Visiting Friends in Albany

There’s something about the days leading up to a trip — the anticipation, the little rituals, the excitement that lingers while you pack.  For this one, I packed all the pink and fun — bubblegum luggage, sparkly claw clips, matching PJ sets, and my favorite travel steamer (because wrinkles are never invited). It was one of those trips that already felt special before it even began. A girls’ getaway full of laughter, cozy airport fits, and the promise of memories we’d talk about for years. We are visiting friends in albany. The Burkleos — friends who’ve long felt like family. And from the moment we landed, I could feel that familiar rhythm again — the one that only exists in friendships built on history and heart.

A Friendship That Started with a Blog Post

Seventeen years ago, I stumbled onto a blog for the first time. It’s wild to think how much that one small moment changed the course of my life.

I still remember reading Danielle’s words — her warmth, her honesty — and feeling something stir inside me. Her writing made me feel connected, seen, inspired. I didn’t know her, but I sent her a message anyway. I told her how her story made me feel something real.

And somehow, that email turned into a friendship that has spanned nearly two decades — across seasons, across miles, and through every version of our lives.

That single connection opened the door to a world I didn’t even know existed — a space where women shared their lives and art and hearts, and where stories could build community.

Friendships That Feel Like Family

Over the years, our families have woven together in the sweetest ways. From shared creative projects to motherhood milestones and everything in between, we’ve walked through so much side by side — even when we weren’t in the same city.

So being together in Albany felt like exhaling.

There were slow mornings with coffee and quiet conversation.
Kids running wild through the house, laughter echoing from room to room.
Late-night talks that stretched on, full of old stories, dreams, and that kind of laughter that feels like healing.

It wasn’t about big plans or fancy outings — it was about the in-between moments. The soft, ordinary ones that end up meaning the most.

Watching our kids play together always makes me pause. These little ones have grown up hearing about each other for years — through photos, through stories — and now they’re building their own memories. It’s the sweetest kind of full-circle moment.

The Beauty of Slowing Down Together

There’s something grounding about being with people who have known you for so long. Those who’ve seen every version of you and still show up, again and again.

Our time in Albany was full of those simple, grounding moments:
warm dinners, shared laughter, coffee refills, and unhurried afternoons. It reminded me that friendship doesn’t have to look flashy to be life-giving. Sometimes the truest connections are the quietest ones.

Friendships like this are a gift. The kind that anchor you through changing seasons and remind you of who you’ve been and who you’re still becoming.

Carrying the Gratitude Home

As we packed up to head home, my heart felt full in that way only meaningful time with loved ones can bring. I kept thinking about how it all began — a blog post, a few honest words, and one email that started it all.

This trip wasn’t about going somewhere new. It was about coming home to something familiar — to friendship, to connection, to gratitude that runs deep.

There’s a kind of magic in watching life come full circle like that. In realizing that what started with shared words years ago has grown into something that now includes families, laughter, and core memories.

It’s the kind of weekend I’ll carry with me for a long, long time.

A Reminder to Cherish the Simple Things

This trip reminded me to slow down, to lean into the people who make life lighter, and to notice the beauty in the small, in-between moments.

The best kind of memories are rarely planned. They’re the quiet ones — kids’ laughter in the next room, morning coffee, and friendships that stretch across years like soft, golden thread.

Here’s to the kind of friendships that feel like home.
To weekends that fill your heart.
And to the little reminders that the best stories are still unfolding — often in the simplest, most beautiful ways. 🤍