I love the internet!

(Monday morning)

 Say what you like about the internet and social media, I love it! While there are dishonest people out there who misuse it and misrepresent themselves, I have benefitted enormously from it and have met some wonderful people. Through blogging especially and Facebook too, I have made friends online and then have had the joy and privilege of then meeting in person and finding them to be every bit as wonderful as I believed.

At first, I mostly met people who were somewhat local, but have also met up with people further afield as we have traveled. For a season, there was a good-sized group of bloggers and social media friends who got together in and around the Denver and Colorado Springs area for girls' lunches, backyard picnics, tea parties and fun in general. 

Some friends I've made live far away  and while we've dreamed of meeting in person, it just didn't seem likely to happen.

But sometimes it unexpectedly does and what a delight that is! I spent yesterday with my dear friend Susan from Virginia who was in Colorado for a wedding. She and I have been online friends for more than 10 years, regularly emailing and  writing letters and texting and talking on the phone occasionally. Our hearts connected in those early years, but with almost a whole country and the mighty Mississippi between us, meeting in person seemed like an unlikely dream. Her husband went  hiking with friends yesterday, so I picked her up at her hotel and "dragged her to church" with me (or so she teased though it was a mutual idea and she loved it!), we went out for brunch after church and came home to sit and talk for the afternoon. The hours flew by until her husband picked her up to change hotels before flying back to Virginia today. 

She and my parents really wanted to meet each other, but since Mom and Dad have been out of town, that didn't work out so they'll just have to come back or we'll have to go visit them!

All that to say, internet friendships are a gift and I hope you have some too!

With love,

Joanne

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In other news, it's  supposed to snow today, My parents get home from their trip (almost two weeks on a cruise in Canada on the St. Lawrence River plus some days in Quebec) tonight and we leave for Phoenix next week to spend a while and to get our new house there furnished and ready for next winter. We'll be home for Christmas and then back in Arizona for January through the end of April.

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I will check in again soon with more of an update about the Bible study I've been teaching, my apartment  search for next summer and anything else I can think of. As always, I post a lot on Facebook, so you can connect with me there. Please send a private message with a friend request so I know you're a blog reader. Thanks!

 

Comments

[Chris Ashley]

I so love this post!!! Someday, it is my prayer that we’ll meet! As you know, I followed your old blog, read your wonderful books and it was there I learned of your stroke. Though we’ve never met, I sure do feel like I know you!!! ❤️

[Charlotte Moore]

Good to hear from you. How nice to be ale to meet someone from afar.