Dear David Archuleta,

Hey there.  I know for a fact you're not going to be reading this post.... I might decide to actually send you a letter.  We shall see.

But I just wanted to say that YOU are now one of my heroes.

Here on Okinawa you're pretty popular, if only because you came here for a concert.
It's not uncommon to love you.

I love you because you came to Okinawa to sing for us.  We're such a small community of military families, and yet, you sang at a completely free concert.  You dedicated one of my favorite songs to your mom.  How many superstars do that?!! You gave me the chance to check off one of the boxes in my imaginary teenage checklist of screaming like a fan girl at a concert, which I probably wasn't going to get to do, seeing as I'm stranded here for all of my teenage years.  Because of you I got to get together with all of my girlfriends and make shirts that spelled out your name.  I got to scream and jump up and down and laugh and just be a kid.  I got to get a piggyback ride from my best friend in the pouring rain and eat subway and have a sleepover that night.  Fun stuff.

But then, not only that, but you agreed to hold a fireside for all of the church members on the island.  It was so amazing hearing your story and the trials you went through.  Of course I brought a couple of nonmember friends, and, even though they're probably not converting any time soon, you helped me to plant some of those seeds. 

You're now about to serve a mission!  What a blessing to get to serve the lord even after becoming so famous. 

And, do you want to know the last reason--the reason that settled my opinions?

Rather than staying at home when it's only a couple of days until Christmas, you decided to go to Primary Childrens' Hospital and visit my sweet cousin Baylee.  She's spending Christmas there, getting chemotherapy.  That is the real reason why you are my hero.  You took the time to brighten a young lady's day--to make this dreary time a little sweeter. 

So thank you, David Archuleta.  Thank you for being a valiant son of God, even when so blessed.