In Every Season

     Hey beautiful people! Happy sweet-it was 92 degrees earlier Tuesday! I pray that your day was amazing, and that if it wasn't the remainder of it takes a turn like never before, and things around you just begin to shift. That your evening feels like a breeze on the beach!  

     I am currently in my neighborhoods laundromat, doing laundry and was going to watch an episode of Underground and instead chose to come and write a blog. Yesterday made a year of having this blog-website, however, it was in August that I released my first blog post. Looking back, I'm not sure what the hold up was. Probably had to get out of the way of self. 

     Today, I'm tickled at my own personal growth that I can measure through this space. If you've been rocking with me since blog post 1, I thank you... while I don't post for numbers, I appreciate the support. I appreciate the comments, the feed-back and for you just being here, even if you've never made yourself known. 

     Anyhew, this post--will probably be a free flowing one. I think I want 2017 from here on out to be, "free flowing."

     The past weekend, I journeyed to North Carolina where I was able to spend the weekend with my sugga baby cakes, my A1's since day 1's, Rakiya and Shaneka and my god daughter, Khloe. To say my heart was full is an understatement. Shaneka is currently pregnant with twin girls, who Rakiya will be the god mother to and honey, I am so tickled at our little circle. I'd like to think in all of my friend circles I'm the most emotional. By that, I mean, more often than not, I'll interrupt what we are doing and express gratitude or get super mushy and gushy..and so this weekend, I had a few of those moments, except a ton of them were thoughts, and not expressed comments. 

     I posted a few of our pictures, and I'll post a few below.. but the caption I used was, "In Every Season..." and honestly, I couldn't find a caption more fitting. Some friendships are validated by the amount of time they've known each other, however, the circles God has blessed me to be apart, are validated by how the time has been spent. Years under the belt, are just sweet icing on the cake. It's what we do with the time that really matters.

      Anyhew, all weekend, I kept thinking about "time", and how much things can change and do change within it. Last year, Rakiya and I journeyed down to NC for Khloe's graduation. We made our way to the beach, ate the craziest of food, piled in whatever way possible for sleep arrangements, ripped and ran the streets as if we were in highschool again, danced to all types of music, made fun of one another, shared some of the thoughts we were experiencing, loved and laughed. Shaneka wasn't pregnant and a ton of other things personally weren't the way they are now. This year, we laughed at how, SO much changed. I mean we did some serious reflecting and was just in AWE at how much things have shifted. THINGS DO AND THEY WILL CHANGE. Get that into your spirit...and honestly, it's ok. As a matter fact, it's expected. Reflecting on how much things changed in just a year, caused me to re-shift my perspective and to remember that nothing that is happening to/for me right now, is guaranteed to stay the same. Things will shift...So experience the now, get all of the lessons it's here to offer and MOVE. Anyhew, what I was originally thinking of when I started this thought was how grateful I was to have friends who during every season, (relationships, break ups, career changes, life changes, location changes. mood changes, lifestyle changes, pregnancies, children, marriages, etc) my friends (even those not mentioned in this blog) have rocked with me SO hard and SO consistently. I'm not married yet, but the longer I live, I find myself overwhelmingly grateful for my friends because they are a front row center example for me, of what it means to "do life" with a person. To dislike them, to disagree with them, to be vulnerable around and with them, to get it wrong in front of and behind closed doors  with them, to hurt, to celebrate, to be happy, to be sad, to be unsure and to keep going anyhow. I was reminded this weekend of love, and how steadfast it is. I was reminded of how it feels and what it looks like to support, to extend yourself to stretch yourself, to make yourself available, to be inconvenienced, to be poured into, to be cared for, and most importanlty to be present in the name of love, for those whom you love.  

      Shaneka's having twins! I have several friends with children and I STILL have moments where I'm like, "you're a parent? Like a whole child came out of you? You're accountable for another person. WHOA." LOL! I've known Shaneka since middle school and now there's a mini-her, running around calling me God-Mama and her, Momma. Heart be still, literally. Even the idea that we've been around long enough, rocking hard enough for her to trust me a God-parent, to her child. Still, blows my mind. (What a total honor.) 

      Last, thing...(As I didn't expect to brag on them this hard) I just love how whenever we get around eachother its like we never missed a beat. (The reality is, we haven't. wWe talk every day) but Rakiya said something that tickled me that I found to be so true.. "It's funny when we see each other because then it sets in that, OMG I MISS YOU. Like, we talk every day, but I haven't seen, let alone hugged you in a while." Ugh. My hearts so full. I love them. (If ya'll are reading this, because they might be trif' and never read this post...I LOVE YALL. ) LOL!

      Anyhew, in other news....(How noticable is it, that one of my favorite words = "anyhew" ) LOL! 

      I am extremly excited about this Summer. I have several goals I am hoping to accomplish which require me being disciplined, vulnerable, honest, open and most importantly in tune to what He is saying. I feel like this will be a s Summer of exploring new territory in God. *More to come on that topic.*

      I don't have my "Purpose" binder near me, since I was doing laundry but I think I'll do a post on those too. One of the main things I hope to do for the remainder of 2017 and onward, is to JUST POST! (Like this one) Just share, update you all of where I am, what I am doing and what I am thinking. 

      I am reminded of when I first started this blog and how near and dear the name was and is to me, "The Waiting Space" it's a space we all can relate to, a space we all experience on-goingly, and a space we all need encouragement and reminders in. 

      I think I'll share more on that topic soon too! Anyhew, I think I've rambled long enough. I'll be back.. later this week to chat. For now, enjoy the remainder of you Tuesday!

P.S, 

I think, from now on I'll call my rambles, Laundry.. (which just gave me another idea)  We will explore that in the next post. LOL!

XoXoxO, 

Alicia Elizabeth