Flea Market Gifts

Is there nothing better than getting a gift for no reason at all?  I just love it!  My sweet friend Kelly called me last week and started the conversation with "You won't believe what I bought for you at the flea market!" 

Oh yes, it is BLUE and it is BEAUTIFUL!

The clear jar I had just picked up at a garage sale as well, and I am loving both of them!!  The blue one goes perfectly with our new paint scheme in the living room and I can't wait to fill it with  ??? all kinds of things!!

Aren't you thankful for sweet friends??  THANKS KELLY!!!

A Virtual Day at the Beach With a Friend

Dreary, cold, rainy days are the hardest days for me to get myself out of my pajamas. How I would love to spend my entire day online, chatting with friends, ignoring all responsibilities.  My sweet friend Stef, was packing her family to go to the beach. I asked if I could go too, and she was sooo nice and said YES! Woohoo!!!

 So I stowed away in her beautiful Dayspring bag until we arrived at the beach!

When I climbed out, my eyes beheld the most beautiful ocean scene, with rolling waves, clapping like thunder upon their arrival at the beach. The seagulls were sqwuaking and flying over head. The sand felt so warm and comforting between my toes. It was magical.

Lunch time came so quickly, and Stef saved me a seat facing the ocean {she's kind like that because she knows how much I love it!}

 She decided to take our fun to the pool. It is nice to just lay in a lounge chair and watch the kids swim. Her boys were so nice and didn't splash me once!

And of course, if there is a hot tub available, who isn't getting in? The boys were so nice to leave me some room! They tested the temperature first for me!

What a wonderful day at the beach with my friend Stef and her boys!

OK-Seriously, I was in Illinois and Stef was in Florida, but isn't this a beautiful picture of encouraging a friend?  We live thousands of miles apart, but yet through the magic of Twitter, it felt like we were kindred spirits enjoying a day at the beach (when I wasn't cowering under my umbrella, that is).

She took time for me, encouraged me with her photos, and we had a great time sending 140 characters back and forth across the miles.

Sisters, can you find someone who needs some encouragement?  Reach out, let them know they are loved and thought of often.  It may just be what helps them get through a really dreary day!

I love you Stef! You make me smile!

Fully Loved, Fully Known

Heather, me, and Stefanie

 

As I stood in the lobby of the Relevant hotel, visiting with friends I'd met last year, I caught the eye of one of my soon-to-be-roommates-I-had-not-yet-met.  A smile quickly emerged from both of us and we headed across the lobby to greet and hug one another.  In that instant, I met a forever friend.  As we embraced, my second roommate noticed our hug and joined in as well.  Kindred spirits, meeting for the first time, honoring God in His work for us.

Time was short, this gift of a weekend, never enough sand in the hourglass.  How we wish we could have turned it over and over, to have heart conversations, tears and laughter together.

Having walked through many life experiences, I am no longer as slow in removing the mask that I used to hide behind.  This former wall flower has finally had the courage to join the bouquet of community.

This I have learned

I cannot be fulled loved unless I am fully known.

Unless I reveal with transparency my true self to those who wish to know me, they never truly will.  The freedom in being real is amazing, freeing, refreshing.

Lower the mask, sweet friend.  God doesn't make mistakes, so you've been made to His specifications.  

lovely

beautiful

sensitive

amazing

HIS

The Relevant Experience #3

Of course The Relevant Conference would have meant very little without the meeting of so many amazing women.....women who I have had online friendships with for months!  I was absolutely thrilled to meet so many of them:

Michelle of Some Girls Website doesn't know it yet, but I went WAY outside my comfort zone and started up a conversation with her at lunch.  I was rewarded with an amazing woman who has a heart full of joy.  She just bubbles over!  We had several great conversations over the course of the days and she spoke wisdom into my life.  I am looking forward to getting to know her even better during the coming months.

These two beautiful women are my Good Morning Girls.  We contact each other every morning through Facebook to discuss our quiet times, what God is speaking to us, and share prayer requests.

Myra blogs at My Blessed Life.  Our family was blessed to have spent some time with Myra and her family earlier this summer.  It was so good to see her again.
TeriLynne blogs at Pleasing to You and I just couldn't wait to meet her face to face!  She is so much fun!

This outstanding group of women are who I have the honor of blogging with over at Gather Inspirit.  Check the website to see their bios.  They are all amazing!

 This absolutely amazing woman is Ann Voskamp of A Holy Experience.  If you have never read her blog, you MUST.  I have never seen such beautiful writing that captures the most pure and beautiful parts of life through Ann's eyes.  It was a thrill to meet her face to face after reading her blog for months.  I can't wait to get my hands on her new book!

 This beautiful woman is the face of The Relevant Conference, Sarah Mae, from Like A Warm Cup of Coffee.  I have followed her for months, and it was so nice to meet her.  We didn't get to spend any quality time together, but I will make sure that happens next year!

Stef is a bundle of joy!  Appropriately her blog is called Layton Family Joy!  Her smile lights up the room. If I ever get to Florida for Disney, we'll be staying at Stef's house!

This wonderful young woman is Rachel, from A Steady Rain.  She has been a great encourager to me, as so many times I wondered if anyone was reading my blog, and then there would be sweet words from Rachel.  I got to share a few meals with her, and she is a sweetheart.  I was disappointed I didn't get to hear her sing.

Daniele is a new friend I just met at the conference.  We were lucky enough to share breakfast together.  I would love to hang out with her.  She just oozes with peacefulness and a quick smile.  She has 5 children---I admire her!!  Her blog is beautiful over at Domestic Serenity.

This is my new friend Traci.  We got off to a very funny start, as within the first hour of getting to the hotel, I ran into Traci no less than 5 times.  It got to be so funny!  I wish we had time to get into a deep conversation, but we just ran out of time.  She is just a ton of fun and has a fantastic personality!  I can't wait to get to know her better.  Check out her blog at I'll Take Tea.



There were so many others that I wish I had the time to meet and visit, but the hours just flew by so fast!  go visit these women, I promise you will not be disappointed!  I am honored to call them each Sisters in Christ.

Family and Friend Traditions

Many of us have traditions that we keep with our families for holidays and special events, but do you have any traditions you have started with friends?

My friend Jennifer loves tradition.  I've known her for over 10 years, and she keeps on me to keep tradition alive both between us personally and with our families.  Jennifer and I both got married in December of 2006, and we both now have three children.  Our husband are great friends as well.  We really enjoy spending time together.

For several years we have gathered together sometime during the fall to find a fun place locally that has fall family activities; a pumpkin farm, an orchard, etc.  This year we visited a new place and had a great time with our families.

 This is my ever so handsome husband, who is still just a boy at heart!

So much fun.  I was most happy when I got my Kettle Korn!  What kind of friend traditions do you have?

Pursuing Godly Friendships

I absolutely love chatting with blog friends through Twitter, Skype and blog comments.  It is so much fun to be able to send a quick little message to friends at any random point in time during the day.  As I have gotten to know so many of you, a theme has presented itself about friendships.  We all agree that we love our blog friends and that we have made special connections with many through our blogs.  But the strange phenomenon I am seeing is that most of us have in real life (IRL) friends that don't understand our love of blogging.  Most have commented that their IRL friends don't even read their blogs, me included.  Does anyone else find this just really bizarre?

I have to admit that I have a certain sadness about this situation, because I feel I am laying my heart and soul out on the web for all to see.  But my best friends have no interest in reading it!  It becomes almost like living in two different worlds.  My heart's desire is for these two worlds to merge as one. 

My heart's desire is to have friendships that are true and deep, immune to crazy schedules and family obligations.

My heart's desire is for friends who will take the time to sit under a summer gazebo and talk about nothing and everything.

My heart's desire is for a friend who wants to pray together through every day life.

My heart's desire is for friends who drop by unannounced just to say hello.

My heart's desire is for friendships where I feel safe to show the real, authentic, transparent me.

My heart's desire is for friendships with women who want to grow deep in the Word.

My heart's desire is for a friend who understands every piece of me and loves me anyway.

My heart's desire is for a friend who sticks with me through thick and thin.

My heart's desire is to be the same kind of friend to others.

Just like our relationship with God cannot be nurtured and grown on the fly, neither can our friendships.  In our world of drive-thrus, instant payments, on demand television, immediate downloads, and overnight deliveries, we have somehow lost our persistence in pursuing depth in relationships that are right in front of us. By missing out on these opportunities, we create cocoons for ourselves that manifest into loneliness, depression, and unhappiness.  God has peppered through his Word many examples of lasting friendships:  Mary and Elizabeth, Ruth and Naomi, David and Jonathan, Jesus and John.  The book of Proverbs
states several times that friends can be closer than family. 

So how do we find women who can fulfill our desires for deep and meaning friendship?  Pray.  I'm sure some would see this as a cop out answer, but don't forget that God instructs us to bring every desire boldly to the throne of his grace.  James writes in Chapter 1:6&7, "But when he asks, he must believe  and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does."  David exhorts us to trust, delight and commit to the Lord and he will give us the desires of our heart.   Remember friendship is by God's design. 

I have also decided that I am going to approach a couple of my current friends and share with them my desires to deepen our friendship. I don't know what will happen, but it is worth pursuing in an intentional way.

And for my online friends?  My desire is to make them my IRL friends by visiting when I might be near their hometown or meeting them at conferences.   I am very excited to say that I have plans to meet three this summer! If visiting isn't feasible, I will continue to encourage and talk with them on Twitter and Skype, building those relationships as well.

How about you?  Do you feel like you live a double life as a blogger?