dot and flower

A year and a half ago a group of nervous friends met up at a conference. Our time together was so life-giving that we planned on getting together more often. I volunteered my house and last year we had a girl’s weekend complete with a baloondalier.

heart friends

This year was different, every year will be. Emily could only come for one night, Tracey and Maggie and baby Maxwell were on the west coast, Hayley stayed home and got some family time. Ellen, Caroline and Karrie spent the weekend at my house along with these.

DSC_4160

home

DSC_4140

DSC_4105

DSC_4079

The best part of our weekend was just having time to be together. We didn’t make a lot of plans, we didn’t busy ourselves with a lot of day-filling excursions. We have a lot of sitting around on the sofa in yoga pants time. And that’s when the connecting happens–in the unplanned, intentional white space that we allowed ourselves to have.

It feels weird to plan for unplanned time, but I’m realizing it’s the very thing I need in my friendships. And it’s fitting that this realization comes during the month of June during our 30 Days Without Accessories.

I’m continuing to learn that intentional white space can be so very valuable.