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Erika West

@erikamariewest

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Not I who lives, but Christ in me!
Colossians 3:23•UM ‘25• @umobile_dunamis
‘24-‘25 SGA ASOTA Senate Representative
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“What’s that I hear about the 21st?” - S E P T E M B E R D U M P - ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ . . GUYS… I may be 10 days late but don’t fret I did not forget. September. I don’t have much to say to be entirely honest. It was a solid month. I feel like in a very interesting season of life. I have talked about it a little on here but it is very very transitional. Because of this very transitional season, I feel like I am changing so much. I find myself being prepared for a life much bigger than my own and I’m okay with it. Along with that I feel as though I am learning to be okay when plans change. When friends change. And when routines change. Life is still life. School is still school. People still talk and others still listen but what I can control is me and how much freedom I give God over the steering wheel of my life and can I just say? I HATE being in the driver seat. I am so thankful for how He is molding me. Even if it is difficult or making me do things I am scared of I am forever grateful. . In this season I find myself forgiving people I never thought I could. I find myself mending relationships with friends I thought were broken forever and I find that my eyes are open wider than ever to the real issue at hand. The issue is not fighting between brothers and sisters in Christ. The issue is fighting the real enemy and working to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to every person no matter their background or their political affiliation or their beliefs or their relationships or what they have done or who they say they are. Our job is to love them and to show them the love of Jesus. To tell them the good news of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. THAT is what our priority should be right now. I thank God for helping me to realize that because realizing that has helped me let go of every minor offense. Every major heartbreak. Every grudge. Every trust issue. (Of course it is a daily release and death to the flesh) but it seems to be easier each time. . I thank God for September and this changing season. Praise His Name Forever ♾️ So how do yall feel about oatmeal? 🤔 Sisters 👯‍♀️ A study room hates to see us (Diana) coming
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• “because I knew you, I have been changed for good” • - happy happy birthday Erika Marie <3 - ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ . . It’s my best friends birthday. This is NOT a drill. Her brain has developed and developed well. Yall this is a sentimental one. Caught myself crying finding pictures for her at 2 am because the love I feel is too vast to explain. Growing up I wondered what having a big sister would be like. God sent me Erika to show me. To know Erika is to know a friend. Someone down to earth. Genuine. And always there to listen. Through ups and downs she has demonstrated to me what friendships is supposed to look like. Though we disagree sometimes we always overcome it. She is the first friend I’ve ever had that stuck it out through a conflict or distant season with me. She didn’t leave. She didn’t blame me or hate me. She just… worked through it with me. That is the friend she is. . I have known Erika since I was a freshman in college. Right out of homeschool thrown into an unknown place. College. I didn’t know anyone. But even before we even were friends she would be there to make sure I was okay. I could rant on her floor or ask for a hug. 5 years later and nothing has changed. We have only grown closer. I can confidently say that who I am is partly because of the friendship she has given me. Taught me so much. And the patience in which she loves me. . Happy birthday to my best friend. My added sister. I truly thank God I get to know you. Live life with you. You are one of the most kindhearted people I know and I feel overwhelmed with gratitude that you choose to be my friend. My family. Happy happy birthday miss west. I pray 25 is the best year yet. I hope today you feel as celebrated as you deserve because nobody deserves more celebration than you. . I love you always Erika! 🤍💕🏰 . Happy 25th birthday!!! Thank you for loving me. Thank you for every hard talk. Every late night convo. Every comfort. Every listening ear. Each laugh and each debate. I am thankful for each moment being your friend and I can’t wait to keep living life with you! . ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ . H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y . 🧠 🟰 👍 ✅
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“Insert creative August caption here” . . . God is so good. Let’s talk about it! FIRST! Before anything my baby brother god MARRIED! And I gained a new sister! I could not be happier to have her in our family! This couple honors God so beautifully in the way that they love each other and I was for sure boo hoo sobbing the entire wedding! Next, my final year at the university of mobile has begun and let me tell you, God doesn’t stop teaching lessons just because there are people on campus now. I am learning so much more each day. . “For everything there is a season” truer words have never been spoken. I am feeling that deeply and for the first time in my life im okay with it. Each day God teaches me something new and I fall in love with Him with each moment and every breath He blesses me with. Each day He finds a new and unique way to tell me He loves me and I don’t deserve it but I’m forever thankful. I find myself more and more in AWE of Him. He is such an awesome God. . So in honor of how awesome He is, here are some things that made this long and painful and tear filled month very awesome. He hears our prayers and He placed a healing hand on my grandmother. He allowed my family to grow with a new member. He told me He loves me through the clouds. He let me see my first ever shooting star. He teaches me lessons daily. He holds me fast while He does it. He stays constant when nothing else does. I have access to Him through His Son. I get to read His Word daily and learn more and more than ever. I have a church family that reminds me that I am seen and loved and cared for. And this is all to just name a few. . I could have spent this post talking about the struggles of this month but those don’t feel like they matter anymore because His goodness will ALWAYS outweigh anything else. Everything else. I am overwhelmed with love for my Father. Thank You Jesus. Thank You Jesus. Thank You Jesus. . “In Your house, the Spirit pours out and theres. Always. More.” if you see me crying, no you dont. Shoutout to the untagged (my cousins who don’t even like my stuff) @ethanlazzell @connorlazzell Thank You Jesus for my new sister 🤍🤍 #iloveduck Yeah not to brag bu
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“July is over and I didn’t even go to the beach” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ . . . Instagram really is my scrapbook! Listen. July was hot. And it dragged on. But now summer is ending and idk how to feel. This summer has been a season of change but in small ways. I feel the preparation and im not sure what for. I know that im being prepared for something but what? I could not tell you and im okay with that. This summer ive seen more movies than i can count. I have seen a pretty sky every day. I have walked and talked with Jesus. And I’ve taken time to reflect. In fact I’m still reflecting. To be honest I’m nervous for this final chapter of college. There will be a lot of change. And it’s scary. I’m nervous to have people around again after an isolated summer. I’m nervous to fall back into unhealthy mindsets I’ve worked hard to get out of. And while I can acknowledge the nerves, I also acknowledge the solution. Jesus. . I am in a weird season because it is a strange feeling to change and have to almost reintroduce yourself to the people who knew a different version of you but I have a good Father holding my hand every step of the way. Holding me with patience and strength and love. And I am overwhelmed with His love while being overwhelmed with emotions of the heart and it’s well… overwhelming. . I’m excited for this new season. I’m excited to start living life as the person I’m being molded into but of course it is scary. I feel blessed that there are people in my life that are able and WILLING to walk through this season with me but I am also learning that I do not need them. Community is important and needed yes, but I pray I never let community be more necessary than Christ in my life again. I’m excited for this season with Christ. . Anyway this summer was fun! July I turned 23 so I guess this means I’m UNC now or whatever the kids say. I find myself having less and less to say. Or maybe the words are harder to find. But either way im excited to see where i end up. Who knows where I’ll be this year or after this season. But I know that no matter how difficult it is, I’m excited to face it! . Anyway… happy August :) “I’m so glad the sky fo
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- “22 was a panic attack”- L.M. - ••••that’s the funny thing about birthdays.. they’re kind of an annual thing”•••• ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ . . it’s the annual birthday edition to the Instagram scrapbook! 23 could not be more of a blessing… 22 was GENUINELY a panic attack. it felt like it was one wave after another and I could never catch a break let alone a breath. but here I am. 23 and starting fresh. I have so many words and not enough time to put into words the gratitude for the things I’ve learned this year! As I start this new year, it becoming more and more obvious that there are several doors closing and several seasons ending. It’s bittersweet truly. It’s a weird feeling to feel yourself settling into a new version of yourself while the one you thought you were settles into the past. not necessarily difficult, just different. but I am so so so excited for this chapter to begin! . As I enter into my 23rd year I pray that I never forget the lessons that 22 taught me. I pray that I continue to grow and allow God to mold me into the woman that He intends for me to be. I pray that I will be able to properly discern what the path God has for my life while listening when the Holy Spirit is talking to me. I pray that I may spend this year striving to further the kingdom and to love people how Jesus does. I pray that the desires of my heart only align with the desires of the Lord. I pray that I choose gratitude and joy in every season and trial I choose in this new season! . Thank you to everyone who walked through 22 with me. Thank you to everyone who is entering 23 with me. Thank You Father for the people I have the ability to live this life with me. Thank You Father for the lessons and the growth given to me at 22. Thank You Father for the opportunity to continue this life just another year on this earth. . 22 was difficult. but Praise God for it. Praise God for a hard season. Pruning produces fruit. May my fruit be sweet incense to the Lord :) . I’m overwhelmed with gratitude and joy! Here’s to next year! . ☀️🕊️☀️🕊️☀️🕊️☀️🕊️☀️🕊️☀️🕊️☀️🕊️☀️🕊️☀️
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• 6 month review (JUNE RECAP) • ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ . honestly? loving multiple captions. it’s like a scrapbook! . . the fact that it has been 6 month of 2026 is absolutely bonkers to me. i mean... what???? halfway to 2027 and where are we? well it’s been raining a lot. it is very hot outside. i have a spider infestation. and im very thankful. i am someone who can easily get caught up in a fast paced, hectic, crazy, social, loud life. in fact, i can get so caught up that when the little life comes calling (as it always does) i tend to feel unappreciative. i get antsy and upset because “life is boring” but yk what? i have started to love this simple summer… . now, just because it is simple does not mean it has not been fun. i have loved the movie nights and the slow days with the oakdale cats. i love cooking and traveling to Orlando for a concert that got cancelled. i love the fit checks and learning to appreciate how i look without cringing each time i look in a mirror. i have loved getting closer to God. loved each lesson He is teaching me in silence. learning patience and faith. i love the conversations He brings me… I especially love that. . but yeah…it’s been simple..and beautiful.. and slow…and quiet… and nice…i like intentionality and kindness and care. i like running errands together and lunch dates with Emma Claire….i like this summer. . . anyway… tomorrow is July and yk what that means? it’s my birthday month so prepare to be SICK of Betty :) i love you guys a lot. I feel a lot of change coming my way and i am ready to face it full force with all I have and all I am in the strength of the Lord… . anyway that’s all from me bye :) I got the wordle in two. haters will say it’s fake. the pilot flew me to space after this. not joking. oakdale legends procrastination station fr fr the weirdos this month chosen. my babies someone tell rocky to say hey rip charlie i think they missed me 8 movies in one month? don’t be jealous yes @madisonmwinters … the hair came back :)
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SOPHOMORE YEAR!! … What a CRAZY year it has been, y’all… If you would’ve told me a year ago that not only would I be living in a cottage, but ALSO switching my major to Biology with a Chemistry minor, I would’ve told you you were crazy. This year has been one of the best and one of the hardest years of my life. This year I learned what it’s like to have a deep, consistent relationship with God, and this year I also learned that God doesn’t mess around 💀. Every time someone asks me what this year has meant to me, I always say it’s been a year of change. At the beginning of the year, I asked God to prune my life of anything that didn’t serve Him or me anymore… and BOY DID HE. What’s hard in the moment, God always turns into something good. He loves us so much that sometimes He lets us hurt so we can grow into the person He’s calling us to be. Along the way, I’ve made friendships I’ll carry with me through this next season, and I’m so thankful for the people who have walked with me through all the transition. A lot of this year was saying goodbye: to old habits, old mindsets, and old lifestyles. But I’ve learned that God’s plan is so much bigger than mine. He’s already shown me He has SO MUCH in store. All He asks is for complete obedience, to trust His plan, and to stop fighting so hard to hold onto the things He’s asking me to let go of. Anyways… I’m closing this chapter of my life and opening a brand new one, and I seriously can’t wait. ❤️🧬 2025–2026
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••• M A Y we never take the memories made for granted ••• ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ . . so it’s basically half way through 2026… i don’t know HOW we got here so soon but here we are. and it’s time for the monthly recap. so what did i do in may? well… i said goodbye. some very hard goodbyes too. i started a new routine. i’ve begun to adjust to new relationship dynamics. and over all it’s felt very ending if that makes sense. lots of doors have begun to close. and i’m in a weird place with it. summer has begun and it consists of many days on my own. some days where i don’t see anyone other than the cats i frequently visit so they don’t feel alone either. and i am trying to focus on the beauty in this season as well. . there is beauty in a season where you can reset. refocus. and renew your mind to only be set on the Lord. a season where you have all the time and no distractions that keep you from giving Him 110% of your focus and time and energy. change your perspective. it is a gift to have slow and boring seasons. and yk what? it makes you appreciate the busy and the fun and the GO of it all a whole lot more. so here are some things i appreciate about may… . i appreciate the pickle festival and waiting in line for no reason. i appreciate friends who drive 2 hours to help you move just like 3 trailers down. i appreciate qt runs. and i appreciate walks to work. i appreciate weeds that are as pretty as flowers on the side of the road. i appreciate movie nights and late night talks. i appreciate pickleball and friends who love books like you do. i appreciate each hug. each beach day. each laugh. i appreciate the love of my friends. and i appreciate each hard goodbye because what a blessing it is to have people you’ll miss so much. . happy end of may guys! hopefully june will have less rain although if it’s anything like last year chances are not looking great… . anyway i love you guys xoxo bye . . “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭51‬:‭10‬ . . . are you proud of me? smaller caption this time! less to say :)
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maycember is my favorite 🎓💛
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sure didn’t get enough of may ☀️
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The scariest part of transferring in as a senior is trusting the Lord to give you community and thank you JESUS that I held fast to the promise that we are not made to be alone and trusted that the Lord would keep me and hold me tightly to himself and provide a community around me that would point me straight to the cross. UM, truly I’m at a loss for words! Thank you for loving, embracing, and equipping me to continue to pursue what the Lord has for me next knowing that the legacy that this university has left me with has forever changed the person I am today. To all, thank you for befriending a senior who only had two semesters left but you chose to love me anyway. That means more than you will ever know. I have gained so much wisdom through each of you. It is because of you that I am the friend, sister, and person I am today. All because I knew you. This is the hardest goodbye. Continue to love people boldly and loudly, be the most genuine versions of yourselves, and proclaim Christ name to all people! Thank you forever! A quote that I have said all year and still will stand beside for the rest of my life is “if I only knew then what blessings the Lord had for me in the other side of obedience I would’ve been obedient quicker.” Transferring to UM last minute, full of fear and anxiety of what people would think of me or who would choose to walk away, but with full assurance that I was finally completely obeying what the Lord had for me was the best decision I ever made! TYJ for the prayers answered starting back in sophomore year of college.
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I finally graduated! Go Rams!
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