Tribute To Briana Hoffman

Briana Hoffman!

So I feel a little apprehensive writing this one. I have yet to write a post knowing this person reads my blog. BUT I am going to be fully ME and honest and as I write I am not going to worry about anything but to portray what I feel.

There is a reason I saved Briana for last of all my roommates. Her BIG effect on me has been more later on in my life than right when we were roommates.
When we were roommates I was a little intimidated. Briana was the youngest of us all, but you would have not known it. She was very mature, independent, smart, focused, she loved my room roommate and I knew I could never compare to her. I would often think how fun and beautiful Briana is. I would watch her and smile as she would jump in Jen's bed and fall asleep as Jen kept telling her to get out. HILARIOUS. She was strong-IS- strong. I was told of times of difficulty in her life (feeling so privileged to even be told). I was amazed at her strength and power in who she was. I secretly wanted to somehow win her over and be best of friends because I just saw something illuminating from her that was beautiful.

I LOVE that Briana loves dance! But even more so she got me interested in something that just MAKES my DAY! American Sign Language. Briana knew sign and took years of it in high school. So when Emily took a class they would sign in front of me. I was instantly taken in and Briana encouraged me to take a class. I did! I loved it! I LOVE IT NOW! I don't know why other people would want to even learn a different language. (okay Spanish would be useful...) BUT ASL is exciting, visual, bright, fun, happy, funny, interesting, intriguing. I feel a big sense of ME when I can sign. People who are deaf can be quite blunt and I love that too! I just love everything about the language, culture and people. Briana with her simple encouragement, telling me I could do it and it wasn't as difficult as it looked helped me find a part of me I would have never known.

The BIGGEST part of HER- effected me on my mission. I can't even tell you the letters she would write and I felt inspired. Typically people talk about it being the other way around right? The missionary writes and everyone feels inspired. NOPE, I A-B-SO-LUTE-LY LOVED her letters. Somehow I felt so close to her and felt this relationship that I couldn't have even asked a better timing for. Someone as BRIGHT as she to put forth the effort she did to write ME. Wow, she was still a fairly newly wed, then had a baby, worked- choreographed dances for color-guard, etc. etc. She still found time to write little ole' fro (aka me). How grateful I am for this~! I am so grateful for the many letters, hours, and time she put into doing them. Out of all the roommates I got most letters from her. I was always secretly (and sometimes not so secretly) jumping up and down when I got her letters.

Briana is one of the MOST CHRISTLIKE people you will meet.

Can I back up and just try to even explain this concept that you only will get a glimmer of? (I hope this is okay) Briana has a (now) 4 year old (I think?) and a 18 month old. A year and a half ago her cutest little girl was diagnosed with cancer. (remember how strong I told you she is?) She has not only done what it takes she constantly goes the extra mile. No matter how tough things get Briana is ALWAYS giving back and out to others. A year later on the day of the diagnosis they didn't want it to be a sad day and made it a day of HOPE. They did a blood drive and made kits for newly diagnosed children. No, of course she didn't sit in sadness- or have a flush of exhaustion and full of hurt that day, which I would give her every right if she wanted it. But instead she made a hard day into a great one. THIS IS BRIANA! In the midst of all this her newest born was sick as well. Not eating and very thin. Taking both children to the hospital at different times she still manages to make dinner for a friend that just had a baby. AMAZING RIGHT?
Guys, do you see how great she is? Christlike? Can you see how blessed I am to know her? I can, I do.
Briana is always so willing to help, to be there for people, to see the good-the great-the blessings in the midst of sorrow, trials and hardship. She is an inspiration. She is full of GRATITUDE. Recognizes the blessings and gives all praise to God. She is a child OF God and she has just attained many qualities from Him that are to blow everybody else away.

I had the WONDERFUL opportunity to see her this past week. Its been far too long, I was reminded of that light she radiates just because of WHO SHE IS. It was a JoYouS night!

Briana, I sure LOVE YOU! I hope you see how amazing you truly are!

FRO