the most perfect day

Photo creds to the incredible Katie. Obsessed with her. ♥

So this happened. 

I can't quite pinpoint when exactly I first crossed paths with Abbie, Kate, and Mary Shelley. It had to have been sometime in 2015. I remember reading their blogs, and thinking that they seemed like ridiculously cool people, but not thinking much past that. It was spring of '16 when we really started talking, in a group chat of seven girls formed over, of all things, a breakfast food war. May 26th will mark three years of that group chat still going strong, and it has been one of the biggest blessings in a thousand different ways. 

As with most internet friendships, it wasn't long before we were dreaming of meeting up in person instead of just communicating through a screen. I can still remember being sprawled across the living room floor one sweet summer afternoon, sunshine bursting through the windows as we messaged back and forth, wondering how we could make it work. All seven of us, finally in one place. It was the most exciting dream, but despite our best efforts, that dream never quite made it to fruition.

Mary Shelley and I, however, realized quickly enough that, despite the vastness of the internet, we actually weren't too far away from each other. I still remember the moment that fell into place, and we started connecting the dots of mutual friends and shared experiences. April of '17 everything lined up, and a dream became a reality. Mary Shelley actually got to come see a show that I was in, and we finally became in-person friends, too. We've been able to go on lots of coffee dates since, and to this day she's one of my dearest friends with such a big piece of my heart. (peep the post that I wrote the summer after we first met.)

The first time that Abbie messaged me about actually trying to meet up, I'm pretty sure that I screamed. I was sitting in the floor at my grandparents' lake house, leaned up against the wrought iron bed in my room there. We tried a couple of times after that first message to make it work, but we were never able to sort out the logistics - we got so close, but the timing never worked out.

And then suddenly, this past winter, it all seemed to fall into place. Months became weeks, weeks became days, and before I knew it, I was power walking to a coffee shop where I knew that the Emmons sisters were waiting. I walked in, scanning the room before finally landing on their table. I ran over, and everything after that was pure bliss. We couldn't stop talking about how surreal it was, to go from seeing each other in Instagram stories and Youtube videos to sitting across the table from each other and talking about everything under the sun, laughing and taking pictures with pretty books.

The next day, once Mary Shelley was out of class and I got off of work, the four of us got together for dinner, and the whole world felt right. We wandered around the park, taking pictures to document the fact that we'd managed to get the four of us all in the same place at the same time, and then we went for pizza - we're all on team pineapple.

It was the absolute most soul-filling two days. It's hard to describe going from internet friends to in-person friends. It's the most surreal feeling, yet at the same time the most natural thing in the world, because you already know each other so well. We've gone through a lot together over the past three years, and I think that that's one of the most special things about the internet - you create bonds with people solely over who you are. You can't really be superficial about it, because you're simply connecting with another person. There's a level of honesty that comes from talking through a screen, and it leads to some of the most beautiful friendships.

These girls are so passionate, so driven, and just so completely lovely. They are some of the most inspiring people that I've ever known, with the biggest, most beautiful hearts. If the world was filled with more people like these three, we all would be a lot better off. Getting to spend time talking with them about their plans and projects and dreams is so beyond incredible. I am a firm believer that there is nothing better than spending time with people who are passionate about the same things that you are. These girls are so. ridiculously. talented. and getting to hear about all of the things that they're dreaming up was the highlight of my month. I cannot wait to see all that they do.

I could not be more grateful to have these three ladies in my life, to be able to talk with them and create alongside them and to be a part of their lives. Knowing them for the past three years has been the ultimate blessing, and the wait just made finally getting to hug them all the more special. As much as I've always wanted to meet them, the timing really did feel perfect. I am absolutely certain that it won't be the last time, but until then we'll keep rocking the long distance game, with lots of letters and packages, internet screaming and a heck of a lot of DM's. These girls have rocked my world in the best way possible, and if you have yet to be exposed to their incredible souls, you have no idea how much you have been missing out. Be sure that you follow them, because they are going to change the world.

If you remember my First Impressions Project, stay tuned for those coming soon. Writing them up was so much fun, and I can't wait for you to get a glimpse into the hearts of these girls. ♥

The most special of days, and the fullest of hearts. Gratitude upon gratitude that out of the millions upon millions of people to cross paths with on the internet, God gave me them. ♥