Me (holding David), Jennifer (sitting), Kelly, and Bria
Once in a while, God blesses us in unique and surprising ways. This past week end I had the sweetest pleasure of driving down to Illinois from Minnesota with my baby, my 12 year old daughter, two of my dear sisters in Christ, and their daughters, to attend the Reformation Tea hosted by Stacy McDonald and the ladies at her church.
I had a strong desire to make this trip because Kelly Crawford, a beloved blogger and internet friend, was speaking about her experience losing their home to one of the many tornadoes that ripped through Alabama last spring.
I’ve treasured Kelly for almost four years, so talking with her in person was the biggest kick! She and I are two peas in a pod, and we could have shared stories and picked one another’s brains for days on end, had we been given that opportunity. I must add that her daughter, Bria, is the most beautiful, happy, sweet thing you ever met. If I could have packed her up in my suitcase and brought her home, I would have.
Beautiful Bria holding my Davey Boy for me.
Could the trip get better? It did! Kelly informed me that Jennifer Ross was also there with her daughters! Whee! I snuck up behind her and gently informed her that she left her car lights on. She slightly turned toward me saying, “Oh no, that can’t be. My husband dropped us off.”
Then she turned to get a good look at me, and I just stared at her with a dumb smile…trying in vain to think of something witty to say. Coming up dry, I lamely said, “I’m Natalie”, realizing after I did so, that she would probably wonder, “Who in the world is Natalie? And why should I care?”
She didn’t blink an eye or look flustered in the least, but smiled and calmly said, “I thought so.” I tried to match her mature manner, but I was giddy with excitement, and, I’m afraid, did some squealing and over-zealous hugging. I think she was OK with that.
Jennifer and her lovely, noble daughters.
The internet is an interesting phenomena. We are able to find and develop precious relationships with like-minded sisters in Christ who may live on the other side of the world. When we see their avatar show up on an e-mail or blog post comment, we recognize a friend. That picture is anchored in our minds and hearts.
But to meet them in person! To see that avatar transformed into flesh and blood! To watch those eyes, animated and sparkling! To hear that beloved sister talk in her funny accent! (heh heh) This is the privilege I had on Saturday with four precious women, and I am so grateful to God for giving me such a gift.
Lynette and Michele…I love you dearly!
Internet friends are amazing, and I’m looking forward to eternity when we can spend oodles of time enjoying one another’s company. But I am even more thankful for those friends that are in our lives on a more regular basis. Those friends who see us, not only when we are at our best, but when we are struggling as well.
These are the kind of friends who drove down to Illinois with me this week end. We got to spend many hours stuck in a van together…and what a time we had! I will remember it forever. They so generously and graciously gave me time and space to talk with Kelly and Jennifer…to make a dream of mine come true.
Daughters
Stacy McDonald
Kelly Crawford
So here’s a toast to internet sisters. To knowing and loving you from afar. To looking forward to a day when we will all celebrate our King together for eternity.
And here’s a toast to local sisters. To crying and laughing and praying with you right up close and personal. To looking forward to a day when hearts will be healed and tears wiped dry.
And here’s a toast to the King. The One Who created sisters, both far and near. Who gave us to one another for support and comfort and fellowship. Who loves us wherever we are in the world. Who is working to bring us all joyfully together in unity and forever fellowship.
Thank you, Heavenly Father, for letting me meet some of my sisters. I love them so!
And I SO love You!
What a blessing to be able to meet your online friends in person here on earth. I can only imagine all the hugs and greetings when we are in heaven and get to meet all the others there, as well as people we haven’t seen in years! I’m sure you got a glimpse of heaven on earth!
What a beautiful post! It brought tears to my eyes. Thank you Lord God for sisters!!!
I had tears writing it too. : ) Thank you for enjoying this little story with me.
Natalie!
Did you wait until I had bug eyes to snap that picture, or did I just look like that the whole time? Flesh on our friendship…what a precious thing to me.
Meeting you was every bit as wonderful as I had imagined!
The special privilege of meeting you, hugging you and laughing with you is a precious memory, forever etched. I am so grateful to you for driving so far to spend the day at the tea! You are a “bosom friend”
Couldn’t agree more! I’m still just laughing my head off over here that you got spammed on this site!!!! LOL~! I guess we are VERY aggressive with spam here. Maybe it’s because you used the word “bosom” LOL!!!! Oh Kelly…we’re back to our electronic friendship, but I will also treasure our finally meeting and remember it always. It sounds like some of the readers here were there…if only we could have known!!! We could have had a VW table! Oh my…wouldn’t that have been a blast? Maybe someday…
Wow Natalie!! You are on the ball! Blog post, pictures… the whole enchilada, and I sit here in my jammies LOL…
This weekend was GREAT!! I kept wishing you were staying longer! It was such a blessed surprise to see you there.
Was I really that calm when I knew it was you? Well… I was excited inside!!! Even yesterday driving home I thought about it and remembered how easily I jumped out of my chair, almost 7 months pregnant, to hug you!!!
Precious memories!
Jennifer, I was up until almost midnight last night doing this post. I’m paying for it big time today. Augh! I knew if I didn’t do it though…I’d never get to it. Now that it is the next day…I’m thinking of a million other things I wish I had written here. Sigh.
And you were SO SWEET and warm…just more mature than me…that’s all. : ) My mom comes across very reserved in public…but I know her personality, and she is very bubbly and funny. So I’m guessing you are somewhat like that. Anyway, I’m still reveling in the memories. And yes, I wish we could have spent a lot more time together!! (Lots of exclamation marks here. heh heh.)
I am thankful you stayed up til midnight Natalie because the post was such a delight to read. My family didn’t share the same excitement I did when I was showing them the photos. I would have been so excited to see you all too and pretty giddy so that gave me a good chuckle and a big smile when you shared meeting Jennifer. What a blessing the weekend was. Love all you ladies
Wish you could have been there!
Oh, all of y’all are sooooo beautiful!! Jennifer….seven months?! Wow, you look great.
Loved this post, Natalie. I’m glad you were prowling around, blogging at midnight too
This blessed me.
Bambi, we were talking about you and your accent on Saturday. If you had been there, you could have defended yourself. ; )
LOL!! Yes, Bambi, we really were talking about you. We thought Kelly would have had more of an Alabama accent. I mentioned how much I love that Southern drawl
And I think it was Natalie that brought up your name! LOVE the accent!!
What?! Meeeeeee? Southern draaawwwwl? I’m highly offended, YA’LL.
Kelly told us ya’ll say “Bless her heart” for everything. Especially when you have something negative to say. Like, “She made the cake without any sugar, bless her heart.” Or…”She drank all the lemonade so there warn’t any for the rest of us, bless her heart.” (I added the warn’t as an extra touch. Don’t ya’ll say stuff like that too? Or is that just in the movies?)
Natalie,
I wondered when I was standing there with you, Kelly and Jennifer if you were the owner of AVNS.
Nice to put a face with a name now..we love your citrus castile soap!!!
Is it OK to be just a teeny bit jealous
? I had the privilege of 2 days with Kelly and it felt like she was my long lost twin! To imagine being together with Kelly, Natalie, Jennifer AND Bambi would be just the best! Love my internet sisters!
We would have loved to see you there too Jenny!! We should do a retreat…
Oh I am so jealous!! Thanks for the pictures and the “report”- loved it!
Gosh, ya got me thinking…..Can you just imagine if we would have had the chance to actually meet and talk to so many more women at the tea. How many beautiful spirits were there and I never got to “see” them, embrace them, or peak into there hearts.
There are lovely people ALL around us we just have to TAKE the time to reach out to them!
You made the effort and you are reaping the bountiful benefit.
God’s blessings,
Carolyne
Such a sweet post! It sounds like you all had a delightfully, encouraging time!
The pictures are wonderful!
Blessings
Mrs. White
The Legacy of Home
Sounds like it was a great time, Natalie! I’d have loved to go with, so if you go again, please remember me!