New city-new adventures-new beginnings -PA -AZ oh my

initially i was going to write about how my bestie is moving to PA and how it is going to be a change a new environment and a new start BUT then i thought man this is going to be GREAT

#1-she will be so close to me so that for the next 2 years I will have my partner in crime a mere hours away-i'm talking weekend trips here i come
i realize her family is sad but the reality is it is definitely a treat and a rarity to have family all live within close confines of the city
I am SUPER close with my family but my parents live in Michigan and my siblings in NYC

BUT that does not make us any less close..its not always super convenient but space is not always a bad thing

your love and relationship is not always strained or lessened by extra miles

long distance whether with family or a significant other may not always be simple but who wants simple

it makes you appreciate the time you spend together
distance makes you find creative ways to keep in touch and creative ways to let the person know they are on your mind and you love them

josh for example lives about 4/5 hours away and in all fairness and in a world of highly motivated people i could easily see him every other weekend if needed

its not like he is on an island or 10 hours away
would i love to see my brother everyday MAYBE and who knows what future seasons will hold

but to my bestie who i know this stresses out ..its not so bad...it makes you stronger you become more self reliant and more defined by who you are

sometimes i would love to be closer to home so i could have free babysitting and sleep over at my parents house on the weekends when i wanted
more family functions..more dinners..etc

but since im not at this moment i just am thankful for having a loving ad supportive family that utilizes technology and other ways to make me feel not so far

long distance relationships were never my thing
they were never on my list of things to partake in and areas that i am willing to try

amazing how whenever you make a bold declaration such as what you WILL NOT do
that when God challenges you and hands you a new adventure and a test

AZ is far-i wont lie and man oh man if i had my way i'd pick ten other places closer

but guess what-that's not the plan
sometimes you can rewrite the plan and other times you just have to stick to the script

hmmmm so the pros of LONG DISTANCE

-you focus on the important things and not so much the little insignificant ones
-communication becomes your strongest attribute because you dont have the luxury of day to day, night to night, morning to morning face to face conversations
you build your relationship on emails and phone calls and letters and with the aid of technology there is now facetime and dont forget your SELFIE lol

im sure there is some other stuff and i wont begin to list the cons because well hell i dont want to and i dont need to go down that path

but BOTH of these lovely folks departures are on a timeframe (THANK GOSH)
let me say this again THANK GOSH

I can whine my way through 2 years-it has an expiration date before things go back to normal

if it was indefinite the sentiment would be VERY different

now while i whine through one 2 years i am going to celebrate and drink through the 2 years of the PA adventure!!!!!!

I have missed my best friend and there is NO other like her-there just isnt
and her sisters have had her all to themselves and NOW I am about to hoard her like a TLC special
stage that intervention!!!!!

 

As the Sunday Sun sets

sitting in my apartment with the patio shades open
peacefully taking in the setting sun

jordan and i both comfortably on the couch snuggled in warm blankets fresh out the dryer

i love after a wonderful weekend just being able to sit and reflect and replay the moments
moments that made me smile
things that made me laugh
moments that will forever be in my mind and forever remind me of a happy time and what life is all about

the yummy smell of peach bellini lingers in the air
a reminder of a turning point and a new start for me

last christmas my forever bestie gifted this candle to me
and i told myself i would not light it until i moved
the new candle signified a new start for me

it signified reacquainting myself with who i am and what makes me smile
in january when i first lit the candle i cried
i cried as i looked around at my life and saw some of the changes as setbacks and failures

the candle was symbolic for me
the smell is amazing and it has a comforting affect
initially i didnt want to burn the candle because i wanted it to last i wanted to hold on to it
and as i think about that
i guess that represents life
often we dont want change we fear it we hold on to where we are because its comfortable
we resist giving our all and risking being vulnerable

but in order to smell the sweetness in life
you have to light the candle
you have to enjoy the beautiful aroma of surprises
and new beginnings and new things

as the months passed by and i continued to light the candle
so many changes happened in my life
the candle continues to burn and although im saddened that it almost gone
i look at where i am now versus january
this candle has gotten me thru the past 8 months
and the smell has gotten sweeter
my life has moved forward
i no longer cry when peach bellini fills the air
i smile
i smile at where i am now
i smile wondering what changes will happen next
i wonder when the candle burns its last time
what will be the new start
what new sweetness will fill the air

i sometimes cringe at starting over and going back to square one
but somehow for me
i continue to land in a sweet spot
my support system is always there and ready to rally behind me
and the right people come in my life and the ones that are not so right are weeded out naturally

so as this Sunday draws to a close and another weekend is behind me
i think how sweet my life is
i think about the smile on my face and the warmth in my heart
i think that right now at this moment i wouldnt change a thing
im right where i need to be