I am going to start at the beginning... it's quite a story, a very unique one at that. I urge you to sit back in my Papasan chair and read on. It'll be worth it!!

 I transferred from a two year community college to a four year state university fall of 1995. Once I got there, I wasn't sure I had made the right decision. Things were very different. It was a BIG campus and I was all alone. I was different than everybody else for two reasons. One, I liked country music (nobody else here does), and two, I didn't go out and get drunk or party every night (everybody there did that). So, I was off in my own lil world. But, now I KNOW I made the right decision... I had to be here to meet Jill. I made one friend in my one night class and she showed me how to do E-mail. I was fascinated at this new discovery!

 I began to do E-mail every night and then discovered the Internet where I found the personals (they were fun-hehe). One night, my friend and I found out about a chat line. We got it hooked up to our account and got online with the rest of America!

 Being a loyal Wynonna Judd fan, I decided to use Wynonna as my nickname. Once I was on, I joined a channel called #Country. Most of the people there liked country music. I was very happy to be able to talk to people with the same interests as me.

 One day, I was on at an odd time. I was talking on the channel when Shania joined. The next thing I remember is someone on the channel said something offensive about Wy. Shania immediately defended me. After it was over, I private messaged her and said thank you and told her I liked her nickname. She told me she liked mine too. This started a conversation which ended not too long after because she had to go get her laundry. I admit I was disappointed because I had really enjoyed talking to her. She got back on a little later that day, and we talked more. I know we started talking a lot in the next weeks, but the next part I remember is the night before the Country Music Awards. I asked Shania if she wanted me to get on and tell her who won (since it was delayed three hours in her time zone). She said yes. So, the next night, I watched them and then rushed to the lab to tell her all about it.

 From those days on, we have talked and talked. We began to write E-mail, call one another, and finally we exchanged pictures. Shania's real name was Jill, she was 19 and lived in AZ (a place I had always wanted to be). We talked a lot and became friends. I grew attached to her, and tried to talk to her every night. She was a very special person, I could tell.

 I don't remember where or when or how or why... but we got to be more personal. I think we ran out of things to talk about one day, and I asked her if we could get more personal. I hesitated at first. I had a past that wasn't all that good. A lot of my friends had turned their backs on me in the past, I didn't want to lose this growing friendship. I told her this, and she calmed my fears telling me I could tell her anything. I believed her and did. I shared my past with her, all of it, the good and the bad. Jill didn't leave, she stayed right there and listened (or read-hehe) and she told me only good things, she told me it was all in the past, and just went on and on. That night, I found my best friend.

 We talked about everything under the sun (including the color of our toothbrushes-hehe). I loved to talk to her. When I was upset, she was the one I wanted to talk to. I knew I could talk to her, that I could tell her anything.

 One night in the beginning of November, we were talking about flying on planes. I asked her if she had ever gone anywhere and she told me yes and where she went. I asked her why she had gone there, she told me for her Church. Curious, I asked her what religion she was. She responded, "Mormon"

 I was shocked. I didn't know what to say. My family was Catholic and they had always warned me against Mormons, saying they were weird and not to ever talk to any of them. But, Jill wasn't weird! Even though my family was Catholic, I had not practiced religion at any time in my life. I knew what I believed in. I went to Church on Easter and Christmas... for funerals and weddings. I had recently been trying to get back into religion. I had been going to the Catholic Church. I told Jill that I was Catholic and that I felt spiritually deprived. I asked her if she knew anything about the Catholic Church, she told me what she knew, but it wasn't enough. So, I asked her if she would tell me about her Church and she said yes. Jill told me about the Mormon Church and what she believed in... and the strangest thing happened. I felt something change inside of me. I felt a happiness and peaceful feeling just come over me. I knew I wanted to know more.

 Jill offered to send me The Book Of Mormon and I agreed wanting to read it. I recieved it about a week later and immediately began reading it. I got a warm feeling inside and just wanted to know more. So, I kept on reading and I would ask Jill any questions I had. She would help me to understand.

 We had grown very close. I considered her a best friend. We talked about meeting and decided it would be a great thing to do. We both had Christmas break coming up. Jill would be going home to her family's house and told me I could stay there with her and her family. I went to the travel agent and booked a flight to Phoenix, AZ.

 The plane ride was nerve racking... all I could think about was if we would recognize each other and if we would get along. I prayed we would. When I got off the plane, I had to walk down a corridor into the terminal... Coming out of the corridor, I looked around but didn't see anyone that looked like Jill. But, I did see two people looking at me and waving. Looking around, I realized I was the only one left. The two people were Jill's parents, they told me that Jill couldn't get out of work, so they were here to pick me up and bring me to her work. They immediately made me feel comfortable and even though I was still very nervous, I felt good.

 When we got to Blimpie's, my nerves shot up again, but I took a deep breath, walked in, and came face to face with Jill... the girl I met on the internet, my best friend. Jill came right over and we hugged. It was then that I knew we would get along just fine and that everything would be great! (I never imagined we would get along as well as we did... but I had hoped).

 Jill took me to the Grand Canyon, Sedona (where the Judds made their "Love Can Build A Bridge" video), Mexico, and everywhere in between. I liked it SO much, I stayed an extra week. I was even there for my 21st birthday. They threw me a party. Jill and her siblings (two brothers and two sisters - all younger) decorated the family room with TONS of balloons and PURPLE (my favorite color) streamers. There was cake, ice cream, and candy. We sang, danced, and had fun. I even got presents :) We watched movies all night, starting off with The Net... how appropriate!!

 While staying with Jill and her family, I had the opportunity to go to Church twice, and see how religion could affect a family. I loved having family prayers and I loved the feelings I had when I was in Church. Before I left to go home, I asked Jill's father how I could learn more about their religion in NY. He told me that he would fill out a referral card and send it in.

Soon I had to go home. I didn't want to. I wished I could stay
     in Arizona, but I knew I had to go back. Jill and Sharon
 brought me to the airport and we all cried. I cried harder when
I boarded the plane and clutched a picture of us the whole way
  home. It was quite a site!

   As soon as I got back to school, I emailed Jill and we began
  talking again except this time it was different. We knew each
   other, we had met. It was like we were old friends and just
   using the computer as a way of communication. But, it was
     hard! The distance was hard to deal with! We both had
    problems and needed each other and it was so very hard!

It wasn't long until I got a phone call from the Missionaries. A
      couple days later, they came over and we had our first
           discussion in my dorm room.

  Sharon had decided to fly here for her spring break and I had
     asked Jill if she could too. But, she told me she couldn't
  because she didn't have any money. I understood that having
money problems myself.

   After my second discussion, the Missionaries asked me if I
   would be baptized. After praying about it, I told them yes. I
  felt happy! I felt good inside, and I knew that God had heard
 my prayers. That night, I got on IRC and asked Jill again if she
  could come that weekend. She said no again. I told her I had
 something to tell her, and then I told her I was getting baptized the weekend that Sharon would be here.

   She immediately told me that she would be there no matter
  what. That made me so happy! To have my best friend there,
  the one who introduced me to the Church was a dream cometrue.

  Jill and Sharon flew into NYC in March. I picked them up at
 the airport "attacking" them with HUGS!! We walked around
   NYC seeing the important stuff. That night, we went to see
Les Miserables on Broadway, which had been a dream of Jill's.
  I really wanted to make one of Jill's dreams come true, so we went.

  I was baptized on March 10, 1996. Jill gave a talk before my
   actual baptism. She told everyone how we met, how I was
  introduced to the Church, and then told about our friendship.
  After her talk, she sang "I'll Find You My Friend". This song
       means a lot to the two of us, because it's about "us".

 We both cried through the whole thing, actually many people
  were crying. I was then baptized and confirmed a member of
 The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints. I can't begin    to tell you how GOOD I felt. It was like an instant love, an acceptance. I knew God loved and accepted me, I knew he forgave all my sins.

      We "toured" NY for the rest of the week. We went to
  Palmyra, Niagara Falls, Albany, and everywhere in between.
       We had a good time, and Jill and I grew even closer.

   Jill and Sharon had to leave. I took them back to the city to
     catch their plane, only to find out that it was cancelled.
    Thankfully, I had brought a friend and he came up with A
  PLAN!! We stayed in a hotel, in the middle of Times Square,
  and had a blast. We had dinner at Planet Hollywood and just
walked around the city. The next day, after walking around the
    village, Jill and Sharon left for AZ. It hurt as much (if not
 more) when they left. It felt like my heart was tearing. I hated
  to be away from Jill. We cried again and said our goodbyes.
 Life in NY hadn't been too good for me and it took everything
             in me NOT to get on that plane with them.

 As soon as we could, we were back at the computer. Over the
  next week, the both of us went through some very hard times
  where we needed each other. But, 2500 miles again was the
  problem. My friend helped me to decide to go to AZ for MY
Spring Break.

I flew to AZ at the end of March. Jill told me she couldn't be at
  the airport because she had to work. So, when I came out of
    the corridor and Jill stepped in front of me... imagine my
   surprise! I screamed and hugged her! Jill, Sharon, and their
   parents were there to welcome me back to Arizona. It was
great!

     We fit as much as possible in the week, including taking
 Religion classes at the Mesa Institute, going to Golfland (play
   mini-golf), going to Fountain Hills (a park), and we went to
 Tuscon to see Wynonna Judd in concert (a promise I made to
   Jill before we even met in person). We also colored Easter
  eggs and had an Easter egg hunt. It was an awesome week!!

 Again the problem of leaving came up. I had to go back. I only had a month and a half left of school and nobody wanted me to blow it. It was really hard to leave this time too. I thought the other times were tough... but boy it NEVER gets easier!! I think Jill and I got even closer this last week. Our friendship amazes me, it continues to grow and grow. I hope it never stops! I said goodbye to Jill and her Mom brought me to the airport. But, this time there was a reason for going back... We would never have to say goodbye again...

  On May 20, 1996, Jill flew one way to NY and the two of us
         drove a U-Haul to Arizona (FOR GOOD!!)

I moved in with Jill and her family. So, we thought of the time
  we couldn't be together as preparing to be together... I had to
 pack and get ready to move and she had to get things ready for me to come.

We did have some problems living together. So, I moved out to
    save our friendship. A lot happened in the next year. Jill's
  boyfriend came home from his mission and they got engaged
    and married in June of 1997. I gave birth to a baby girl in
   November 1997. Our lives have changed dramatically. But,
  we're still there for each other. I had to leave the state and I
          wish I was there every day.

 Jill is my best friend. I love her with ALL my heart. Never has
 one person touched me like she has. Jill is the light through the darkness, the truth through the lies, my strength, my
 inspiration, my hope. She gave me back my life, my faith, my
  future, and my family. I would do anything for her, including
  die. There is nothing that she could ever do for me to not be
    her friend. Jill means so much to me. I don't know what I
  would do without her... I don't ever want to find out. Jill is a
  part of me, she is in my heart and my soul. She is a once in a
  lifetime friend and we have a once in a lifetime friendship. I
      can tell her anything and she'll understand. She knows
 everything about me, the good and the bad, and she is still my friend.

  Jill is my bestest friend and the longest friendship I have ever
 had. We think that because we believe we were friends in the
 pre-existence, we have always been friends, it was God's plan,
  we just had to wait until the time was right. Jill is my forever
     friend... my Eternal Friend.

 Jill, I love you with all my heart and I miss you so much! You
  are my best friend. I hope you know how much you mean to
  me. Thank you for loving me (no matter what). I love you...
       "Cause we are Eternal Friends" *HUGS*

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