse (McCartney) is performing in August at the Oregon State Fair in Salem, Oregon and at the Evergreen State Fair in Monroe, Washington! Brie is in his fan club and signed up to Meet and Greet him! Her parents said we could go if we win the passes! That would be so amazing if we did! Meeting Jesse McCartney is on my list of things to do before I die. Maybe this will be our lucky chance on 7/7/7! :)"

It was our lucky day. We won the passes and a month later met Jesse McCartney in Washington! Never ever give up on your dreams. I always assumed that meeting Jesse would be nearly impossible and had doubt that it would happen but it did! In the words of Scooter Braun, aka the guy who believed in Justin Bieber and helped him become a superstar, 

"Never let anyone take away your dreams and your ambitions... only you can stop you. Even in your worse moments an opportunity will come. TAKE IT."

Never say never lovelies. Follow and fight for your dreams. Dreams do come true. Impossible is nothing. Take your failure and turn them into successes. I believe in you. Always believe in yourself. 

#9 Meet Jesse McCartney with Aubrey 8/28/07

#9 Meet Jesse McCartney with Aubrey 8/28/07

I'm going to begin this entry with an explanation of how this all came to pass... so Aubrey (one of my best friends) and I loved Jesse McCartney. He was the Justin Bieber of our childhood. She entered a fan club of his and entered a contest to win meet and greet tickets. 

    We were on vacation in Oregon during the summer of 2007 when she got a phone call. Here is how I describe it in my journal entry on that day.

     "OMW! OMW! OMW! Aubrey won 2 meet and greet passes to meet Jesse McCartney in Washington on August 28! We are meeting Jesse! AHHHH! OMW! I am so excited! That will be the best day of our lives! Meet Jesse McCartney is on my list of things to do before I die! This is a once in a lifetime thing! Our fortunes were right when they said good luck was coming our way. My hands are basically shaking because of how happy I am! I will ALWAYS remember when we were checking into our hotel in Astoria, Oregon when Aub got the call that she won the backstage passes. The concert is in Monroe, Washington--that's at the top of Washington near Canada. Oh my I am the luckiest girl alive! I can't believe it's real! I'm going to be missing my first day of my senior year in high school but I don't care, this was meant to be, and I wouldn't trade it! I feel like I'm dreaming!"

 Aubrey, Jesse, and me.

 Aubrey and I holding our tickets Jesse autographed.

     Here is the entry of my journal for the day we met Jesse :)

      "I had butterflies. They led us all down this ramp and along the side of a white tent. There was a lady who was Jesse's manager. She began to talk to us and we told her we drove here from Pocatello, Idaho which was about 13 hours away. She declared us Jesse's fan club presidents and we told her about how meeting Jesse was on our list of things to do before we died and that I was missing the first three days of my senior year of high school. She thought it was an amazing story and shared it with just about everyone in line and all of the staff members of Jesse, and they all thought it was awesome. Everyone was so nice!

          Well the line moved pretty fast and before we knew it we turned the corner of the tent and saw our first glimpse of Jesse up close! It was indescribable! My face lit up! He's so cute!

           Jesse turned and looked at us and smiled. We talked up to him and introduced ourselves. He stuck out his hand and shook mine and then hers. He said, 'Hi girls! Nice to meet you!' And this guy took Brie's camera and Jesse put his arms around us. We got our picture taken with him! Jesse's hair was longer and cute. His smile was so white and beautiful. He was gorgeous. He had a bad complexion up close, but it was awesome because it just proved he's normal and isn't perfect. He's just an average person with incredible talent. I felt so normal and not nervous around him at all. He was so nice. I touched Jesse and he touched me! That was such a dreamlike experience. I can't believe it!

          Brie and I were about to leave when we noticed that the person who took a picture of us actually hadn't taken a picture! He hadn't pushed the button hard enough. We were freaking out, but the manager let us back in line and we got to re-meet Jesse. He autographed our tickets on his knee this time. I apologized and he was just so happy and had a huge smile and insisted it was fine and don't be sorry. He wrapped his arms around us and we took the picture and it worked this time. Jesse was so sweet and cuter in person (if that's possible). I never imagined he'd actually be as nice as he was.

        The picture was taken at exactly 6:57 P.M.

        It was amazing meeting him because he was so happy and down to earth. He didn't act any better than anyone else. He didn't act better than me. He acted excited to meet me. He was sweet. His smile instantly made me smile. I'll call it the "Jesse Effect". He wasn't trying to rush us at all. He really does love his fans. I'm so glad I was blessed to meet him. I respect him so much. Jesse really is a sweetheart and deserves every penny he earns.

        I am going to look at these pictures whenever I feel sad or discouraged or unsure or hopeless. I can look at it and remember how happy I was and how I met Jesse McCartney even though I thought it was impossible. Anything you want can be achieved if you never give up. I know anything is possible if you're dedicated and believe hard enough. Dreams can come true. 

        I have to put this quote in from my Quotebook because it reminds me of Jesse. 'I love it when you look at me because I know for just one moment I crossed your mind.' I wonder what Jesse thought when he saw me. I may never know, but I know I did cross his mind.

       My life has been a fairytale. I am so blessed and fortunate. I've done, seen and accomplished so much, and the year isn't even finished. There is so much more possible, and I have so many dreams and things to do and see. This summer was amazing. I am a blessed girl. I am happy. I love life. I intend to make each day count."