Have you ever loved someone before you’ve even met them? That’s how it was with Candice.

Although she lives a world away in South Africa, Candice & I developed an almost immediate friendship the day she first reached out with an e-mail. She’d written to say that she’d stumbled upon our website and spent the rest of the day “Oohing & ahhing over all of the beautiful photos.” I mean, how can you not love someone who makes you feel so good and asks for nothing in return?

It wasn’t just her very generous comments that made us fall for Candice. She just has this way about her that makes her irresistible. Truly, Candice is one of those people who instantly lights up a room….even if she’s not physically in it. She is kind, generous, totally sincere, funny, seriously sweet, humble, wise beyond her years and yet with so completely innocent. She is beautiful in the truest sense of the word. She is unflappably positive, full of life and boundless energy. She is creative & fun with a capital F-U-N! If ever a person could be a star, it is Candice….self-luminious and held together by pure goodness.

All of my assumptions about Candice were confirmed when she came to visit us a couple of months ago.

For nearly four years, Candice & I have exchanged e-mails and shared instant facebook message chats, and I would often say that I hoped our paths would one day cross in person. During one of our instant chat this summer, Candice surprised me with some exciting news, “I’m coming to America,” she said. Of course, the immediate reply was, “You must come stay with us!!!” I wasn’t sure she’d actually take us up on it, but, happily, she did.

Just after Thanksgiving, Candice walked out of the international gate at Logan Airport and straight into our hearts. She came with a dear friend of hers, Julia, who quickly became our dear friend as well. The two of them brought with them such love & goodness.

I must admit, Andy & I were more than a little nervous about meeting Candice & Juls. In the weeks leading up to their visit, we would get e-mails and messages with updates on the countdown to their arrival. Candice would say things like how excited she was about meeting “The bellos” and how it was, “a dream come true.”

We were left wondering how we could we possibly measure up to what were surely unrealistic expectations. Honestly, we’re quite boring. Yet, from the first hug, a bond was solidified and the three days we spent together were truly some of the happiest.

Andy & I took our new besties to Boston and showed them the sights, including an evening of ice skating on the Commons’ Frog Pond, which was so fun as Candice was a pro skater in South Africa and had some serious moves on the ice. We also showed them around the Cape and on our last day together, we took them to our favorite spot, where Andy & I said “I do.” Candice is a budding photographer, so we gave her & Juls a few pointers on how to use their cameras and then turned our cameras on them. We had an absolute BLAST!!!

Here are a few of our favorite photos of these two beautiful young women. Sweet, sweet Candi….

Girls unite….

Juls (left) and Candi (right). Doesn’t get much prettier than these two lovelies!

Seriously, can’t you just feel the love coming out of these two sweeties?

Love is…..the embrace of a good friend.

Love this next shot Andy stole of Juls. love, love, love!

The shot on the left of Candice reminds me of a Lancome ad. Her beauty absolutely radiates from within!

Another ad-like moment…

girlie giggles…

Hummuna hummuna…

Sun-kissed…

Besties….

Our amazing day together was capped off with a picnic on the beach (Yes, in November), where we watched one of the most stunning sunsets over the Sandwich boardwalk.

Later that night, Candice & Juls made us the most amazing traditional South African dinner, with a dessert that blew our socks off. I still can’t believe we didn’t take any photos of it! What were we thinking!?! I guess we were just too busy having fun! They even did the dishes afterwards. Honestly, we never wanted them to leave! And their visit created memories that Andy & I will cherish forever!

Come back you two….we miss you! Seriously, Candi & Juls….thank you from the bottom of our hearts for including us in your big adventure, for being THE best house guests ever and for loving us without reservation! We love you both to the moon and back! C&A xoxoxo