From a friend...

Erik Gray's Letters

From a friend. (One of many!)

#journalgems

from Erik's phone

Finding out that treatment was stopping and that he had a few months was the worst night. I hadn’t cried that much or been that sad..I don’t think ever. 

I texted him 

and he said, “Life Sucks, but God is SO good.” 

Still in awe over his optimism, faith, and unshakeable trust in God and Christ. Erik Gray changed my life. Just like he changed so many. He touched more lives and did more good in 23 years than most people do in 80!!!! 

He’s incredible. 

Erik told me once, “I’m only nice to people so that I have a good turn out at my funeral. And I only do this much family history so that I have a welcome party on the other side.” 

Hahahah well I think it worked! 

Erik is one of the friendliest and best people I’ve ever known. 

I miss him a lot. He  is one of my best  and closest friends. 

A little bit ago he told me that when I get married he’s going to try to be at my sealing, because I’m like his pineview sister, That meant a lot to me. I miss him and getting used to not talking to him everyday has been really really really hard.

I always want to send him funny things I find. I miss hearing about Piano Guys concerts, or his next big temple road trip and how stoked he is or how he's feeling, or his latest scripture thought. 

Erik always built others, and me, up.

I never felt anything but Special and happy when I talked to him. He helped me see all the good in myself and In the world. :) I miss laughing at dumb jokes together and seeing his funny creative snapchats everyday, and our late night gospel discussions.  

It’s hard not having him a phone call away. But I know he’s doing so much good right now, and I know he’s loving it. 

And he's cancer FREE! FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY. I 

from Erik's phone

from Erik's phone

from Erik's phone

from Erik's phone

Happy 27th Birthday

 

Happy Birthday Erik!

Videos of Erik:

Bucket List Item!

Erik Singing and playing his Ukulele 

Wisdom Teeth

You Can Make Happiness Wherever You Go

Erik Gray's Journals

#journalgems

Written by Erik January 2017

Kelsie had been saving up to move to Spain for a loooong time. She moved toward the end of the summer. At first, she was going to move around June, and then she had to wait for her Visa, so she pushed it back to August. And then one more time, she pushed it back to either the end of August or beginning of summer, I can’t remember. But anyway, she finally was able to move to Spain! She got a job teaching English to children. She had left after I knew that my cancer was deemed incurable. So when I said goodbye to her, it was with the thoughts of “Wow, I’m never going to see her again on the earth!” And it was saddening to me. I was up in Salt Lake for the weekend when she left (Sept 18^th- Ill get to that later), so I was able to grab dinner with her at Dennys and then said goodbye.

She did enjoy the freedom and bliss and lifestyle over there. I knew she would! She said that her job was extremely hard, though. She was stressed out that way. I think eventually she got burned out. She told me that she would have to travel out of town just to even attend Church. And I remember a chat I had with her one night… she wasn’t happy. And she realized that the destination isn’t the happiness. I’m assuming that she thought that everything would be happy and life would be awesome once she moved to Spain, but realized that life is what you make it--- she can be happy anywhere she goes.

Around Christmas time, I sent her a message and wished her a merry Christmas, asked her what her plans were. She said she was going to travel to Barcelona. So that was that. But on Christmas day, we are sitting on the couch opening presents. There’s a knock at the door. I’m sitting on the couch and turn my head as Mom opens the door, and there is KELSIE! She had flown back!!!! I was SOOO shocked and everyone could see it. I was like, “Kelsie! You’re in America! What the heck!” And the best part is that no one knew she was back, except her older sister who was the one that picked her up from the airport in Vegas. They said hi for about 5 minutes, and then continued on to her Mom’s house (which none of them knew she was coming). I asked her if she was just visiting, or what? And she told me that she’s back in the USA now for good. She moved up to Logan just a week or two ago, got her old job at the EconoLodge, and is just… happier I think. J And that’s a really good lesson I’ve learned, and it kinda sucks that Kelsie had to move all the way to Spain to learn it (but I don’t think she regretted living there)… happiness is WHAT YOU MAKE IT! It’s not a destination. It’s not a “once I hit this milestone I’ll be happy.” HAPPINESS IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT. You can make happiness wherever you go!