It only takes one person to make a difference.

Coming home for the summer was a little different this year. For one thing I actually wanted to stay in Utah but expenses outweighed opportunity, so I had to come home! Second, I felt like everyone else was staying and I would miss out on fun and friends, which for a while was true. And third, I felt like I wouldn't have any friends at home to hang out with. Nevertheless, I came home. For the first two months I filled all my time with work, babysitting and family because I didn't want to feel lame because I had free time and nothing to do! However, it all changed when I met a wonderful girl at church! Amber saying hello to me and inviting me to a crape party was one of the biggest blessings of the summer! Since meeting her I have made some wonderful friends, borrowed someones socks, danced like a fool, discovered the wonder of $5 movies, jumped in the Tualatin river, and learned how to throw a Frisbee. I never realized how much one kind person can make a difference.

People like Amber make me want to be the same. I smile and say hello to people I met one time, I try to make people feel welcome, I try to invite people...I know its silly but after seeing how much of a blessing it was for me, I just want to return the favor to others. A warm smile, a gentle greeting, a friendly face.... all these things can completely change how a person feels. They made me willing to try new things on my own. They all helped me to feel comfortable enough to be myself. It all started with one person. Never underestimate your ability to help someone. Never let an opportunity to make a friend pass you by. I once heard someone say, "There is no such thing as a stranger, just friends you haven't met yet".

Until later,
A friend

Source of the Name

Many people ask where the name Matha Trigg comes from. No, it is not missing an R. No, I am not a math genius. Yes, my pseudo middle name is Lily. Yes, many people have believed this is my real name, but, not it is not. You see the name comes with a story... an all together simple story. However, it seems to have withstood the test of time...thus far at least...as of yet, it is the only name other than my given name that has stuck. The story goes a little something like this...

Phase 1: The first name

At a mere 15 years of age, I went to Especially for Youth (more commonly known as EFY) with my friends Susanna, Aubrey, and Kelsey. EFY is a church camp for youth 14-18 years old. My favorite place to go to EFY was in Tacoma, WA at Puget Sound University. So as could be expected, the most important thing there was finding some hot older guy to crush on, I had my share (one for each year)...lets see there was Nick (the dreamy pianist), Tyler (the awkwardly cute boy from the middle of nowhere), and Kory (the older and more mature counselor)..but that's not really part of the story. Anyways, the first year I went, was the year that math camp was being hosted on the same campus. I don't know about you but math camp isn't exactly my idea of summer vacation. And being the immature 15 year olds that we were, we found it hilarious to mock the math genius' (never to their face, but amongst friends). So at lunch one day we were goofing around and somehow came up with the hilarious idea to walk up to a math camper and introduce ourselves as Matha (with as hick of an accent as you could get).

Phase 2:Finishing the name

I am not sure if it was the same summer, or a year later, but the rest of the development occurred at Girls Camp. I recall being on our yearly hike with Aubree Lee, Susanna Gardner, and Aubrey Wiggins. We were talking to an elderly gentleman we liked to call Papa Roo (not sure where his name came from). But we convinced him that I was named Matha Lily Trigg, with a boyfriend named George. We had tons of detail about my alternate identity that I don't remember now, but the important thing that came from this all was the full name.

Phase 3: Trial

During my sophomore year of high school, the choir travelled to Jamestown, VA to sing at the 400th Anniversary of the Settling of Jamestown. While we were there a chaperon asked for our names, I think it was something to do with getting money back for lunch. Anyways, being the brat that I am, I told her my name was Matha Trigg with as straight a face as I could muster. And it worked, she believed me. And it became official, the name was the perfect alias.


That is about it for the development of my pseudonym Matha Trigg. I use it in any situation I deem worthy of a fake name...creepy people I meet, awkward situations, times when I am just bored and feel like messing with someones head, etc. I believe everyone should have a backup name just in case. I know mine....do you know yours?

Until later,
Matha Trigg

I dedicate this post to.....

The one the only.......drumroll..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

ASHLEY HOFER!!!!!

Ashley and I have been friends for 4 years now. We met in Treble Choir (my sophomore year, and her freshman year) and were the only two people to sing our part. Once I found out she lived right around the corner, her fate was sealed, she would be my friend whether she liked it or not. Just a few weeks ago, I found out that she will be moving to Houston, TX (adding one more to the list of friends I have in Texas) with her family this summer. And while this doesn't affect much because next year we will both be at school anyways, it does make it harder to see her in the future. She won't be here for winter break, and summer, which is quite unfortunate because I am going to miss this girl!

Yesterday I had the opportunity to listen to Ashley sing for the first time in a while, she competed in the OMEA State Solo/Ensemble Competition and did amazing!....Okay.....well I didn't necessarily hear her compete....that's a story of its own.

Cassie and I drove down to McMinnville to watch the competition, we left a little late for multiple reasons and forgot how long it takes to get to McMinnville. We got there, parked, and then tried to find the building. Once we located the building, we ran about 1/4 mile to the building and got inside just as Ashley and her family were walking out of the room...

But that's all beside the point...so after that whole experience, we decided to go to McMinnville's famous Alf's for milkshakes! (They were quite delicious I might add, I got the peanut butter and added chocolate, best milkshake I have ever had!) While we waited we played trivia games and I now know that on the Time Magazine 1990 "Who gives a hoot?" Issue there was a spotted owl on the cover, which might come in handy at some point. We then drove back to Ashley's house, and had her re-perform her songs, which brings us to the point.

Ashley is an amazing girl with an amazing talent, and I really hope she realizes how great she is. The resonance, the tone, the quality, and the technique were all superb. And even though she was singing after just eating ice cream, it was amazing! She has come so far since the days when I stood next to her in choir. She is going to go far, I can't wait to hear her continue to improve! Maybe one day Ashley and I will hold a concert together in Carnegie Hall :) Only time can tell! While Ashley will probably never read this I hope she knows how much I look up to her.

Until later,
a truly amazed/jealous friend

Remember when...

Just some fun memories....



Remember when we thought we were so cool because we got to sit on the football field and watch the sunrise...

Remember when we turned down dates to go to the invitational dance with friends, and it turned out to be the best decision ever...

Remember when we went to the color festival and breathed in chalk for two minutes and loved every second of it...

Remember when Stephanie cut my hair and it turned out really good (suprisingly)...

....but this was the process we had to go through, which was a little nerve racking...

Most of these were from my freshman year at BYU, (the first on is the only exception). Random I know... but they were good times!

Until later,

No longer the lump on the bed