My Special Guest Blogger "Friend"

Kelli's friend Michelle loves me, well, for obvious reasons. Kelli and Michelle met in Provo - when I was also living in Provo. They moved to DC together (ish) and now are roommates - and I visited often when I lived in NYC. I like to call Michelle "friend," since she has become my friend too. There are a few things you need to know about Michelle.
1) She wishes she was a Brooks sister (who doesn't)
2) She feels the need to try to out-do me (good luck)
So without further ado, I'd like to introduce a very special guest blogger, Michelle.

Find Kelli a Husband Trip by Michelle

Our story begins over two years ago on Kelli’s 26th birthday, and since it is being told by the best friend, I’ve taken the liberty to . . . we’ll call it embellish, for dramatic effect.

Dave Brooks was beginning to feel his age when his oldest daughter Kelli celebrated yet another birthday as a single, unattached young woman. Despite his pride at all she accomplished so far in her life, what he really wanted were the two things that his daughters seemed intent on not giving him: a son and grandchildren.

As he pondered how and when this would one day happen, he thought there might be a way to help it along. Afterall, he had raised 5 daughters on the incentive program and they’d all responded just as he’d counted on them to. Why not apply the same concept to getting them married? It was only fair to start with his oldest daughter Kelli and work his way down from there.

So, he had a conversation with Kelli that went something like this:

Dave: Alright Kelli, it’s time for you to start looking for a husband.
Kelli: Haha, very funny Dad.
Dave: I’m serious. Here’s the deal I’ll make with you. You have 2 years to find him all by yourself. If you can’t make anything happen within that time, I’ll come to DC myself to observe and evaluate the guys in your ward and find someone for you.
Kelli: Well, do I have to be married 2 years from now?
Dave: No, but a ring, or a relationship heading towards a ring will be required.
Kelli: Okay Dad, sure, whatever you say (she says sarcastically).

Over the next two years Kelli makes no progress whatsoever, despite Dave consistently reminding her that he is coming if she doesn’t take care of it herself. Kelli is sure that these are empty threats and barely gives it a second thought, but as the deadline approaches and her Dad is still talking about the impending visit, she starts to get a bit concerned. Will he come? Will he actually do anything when he gets here? Kelli assures herself that it’s all just empty threats, and yet . . .

The deadline comes and goes and still no guy, so a week after Kelli’s 28th birthday Dave and Darla make a trip up to DC for the weekend, as promised. When Sunday rolls around Dave heads off to Elders Quorum with a mission: find at least 5 potential men for Kelli. Dave shares his top picks with Kelli after church and finds that a few are real possibilities and gives her a mission to begin her due diligence. He tells her he will be back in a month to continue the job and Dave and Darla head back home to Atlanta, feeling better about their chances of becoming grandparents some day.

While all these events are *true* and did take place, I’m pretty sure that Dave and Darla’s real reason for coming to DC was just to visit Kelli. The problem was though, that Dave and Darla wished the whole family could be with them and decided not to let a stupid thing like geography get in the way. So, the heads of the 4 missing Brooks sisters were printed up, mounted to sticks, and they all joined us on a few activities in and around DC.

First stop: A Segway Tour of our Nations Capital . . . get your helmets on girls, cause we’re about to get started:


Oh look, it’s the whole family!


And here are just the girls on the Segways; don’t they look like they’re having fun!



Of course no tour of DC would be complete without a stop at The White House.


And since we didn’t want to leave you out of the rest of the days activities, we brought the girls along with us to dinner.


to TangySweet


and of course, to the movies!


And then, as a reminder of where the whole “heads on a stick” phenomenon began.


I’d say you were missed, but in reality we felt you with us every step of the way and immensely enjoyed your company. Glad you could all join us for a great weekend in DC, can’t wait to do it again soon!