Sunday, October 2, 2011

Blog Friendships ~Are Real Friendships~ Between Real People!



This is such a cute picture of two of my blog friends...Kristin (on the right) and Veronica (on the left). They have been blog friends for several years now, and over the years they went from comments, to emails, to phone conversations, to meeting in real life. This past Thursday Veronica boarded a plane in California and flew to Texas to meet her sweet friend Kristin.

These girls met in blogland...and they found out that they had so much in common! They both have the three daughters. (Although when they first met Veronica only had two and then got pregnant and had her third...and now Kristin is pregnant with a boy!) They both enjoy crafts and have sold their items on their blogs. And they are both Christians and have shared their faith with each other and also openly on their blogs.

Blogs are a great avenue to be able to encourage others. Sometimes we just need to be able to reach out to others by promising to pray for their needs. Life is hard these days, and sometimes things you might not share with just anyone...you can share with people who blog and who keep in contact with you and become a pen pal of sorts! It is like a circle of friendships. In fact, I have become very close with these two girls and they call me Momma Linda, and I call them my girls. We constantly pray for each other.

While Veronica and Kristin were together they called me and we all three got to have a great conversation, and then I did a three way call and we added my daughter Lynnette into the conversation. Lynnette got me started blogging a few years ago and it was because of her group of friends that I was blessed to meet Veronica and Kristin. And we all have several mutual friendships with other bloggers.

Sometimes people who don't "get it", just think it is silly and a waste of time to blog with people that you don't know in "real life". But what they don't understand is that these people are "real people" and we actually get to know each other really well, and much better than people even know their next door neighbors these days, since so many people work and don't visit over the picket fence anymore.

I am retired and am at home everyday with my retired husband, and most of our neighbors are all gone to work during the day. Many bloggers are stay at home moms, and they love being home with their kids. Many of them homeschool. And blogging is a good way for them to post pictures and tell some of the wonderful stories that go on in their homes each day with their children. It is a way to store these memories.

I write poems and I like to post them and share the message of those poems with others. And I love to read blogs where other people write poems and stories. There is so much good that comes from blogging. And I get tired of people who act as though we are all living in a make believe world or something because we blog and have blog friendships. Kristin and Veronica are real people with a real friendship...and I am so thrilled that they finally got to meet up and share a few days together.

I think it would be wonderful to meet Veronica and Kristin...and many of my fellow bloggers one day. I already love many of them...and as I said before, I pray for many of them everyday.

I know that anything can become an obsession and there is a time and purpose for everything. But I choose to use my blog and my facebook page as a way to share the joy of Jesus in my everyday life. How about you? Have you found lasting friendship or been blessed by being active in blogland? Please share some good things with us...and have a blessed day!


27 comments:

Julie said...

Well you know that I believe in blogland friendships! I never imagined that the blog I created to keep family & friends up to date with my family would ever help me make new friends! It's been such a blessing. I truly believe that my friends in blogland got me through a mild case of postpartum depression that I didn't even realize I had at the time.

Just because I haven't met them in real life, doesn't make them any less my friends and I think you're right...people don't get that. But I never thought of the term "pen pals" to compare it to. That is very true!

I'm SO glad that Ver & Kristin were able to meet and that you got to talk to them! I wish I could meet all of y'all too!

Kristin said...

I just could not have said it better myself, Momma! And Julie too :) I wish I could meet all of my blog friends! They are each so very special to me. We both had a blast talking to you and Lynnette and thought that was just so much fun! You have been a constant source of encouragement and we both love you so much!! I truly believe God uses blogging to create these special friendships that will carry on into eternity one day! :)

Grandmabeckyl.blogspot said...

I love to blog and it's been hard to do so lately since I've got so much going on. But I make it a point to blog 2-3 times a week. When I first started blogging I somehow found a site where I could find people from my state that blogged. I found Stacie, am mom with 6 children and they home school. I started reading her blog and we were each others followers from the beginning. I was able to meet up with her and her family in Aug when we, hubby and daughter, went up there for another reason. It was fun to meet her in person and share time together as two families, but also in the Lord as well. Blogging is fun and I can travel all over the world from my lap top! No tickets, no luggage. I like the opportunity to share the Lord as well. Thanks for your thoughts and I do enjoy your poetry as well! Hugs and have a good day! It's raining in Oregon again and cooler but that's ok cuz it makes our new lawn even better! :-)

Jeanie said...

I have been able to meet 2 of my blog friends in person and I feel like they are real friends. There are a few others that I haven't met in person (yet) but I feel like the friendships are very real. I agree with you that we sometimes know more about our blog friends than some people that we see every day.

Karin said...

Never in a million years did I think that folks in blogland would even read my blog or become friends. I'm pretty slow at making friends and here I can be as slow as I want to! I've been so blessed by the encouragement and support my blog friends give to me! Your poems, Linda, are such a joy to read and a blessing! Love this post and need to learn to open myself up more to others. And YES, we are all REAL people! Big bear hug!!

Unknown said...

I get this! I have been blessed to meet some amazing women online who I would never have met. I do consider some my true friends - and I'm glad that you have met and made such strong relationships!

Maryellen said...

So true Linda. I like my blog and facebook to be an avenue to encourage others in Christ. You never know one uplifting thing you say can mean so much to others.
I want to be a female Barnabas and this is a great way to do it.

I've enjoyed your poems very much, they always give me something to think about and meditate on.

Stephanie said...

Beautifully and perfectly said, Momma Linda. :) Blogging has been such a blessing to me - a way to share my faith with family and friends, an outlet for my love of writing, a memory keeper for all those precious moments with my family I want to never forget, a connection to family and friends spread all over, and a circle of friends who have encouraged me, prayed for me, and loved me through some of the good and the bad. I'm so thankful for this blogging world and for bloggers like you who area always there to encourage, pray, and love. :)

Kelly @ Sufficient Grace Ministries said...

I love the picture of Kristin and Veronica...so adorable. Sounds like they had a lovely weekend together...and a call to Momma Linda and Lynnette, too. Love it. =)

Blogging is a blessing and these friendships are precious to me...even if I am a bit behind on visiting with my bloggy friends these days.

Love to you...

Caroline said...

I haven't been blogging that long but I know there are so many I would love to meet. I know that it probably will never happen but I know in Heaven I will get this chance.

What a beautiful post !!
I so enjoy you & your blog
Love you

Diana said...

Such a wonderful post, Linda! I'm so glad I dropped by. I haven't met but one blog friend in real life... she's here in town, but there wasn't a "connection." I haven't made any blogland friendships. Maybe at some point.

Lois Christensen said...

I agree totally with this post! AND I also agree that a lot of my friends here don't get it either. They sort of just shake their head at me when I mention my friends here in blogworld. Happy they were able to meet and call you together! Enjoy your day!

Anonymous said...

I have a handful of dear friends I have met online ...through blogging and Facebook "when I had a Facebook account"...and I have had the privilege to meet four of them in person! Be blessed

Jenilee said...

I never dreamed that I would love blogging so much! the fun relationships I've found through it are so valuable to me! love the pic of them together :)

Veronica said...

Momma, I'm totally crying right now. Probably because it's finally hitting me that I'm home and about the kind of amazing weekend I had. Everything you said was true. Three years ago, I prayed that the Lord would send me a friend and he did just that and so much more! He is so good and I am so thankful for and the many people I can call friends who I haven't met in person yet! God is so amazing! :)

Love you Momma and thanks for loving me and Kristin as if we were your own! :)

Lois Christensen said...

I have to respond to the comment you left on my blog. I was driving my mom home from the hospital this afternoon and telling her about the recipe my sister and I posted and she asked about the onions. I very rarely make it with onions because my daughter doesn't like the onions. My mom said that I should tell everyone to put onions in it. I had to remind my mom that I was blogging about how I make the pot roast now! Funny! I'll have to tell her you noticed that I don't use onions!

java girl said...

Oh Linda... Your words of encouragement are always so sweet and well encouraging!! I hope you are enjoying the wonderful weather. We have been soaking up the lovely fal weather around here! And loving every minuted... Have a wonderful eveing...

Unknown said...

Aren't they cute? :) It was a blast talking to them. So much energy on that phone! ha!!

java girl said...

Dearest Linda...

aka the "antique" girlie girl...
remember that antiques only become more valuable and sought after with more age!!

Enjoy the weekend :O)

Becca said...

I bet that was one great conversation between the four of you! I have met so many amazing people through the blogging world and while they might not be my "real life" friends, I look to many of them for help, advice, prayers, and just simple joy!
I know that I have many of y'all to thank for my return to Jesus. I will forever be grateful for that!!

Deanna said...

Dear Friend,
Howdy from the Flint Hills.
Your blogging friends are sweet and isn't it neat that you all are buds! Wonderful!

Hope to see pics of your adventure that you're on. A very nice time of year to live life.

One of these days I'm going to take you out for coffee or juice, whatever you can have. Mineral Water? Let me know and I'll treat you in the Spring! That's a ways away, but it'll be great.

God bless,
d

Janet Rose said...

Friends are friends no matter how they meet, I'd say! Beautiful post on friendship.

Verna said...

Some day I hope to meet some of my blogging friends too. Until I get that previlage I shall have to be content in reading what they write and enjoying their friendship thru words.
Thank you for sharing.
Love you. :) Hugs!!

Lois Christensen said...

I'm back! I agree with what you wrote on my post today about commenting! And yes, I have made many friends here in blogworld and am so thankful for each of them! Thanks!

Holly said...

Blog friendships are wonderful! :) I'm so glad to have met wonderful people thru my blog!

Adeline said...

Oh That's so true.Your being at my blog has been such a blessing to me.Thank you.And God Bless you!

Sherri said...

This is so true. I am a pretty new blogger but I love how I can connect with women from all over the world. Women that share the same believes as I do. I realise that this side of heaven I will probably never meet them but oh what a blast we will have on the other side.