Deanna and I met in College at Oregon State, we were in the Athletic Training Education Program together. I thought she was a snuddy smarty pants and she thought I was a bimbo cheerleader, but by God's awesome plan we ended up getting to know each other and soon were inseperable. We consider each other our sister and though our careers have taken us apart from one another we remain in contact and see each other about once a year. I am so blessed to have met Dee and to be able to call her my best friend. She has turned into an amazing wife to Clay Lewis and a loving mother to Darby Lewis. I love their family and am so grateful to know them. 

Tegan and I met our Freshman year in Highschool at cheerleading try-outs. We both ended up making Varsity, which was awesome, but we didn't know anyone! So naturally we gravitated to each other and for the next 4 years, High School would never be the same. We had SO much fun being young together doing everything from shopping at the mall, and eating french fries with ranch at Sharis to summer vacations with her family to Sun River, and....cheer camp. We went on to Oregon State University together, making the cheerleading team once again and cheering together our freshman year. I have known tegan since I was 13 years old, so for 15 years now I have been blessed with a freind like Tegan who always been there for me no matter which direction life has taken us. Tegan is a loving wife to Michael, who I think couldn't be more perfect for her. He is her prince and she his princess. 

Once Becca and I became friends in grad school we knew we would be friends for the rest of our lives. We were inseperable for 3 years from working together, living together, and doing everything outside of work and living together. I can honestly say grad school wouldn't have been the same with out Becca. We learned from one another and helped each other battle through life's lessons on love, work, and trying to live on $800 a month. Though we live 500 miles apart now we always make time to have our face-time/wine chat's and visit when we can. I have great memories of living it up in Boise because of Becca and her true friendship. I end with this, "Becca, Your freaking awesome!".

I was blessed to have met Natalie while I was in grad school, but we remained aquaintances a while before our friendship really grew. Not only did I get a great friend I got two friends. Natalie's husband Bret is a friend of mine too and I have awesome memories of just the 3 of us hanging out, talking about everything under the sun, and learning from one another from our walks of life. Natalie is wise beyond her years even though she is younger than me =). She has a beautiful perspective on life that I admire, and always stays true to herself.Bret and Natalie's K9 children, Bandit and Roxie, have become as close to Jake and I as our own K9 child, Sasha. Sometimes we see Bandit and Roxie more than Bret and Natalie during the busy travel times of the year, but none the less our friendship unchanged. Having met natalie I know I always have a friend who will do anything for our friendship and far beyond that. 

I naturally gravitated to Robyn when we became friends, mostly because she was in my training room everyday after playing 4 years of D1 Volleyball for Boisestate. Robyn's and my seedling friendship helped me get through my very first year as a graduate assistant for the Volleyball team and my first year as a certified athletic trainer. Robyn always made me laugh and she has a heart of gold which was apparent to me right away. After that first year, Robyn has been a friend through thick and thin. We have been taken care of each other through surgeries and heart breaks. Robyn is a beautiful woman of God who I adore and admire for her wisdom and grace. I can thank Robyn for a turning point in my life when I was renewed in my Faith. Robyn and her family were a huge catalyst during this period of time and they may not know how much of an impact they had on me. I can't thank them enough for their love and encouragement. 

For being a simple farmer, the guy we lovingly know as Kramer is sincerely the most unique individual I've ever know. In the past 10 years or so, Kramer has become somewhat infamous as the "coolest guy people know, that shouldn't be cool". I'm proud to say that, for reasons I still can't explain today, I was friends with Kramer long before he held that distinction.

We would have known each other in kindergarten, but he wasn't much of a morning person yet so he attended the afternoon session. Being part of a first grade class of less than 30 kids he couldn't stay hidden forever, though, and as elementary school went on our friendship came to be. By the time I moved in the eighth grade he was my best friend, and through four years of high school he would solidify himself as part of the Garcin family. By the time we graduated high school he had been given a spare key to my parents house, which was convenient for me because they never gave me one. When my parents moved to Washington several years later, my mom made sure to drop a key in the mail for Kramer. Needless to say, I'm still waiting for mine to show up.

Since high school our lives have always managed to remain close. He was my first roommate in college, and has been a big part of far too many memories to recall. Kramer has always been a constant in my life, even after moving back to Fairfield to pursue a life of trapping and farming. He has always been a true friend, not just to me, but to anyone he cares for. He defines loyalty, and there is no one else I could imagine asking to be my best man. 

The first time I met Robbie, we were about a month into our freshman of college. Our conversation revolved around how he was one bad week of basketball away from moving home. Thankfully that never happened, because over the next year I would come to know one of the most incredible guys I've ever met. At times our paths have been closer than close, and other times as far as can be apart but over the past 10 years I have always known when they come back together nothing will have changed. We were basketball teammates and roommates for a year in college, and roommates again for another two years in Boise. During that time I have watched Robbie grow up from the life of the party, and a reliable inventor of most of our awesomely terrible ideas. Today he is a wonderful husband to his wife Erin, and a model father for their daughters Laila and Jocelyn. I'm thrilled to have him in my wedding party, as I couldn't imagine celebrating the big day without him.

Of all the friends I have, it would be hard to say there is a more "complex cat" than Keegan Cook. In the 10 years we have known each other it feels like he has lived 5 distinctly different lives. But no matter what phase he has been in, I have always been able to rely on him to be a dependable friend, and the source of a good time. We became friends during our year playing college basketball together, and that friendship has grown thanks two a pair of stints as roommates, and 8 unforgettable trips (and counting) to Spokane, WA to play in the world's largest 3-on-3 basketball tournament. Keegan is one of my favorite people to just hang out with - whether he is engaging you in political or historical discussion, or just chilling out and watching the game. I like to joke that knowing Keegan as I do, I am terrified for the development of his junior high social studies students in Phoenix. But in all sincerity, he is as stand up of a guy as I know and as trust worthy of a friend as you will find. Simply put, I am honored to have him as a groomsman. 

I find it hard to put into words exactly what it means to be friends with Robert Comer. He is probably more comfortable in his own skin than anyone else I know, and no matter how embarassing it can make him at times it is what makes him an irreplaceable part of the family. Whether you know him as Comer, Bobby Lite, or Wildcard, you can't help but appreciate the time spent with this guy. We first met in high school as teammates on a summer traveling basketball team. Our friendship continued on to college where we played two years of basketball against each other at rival schools. During that time he quickly became a family favorite, between his non-stop quest to marry my older sister Jeni, his regular appearances for my birthday at the Gooding County Fair and Rodeo, and even joining family trips to Las Vegas. Our friendship has continued thanks to a decision to pursue the same master's degree and our annual (unparalled) trips to Spokane, WA for Hoopfest. He truly is a guy you have to know to really understand what I'm talking about, and I thank God I have had the pleasure.

If there is one friend in my life that has the ability to push me out of my comfort level it would have to be Eddie. He has a dynamic personality that makes him one of the most enjoyable people to be around. At the same time, he has a childlike spirit can easily challenge my "calculated, deliberate, conservative" nature. But I think any differences we may have is what makes him such a great friend. He has been the direct reason for some of the best memories I have with this group of guys. We met freshman year of college and spent one season as basketball teammates. As the fourth and final member of our Hoopfest squad for many years, Eddie has forever connected himself to the family. Over the past 9 years if there is one thing I have come to appreciate about Eddie the most, it is his inspiring work ethic and dedication to what matters most to him. He has overcome incredible obstacles to graduate with his bachelor's degree from Boise State, he is marrying the love of his life Tara Andrews on August 4, and is a guy that I know will always strive to test the limits of his potential. Eddie is a brother, and I couldn't imagine my wedding day without him.