The Ladies

The Ladies

Kim Laing. Kim is my big sister and longest time partner in crime friend. A biologist by day and artful canner and crafter by night, she is master of all things delicious (especially cakes! Omigosh, her cakes!). As a kid I looked up to her and tagged along with her like a noisy, sticky shadow. She taught me the important things in life, like fort building, proper sledding form, and how important it was to start cleaning up the house at least 30 minutes before Mom and Dad were due to arrive home. The qualities I admire most about Kim are her unending generosity, her thoughtfulness, and her love for animals and the environment.

Kim, right before the start of the 2011 Buffalo Triathlon.


Bridget Scrabeck. Bridget and I met during the first week of high school in Lakeville in math class and have been best friends since. During our senior year of high school, we went to Caribou Coffee every Friday afternoon where she invented "coffee bean hockey", helped me perfect the art of chattiness, and most importantly taught me about having conversations that truly connect friends on a deeper level. Her supportive and funny emails throughout our time in college made a huge impact on me when I was frustrated, homesick, or struggling with an over-packed schedule. I am incredibly proud of the young woman she has become and could never have imagined 10 years ago that she would still be here to celebrate my marriage! The qualities I admire most about Bridget are her determination, her dedication to her family, and her creativity.

Bridget, being truly Minnesotan, at an apple orchard in the fall.

Shivan Nelson. Shivan and I met when I was moving back to Minneapolis for school and was looking for a place to live. A mutual friend, Steve, knew Shivan had an apartment and needed one more roommate. Knowing that Shivan and I were both opinionated, stubborn, and not afraid to speak our minds he said, "This is either going to go extremely well or absolutely blow up." Lucky for Steve, it was friendship at first french toast breakfast. Shivan lives in Minneapolis and is a dentist, has never shied from an adventure, and makes everyone feel like her best friend the moment they meet her. The qualities I admire most about Shivan are her organization, her generosity, and her wanderlust.

Shivan, on a trip to Japan & Saipan.

Amy Kalina. Amy is also a friend from Lakeville High School, although our friendship probably became strongest during and after college. She is the truest reminder that though time and distance (Amy lives in Rhode Island) may separate the times we see and talk to each other, true friendship picks up right where it left off. She is a pop-culture trivia whiz and could probably recite the TV show 'Friends' from pilot episode to series finale. This July while Amy was in town for a visit, Amy, Bridget, and I made predictions for the coming year and I said, "I think I will be engaged by this time next year." A week later, I was! The qualities I admire most about Amy are her kind-heartedness, her enthusiasm, and the way she 'thinks big.'

Amy (left) and Bridget at a Twins Spring Training game in 2011.

Melissa Benda. Melissa and I met as Resident Assistants during our junior year at North Dakota State. My memories from that year are unfortunately a long string of inside jokes, but I can share that we laughed often and hard together. One of our favorite activities, should we both find ourselves in the front office of our building, was to shoot rubberbands from the office desk across the lobby to the mailbox and see if we could make them land on top. Though the job of shepherding college students can be odd and stressful, Melissa always made it enjoyable. A classy lady with an unmatched zeal for tasting all that life has to offer, Melissa is busy going from one adventure to another, big or small. The qualities I admire most about Melissa are her faith, her lifelong interest in learning new things, and her courage.

Melissa and her husband, Jeff, on their wedding day.