I am so excited to have three of my closest friends in my bridal party. I met Amy, Dilen, and Jesus while in college, and we have been best friends ever since.
Amy and I first met in Orange Jackets, a honorary women's organization at UT. We became closer, however, through other activities, including late nights at Magnolia Cafe, camping during thunderstorms, and, of course, pranking unsuspecting friends. We also did a little bit of campaigning for Student Government.
From the moment I met Amy, I knew I had found a kindred spirit. Amy and I can (and will) talk about anything, and we have spent countless hours together, watching melodramatic teenage angst-ridden movies and television shows, analyzing Britney Spears' career and its tragic downfall, and so much more. We are so close that, at times, we have been accused of being the same person. This I take as a compliment, because Amy is one of the most intelligent, kindest, funniest, and talented people I have ever known. If I ever need anything, she has always been there for me. I'm so grateful for her friendship.
Dilen and I were both Plan II majors at UT, and although we had a class together our freshmen year, we did not become close until our junior year, when we suffered through Plan II physics together. Many a late night was spent working on homework, studying for exams, and generally trying to decipher anything our insane professor said in class. The spring semester of our junior year we both were selected as Normandy Scholars, which was a World War II study abroad program. That semester, we took five classes together, all about the Second World War from the various participants' perspectives, and that summer we traveled with the professors and other students in the program to England, France, and Germany (the above picture of us was taken at the Berlin Wall). Dilen and I also were in Student Goverment together, along with a few other organizations. He has a heart for service, having been extremely involved with the creation of a nonprofit that serves the East Austin community, and he has worked for the Clinton Global Initiative in New York. I am so lucky to have Dilen as a friend -- he epitomizes kindness, grace, and humility.
Jesus and I met a little later on in our college careers, towards the end of our junior years. Jesus has always been there for me -- he is an incredible friend. As a student, he gave back so much to the university, working on countless projects and serving students through a variety of organizations and positions. He continues to amaze me with not only his accomplishments as a law student, but with his passion for service. One of my favorite memories of Jesus was a little joke that a few friends and I played on him. One day, after getting out of class, Jesus was met by another friend of ours, Joey. Joey was wearing nothing but an inner tube and a Speedo, and carried a sign asking, "What would Jesus do if you followed him?" Joey then proceeded to follow Jesus all the way across campus and into several university offices, as Jesus nervously kept trying to shake him off. Jesus was a great sport, and we didn't stop laughing for days.
Not only have these three people been such great friends to me, but we have all grown so close in our friendships with each other. Although we all live in different places -- New York City, Charlotte, Austin, and Houston -- we have remained close and see each other every chance we get. Unfortunately, it doesn't feel like often enough, especially since we saw each other every day while in school. But, I am so proud of all of them for the amazing things they've done in their lives, and I'm really looking forward to seeing them in just a few weeks! I'm so honored and grateful that they will be with us at the wedding.
The first round of family and friends has arrived in Texas! With the wedding a little less than a week away, below are some general directions to Green Pastures, the site of our wedding and reception:
