One thing I never expected when I started blogging was that I would actually make some friends through this little space. I was so terrified of the whole idea when I started that I actually panicked whenever someone I didn't know would leave a comment. How did they find me? What was their ulterior motive? (Watch Dateline much, Bekah?)
But it's true that I've made some good friends through blogging, and I've had a chance to meet a handful of them in real life. And that handful increased this weekend!
A few years ago, I "met" a friend named Odie, who started reading this little blog after finding me through a link-up I'd joined over at Kelly's Korner. We talked through blog comments, then email and texting, and now I feel like I've always known her!
Many months ago, I began to read the story of a beautiful project unfolding in Odie's world: a new house! (There is a link on the left side of their page that tells more of the house story - it really is a beautiful, faith-boosting story!)
It was so much fun to get to live vicariously through her as this house went from being an idea to being a full-fledged reality! I loved it.
Just a little over a year ago, Ryan and I began to wonder if they would have a house-warming party once the house was complete. I found an email address for her dad and messaged him about it. (It felt so weird to say, "Hey, I'm this girl your daughter met on the internet...can I invite myself to a party you may or may not be having?") He was SO gracious to me and we've been working for the last year to plan a surprise for Odie at the party they did indeed plan to have!
The party was this last Friday afternoon, so Ryan took off work at lunch time, and we hopped in the car to drive to Ohio!
We even had a few orders to get for friends. Yeah, we definitely looked like piggly wigglies getting out of there!
I didn't get a picture of her surprised face, but she compared it to the Bekah-40th-birthday-party surprise face, so just reimagine that! :)
It was so good to see her in person!
They invited us to have some snacks there before we started our trip back home, and they were delicious.
What fun it was to make this trip, to see this miracle of a home, and to meet our friend! We loved every second of it!
(We also found a Skyline for a snack on the way home. Because you know...when in Cincinnati...)
Odie, we were so happy to meet you. So excited with you for this house the Lord has provided. And SO happy the surprise worked! :)
9 comments:
You two are the sweetest and oh my word that house!!!
Happy anniversary to your parents, too!
Happy anniversary to your parents! Cincinnati rush hour traffic is awful... Glad you got to spend time with your friend in OH. I don't care for Skyline but obviously (because lots of Skylines are in business!!) many people don't share my feelings regarding it.
I know first hand how excited Odie must've been to meet the two of you in person!! So happy for her and you too! And special HAPPY ANNIVERSARY blessings to your sweet parents! They raised a pretty awesome daughter (or three!) Such a pleasure to meet them on that important day in May! :)
Tamar - It's beautiful!!!
Maria - We'll eat your share of Skyline!!! :)
Shari - You are so sweet!! :)
Odie - It was as much fun for us as it was for you!! We love you right back and were so glad we got to meet you! :) And we love being sneaky - for good causes only, of course.
Bekah!! It's Polly!
I have been MIA I admit, summer and life get a tad crazy. Just catching up and now I want a donut after seeing these pics. :)
For real tho, just wanted to say hi and that you look GORGEOUS!!! I mean, look at the pic of you with the donut! beautiful.
XOXO
How can I ever say thank you enough for my special surprise on Friday? Oh my word to say that I was shocked is an understatement! This was one of the greatest surprises I think I have ever had in my life.
It thrills my heart that you were here on my special day! You have been my encourager for a distant through this whole project and it was wonderful to have you see it firsthand. I didn’t realize how much of a sneak peek my videos were last week. You and my parents are sneaky but I love it.
It was awesome to finally get to meet you in person. I definitely did not realize five years ago when I clicked on that link that I would be gaining a friend but I did! Actually I gained two friends. And now we are not just virtually friends but we are real friends! I love you both so very much and I appreciate your time and sacrifice to come and be with me. I am glad you got to enjoy Skyline and Duck Donuts too.
Thank you to all the others for the comments on the house!
Happy anniversary to your parents!
Odie
boggsblogs.com
Bekah and Ryan,
As I greeted you at the door with those smiling faces, I felt then that you were friends we didn't know yet. It was very kind of you to make the trip to the dedication of this miracle home before the Lord, to His glory and into His service.
It is a home built on faith. First, a man had a vision. He spoke it in Faith. When the time was right, He, Bro. Scott from Mississippi, wrote a letter stating his vision for Odie's house, supported by several other Pastors and men of God, friends, asking for prayerful consideration of this project and help financially and by physical works too. God heard that and honored it.
All that done, I, as a new Christian, was privileged and stupefied at the way God moved. It wasn't one big gob of cash or some super-contractor to take charge. God provided right on time, each time, every time, whether by workers of great skill or grunts to pick up trash, or an offering of 25 dollars when needed. Or 5000.
God's way is humbling and awesome.
I have been blessed to see him be God.
Uncle Steve
Odie - We loved every single minute! :)
Steve - Thank you for welcoming us so warmly! It has been our joy to read this miracle over the blog these last many months and it gave me extra joy to read how it has boosted YOUR new faith! You are so right: His ways are humbling and awesome! So good to meet you ! :)
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