To My Family and Friends:

By the time you read this, I will have just now taken my first steps into the Missionary Training Center in Provo Utah.

I can promise you that as my parents dropped me off by the curb and as I waved them farewell, I cried like a little girl, haha. Not just because I was gonna miss them, but because I miss all of you right now as well.

Maybe you’re crying while reading this, thinking,

“Dang! How did Franklin get something to post to his tumblr even after he had no more Internet access!? Nigga is a straight up G tho!”.

Haha, maybe.

Anyways, first of all, I want to thank all of you. Every single one of you has impacted my life in some way over the past few years of my life, and have taught me so many things.

To my closest friends:

Arielle You are my sanity Arielle. I love you so much! You literally came out of nowhere straight into my life and became one of my CLOSEST friends ever. I will never forget rescuing your drunk face and carrying you all the way back to Julian’s house on my back, haha. You might have not realized it, but from the moment I met you, I genuinely cared about you and how Duey treated you. It would take me forever to list all of my fond memories with you, or to tell you in words what you are to me, but to put it simply, you are the reason I was able to cope with my breakup with Danika last year. The things you would say to me, and the way you would talk with me and listen to my problems helped me more than you will ever know. You reminded me that even though I wasn’t perfect, I had a good heart, and that even though she didn’t still love me, that you did, and my friends did, and my family, and everything would be alright, even if I still loved Danika. I love you so much, and I am crying right now as I’m typing this. I will miss you. Please write me when you can. Remember, “a thirsty man”. Keep Duey thirsty for you and you two will last for a long time.

Duey Just like Arielle, you came out of nowhere pretty much and became one of my close friends. I remember at first I didn’t like you cause I judged you by how you looked, and how I expected you to be, but boy was I wrong. You are one of the nicest, and most genuine people that I know. You were there for me when I was feeling low, and I hope that I was there for you too. You’re my brother. We can talk about anything nerdy together and I love that about you. It’s kinda hard for me to write this stuff down without feeling gay, haha, but you know I really do care about you and you’re a true friend. I feel like we’ve been through countless battles and slayed the greatest beasts together, haha. You introduced me to my addiction, Monster Hunter, and for that I am eternally grateful. Take care of Arielle, she is a very special girl, and I know that you truly love her. Start to take responsibility with your life, I don’t wanna come back and you’re still dropping the same math class, hahaha. I know that you’ll do great while I’m gone, and that you’ll do well in school. I’m a horrible liar, so you have to trust me when I say that you have a lot of potential that you just can’t see. I love you like you’re my own blood, and I care about you, even though we’re constantly joking and poking fun at every thing, haha. When I get back, I know we’ll pick up where we left off. Write me when you can, or just when you need someone other than Julian to talk to, haha. You’ll be fine without me, haha.

Mye I can honestly say that you were my friend the moment we met, I just didn’t know it, haha. You are so friendly and warm and loving, and I love that about you. You know that I love your voice and you and I basically could have been famous, but we were too lazy to do it, haha. I remember that whenever I hung out with you and Julian I never felt third wheel, and you two always took care of me and gave me confidence in myself. I know I’m going to miss talking with you and laughing with you. Thank you so much for always being my partner in crime and doing all those ridiculous gigs with me, haha. I love you like you were my big sister and I care about you the same way. Please watch Julian and make sure that he does what’s right in his life. I love both of you more than you’ll know. When I think about the perfect couple, I think about you two. You two are so loving and forgiving and patient with one another. I know that my kids will hang out with your kids and we’ll pick up our friendship right where we left off when I get back. You are one of my closest friends, and you were there for me when I needed you. I’m not used to writing things about you, haha. I’d much rather just run my mouth and tell everyone about how awesome you are and how cool of a person you are to be with. Write me? So I can show off your letters to my companions, haha. I love you Mye, you are going to do great things.

Julian You are my closest friend, and you have been around longer than anyone else. You and I have known each other for almost 8 or 9 years and I’m still learning cool things about you everyday, haha. You are a man of 1,000 talents and abilities, and two of them I loved the most were your ability to make me laugh and your musical savvy. You were always there for me. Always. No matter what anyone else might think or say about you, you were always there for me. Even when I wasn’t always there for you. I blame myself for not being there when you needed me most, and I hope that these last two years of you and I spending quality time together has made up for that. If I was ever cool, or hip, or popular, it was because I basically copied something that you had said or did or how you acted. You taught me how to be a friend, and how to be a man. You were my big brother I needed. You are my closest friend. You are growing into a great man and I hope that when I get back that we can pick up right where we left off. Not very many people know about our friendship, or how good of friends we are, and I like it that way. You and I were never those people who had to post hecka pictures or videos online of us hanging out, or stupid comments on each others myspace or facebook so that others could see how good friends we were. We were just friends, and we didn’t have to show anyone else. I love you more than you will know, and I owe you so much. Take care bro, and write me when you have the time.

Christina Where do I even begin? You and Julian are my longest running friends of all time. You and I have gone through highs and lows for sure. Words do not do justice to what you and I have gone through. Honestly, I would marry you, haha. I know I would be annoyed with all of your weird quirks, but I would marry you, haha. I know that you love me and you care about me more than I will know. You were the only one really who was telling me that they were crying at the very thought of me leaving, haha. You’re so sweet. I remember my favorite times with you were Junior year when I got my license and I got to give you rides home. It was a great way for us to spend quality time together and for me to try to repair the damage that had happened to our friendship when I had started to date Kristine. I wish I could relive every funny moment you and I have had. Your family has been so supportive and kind to me, almost as if I was their own son. You are a wonderful person and someone I cannot forget. Please don’t forget about me. Write me when you have the time and remember that I love you.

Amy I love you so much. The end, haha. Amy, even though since you have gone to college I have felt a little bit more distant from you, just like Christina, you are still my closest friend. You are my bro before hoes, aha. I remember ditching a date I had with Janis so I could come through for you and give you a ride for something, haha. That’s the kind of love I have for you. You and I are so much alike in terms of our procrastination and our likes and dislikes, and I love how we’re super good friends on the phone, but then it feels somewhat awkward in real life, haha. I think it’s cause of how beautiful you are. No, forget that, I know it is because of how beautiful you are. When I’m on the phone with you, I don’t have to be distracted by your beauty so I guess that’s why it’s not so awkward for me, haha. I don’t feel so out leagued I guess. Anyways! You know all of my secrets and I would like to think I know some of yours, and I love how you are someone that I can confide in and tell every little thought about every little thing, and you will listen to me. You are an incredible person, and I know that you will be rich and successful when you grow up. Please don’t forget about me. I love you more than you will ever know.

Mom & Dad You two are never gonna read this, haha. I know for a fact that you two don’t even know I have this blog. In fact I’m typing this right next to you mom, watching you cook. I love you both, and I owe you so much. It is no trite assertion that you both are the reason why I am who I am and why I want to go on a mission. If anyone has ever showed me the love that Christ and God has for me, it was you two. I know that God will take care of you when I’m gone, and I love you both. If something happened to you two while I was on my mission, I would be sad, but I know that I will see you again one day. I love you, simple as that. 

To all the rest:

It would take me forever to write everything I want to, for everyone I know. But to everyone and anyone reading this, thank you so much for loving me and being patient with me. I know that I’m not perfect. But I know that your love for me has been perfect. I hope that you guys will remember me and the love that I had for you. I know that God lives, and He loves us, and he wants us to return to him. I am forever indebted to Him for His grace and mercy and love.

If I ever wronged you, I’m sorry. If I ever told you that I love you, but acted otherwise, I’m truly sorry. If I have ever fallen short of any of your expectations, or treated you harshly or unfairly, I am truly sorry. If you have ever wronged me or treated me unfairly, whether you know it or not, I have forgiven you long ago already. I hope the best for you, and I sincerely love and pray for you all.

See you in two years.