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Joshua Austin.
Let me tell you a little bit about my best friend. I've known Joshua for a little over eight months and I can tell you he loves to have his face tickled, his hair played with, his meat plentiful, his workouts tough, and his country music loud. His favorite scripture is Joshua 1:9 because it's his name and his birthday, his favorite primary song is I Hope They Call Me on a Mission, and he gets the chills every time The National Anthem is played or sung.
He won't ever admit it, but he knows every word to the song Love Story by Taylor Swift and it's my favorite song to blast in the car because I know he won't be able to contain himself from singing along...at the very top of his lungs.
He's the handiest man I've ever met. If he sees something that needs fixing, no matter where it is, he fixes it. I think it's an impulse he can't control, but I secretly love it. Even if it's sliding doors in a fancy model home that should probably just be left alone. He can make the best welds known to man, and he's taught me what makes a weld great so I can agree that he IS the best welder known to man.
He is the world's most confident dancer. I've quoted him saying, "I have no idea what I'm doing, but I'm confident so it don't matter!" (Sweethearts Dance, 2015) And boy, if you saw him, you would definitely believe that statement :) One of my absolute favorite things to do with Joshua is dance. He's a mean swing dancer and is probably the only guy on earth who has willingly said he would take swing classes with me, though he probably wouldn't admit that either ;)
Joshua can pick up anything on the spot and succeed first try. His senior year he decided (with a little help from me) that he would join the men's volleyball team, never having played volleyball before. And when I say he's good it's not just me being bias. It was amazing to watch him absorb every move he saw another player do, then go out on the court and replicate exactly what they just did. He went from never having played to being (in my opinion) one of the best players on the court and taking his team to state. And I think that's pretty great. His 6'4" frame definitely was a plus as well. I've never seen so many balls blocked.
We argue about the differences between counters and islands, cheese crisps and quesadillas, if summer or winter is the better season (which obviously is summer, hands down), if it's called rabbit hunting or bunny busting, and if the Jazz actually has a chance this season. We agree that mountain biking is one of the best hobbies in the world, fruity anything is way better than anything chocolatey, dogs always win over cats (though cat videos are always more funny), and a day outside adventuring is a day well spent.
Joshua holds my hand. Constantly. And I absolutely love it. He would rather hold ten groceries in one hand than let go of my hand in the other. He also kisses the back of my hand, which makes my heart melt. In the car, sitting on the couch, at the grocery store, playing board games---pretty much whatever we do he makes sure he has kissed the back of my hand. This is such a simple act, but he knows that once he does it, I'll always smile, and I think that's what I do most of---smiling. A constant smile is always on my face, to the point where I have to stop smiling once in awhile just to give my face a break! Josh is definitely the optimistic one. He loves to be happy and it radiates off of him.
He makes sure I know I'm beautiful. I got a horrible haircut and I was pretty danged sure it was the end of the world. The right side was shorter than the left side and it was definitely noticeable. I was on the verge of tears the entire day, but when Joshua saw me he just tilted my head to the right, making the right side even with the left side, kissed my forehead and told me I look stunning and my hair is gorgeous. Never have I ever been more grateful for anyone than right in that moment. I knew that he wasn't just saying that to avoid an obviously close emotional breakdown, but that he genuinely meant what he had just said. And yes, I still have my moments where I complain about my hair, but never once did Joshua laugh at it. Every time I bring it up, he tells me I'm beautiful and I'm just starting to believe him.
Joshua and I can talk for hours and hours and never run out of things to say. A couple weeks ago we went to Lake Powell and there were many nights we just laid on the boat or sat in chairs looking at the stars and talked. I learned so much about Josh and my respect and love toward him grew immensely. We talked about patriarchal blessings, prayer, families, the military, our fears, what we're excited for in life, our dislikes, our likes, childhood stories, and things that have happened to us that have made us who we are today. I learned about his desire to defend his religion and every religion and how he is excited to fight for what he believes is worth fighting for as he gets ready to join the Air Force. He's the strongest person I know and though the thought of him leaving is extremely hard, I would never take it away from him. He lights up when he talks about saving lives, and I know he will be able to accomplish anything he sets his mind to.
Joshua Austin, you're the giant to my midget and the best to my friend.
You tickle me relentlessly, you use my head as an arm rest, and you laughed during my fish's funeral, but I wouldn't have it any other way. You make me one happy gal and I'm glad you're my darlin'.
Love,
Cortlee
