😜 This is the man who encouraged me as a little 7th grader that I am awesome, unique, & have divine gifts that I need to share. He was the first (besides mom of course) to make me feel awesome about making weird art with gumwrapper 
:) he's also the first speaker that I heard that made me want to be a motivational speaker. Within the last 6 or 7 years we have had a few interactions. I sent him this notebook with his logo on it after we initially met in 7th grade. He received it kindly and inspired me again. 
Several years later, at a youth conference (I think I was in 9th or 10th grade) the speaker we were supposed to have, cancelled. Fortunately, someone had connections to an awesome backup speaker. Well before the program started me and a friend went to the bathroom. We walked past a spiffy guy in a bright blue suit and I loudly told him that I liked his suit, he chucked and complimented my.... coat... haha. Then when the program started, I realized the guy I had complimented was the speaker.... THEN I realized it was Jason Hewlett!! We laughed about our awkward complimenting interaction and then we were able to talk. He remember me as the "GumwrapperGirl" :) It was a tender mercy that we could talk again and I could hear another one of his inspiring messages.. Fast forward to this week. I just finished my freshman year at BYU. I have continued doing my gumwrapper art in my downtime (which, as a college student, is next to never) and I heard that Jason Hewlett would be speaking at my YSA stake FHE activity. Since the last thing I made and sent him isn't exactly the most crafty thing I have ever made, I wanted to show him my new skills ;) I made him a blue Christ portrait.
I was seriously giddy about this activity and SO excited to see him, my sister can attest. Before the activity started, I brought my Christ portrait to the room he'd be speaking in. He was in there getting ready and my heart started pounding! I am not one to get nervous, like ever, and so this was a new feeling haha. I handed him the portrait and said "I made this out of gumwrappers for you, because I am the gumwrappergirl!" He was excited to see me and we talked for a few minutes. He was kind & funny.
Just from talking to him I was already on cloud9. But then in the middle of his speech, he told the large audience the story of how we met, how I made him the notebook, and then made him this gumwrapper mural. He used me as an example of what he inspires people to become. It was an AWESOME feeling, and I am grateful that he made me feel good about a talent and gift that I have.
It was a special feeling to have the person who originally encouraged a gift that I had, give me a shutout for developing and continuing using that gift. :)
Just a great reminder to be kind to others and help them develop their gifts and talents. You never know the impact you can have on someone :)
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