TJ and Janene.

I've read hundreds of love stories.
And I've watched all the best chick flicks (several times each I might add).
And none of those compare to the love story of TJ and Janene.

It started 6 years ago when they were both sophomores at AF.
It started with hello, and in no time at all, you could just tell.

You can see it in the way he looks at her.
You can see it in the way she blushes every time he kisses her.
You can just see it, really.

It's a love story for the ages.
And I've know it for years.

I'm so excited that these two could be married for time and all eternity.
They were made for each other, and when you see them together, it just makes sense why it didn't work out with anyone else.

Congratulations TJ and Janene!
Today it really all begins.
Today through forever.

Sincerely,

Samantha Dru

Graduation Day!

In my family, we have this running joke that certain things that happen to me are things that would only ever happen to me.

But it makes for good stories and always a good laugh.

And of course, graduation couldn't be the exception to the rule.

I'd been waiting for that day for years.

I mean I had a paper chain for the last 100 days of high school.

I was so excited in fact, I had convinced myself that it was going to be the perfect day.

And things were going smoothly, and I almost believed the day would go off without a hitch.

I was so close,

So close to being done.

All that was left was my name being called so I could walk across the stage to receive my diploma.

I waited patiently for my name to be called.

There were only a few people left in front of me.

Right before it was my turn the announcer asked me, "Do you want your name to be called as Samantha Dru Murphy or Samantha Murphy?"

"Sam Murphy or Samantha Dru Murphy, really anything but just Samantha Murphy," I replied.

And then it was my turn.

They're calling my name.

"Samantha Murdock."

What?!?!

That isn't my name!

But yes, they mean me...

I walked across the stage, thinking to myself,

"I have three choices here: get mad, cry, or laugh because this is one of those things that would only ever happen to me."

So I laughed(:

And at the end of the day, even though technically Sam Murphy really wasn't even part of the program, I'm still so excited to have made it this far!

And high school, now that I'm all done, here is what I have to say to you.

You nearly did me in.

And you weren't the party everyone promised you'd be.

And let's be honest, we're not the best of friends.

We've had our ups and downs,

Mostly downs.

And I can't say I'm going to miss you.

But you taught me a lot, and helped me become who I am today.

And even though I'd never in a million years go back,

I wouldn't trade these last four years for the world.

So high school,

Thanks for everything.

And now I'm on to bigger and better things!

Sincerely,

Samantha Dru

Senior Prom.

Senior Prom.

Its what every girl looks forward to all of high school.

Its when I forget that I'm a broke future college student and buy that perfect dress.

And its the night that, just for a few hours, I get to feel like a princess. 

Every girl dreams about it.

You go with that perfect boy.

You wear the perfect dress.

Do your hair just right.

And dance the night away.

Well, I did wear my perfect dress,

And my hair was gorgeous,

and I definitely danced the night away.

There was one thing that was a little different,

I didn't even know my date.

You heard me.

My senior prom was a blind date.

And I'm not going to lie,

I didn't know what to expect.

But it was perfect.

He was a complete gentlemen.

Opened all the doors for me,

Pulled out a chair for me to sit in,

And made it such a fun night!

Thank you Jarek for making my senior prom such an amazing night!

Sincerely,

Samantha Dru

Because of Him.

Easter.

A day of celebration.

A celebration of Christ's resurrection.

What a miraculous event this was.

And because of Him,

Because of His selfless sacrifice that only He could perform,

I can live a wonderful, worthy life.

He suffered the greatest pain to atone for my sins,

And then died for me,

So that I could be forgiven of my sins and return to live with Him and Heavenly Father again one day.

I will never be able to repay Christ for all He has given me.

Because of Him I can be with my family forever.

Because of Him I can one day be married in the temple.

Because of Him I stand today, worthy, with a sure testimony, and very happy.

I owe Christ all that I have, all that I am, and all I will ever become.

I love my Savior.

He has given me everything.

And He is everything to me.

Sincerely,

Samantha Dru

First Kiss.

Standing underneath the stars, looking into each other's eyes.

And then he uses his hand to gently brush away a strand of hair.

And from there his hand falls to caress your face.

He continues on to say something so perfect and adorable you're sure he's rehearsed it hundreds of times.

And then...

He kisses you.

Doesn't that sounds perfect?

Too bad it wasn't mine. 

Of course, like any girl, I had been looking forward to my first kiss since kindergarten. 

I knew exactly how I wanted it to go.

It would be with the most wonderful boy in the world.

And it would be beyond romantic.

Wrong.

I could argue that I had the most awkward and unromantic first kiss in all of history.

Don't believe me?

Let me tell you about it then...

I was 14 with braces, acne, and no sense of style.

And we weren't under the stars gazing into each other's eyes.

We were in my next door neighbors basement.

With Nacho Libre playing in the background.

And he never brushed away a strand of hair, because, like always, my hair was in a bun.

Refer back to "no sense of style."

His hands never caressed my face.

No, his hands hung awkwardly at his side.

And looking back, I'm not sure our lips even fully met.

I could tell he was freaking out and having one of those "its now or never" moments.

And I guess he chose now.

But I think between the fact that he was so worried he'd lose his new found confidence to kiss me and being in a dark room, he didn't really make his target.

He kissed about half lips, half cheek.

Awkward.

And don't forget Nacho Libre playing in the background, because that's like icing on the cake.

But did I care?

No, not at all.

Because at 14 I thought I loved this boy and we someday end up married.

Wrong again.

And I thought that we could one day tell our three adorable children the story of our "perfect first kiss."

So, so wrong.

So I guess what I'm saying here is;

Wait it out kids.

Wait until your acne has cleared up,

And the braces have been taken off.

And definitely wait until the boy is smart enough to at least press mute on Nacho Libre.

Because you don't want a first kiss like mine.

Just trust me on this one.

Sincerely,

Samantha Dru

Worth the Wait.

"Do you ever wish you had a sister?"

In the last 17+ years I have heard that question countless times.

And I always answered the same way,

"No, because I have the three best brothers in the world. And girls are too much drama."

That's how I replied every single time.

And it was the truth.

I never felt like I missed out on anything.

I still played with dolls and I still wore hand-me-downs (Thanks to my mother I looked like a boy until I was 4 years old and threw tantrums if I was in anything but a dress).

And truthfully, why would I feel like I was missing out when I had the three most wonderful and amazing brothers in the world?

We had the best times together.

I did things that no girl with sisters ever did, I assure you.

I went repelling off my banister.

I fought in chicken fights,

I dominated in spit wad wars.

I knew how to wrestle (even though a size advantage was never on my side).

I can quote the scout law and the scout oath, and tie all the important knots.

I am pro at assisting in the building of the most technical pinewood derby cars you ever did see.

I'm not afraid of getting dirty, and I love rough-housing.

I'm my daddy's little girl, and as everyone loves to point out, I've had him wrapped around my finger since day 1.

And I grew up with 3 brothers who have always protected me and don't tolerate anyone besides themselves messing with their little sister. 

So again, no, I never felt bad about not having a sister.

But now, in just 88 short days, I'm going to have a sister.

And I can't even explain my excitement!

I've known her for over 5 years, and she's changed my life.

She's inspired me to become a better person.

She's taught me to become more Christlike in all I do.

And every year since I've met her, one of my New Years resolutions has to "become more like Janene."

I've secretly wanted her to be my sister since the day I met her.

And now its happening!

And I couldn't be happier!

I'm getting the best sister in the world.

Heavenly Father knew that one day I'd need a sister.

And He's blessed me with the best sister I could ask for.

And let me tell you, it was more then worth the wait.

I love you Janene!

And I can't wait to be your sister(:

Sincerely,

Samantha Dru

My kind of party.

In the Murphy home we don't have very many "rules."

In fact, I could count all of the rules on one hand. 

1. Be honest. (with yourself, your beliefs, your friends, your family, and anyone else you may come in contact with. )

2. Be kind, and always leave someone better of from when you found them. 

3. Never put away a puzzle until its been completely finished. 

4. Don't do shoddy work.

5. Throwing yourself a pity party is never allowed.

And that covers it. 

And I've never had a problem with any of these rules...except one.

I'm very prone to throwing myself pity parties every time I'm home alone on a Friday night, or every time I hear about yet another party I wasn't invited to.

But that just won't do in the Murphy home.

Because in my house, when you see someone with their head hanging down, you don't just walk on by.

No, what you do is actually quite simple.

First, you give them a "magic hug," and happily ignore their groans of protest.

Then, you do anything you can to make them smile.

And you know you're making progress when their glare starts to quiver because they're trying to suppress a smile.

And at this point, there's only one logical thing to do.

Be a Murphy. (This may include dancing like a lunatic to country music, or singing so off tune its debatable if it should even be called singing, [singing and dancing may be done simultaneously if the situation seems particularly dire] or, in extreme cases, tickling the victim until they can do nothing to wipe that smile off their face.)

And just like that, my pity party came to a crashing end.

And really, what reason do I have to be feeling sorry for myself?

I have a great life.

And I happen to have the best friends in the whole world, and I'm lucky enough to call them my family.

Besides, this is more my kind of party. 

Sincerely,

Samantha Dru