How about a bloggity meet-up?

I have met friends in real life who I initially met online before, but this was the first time I had the pleasure of meeting up with someone I met through the “blogging world.”  So fun!   I love meeting new people, and I have a blast putting a 3-D face to a name.  

Noooo, no pictures.  I completely forgot before we got in the pool and I’m not about to show you my post-pool face.  Scary.

Angela of Becoming Me is such a sweetheart!  She and her family were vacationing a bit south of here, so the kids and I packed up some swimwear and headed down for a short visit today.   Her children are just precious and talking to Angela in person was like talking to an old friend.  I could’ve ran my mouth for hours, except I had a hard time keeping a thought in focus as my own children continually risked their lives jumping off the edge of the pool.  Non-stop.   (I really am better at conversation, Angela!  Ha!)

Then there was the time we were in the indoor pool and a creepy dude invaded the personal space of us and our children, asked too many questions, even seeming to reach for them and I thought for sure my mama bear claws were going to come out and get really ugly really fast if he didn’t back off.   I’m dangerous that way.  I won’t speak for Angela, but from the look in her eye and the unspoken communication happening, she was getting the same heeby-jeebies.

Funny how even when you haven’t “met” in real life before, fellow mama’s can just instictively communicate without saying a word.

Angela:  “Looks like the sun is shining, let’s check out the pool outside before the rain comes!”

I ran with it.  We all did.  

Creepy Dude:  “Don’t leave on account of me.”

Um, yea, I think we will, thanks.  

Angela, is it ok to secretly hope a college nearby has an opening for The Professor?  Loved meeting you, sweetie, and we didn’t have NEAR enough time!  We could probably talk all night, huh?  :)  Hugs and enjoy the rest of your vacation!

I think she was relieved I wasn’t a stalker or an ax murderer.

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I feel so 80’s saying it that way.  

I won’t be ’round much this week as Chris and I take some time to ourselves at a B&B while the grandparents take care of (ie spoil rotten) the kiddos.  They are in hog heaven while I type this.  

I can’t wait to share pictures and tell you all about it when I get back!

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All is well now.  Hopefully.  For the time being.  Hosting company seemed to have removed all signs of said trojan virus.  I’d really love to know how they got it in the first place and why no virus protection was in place?  

And we’ll be changing hosting companies this weekend.  Oh joy.  

My sincerest apologies if this caused any problems for any of you!  Please come back!

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Hi, all

You may get a warning from your friendly virus protection software about a trojan virus on this website.  I’m working on it fast and furiously and appears to be coming from our server.  I’ve contacted our hosting company.  My apologies.  Be back soon!

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This award totally made me grin, especially as I groggily got myself up from the couch and tried to motivate myself to do some chore while the kids asked for healthy and delicious apples.  Aaaahhh, the distractions of the internet…but more on that later.

Shannon at See-Saw Faith/Focused on the Center gave me this award today and her words about me just made me smile.  Really big.

1. First, you have to meet Tara at Giggles n’ Gulps. She is so random and funny. And did you know she started her own resource website on post partum depression? She is inspiring as well, Ladies!

She definitely read my post about being a superhero geek in disguise that I posted last night.  There could be no other explanation.  Ha!  

In all seriousness, Shannon is a doll and I am thoroughly enjoying getting to know my new bloggy friend.  Her writing is real and honest and I love that about her.  She recently shared her PPD testimony on my Out of the Valley blog as well.  It is really beautiful if you have a chance to check it out.  

The Rules.   1. Confess 5 things you are addicted to.  (That won’t be hard…only five?)  2. Pass the award on to 5 deserving bloggers.  (This one either!)  

Ready?  Set.  Here we go.

1. You remember my comment above?  Oh yes, I am addicted to the internet.  I am blog-stalking connoisseur and probably know way too much about people I will never meet.  Fun stuff.  Facebook, blogs, instant messaging, email – those are my must-checks when I wake up in the morning.  Texting is starting to get easier…which means it will soon become dangerous.  I have a rationalization for this.  I have to stay ahead of the game so that when my children are of age to be dealing with technology, I can keep up with them.  And you know you are addicted when the internet goes down and you are quite certain the sky is falling and blood pressure sky-rockets.  
2. Footrubs.  As a newlywed, I once quipped, at a large family gathering no less, as Chris was giving me a footrub, that “this is almost better than sex.”   My family laughed for days.  That is one of those mouth before brain moments.  I have many of those.  But you are not surprised, are you?  Don’t answer that.
3. Music.  But is it more of a passion than an addiction?  Food for thought.  Speaking of food…
4. Chocolate.
5. Books, books, books and more books.  

Five Fabulous Bloggers:

Shannon herself is a fabulous blogger, but I told her I wouldn’t make her do the list again…but just so she knows.  :)  I have no idea if the wonderful ladies on the following list will even see this and if they do, in no means are they obligated to participate.  Just enjoy!  

1. Leslie at wild olive shoot.  She is also a real-life-friend.  Her posts are inspirational, she expresses herself so well and so transparently.  I love it when bloggers are transparent, especially in their spiritual journey.  It is very encouraging.  She also finds and particpates in the neatest memes.   We actually had lunch today at a local fast food place with a playground and my daughter latched on pretty quickly to her.  I became chopped liver.  Love you, Les!
2. JanMary at Welcome to My World.  I love this blog as well.  Beautiful photographs!  She and her family live in Ireland (one of my dream vacations) and I find it so fascinating that the blogging world brings women together who otherwise would never connect on a personal level simply because of an ocean.  How else could I learn and see about her family, her life, her country?  And what a sweetheart.  JanMary, when I finally get my dream vacation to Ireland, I am looking you up.  :)
3. Heather at Faith, Family & Farm.  I have never met Heather in real life but she is awesome and I have known her for quite some time in online circles.  Her blog posts are about exactly what her title says and she always ends on a positive and inspirational note, no matter how difficult of a day she may be having.  I love that.  Probably because I am not good at it, but I want to be.
4. Dorothy at Faith Hope Love Infant Rescue – Wow, where do I start?  Pray for them.   She is a dear friend that we used to go to church with and now runs an orphanage in Haiti.  Go to the blog and pray for them and their needs and the precious babies.  Practical needs are important as well, but more importantly they are waiting to find out if their house will be knocked down.  I cannot imagine having to worry about waking up and wondering if a bulldozer will be running through the living area.
5. Real Life with Leslie Nease – This is the wonderful Christian lady who was on Survivor: China.  She came and spoke at a ladies’ event at our church and subsequently led our women’s retreat as well.  I enjoy her blog because she takes real life situations and draws amazing spiritual lessons from them.  

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