Yaveline is Melissa's younger sister
" My favorite memory with Melissa is when we had our Galentines day. I had been having a really hard week and Melissa gave up her Valentine with Michael to take me to Busch Gardens. We rode every ride until we were sick, and I even forced Melissa to ride Falcons Fury (even if she holds it against me to this day ). It was honestly one of the best days of my life."
Zaira and Melissa became best friends their Freshman year of high school
" Oh man, I have 10+ years of memories with Melissa but my ultimate favorite memory has to be when we first became friends. I remember it was probably a month into the first year of high school and the summer before I had gone through a lot of harsh things. I always had an attitude and didn't want to be anyone's friend but Melissa tried her hardest to by my friend over several weeks. One day she made a joke about Rihanna's song lyric " where your glasses at where your glasses at ...where they at" as she made glasses on her face and danced around. I thought it was the silliest thing and that broke down my walls. It might have been a small thing but to me, it felt like the purest love I had been shown. From that moment on we became more than friends but sister."
Melissa's college roommate and first college friend
" I have so many favorite memories with Melissa, It's hard to choose... But I think it would be driving an hour away from FSU(our college) to go on a really cool hiking trail in Melissa's car. We got totally lost driving through the woods on a trail, which we later found out was not a trail, that was barely big enough to drive down. We got stuck at a dead end and had to reverse the entire way out of the trail. We laughed a lot, there were some scary moments(which we laugh even harder at now) we never even found the trail but we still had so much fun. I feel like that memory symbolizes our friendship because I love that I always have the best time with Melissa wherever we are and even if things go horribly wrong, we will end up laughing the whole way. There is never a boring moment with Melissa!"
Melissa Best Friend from Church
" My favorite memory of all my memories with Melissa is obviously when we first met. Melissa had just met me and told me we were going to be best friends. A little while later we went camping with the church together and for the first time, I realized Melissa was 100% right! How had I lived my without such an amazing friend?! We later found out that our Mothers had worked on the same floor of the hospital and had predicted our future friendship saying back then they thought their daughters would make a great pal. We started a small group together, we got Disney passes and so many more wonderful memories"
Grace and Melissa met through mutual friends in Highschool
" My favorite memory with Melissa was when Melissa first moved into her college dorm. I drove up and slept over in her tiny dorm bed and we crammed in as many experiences as we could before we had to separate to different colleges"
Stephanie and Melissa met in College during a Research Methods course
"My favorite memory with Melissa happened while we were stuck in Columbia for 8 hours waiting for our flight to Lima, Peru for spring break. We were silly, excited and hopeful. That's how it always is when we are together though. We knew this trip to Peru would bring us growth and strengths in some manner, and it definitely did! But it's not just a trip that brought those feelings. It was (and is, no matter how limited) like that every time we are together. I love that about my friendship with Melissa. Friendship with Melissa brings me Fun, Excitement and hope. So often Melissa is my rock and a teacher without ever knowing. "
Amber and Melissa met in college
" My Favorite memory with Melissa was probably when we skipped our Human Development class and drove to Georgia to me in a music video"
Patricia and Melissa met through mutual friends in high school
" One favorite memory is nearly impossible considering all the years of great memories. But If I had to choose it would be the trip Melissa and I took to Costa Rica. That was my first time out of the country and I honestly wouldn't have wanted to do it with anyone else. The whole experience was incredible and like the rest of our friendship, it opened my eyes to so many experiences I wouldn't have even thought to try. Like bungee jumping off a questionable metal cart in the middle of a rainforest... Thank you, Mel, for that ha!"
Sesly has Melissa friend for over 10 years and they met at Church
" In the over ten years of friendship, picking a favorite memory with Melissa is next to near impossible because of all the great ones we've made. I will always cherish the little things though, like how we would lay on her trampoline and talk about life and the future, three-way call the boys we liked on the same line in different rooms, and binge-watch shows like lost on those lazy Sunday afternoons. Our adventures from scavenger hunt night to Friday bible study are like no other and every memory is one that I will cherish my who life"
Stephanie and Melissa met in high school and later became roommates after college
" On of my Favorite memories with Melissa is from when we were living together. I had come home to find Melissa putting a "concert" for her dog Myko. It came with a series of outfit changes from cowboy to wonder woman to Pete from Fall Out Boy to a Firefighter to a Butterfly. She danced around the living room and it was a blast! All just to make me laugh like she always has done and does. Our friendship has always been simple yet full of so many good times."
Paula has been Melissa Best Friend since middle school
" My favorite memories with melissa is when we used to spend every day after school together. We would walk the plaza, bike around town and dream about what we would be when we grew up. We experienced some of the toughest years of our lives together, but we were very lucky to have each other"
My best memories with Melissa are too many to count. When we lived together in college, we would always go on long hikes and hang out at Brass Tap. My favorite evenings were always the ones where we’d sit on the kitchen counters and talk about the meaning of life over a block of cheese. Even when bugs would chase us down the entire trail, and when would forget to bring blankets when we went camping, we’d always have the best time together. There’s always something fun to talk about and something fun to do when she’s around!
Michael and Michael have been childhood friends for 26 years
" My favorite memory that I have with Michael is when we almost drowned off the coast of Rincon in Puerto Rico. Our excitement had gotten the best of us, and we swam too far from the beach (without boards or any flotation devices) to catch some waves. The current started pulling us towards the cliff as I started to panic. Michael looked worried, but he didn't look afraid, His confidence and encouragement made me feel like we were going to make it back alive. He told me to swim with the current past the cliff and into a cove. I am incredibly thankful for a friend as adventurous, encouraging, and foolhardy as Michael. He has (unintentionally) helped me face my fears, and he has made me a better person in the process. I trust Michael with my Life and I am so proud of the person he has become. "
Philip and Michael became friends through 8th-grade soccer league
"To narrow down one memory with Michael is very difficult. Whenever you are with Michael, you're bound to have a great memory. I would say one of my favorite times with Michael was having him as a roommate for one year at Andrews University. Learning his morning routines of coffee and loud keyboard typing, to scheduled shower talks and dying together during a Crossfit workout, learning each month of Michaels's fascination into new hobbies such as collecting cologne on Reddit, video gaming, music, etc. That year passed by too fast and has definitely left an imprint of great memories and times with Michael. Thankful for our friendship and for the great times ahead. "
Kyler and Michael have been friends since freshman year of highschool
"My favorite memories with Michael are spread out because they include his whole family. They have a way of making you feel so comfortable and at home without trying to do so. I've never seen a group of people with so much love to give. Every encounter with them had a lot of hugs, massages, laughing, and great food. I am forever grateful for the love the Hernandez family has shown me over the years."
Jon and Michael became friends through 8th-grade soccer league
"Michael and I had the chance to room together for a year in college and it is still one of my favorite memories. We would stay up late studying, drinking way too much coffee, wrestling to stay awake. But it was always balanced out with laughing, pranking each other, and pushing each other to be better people. Outside of college, growing up with Michael came with so many other great adventures. From canoe trips to constant injuries from things we weren’t good at, random phone calls, to exploring cities and camping, Michael’s ability to make every situation fun has made such a lasting impression on me. Everyone loves Michael, and I am so thankful to be his friend and honored to be apart of his and Melissa’s big day. "
Gidder and Michael became friends through church
"I have not known Michael to be shy or afraid to be himself with anyone who would ask him anything, which has made conversations range from extremely interesting and deep to ridiculous and funny. Michael and I have a history of camping trips together in many places across the US and several times a year, the conversations by the fire and his advice have been the base for our friendship; so much so that we ended up becoming roommates and this past year has been full good memories while living together. "
My favorite set of memories of and with Michael has been seeing him be a spiritual leader, not only in studying of scripture for his own spiritual growth or having to prepare for a Sabbath school discussion but also in his day to day life and in his relationship with Melissa, every time, every day!
When Michael says he'll pray for you, he will pray for you. Michael will stop his car mid highway to pray for you, okay maybe not like that but I don't doubt he would do that too. The many conversations we've had about God and life and what it means to be a Christian has shown me that he truly walks the talk. Michael has really been a spiritual model and example in the time I've known him, and I'm sure he will continue to grow and lead his future family the same way.
Michael has all the qualities of someone you’d want to share life with. There’s nothing you can say about your best friend that wouldn’t be cliche but all those beautiful qualities you want in a brother you can find in him. Always playful and gregarious he was always down to throw mangos and run around the jungle. We share a lot of awesome memories with the family and now he’s going to make his own beautiful family. If you were going into battle Michael would cover your back. If you were lost in the desert, Michael would give you the water from his bottle. If you were driving in Mexico and got lost, Michael would ask find the closest friend and find his way. I’ve always been able to count on Michael to have the best perspective and responses in key moments. He’s always willing to be there to listen and share In your experience. To always keep love In your heart for everyone, that’s what Michael does and it’s something I will always admire and aspire to, the lesson I’ve learned from him. Happy to share on this awesome and new journey with Michael and Melissa
