Jenny-isms

Meet Jenny. She is the happiest, cheeriest, more adorable girl you will ever have the pleasure of befriending. We became friends months ago, and it hasn't been a dull moment since. 

A little back history. Jenny is 30 years old in what appears to be an 8 year-old's body. According to her family, her diagnosis is referred to as the Jenny White syndrome (Jenny's full name), because she is the only one on the planet showing these rare developmental symptoms. Her family put her information into the system with the hope of finding another who shares her same symptoms.

Needless to say, we have become friends and see each other regularly. Aren't I lucky?
So I decided to write about our sweet friendship...which is long overdue.

JENNY-ISMS.

After every conversational pause:

"Are you going to behave yourself?...Because I'm not....I never do!"

Casual greeting:

"Hey there princess!" 
"Chetzee, you didn't call me last night." 
"I'm hosting a game night, you coming tonight?"

**Even following a session doing baptisms in the Temple, she finished, turned to me and yelled:

"High five princess!"

Her favorite jokes include:

Jenny: "Knock knock"

Me: "Who's there?"

Jenny: "Cow..."

Chelsea : "Cow who?"

Jenny: "Cow kiss a snake, ha ha."

**Every joke is accompanied by forced laughter. (My favorite part)

Jenny: "Knock knock"

Me: "Who's there?"

Jenny: "Chelsea!"

Me: "Chelsea who?"

Jenny: "Chelsea's getting married to Nick" 

**She came up with that one all by herself:)

JENNY TRADEMARKS.

She is full of song. Some of my fondest memories with Jenny are in the car, jamming out to the radio. Whether or not she knows the song -- she sings random words at the top of her lungs. Absolutely NO inhibition.

That is also how I met her, singing. She is a faithful member of the ward choir, which is where our friendship really took flight. We often are the only two sopranos in the choir, which often leads to much giggling, apologizing and pitchy notes:) She loves singing so much that she volunteered the two of us to do a duet this Easter Sunday. I quickly told her that we might drive away the Spirit...to which she just laughed and clapped her hands out of excitement.

Her biggest hobby is planning. Planning everything!! I've never met a bigger planner in my life. (And I studied PR, which is practically ALL we did in school.) She's always planning the next ride, next party, next game night, next phone call. Which means, she often communicates via texting.

Her texts to me over the last week:
6-oo jenny call
Yes jenny 6-00
Crib 7-30
Yas mll Djv. IUGV Asti ugcv khv. Adar fhkb plkhv
Tagges yes whip I east hi 7-03 call jenny 

Her text messages are always my favorite. I especially love her text messages to her sweet mother -- they have a relationship like I've never seen.

Jenny is a friend to everyone she meets. She has a way of bringing a smile to EVERYONE'S faces.

She is as trendy as trendy comes, always dressed to the nines. Her shoes, headbands, dresses and tights all coordinate every day. She takes it to another level and even has her nails painted to match the upcoming holiday. Just classy. (She also gets that from her beautiful mother.)

I moved home after college with no friends or any idea of what I was doing with my life. The day I met Jenny, my life changed and I knew we would become great friends. She has been such an inspiration and joy to be around. I love her so much. Nick loves her so much. We can hardly go on dates anymore, just the two of us, without her tagging along or mentioning how much we wish she were with us!

My friends, I can't end this blog post without telling a sweet experience I had to really articulate how special this girl is to me. We were going to the Bountiful Temple to do baptisms a few weeks ago. She had her Temple bag all ready to go with all of her "Jenny essentials" accompanied by her overwhelming enthusiasm to be visiting the Temple. As we walked in, I could see the Temple workers' faces light up. (That's what happens with her, people just light up when she walks into the room. It's as though they get a better grasp of what life is really about, love and happiness--two things Jenny radiates.) I was touched by the people who were so eager to talk with her and get to know her sweet, spunky soul.

We worked our way to the font, where she insisted I go first so I could help her shower and change afterward. So I did. As I was walking away to the dressing room, I turned around to see her getting in the font to do baptisms. I stood there, dripping, and feeling overwhelmed by a rush of light and faith. I can't really explain it. As I looked at her little face, barely above the water's edge, I felt honored. It was as though the veil opened a sliver, and I got a glimpse of what Heavenly Father sees when he looks at us, all of us. And it was absolutely beautiful.

I love her.

After every name, she would come up out of the water, gasping for breath (which made me giggle). She would then turn to me with wide eyes and a big smile for a look of validation. I couldn't help but tear up as I thought, in the lyrics of Les Miserables,

"To love another person is to see the face of God."

How true is that? Love and happiness is what it's all about. Jenny is the epitome of love and acceptance. Of kindess and optimism. And how I hope to be like her when I grow up!

After my time spent with Jenny, I must say, angels do exist on this earth.

Our usual Tuesday date night at Orange Leaf after Institute. I cannot get enough of these two! 

Tight Squeeze!!!!!

 

Talking to her BF.

Fort building

While watching Seinfeld, her favorite show!

One of my favorite Jenny quotes, "When I grow up and get married, I just want to cuddle in bed and watch Seinfeld and tell him (her husband) not to complain."

Ha you go girl.

Screen time.