Sylvia Welch

"Most people come into our lives and quickly leave. It is the special few that come in and leave a footprint in our hearts. And we are forever changed." Emily....where do I even begin! Em was the type of friend that just made you smile no matter what. You could be having the worst day ever and she would always be there for you. One of the things I miss most about Em is all of her compliments. You could roll right out of bed and come to school and she would still have something great to say about you. We always were laughing about anything and everything, lets just say we were very easily entertained. I have shared so many great laughs and memories with Em, I don't know that I could pick just one favorite. We always had way too much fun together! We especially loved to go camping at Hoffmaster!! One really funny memory that I love is when we were in 7th grade at Grandma and Grandpa Boom's summer cottage on Thornapple Lake. All of the men were hitting golf balls into the lake for fun with Grandpa's new, expensive golf club. Em and I were sitting there watching them do this and we decided it looked like a blast. So when they finished hitting golf balls we went over and started. Keep in mind that we had just gotten out of the water so we were still wet! At this point the whole family was outside sitting by the lake and Em went first and hit one extremely far. So I get up there and decide that I'm going to hit one even further than hers. I pick up the golf club, cock it back and take an enormous swing. As I release the club, it flies out of my hands and about 10 feet out in the lake!! The second I did this I look at Em and she is on the ground laughing hysterically but I thought I was going to be in big trouble so I run out and swam faster than ever trying to save this new golf club. And when I get back I notice that the whole family is laughing, even Grandpa, so I couldn't help but join in with them, especially when I see Em. I look back and still laugh along with all of the other fun times we spent together.

She is a one-of-a-kind friend that will never be replaced. I feel very grateful to have known Emily and to be able to spend so much of my life with her. I am truly a better person for knowing her, I LOVE YOU EMMIE!!