pain throws your heart to the ground

love turns the whole thing around. no, it won't go all the way it should, but i know the heart of life is good.

so, i've been thinking lately, how incredibly blessed I am to have the people around me that I do. as crappy as life gets sometimes, I can always count on my friends to show me incredible strength, never-ending encouragement, and always always always loving me despite the hot mess that I am sometimes :)

I want to take a minute to brag on my lady friends for just a moment and tell you a little bit about them.

thanks ladies for investing in my life and for being the best friends in the world. I'm lucky.

first and foremost will always be HOLLY.

Holly and I met at cheerleading tryouts in the 7th grade. We have been best friends ever since. We have seen each other through deaths, our moms being pregnant and having babies at the same time, birthdays, several fam vacays, failures, celebrations, petty arguments, and in the end... we are always on the same side. If you don't know Holly, she is one of the funniest people you will ever meet. Her wit and honesty will keep you slapping your knees constantly. She has such a serving heart and is always willing to do whatever she can for the people she loves. I have no idea where I'd be without her. She is one of the strongest people that I know and I have always been so proud and admirable of her. love you bestest.

next is the beautiful Allie.

I get emotional when I talk about Allie. She is without a doubt the kindest person I have ever met. She is the most giving and selfless person that I know and there have been many times that she's had to hold me together. She is funny and feisty, one of the greatest listeners, and always encouraging. She recently moved to NYC and left me here :( but I have no doubts that we will always be friends. She is one of my biggest cheerleaders and I am the same with her. Not only are we twins in appearance, but also in hearts. I love love love my Allie Bug.

Hayley: "hero" or "heroine"

Hayley is my "main b," as we like to call each other. Our friendship has been one of the biggest blessings in my life. If I ever need someone who just pours out wisdom, I always go to Hayley. She is my prayer warrior and one of my dearest friends I've ever had. There is no 2 people that have more fun together than she and I do. She loves the Lord more than any woman that I know and her heart for women and showing them the love of Christ is something I admire and adore in her. Lord only knows where I'd be without this friend. She's also probably one of the funniest people I've ever met and one of THE BEST dancers. she's my girl.

next, is my sweet friend Carly.

I've talked a lot about her in my previous posts. I can never say enough about her. Everytime I try to talk about how much I appreciate her to other friends, I can't do it, I end up getting emotional. Carly is the type of friend that I've wanted my whole life. She is kind, passionate, giving, hilarious, and encouraging. She is my running buddy, my dance partner, & the person I can count on to do spontaneous things. We both have southern drawls which seem to get more extreme when we hang out together and we're both from similar backgrounds. She is without a doubt one of the best, most brave women that I know. She reflects Jesus. She doesn't think she is a good listener, but she is. She's thoughtful and humble. Her dog loves me so I know we'll be friends for a long time :) her and her husband have been such fantastic friends. I will never be able to tell you how much good you have done for my heart!

Ohhh... Larkle.

Larkle Sparkle is my first little sister in Zeta, but she is one of my best friends as well. She is a riot. Funny and one of the most adorable people in the world. She supports me whole heartedly in everything I do. She attends more people's birthdays than I have ever seen and she is always trying to let the people she cares about know how much she loves them. She loves life and makes the most of everyday. That's one of the things I love most about her. She is so much fun and always make me laugh hysterically. She's my Margarita Tuesday buddy :) Being her big sister is a blessing and a privilege. She makes it easy. We talk everyday on BBM from first thing in the morning until late at night. (one day my boyfriends will probably get jealous). I am so so proud of the woman she is becoming. You are a joy, my sweet Lark.

our first picture as big/little in 2008 :)

second to last, but certainly not least, is Krissy.

Krissy will forever be one of my very very very best friends. Girl has a heart of gold. Platinum even. We bonded over our free-spiritedness and love of dancing in fields, tjmaxx, skinny jeans, and taking online sociology tests our freshman year of college at KSU. Our friendship developed over photoshoots, being band wives, first tastes of wine, how our family's were obsessed with the other, heartaches, camp counselors, being in love again, my special chai tea from the daily grind, and sunglasses obsessions. We are kindred spirits with the same mentality that "wherever I lay my head is my home," but that, "if home is where the heart is, then my home is where you are." We both have always had the itch that we were made for more and struggled with being content exactly where we were. She is always growing and stretching herself in her faith. She gives the best hugs. She is an amazing photographer. She has a way of making you feel immeasurably loved and understood. I feel lucky to know her and be loved by her.

lastly is Roomie.

Roomie's real name is Tori, although the only time I've ever called her that was the first time I saw her in her wedding dress. She was the 1st person I talked to during recruitment in 2007 and picked me up at the door of the Zeta house. She always says she loved me instantly because I had fabulous hair :) Tori was my roommate in the ZTA house at Samford University. Never have 2 people laughed as much as she and I did. We never slept at night, took extremely long day naps, shared wardrobes, wore scrunchies from 1990, a janky janky bathroom the size of a linen closet, survived Talladega and also the silverfish that invaded our bedroom, couldn't sleep if the other wasn't in the room, and bumper stickered on facebook until 3am every night. I have never met another person like her. She is vivacious and HYSTERICAL. I lived with her when she started dating her now fiancee, Mitchell, and got to share in the excitement as she fell in love with him and he with her. She is one of the most beautiful people in and out. She casts no judgment and always loves. I am privileged to stand next to her on her wedding day in July as she marries the person she loves most in the world (second to me of course, tee hee). Her family and fiancee call me Roomie and if you look at her wedding website, my name in the wedding party says, "Roomie." though we live with other people, she is the best friend and roommate that I've had. love you roomielicious.