Agnes Gretarsdottir

It was first campout and I was sitting next to this girl. I remember thinking she was so pretty, and I wasn't sure how to start a conversation with her. I was sure she would think I was weird or something. I don't even remember who started talking but somehow we managed to introduce ourselves. She told me that she was born in Iceland and had lived in Denmark most of her life. I was amazed! I had never met anyone from Europe, let alone Iceland or Denmark! From that moment on I knew I wanted to be this woman's friend. When we got back to school after the campout I was thrilled to see that her room was on my hallway! Maybe we will be friends, I thought. Somehow making friends with this girl wasn't as simple as I had imagined. The year slowly but surely progressed, and we just never really clicked. She moved downstairs, and I began getting close to a few other girls in my class. We sometimes worked dorm together, and I was so excited. The only problem was that I kept saying the wrong things...and the whole “getting to know her” idea didn't really work out to well.

Throughout that year we were acquaintances, we didn't hate each other, we just never really got to know each other. I think I got on her nerves. Then I began to get closer to Sierra. The only problem with this was that Sierra and Agnes had been friends the whole year...and so, as I found out later, this did not make Agnes anymore pleased with me.

Something changed that summer, whether it was the fact that we started talking more, or just the fact that we were meant to be best friends, I don't know. But sometime in-between summer and the beginning of the next school year Agnes and I started becoming friends.

We have been close ever since. We have one of those relationships where we can be together all day long, and still have a bizillion things to talk about. People sometimes call us the other one's name, or ask if the other one is sitting beside them, even though they are no where in sight, I guess because we are always together they get us mixed up easily.

Agnes is one of the most amazing ladies on the planet, and I have no idea what I would do without her. She is so incredibly unselfish, and truly cares about how others are feeling. She is probably one of the most easy-going people I know, it isn't very often that she lets life drag her down. She doesn't like plans, she is the type of person who would be perfectly happy with going on vacation and not having a single plan of where to go or what to do. One of her favorite things is to go on a drive with her Daddy and not have any idea of the destination...trust me, they have ended up anywhere... This outlook on life has really taught me something though. I tend to get stuck in the future, worrying my little head off about life. Whereas Agnes doesn't seem to have this problem. She lives for today, for right now, and I am learning...to be more like that:)

She has shone me Christ in a way that no one else possibly can. And I thank God for her everyday. She has this talent—that impresses all who know her...her speedy come-backs:) Over and over again this woman has inspired me with her thoughtful mind. Sometimes she will say something, and I will wonder where in the world did that come from? She has taught me to live, outside the box.

Every time I am discouraged or not feeling that happy she has exactly the right thing to say. She always knows when something is wrong or bothering me. She has a faith that I believe could literally move mountains. It's incredible to hear her talk about God, because you can just tell she believes in Him, and I know HE has amazing plans for her life.

Thanks for everything Agnes, I am so blessed to have you in my life. Love you!