The Hardest Thing to Explain

This summer has been full of weddings and showers, celebrating the unions of some of our favorite people. As we have traveled around these past few months, each event has turned into a mini reunion or sorts. I have mentioned my incredible group of girls from High School that I love dearly and whose friendships I cherish, and over the years I have certainly spoke of the people who stood by side through my time at Auburn, but I feel certain these posts have failed at truly expressing the depth of my gratitude for these wonderful people in my life. As the quote below says, true friendship really is the hardest thing in the world to explain. The most difficult thing to put into words.

One of our previous pastor’s likened friendship levels as follows. There are acquaintances, that you greet in the hallways, at church, or in the office. People whose company you enjoy, but who don’t really ever know the “real” you. Likewise are the Facebook friends, who you chat with rarely, keeping in touch with the big events in life, but never spending face to face time with. Then there are the phone friends, who perhaps you meet for coffee or lunch, chatting with regularly, but who never really live out life with you. And then there are the refrigerator friends. The ones who are always welcome to your house, no invitation needed. The ones who can pop in even when the laundry is out, the bed is not made, and there are dishes in the sink. The ones who can scour the fridge for a drink or leftovers, never asks where the bathroom is, and could care less that your hair is wet because you just jumped out of the shower. The ones who have encouraged you at your best, comforted you at your worst, and been through each of those experiences right there in the middle with you. While each level of friendships is important and serves both purpose and meaning in our lives, it is the final level that truly makes this journey worth while. And I can honestly say, that my husband and I have been more than blessed by one united group of friends that we share together that has more than filled our lives with joy and companionship over these many years.

While looking through photos to upload to Facebook and to print for the casa (yes – I still print off pictures for albums and frames!) I couldn’t help but notice the reoccurring faces that have been apart of so many smiles and laughter over the years. There is so much that we have experienced as a group that I can hardly even begin to explain little family that we have become…

From waiting in lines hours before football games, playing cards & sneaking hot dogs and beers from various tailgates to the early birds who held our spots, to countless parties that somehow always involved ping pong balls, solo cups, and the infamous little green man. Spring break beach games, confessionals, excessive amounts of the Cupid Shuffle and Africa, and hands down the best dance moves you will ever see. Wednesday night dinners, pitchers at Little Italy, the porch at 17-16, and ‘golf’ at Mama G’s. Making any excuse to celebrate a “holiday” just to hang out, bringing our shakers to any and every athletic event, and rolling Toomer’s for every win – athletic or political. Sneaking onto the golf course, cookouts, impromptu slip-n-slides, and late nights telling stories, reliving the past, and planning our next gathering. Fireworks, champagne, and years of ringing in the new year that almost always end in some sort of disaster. Trotline, 17th Floor, Supper Club, and Sky Bar.

Since undergrad, through grad school, and now in the “real” world we have been there for each other for master’s degrees, doctorates, weddings, and now babies. We are more than friends, but family that will always be able to pick back up from where we left off despite the distance whether in miles or time and I am forever thankful for the unending support and love from each and every one of these incredible men and women I am blessed to call my friends. Below is merely a tiny tiny sample of pictures from over the past few years, choosing the ones as we have stood side by side during weddings to celebrate not only the couple to be united, but to gather again and relive the precious memories of our times together.

Linking up today with my sweet friend Katie who blogs over at Hope Engaged for a photo shoot of sorts so be sure to check out her precious and encouraging space when you get a moment, you will so very glad that you did!

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