Meet Erika.
A fellow blogger, coffee lover, and photographer. Most of you will recognize her from my various social media updates about her, and some of you have the pleasure of knowing her personally. She is one of my very best friends.
Around this time about two years ago, I went to a party hosted by my friend, Sarah. I didn't know anyone who was coming. I was actually warned about a few of them, so I was understandably apprehensive. When people started to arrive, I slowly backed myself into the corner of the kitchen, everyone seemed to know one another, they were all very comfortable, and I was looking for any reason to escape. Then in walked Rachel and Erika, both of them asking about my last name and where I went to school. As it turns out I had met Rachel my freshman year of high school and I was friends with Erika when I was in beginning band... about 2005. Needless to say I was completely rude and didn't remember... Whoops!
Over the next few months, Erika and I bumped into each other a lot. We bonded over surviving the end of the world, sitting quietly together in a hectic New Years Eve party, and Pinterest partying whenever the movie nights got boring. Needless to say it was pretty much instant friendship.
In two years there has been so much that has changed in both our lives. We helped each other through everything from the celebration of new relationships to the loss of a grandparent. We spend holidays with each others families, braved blizzards and Michigan roads to attend Christmas parties, survived a post apocalyptic photo shoot together, spent countless hours chatting, skyping, texting, or snapchatting, she has surprised me in Kentucky, and I bring her tea when she is sick.
In March, Erika and I suffered a mutual loss. Her brother, my boyfriend, left for Marine basic training. I came home on spring break about a week after he left, and we just sat in her room thinking that the next knock on the door would be him asking to chat with us, or it was him coming up the stairs to sing along with Erika playing the piano. Needless to say, it wasn't. Over the time he was gone, there were lots of shared "I miss him too's", info passed from his letters, celebrations of his milestones, and prayers for both us and him. Twelve weeks later we were reunited in California to watch him graduate. Which led us to bond over exhaustion, frustration, sun poisoning, and aloe. Hours I would not trade for the world.
She has been such a huge support in my life. Not just though AJ's enlistment, but also through my struggles at college, with other friends, with family, and most importantly, with God. She has held my hand through sermons that made me sob, prayers I could not put into words, and through times where I needed the physical support.
I owe a lot to her. I have her to thank for my sanity at times, for my favorite coffee houses, for introducing me to my Marine, for my inspiration in so many things, and for helping me become who I am today. There will never be a way to repay her for any of these things, but I will try.
Erika is a rare beauty. Not just in looks, though she is obviously a stunner, but in her heart as well. From my stories above, you can tell that she is a comforter, and it is not just me she is looking out for. She is one of the truest and most reliable friends anyone could ask for, and many know what it is like to call her friend. Her helping hand never falters, wisdom seems to pour out of her, creativity is second nature, and her love seems unfailing. Wit and genius sparkle in her hazel eyes and grace shows in her every movement.
In about two weeks, I am moving back home, where I will be a mere twenty minutes away from her again. There is no way of knowing what will happen between us in the time to come, but I can tell you that it will involve more all night life chats, photo shoots, mugs of tea, study dates, and adventures I know God has planned. And I am looking forward to that!
If you want to check out her blog (her photography is amazing) click
HERE!
