When I told my girls that my friend, Jeni, was coming for a visit they were a little concerned.
“What do you mean she’s your friend? You’ve never met her.”
Beatrix worried, “But what if you don’t like her? What if she’s too sassy? What if she thinks you’re too sassy?”
(I wonder if Miss Bea has ever gotten in trouble for being too sassy? 😉 )
I relayed these concerns to Jeni, and she replied, “I’m extremely sassy. Better have a game plan.”
I wasn’t too worried. Despite the fact that according to my girls we weren’t really friends because we’d never met, after nearly seven years of phone calls, I felt far more excitement than trepidation about Jeni’s visit.
I’ve written before about taking chances when it comes to friendship and I still really believe in that. I believe in friends! But we all know the reality is that friendship is risky, challenging, and sometimes downright painful. I bet there are some of you reading who have given up on it. It’s hard to make the time, especially if you’re like me and surrounded by children who seem to need you around the clock. It’s scary to take chances when there is the opportunity, because what if you get hurt in the process?
I’ve concluded that for the handful of really beautiful relationships I have with other women, it is worth the risk of failure.
Because sometimes it works out: That voice on the other end of the line arrives with a big smile on her face and spends day after day snuggling your kids and encouraging you. She doesn’t get annoyed when you take her to visit your quaint little city and you get stuck under an awning for half an hour while a storm rages around you. In fact, when you decide to make a run for it and race barefoot through the rain back to your car, she laughs with you, and you both find yourself feeling like teenagers rather than grown women. When you lose power for close to twenty-four hours, and she makes the best of it, singing hymns with your daughters in the glow of candlelight, you know you’ve got a keeper.
And maybe you get a little emotional driving her to catch her train back home, and you worry that maybe you shared a little too much…But the next morning you get a reassuring text saying simply, “Miss you already.”
Guys, sometimes it works out. And somehow you just know, you’ve got a friend for life.
So I’ll say it again today: take chances on friends. Put yourself out there when you can. Accept that there will be lonely seasons, times when you simply can’t sneak away with a friend for an evening, or even squeeze in a phone call, but look for opportunities when you can be available and grab hold of them. It’s worth it.
p.s. While she was here, Jeni re-designed my blog. I was a little afraid of the change, but it’s beautiful, isn’t it? (And I’m sorry to share that Jeni doesn’t do design work anymore, but if you’re looking for a phenomenal blogging coach, she’s your girl.)
p.p.s. I would LOVE it if you would share your own happy stories about meeting “online” friends “in real life.” 🙂
Anja says
I have met some of my best friends online. Some 15 years ago I was an Au pair (or in the process to become an Au pair, my year started in November). There was not much information out there, so I sourced the internet and came across a website, from an ex-Au pair that gave me the opportunity to write a blog about my year but also connect with other Au pairs (via the web and in person). I became a participating member and over the next 10 years provided lot’s of Au pair with support, some of us, a core group of those who joined early in 2002/2003 when the website just started, became quite good friends online. We met a few times as group but also as individuals. It helped that we had a common thing then (Au pair) but over the years some meaningful friendships have developed, that I would not want to miss for the world. I helped that in recent years we all became first time moms, so now we have other things to talk about (cloth diapers, breastfeeding, kids etc). It kind of helped that we went through phases in our lives together, even though we were miles apart in real life. We still try to meet regularly, it’s easier now that I am back in Germany. One of these friends even moved recently quite close to where I live, as her husband is from the area (we now live 25 min apart)
clémence says
I love this post so much, these people you meet through blogging are such the icing on the cake of that experience. I met my first son’s godmother through blogging, she was writing about the mourning of her brother, and I was grieving my mother at the same time. We wrote (real letters!) for a while and met just before Christmas. What a present! It was friendship at first sight…. Sometimes I feel a little “disgusted” by all this blogging and moreover instagramming that feels a little fake but this gift helps me going on and motivates me to keep on sharing my journey through life.
Jenny says
Some of my very best friends are ones I’ve met online. I met several women through a sewing forum during my first year of married life 14 years ago. I’ve since had the opportunity to meet a number of them as we met up while attending the same costuming and literature tour. Since meeting in person, we are even closer and I speak with two of the gals daily even though we live in separate countries and continents. We may not get to see each other in person very often but we still share our daily lives with one another and they are my go-to people when things get tough or when there is joy to be shared!
Jodi Lloyd says
I worked with a woman for years and we communicated via phone and email (she worked at a location in Columbus, OH and I worked in Detroit, MI). We seemed to have a lot in common and enjoyed our work communication. We decided to meet half way one weekend in October, kids in tow (she was a nursing mama with a two year old and me with a four year old), stay in a hotel room together (all five of us!) and attend a craft show in a town we’d never heard of. 14 years later, we’re still great friends (she just took two days off work to come help us move!) and we now attend the craft show as our girls weekend every October (no children allowed!). We laugh about that weekend now wondering if we were crazy but who know what would have happened if we hadn’t take the chance.
Darlynn Venne says
I don’t like little kids. There, I said it. Hate me if you must. I did love my 3 boys, but enjoy them so much more when they are in their 20s.
That being said, I am smitten with Mabel. Not weird like. I do not stock your blog nor your children. What I love about you and yours is the honestly, naivete.
I grew up in a faith based home
Adopted….that speak volumes for my parents. 1959, not a popular year to adopt a child.
your children in 2017, remind me of my life in 1960. Simple, clean, earth and faith centered.
Mabel was my grandmother’s name.
Oh my, I loved that woman! I was lucky, she loved me too
So, the little Miss, completely captures my heart…..a heart that is not fond of littles.
you and your husband are doing a grand job raising the littles to be bigs with morals and values that in society today, are not valued.
May the good Lord continue to bless and keep
djb
Richard (in Charlotte, NC) says
The new design is different; I’ll have to get used to not seeing your smiling face at the top of the masthead. Otherwise, it is clean and fresh and quite easy to read. If I’m not mistaken, the font size has been increased and I can read it very easy without having to change glasses. Keep up the good work. Pat yourself on the back for taking chances on acquaintances becoming good friends. Life is so short, we need to take calculated risks more often than not.
Ginny says
Richard, you are always so encouraging. Thank you so much! And I’m really glad the font size agrees with you. It’s better for me too!
Melanie says
Hiya, I love your blog and have been reading it a long time which is how I came to recognise this picture of your children in a article someone posted in a knitting group on Facebook and just in case you were not aware of this photo been used, I thought I’d better let you know.
Take care,
Melanie
http://www.navibat.net/knitting-proven-to
Ginny says
Thank you for letting me know about that!
Nathana Clay says
I very much needed to read this. After having our twin boys (already have a two-year-old daughter), I have felt isolated. Like I can’t get out easily. Like I’m not much fun, only a burden to friends. I try to get out and still do fun things. But it is hard. My husband and I talk about this a lot, and I have talked about this subject of taking a chance on friendship on my blog as well. In fact, that very post led an old, dear friend back into my life and brought me in contact with another one. A woman from a nearby town, whom I didn’t know, emailed me. And we decided to meet up, and I am so glad we did! Her friendship has greatly blessed my life. 🙂 As I’ve entered this season of motherhood, I have grown very grateful for the friends I have met through blogging. My blog makes next to no money, but it has brought me into relationship with wonderful people, and I treasure that.
Camille says
I love the new layout, and such a lovely post.
Can I ask you though, about your bunny? Is he a house bunny? Does he get along with your other pets? Does he poop everywhere? My 8 year old daughter is desperate for a “pet of her own”, and am wondering if a bunny is more interactive than a guinea pig or hamster.
Ginny says
Yes, he’s a house bunny! He likes our cats, but doesn’t interact with our other pets very often. (the cat isn’t really interested in him.) He lives in one large area with the door closed so that he can’t hop all over the house. He is litterbox trained and rarely poops anywhere else, though he used to before he was neutered. I really love him, definitely one of my favorite pets ever. You do have to be careful though-no cords can be within reach because bunnies chew them, and other things too. He’s torn up a cushion or two. I do think that bunnies are nicer pets than guinea pigs, because they can have more freedom and you can interact with them a bit more. However, my first pets were guinea pigs, and they were nice too and there was no worry about making a safe space for them since they lived in a cage. Lots to consider!! If you decide on a bunny, I would look into rescue groups. That way you can get one that is already spayed/neutered! It’s very expensive surgery for rabbits and we found that out the hard way!
Moni says
Am I the only one who does not like the new layout? I like to have a quick look if there is a new post on the blog, and with the current design I am forced to scroll down over the shop articles (which is probably the intention, but I am not really interested) before I can read. Please, please, place the blog above the shop. That would be great! Best wishes
Ginny says
Hi Moni! The best way to avoid the homepage is to subscribe to the blog. When I share new posts you will get an email with a link directly to the post, completely circumventing the homepage. That way, you could skip opening the shop update posts all together!
Shelley says
I don’t like it either – and it’s not because I have a hard time with change ;). I looked and Jenni’s page and clearly she’s all about driving subscriptions, but what I loved about your old site was that it wasn’t “pushy”. Everyone wants people to subscribe to their sites and then they clutter up our inboxes with unwanted emails and sales pitches. I totally understand that you monetize your blog, but this new design just feels way to commercial. I thought your old site had the perfect balance between needing to monetize, yet not feeling at all commercial.
The floating arrows are incredibly distracting when I read posts on my iPhone.
Ginny says
Hi Shelley, I definitely want to address your concerns! First, yes, Jeni’s in the business of helping people monetize their blogs most effectively, though our friendship far pre-dates that. I wanted to update, clean up, and declutter my blog, and that is what she did for me. The theme I had was way outdated. I chose this one because I think it’s pretty and allows me to showcase more photos. Of course, not everyone is going to agree, right? As far as subscribing goes, that is something I offer as a service. I pay for it, and because I don’t sell the type products/services that those people do who send the emails/sales pitches, it really is just what it is: A way to subscribe to get my blog posts. Because I pay for it based on # of subscribers, I periodically go through and unsubscribe those who aren’t opening the emails! I’ve never sent out anything but links to my blog posts, and have no plans for that to change right now. As far as this feeling too commercial–well, it was time for me to feature the things my husband and I are making a little more prominently. I’m trying to avoid working outside my home, and this allows me to work and still be home with my kids. It’s just reality. I don’t have time to blog as a hobby anymore. So all that being said, yes, my design changed, but my blog itself hasn’t. As far as those arrows go, they have been part of my blog for many years, and aren’t part of the new design. I have never paid attention to the way they look on a phone, because I only just recently got my first smartphone. I agree though, they are way too big and distracting and I’m glad you brought that to my attention! They do make it much easier to scroll through posts on a computer (I think I added them years ago for my aunt who likes to scroll that way). I will try to find an alternative. Thanks for the feedback, I appreciate it!
Shelley says
Thanks so much for your response. I totally understand that you monetize your blog and have your shop to support your family and I think it’s fantastic. I actually love your shop updates and seeing what you guys are producing. I think I was really just afraid that you were going the route that so many bloggers have, where they stop producing the content that drew me to their blogs and focus more on selling, selling, selling. That’s probably more what I meant by “commercial”. Ok, maybe I do have trouble with change 🙂
The arrows I’m referring to are new ones. There used to be small arrows at the end of your blog posts that I used to scroll back and forth between posts, but these new ones are huge and float over the text and photos all the time on my iPhone. They’re really distracting from the photos and block some of the text.
Ginny says
I really appreciate your reply! it’s not in my personality to sell, sell, sell. So don’t worry! Ugh-the arrows. I’ll have to think that over. They must have not been showing up on phones before because my previous theme wasn’t mobile friendly. I’ll see if there’s an alternative, because I do agree that they look terrible on the mobile screen!
Bethany says
I’m not one to be very outgoing on social media, so I don’t have any stories of friends I’ve made online. But one thing I’ve learned through a couple of major moves is to not overlook the people who are right in front of me, who I think of as acquaintances or casual friends and not “real” friends. I spent seven years in Boise, thinking I only had casual friends and wishing for my long-time friends back in Oregon. It wasn’t until we were moving again that I realized just how much some of those friendships meant to me and how I wished I had been more vulnerable and invested more of myself in those. And now that we’re back in Oregon, it’s many of those Idaho friends that I long to hang out with! So I’m trying to invest in the friendships in front of me, making myself available to help and encourage while also admitting to weaknesses and needs of my own in hopes that someday I’ll realize I’m surrounded by “real” friends.
Bethany says
And this post is beautiful, and a beautiful reflection on friendship. It truly is a lovely thing to have others to walk alongside, to understand and be understood.
nicole says
Bethany, oh my word! so we moved to Mountain Home, ID from Portland, OR about 4 years ago. The whole time we were there I lamented over our friends and life in OR and couldn’t wait to leave. Then I moved back to OR 2 months ago and I find myself missing those friends that I made in ID and wishing I was back there while my OR friends are nowhere to be found 🙁
Bethany says
What a funny coincidence that our moves were so parallel! We’ve been back in Oregon over 2 years now, and it does get better! I just have to remind myself that it takes time and lots of effort to rebuild a community – even a small one. I rarely see my “Oregon before” friends these days, partly because we’re in a different town just far enough away for it to be inconvenient, and partly because we’ve all moved on to different life stages that don’t intersect as easily. I hope you’re able to rebuild a community quickly – and still see your Idaho friends on occasion. 🙂
Nathana Clay says
I did the same thing when we moved from Nebraska to Phoenix and then to Missouri. I am trying to do a better job of appreciating and investing in what is in front of me. I think sometimes I romanticize the past too much!
Bethany says
It’s so hard! And those are such different places to get used to!
Mary says
A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one finds a treasure. A faithful friend is beyond price, no sum can balance his worth.
A faithful friend is a life-saving remedy, such as he who fears God finds; for he who fears God behaves accordingly, and his friend will be like himself.
(Sirach 6:14-17)
Kate says
I love the new look of the blog. Jeni sounds like a great lady!
Louise says
Your blog looks beautiful.
I have no friends and probably no chance of finding any. *sigh*
Louise says
There are always chances. Keep your eyes peeled 🙂 And be a friend to get a friend x
Renee Anne says
Since moving to California five years ago (wow, five years already!), I *had to* put myself out there or I was going to be very lonely in an urban setting of over five million people. I started with knitting people and met a group of wonderful stay-at-home-moms in the city we first lived in when we moved….the kids were all about the same age and we were all knitters. The kids would play, we would knit and it worked pretty well. And then we moved across the Bay and I was relatively isolated again…..but then my oldest stated school and I just kind of fell right in. Don’t misunderstand me; I still spend far too much time with just me and the boys (but that may be summer vacation talking)…..but I do actually have friends around here, which is helpful 🙂
Andrea says
I noticed the refreshed design of your blog straight away – it’s lovely! Well done, Jeni!
Lana says
My husband and I had a long time friendship with another couple. Almost two years ago we did not see eye to eye on an issue and they said they did not want to be our friends anymore. I have to admit that we were kind of relieved since they were very high maintenance. We licked our wounds for a while and really missed having another couple to meet for dinner and such. Being empty nesters can be lonely when most of the kids live out of state. We began to pray and ask God for another couple friendship. A year later a couple visited our church and we talked to them after. They were moving to our area and were so open to friendship. So now we are great friends and they are such caring and wonderful people. We are so blessed. They say that we blessed them by talking to them on their first visit to our area but we say God sent them to us to be our new friends. They are overseas ministering to refugee children for 3 months and we miss them so much that we know it is real. Well, also when they asked us to keep their fire safe while they were out of the country. 🙂 Take a chance all! It’s worth it!
Katurah says
I am so pleased that you have found a real life friend! Such friends are treasures, and for introverts, rare and cherished ones. Your blog and shop redesign are beautiful and simple and feel just right. It always a treat to visit you here.
Helen says
When I was working I moved a few times and the communities I was apart of were transient. I was always amazed when I would find a friend with whom it seemed like we had known each other ‘forever’. No need to fill silences and lots of fun times. It is a precious gift when it happens.
Claire says
I loved this post! Sounds like so many of your readers can relate. I too am 39 and in the trenches of mothering 5 children, the youngest being 5 months. I have almost no time to invest in friendships, which is hard. The people I used to be friends with (from high school, college, career days), I feel I no longer have anything in common with. Even the women in my Young Families Group at our church have not moved passed casual friendship/acquaintance type relationships. The people I feel most connected to tend to be the catholic bloggers I read (like you!) and have never met. It is lonely but I have not given up and know part of the challenge is circumstantial for me. When I’m not nursing and can muster the courage I will certainly try to attend Edel one year. Just a couple strong and positive female relationships are all you need and make such a huge difference in a mom’s life. As for now, my best friends are my husband and my mom – so thankful for that!
sandra says
This post brought tears to my eyes, so heartfelt, warm and beautifully written. I’ve met some wonderful women through blogging and although none have become close friends I enjoy and am enriched by our continuing growing friendships.
I feel so glad to have come across your blog – each post a joy. <3
Petra says
Blogging is a wonderful way to connect with like minded people. I have discovered the whole new world through my blog. I met a number of women online. When I met one of theses womens in real life, the meeting was always very nice. I am very grateful for onlne sharing our hobbies.
Kate says
I find that the social media world makes it harder to make friends if you are not plugged in. I don’t have a blog nor a facebook page. People expect everyone to connect that way, but I don’t because I like my privacy and I see it as a time sucker. Even calling and emailing is getting harder with people. Everyone seems so busy. I’ve given up calling, because no one wants to take the time when they could text. I wait for people to call me. I am a good writer and I’ll often write long emails to friends. People say they really enjoy these, yet I don’t often get “letters” back. So I often feel like I’m talking to myself. Even my sisters have gotten worse about corresponding or calling. Now that they have grandchildren, it’s like there world has shrunk and they don’t have time for anyone else. Even my mother doesn’t call much any more!
I’ve come to accept that loneliness is my cross in this life and I’m not going to struggle against it or wring my hands over it. Actually, as cliched as it sounds, my husband is my best friend and since he works at home, I’m not really lonely most of the time. It’s just occasionally I feel like it would be nice to have a close female friend. My husband has a best male friend that he met through email. They found they had a lot in common and started talking on the phone weekly. It was many years until they met face-to-face. We now live in the same town, so I’ve gotten to be friends with him as well and have him over often for dinner. Maybe I’m just not cut up for female friendships.
Kinga says
I know it is not much comforting but I am relieved to see that there are more people like me. lonely…There are few reasons for it on my part; I have commented below a little…I try to accept my loneliness as a cross; it is a slow process but I hope to get there and find peace one day. Meanwhile let’s be lonely together 🙂
Ruby says
Yes!!! This was me and my friend Em last summer! We have “known” each other since we met online in a cloth diaper Facebook group/swap in 2011…I left Facebook shortly thereafter but we kept up texting, chatting, and emailing and finally after all those years met in real life in CO last summer! I had a lot of worries ahead of time–what if she doesn’t like me? What if I don’t like her? What if there’s just awkward silence and we’re trapped with each other?!!! None of that happened and I can’t wait to meet IRL again someday! I agree, friends at this stage in our lives are both tricky but so necessary. I’m so glad you met your friend in person! Looks and sounds like a lovely visit. xx
stephinie says
Everything looks AMAZING!! I’m so glad you had a lovely visit 🙂
Amy says
I like to hear stories like this, but I am one of those who has given up on real friendship. I’m also 39, and I’ve had some wonderful friends in my past, but I’ve found it impossible to make lasting friendships in my 30s. I’ve had painful shut-outs, confrontations, and falling-apart of friendships, always at times when I was going through something awful, so maybe it was my fault for how I came across. I’ve done so much soul searching. I don’t seem to fit in anywhere. I’m a former ambitious career person with a doctorate who became a full time homeschooling mom, and I don’t fit in with either tribe. And I’m increasingly introverted (but not shy) and generally anxious, which makes that risk taking you talk about extra hard. Just putting this comment out there in case anyone else is going through something similar. For now I am just trying to focus on my kids and wait for an opportunity for friendship. This is such a hard topic. So easy to feel shame and failure for feeling lonely.
Elizabeth says
I have met a few of my online friends and some I have not yet met but they have made a huge difference in my life! The biggest one is the one who emailed me about a man who is now my Husband of almost 5 years!!! She’s now a dear friend to me online and in person! Here’s briefly that story and how St Phanourios was deeply involved in my finding / being given my Husband, https://www.conciliarpost.com/life-and-faith/matchmaker-matchmaker-make-match-st-phanourios-long-wished-husband/
Blogs are wonderful for friendship! blog posts, Instagram and emails + texts are real time ways I keep up with dear ones who do not live near… I moved from Ottawa Ontario 5 years ago this fall and I still am working on friendships and community and online formats really help me in this!
I am so very very happy for your new friendship Ginny! You have a great capacity for friendship and I am so very happy for your blog, your pictures, your etsy store and the life you record here. God bless you and your family!!!
Mary says
Thank you for the link to your blog and about St. Phanourios –
Elizabeth says
You are welcome Mary! I hope you are encouraged by them!
karen says
there is always room for more love. I met Tracey (cloverseven) in real life and as I waited for her to arrive at a restaurant in Hilton Head I wondered what was I thinking….but we met and instantly we were long old time friends talking and laughing like we knew each other FOREVER. Blogging is such a wonderful way to connect with like minded people and as Anne Shirley says “bosom buddies”.
Pilorget Caroline says
I LOVE your website : so peaceful, so joyful ! Thank you from France !
Lindsay says
I love this! I am also on the leadership team for a mom group so reading reading comments really affirms what we are trying to do and how important it is to reach out!
Mary @ Better Than Eden says
Oh, Ginny. This speaks right to my heart. It can be cripplingly lonely sometimes, can’t it? I have a big circle of acquaintances, I try to put myself out there a lot, but still so often I feel like no matter where I go I just don’t exactly fit. (P.S. This is timely because I’ll finally be getting to meet you in person next month and I’m so looking forward to it! I’m slightly terrified and self conscious but also really excited!)
Heather says
This is so sweet! 11 years ago I was blogging for fun, and followed some other random people that I found through comments. Well, my oldest “bloggy” friend is from Oregon, and she happened to have a work conference on the East coast. She decided to make it a bit of a vacation as well and made her way all the way up to Maine. We were both a little nervous meeting in person, but we fell right into the comfortable conversations we have had over the web for many years. It was definitely a delight!
Caroline says
This post brought a tear to my eye. I find it really hard to make friends and would love to have someone to go to coffee with or have a girly evening or a night out with. My husband and I don’t have children and in one respect we’re so selfish with our time and sharing each other, it also meant that I missed out on all the ‘mom’ opportunities to make friends.
I have my best friends from school who I love and adore, we are on opposite ends of the earth now and thanks to social media we can be in touch in real time. I do miss them.
STACEY MIMNAUGH says
I’ve been following along for years and I LOVE the new site design!!
Pam says
I have several great email friends, some I’ve spoken to on the phone but most we just share online. I think it’s so exciting that you took the chance to meet and that it worked out for you. I actually met my husband from an online dating site. We wrote to each other for a while, then spoke on the phone and finally met in person and the rest is history . We’ve been together for 16 years and married for 10. So I guess it all worked out well?
Allison says
I just blogged about nearly being a hermit, so reading this made me laugh (in a good way; I enjoyed the irony).
My friendships have gone the opposite way, starting in real life and (d)evolving into internet only aquaintences, really. Even my “best friend” of 25 years is a stranger to me anymore. Part of me would like a friend, but it’s a small part in comparison to the part of me that’s tired of expending the effort only to be utterly wrecked by others.
I mean, who needs people when I’ve got books! Right? Right?!?
I’ll be in my hermitage if you need me, lol!
Pam says
I understand how you feel. I have a “friend” that I met in Kindergarten and I will soon be 70 years young. Her husband never liked me so I couldn’t go to her house and still can’t. Her son is getting married in Sept and I can’t go because of her husband. This has hurt me for years so I understand your feelings.
kinga says
your comment gave me some encouragment; it is so lonely here … I am a transplant from Poland to US, first to Texas now in RI for the last 16 years; I do have a lot of aquientences maybe even few called friends but not a real one; they always have other closer people to be with; for the past few years i have struggled with big anxiety and depression, i know that having somebody close would help me a lot; i try to convince myself that i am fine on my own with my own books and hobbies… i do have a loving hubby but sometimes you need that woman in your life that understands you on a different level… it is good to know that some people are comefortable being on their own … i am trying to get there…
Jill Ruskamp says
One thing that has helped me to be comfortable on my own was the expression “be your own friend”. When you wish you had a friend, ask yourself, “What would I say to me if I wasn’t me.” You can actually be your own best friend. (And, pray alot!)
Micaela Darr says
I have been so, so blessed by “online” friends becoming IRL friends. It began years ago when I went to NY for a wedding and made a day trip to CT to meet my friend Cari. Then, just a couple weeks later I met my now-close friend Kendra, before which I’d only corresponded with online. Then she and I planned a blogging conference together, then Edel happened ?, and it’s just kept going! I have met so many women online that are real, true friends. People I message or text with on a regular basis, people who pray for me and with me. The internet has many, many downfalls, but I’ve found real beauty and relationship here too.
Amanda says
I was a new mom with zero mom friends. Zero. I was lonely. One night I started clicking around on Facebook. I have no idea how, but I found this girl who seemed to have a similar parenting style as me. Also interesting, it turned out we had a few mutual friends because we both graduated from the same small college.
I took a huge chance and sent her a message. I apologized, saying I hoped I didn’t come off as creepy, but we seemed to have a lot in common and I needed friends. Thank goodness, she messaged back saying that her husband would joke that she was always hitting on moms trying to pick up new mom friends, lol.
She was so sweet and told me about a local mom group and said I should come to the next meetup that was at her house.
That was about seven years ago. We are now best friends. Our husbands are friends. She was with me during the homebirth of my fourth baby (we really bonded over home births as she gave me the name of her midwife when I was interested in a homebirth during my second pregnancy), and is his godmother.
I’m SO grateful for the internet or I may never have met her!
Gracey says
Oh I do it ALL THE TIME! I recently met up with an Instagram friend at a yarn shop..she lives in Rhode Island, I live in Connecticut…she said she was going to a shoreline town for the day, so I said I’d meet her….wonderful time….
And I have taken that leap of faith and stayed at THREE different online friend’s homes…I originally met two of them on Crochetville…one lives near Buffalo, New York….I stayed with her family for several days…she has 4 kids….it was great…sadly, we are not in touch quite so much anymore…..
and another friend who lives on the side of a mountain in Pennsylvania, in Amish country…that was a very interesting visit…as I got to meet several Amish people and even won an Amish made quilt at an auction……
I’ve also driven across the country to Wyoming and stayed with an online friend, her husband and two girls….
sometimes you have to take those leaps of faith…and just trust your gut…if it doesn’t feel right…leave….I’ve never regretted any of these trips….