Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Three Word Wednesday: So much more


When I began blogging three years ago (under a different blog name) never did I imagine the friendships that would form out of a desire to write and share my heart with others.

My message today is probably more targeted to those who come here and wonder what's up with this blogging stuff. What's the attraction? Is it simply a welcomed distraction from our to-do lists?

Oh, it is so much more.

I'm feeling without words to accurately describe how much these friendships have come to mean to me so instead I will simply share what happens behind the writing and sharing of my heart.

~ cards
~ a care package with a beautiful painting and so much more
~ journals
~ books
~ more cards

These are a few of the items I've received in the mail from who many would call strangers because we have never met. But they are not strangers...they are friends. God is using them in big and mighty ways to fill my days with JOY in a year without my husband home. My cup is overflowing.

That care package with the beautiful painting and so much more came from my friend Barbie of My Freshly Brewed Life. I was overcome with emotions as I opened up her package knowing each item was carefully chosen by her specifically for me. She is so much more than an online friend -- she is a sister in Christ.

Every other day or so an online friend also drops by my Facebook page to let me know they are thinking of me. My friend Holly recently stopped by.

If you missed it, my One Word for 2014 is JOY.

Another friend stopped in to write, "Yay! It's Monday! Another week down! Don't forget to celebrate a little today, that you've all made it through to the start of a new week. I think you should reward yourself with something lovely today. Some fancy new tea? New cozy slippers? Yummy smelling bubble bath?"

Then there is my friend Joan who emailed me with a crazy and wonderful idea to take my husband on an adventure this past weekend. AMAZING! I have fallen in love with her and her husband.

You may not be aware of my "flat" husband's adventures, but I promise I have not lost my mind.

And suddenly online friendships are no longer friends I've never met.

In December I had my first in real life meet up when traveling to Washington, D.C. for work. A beautiful evening was spent with the kindhearted Alison of Embrace the Struggle. Alison, why did we not take a picture together?

I had coffee this past weekend with Jenn of Running This Thing Called LifeI'm pretty sure we could have been at Starbucks for hours talking. Our conversation continued on via text messages throughout the day. We will be meeting again soon (or at least we better be) since thankfully we live only an hour apart from one another. Yay!


After coffee with Jenn, I made my way to downtown Chicago to share a glass of wine with Amy of Beloved in Blue JeansAmy and I just recently met online but our friendship is quickly blossoming. I've been doing the happy dance ever since I was asked by Tammy to be a part of the Outside the City Gate team which is what led me to meeting this wonderful lady. She was properly teased for making Chicago her vacation destination in January but I'm so glad she did.


Because God told me to just say yes, I'm meeting several online friends this weekend at the Compel Conference. My Facebook page exploded the other day after the lovely Jennifer posted on my timeline saying, "I get to see you IN.REAL.LIFE!!!!" Oh, what a delight it will be.

Then it happens to be that my sweet friend Lauren of It's A Wilderness Out There...and In Here Too lives near where the conference will be held so I'm meeting her, and her family, too.

I'm super excited for the upcoming weekend and "flat" hubby is looking forward to some adventures as well.

An in real life meet up is also in the works for the spring with last week's Three Word Wednesday featured writer Kristin of 152 Insights to My Soul. ~happy dance~

If an in real life meet up is not an option, there is always Skype! I'm co-leading an (in)courage group for military wives this session with my #milspouse friend Anna and what a delightful time we had when we did our first planning session via Skype last week.

Last, but not least, this Three Word Wednesday link up has become so much more than a link up. It's a community of writers who come together every Wednesday to embrace and love each other by sharing the love of Christ. It's a beautiful thing. Every single one of the ladies in this community holds a special place in my heart.

Can I tell you something? I've worked on this post for hours. On days when writing is a battle I'm tempted to call it quits. Should it be this hard? I'm not feeling much like a writer right now.

But there is so much more to this writing and sharing of my heart. If all I can muster up is a picture and three words on a Wednesday these friends will still show up and shower me with love. Friends, I hope you know I would do the same for you.

"Let all that you do be done in love." ~ 1 Corinthians 16:14



Now it's your turn to share three words.

  1. Choose three words.
  2. Share a post, photo, scripture — anything that highlights the three words you have chosen. (link up your post URL, not your blog homepage).
  3. Family-friendly posts only. Anything else will be removed.
  4. Grab the Three Word Wednesday button on my home page to use in your post or include a link back to my blog.
  5. Find someone (or a few) to encourage with a comment.
  6. We can also connect on Twitter with the #ThreeWordWednesday hashtag.
  7. Don't have a blog? Share your three words in the comments or on my blog Facebook page.
  8. Help spread the word and get others involved.
  9. If you are linking up for the first time please include the word "NEW" in your link title.

Sharing with Sharita for Everyday Jesus

55 comments :

  1. Oh friend, you are loved! And I feel the same way about the relationships I've made through blogging. I just wish you all lived so much closer. How I long to hug your neck. I am believing that God will make a way. Even if I never wrote again, I would still know there is a community of women who embrace me, love me and challenge me to pursue God and my dreams with everything I have to give. Hugs!

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    1. It really is such a beautiful thing. We will meet in real life. I know He will make a way.
      Love you,
      Beth

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  2. Love this Beth! Our on-line friends are blessings from God, and have become some of my dearest sisters in Christ! IB ave had the opportunity to meet one sister face to face and have plans to meet two more this coming year; what joy! Blessings and love as you continue to inspire and connect with your beautiful writing and blog! :)
    Denise

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    1. I'm delighted you are having the same opportunities to meet online friends in real life. Always a delight to have you here, Denise.
      Much love,
      Beth

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  3. Oh Beth, how exciting to meet those ladies and I love Barbie too! She is precious! I'm so glad God is giving you so many joyful moments!

    I wrote about friendship today too.

    Much love!
    Beth

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    1. That Barbie is something special, isn't she? So grateful you are a part of our TWW family.
      Love you.

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  4. Beth, You are so blessed! This must fill you what such JOY! How He is strengthening you with the Body of Christ. How beautiful. I am so happy for you!

    Don't stop, I love to read your journey of joy!

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    1. So grateful for you, friend. I'm thinking a trip to Canada will be needed. I actually do have family there...a very small farming town.
      Thanks for your encouragement.
      Much love,
      Beth

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  5. Love you. I loved that our heart could so freely be open and the conversation just flowed. You are such a blessing. Coffee again for sure. Have fun this weekend.

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    1. It was a precious gift to be able to spend that morning with you.
      Love you.

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  6. Oh....doing a happy dance here too, friend! Sidenote: didn't realize you had met Alison~ she and I giggled hard at Laity and she's a beautiful soul. Excited to walk "outside the city gate" with you a bunch this year. xoxo.

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    1. Alison is a beautiful soul. We had a delightful time together. Thank you so much for letting me be a part of "outside the city gate." I'm so glad we had the chance to connect in real life so quickly after meeting. Much love.

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  7. Beth, this is such an exciting post! To read of the many ways our God is redeeming the time while Scott is away is precious. Grateful to our God, Whose ways are so much higher than our own. Blessings!

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    1. Only God can orchestrate such meetings. He is SO good. Praying He allows us to meet one day too.
      Much love.

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  8. mmm ... 'for such a time as this' God certainly seems to be filling your heart to overflowing ...

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    1. Oh Linda, this is one of my favorite verses. I was so glad you shared this. My heart is overflowing with JOY. Much love to you.

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  9. Oh Beth! This is what happened to me as well! I started blogging 4 years ago because I had so much on my heart that God had shown me. I wanted to share as I couldn't keep it inside! Then, over these 4 years, we have moved several times. Sometimes I have felt like I didn't know anyone around me...but then, through blogging, I have met some wonderful, beautiful, friends! They have encouraged me during difficult times and made me smile over and over! Through blogging I have "met" people I would never have had the opportunity to if God hadn't brought us together through the internet. It is such an incredible blessing! And, the blessings keep coming! Thank you for writing what is on your heart so I could meet you and consider you my friend! Have a wonderful time this weekend at the conference! I pray that God fills you with incredible joy as you hear His word AND meet some sweet blogging friends "In-Real-Life"!!

    Blessings and love, Joan

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    1. It is so evident how present God is in this blossing world. It is such a JOY to read how blogging friends have encouraged you during difficult times. I pray one day we have an opportunity to meet in real life. Doesn't seem fair that my husband was able to spend time with you and your husband before me. :)))
      Love you friend.

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  10. You sweet words made me smile today. Looking forward to that meeting, friend!

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  11. Oh Beth... I know we have just recently "met" online but I do hope that someday our paths will cross IRL! Praying for you, your ministry and your hubs.

    Much love to you, dear friend!

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  12. I love this and I am so thrilled that you are getting to meet so many friends inrl!

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  13. I had the privilege of meeting one blogging friend IRL! We went to church and had lunch. I also got to meet her sweet husband, and her two sons. It was a wonderful day.

    But, I have also met so many blogging *sisters* - like you! - who have become dear friends. It has been amazing walking out my life and faith here in Blog Land. The friendships formed are strong and enduring. And I am also grateful for that.

    One last thing. I am very thankful that you and I are sharing this journey of JOY this year. As you will see from the post that I linked up today, God is teaching me the true meaning of JOY through some really difficult circumstances. But, I am learning, as I'm sure you are too, that He can give us what we cannot drum up by ourselves.

    GOD BLESS!

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    1. I love those IRL meet up stories. But I also know even if our paths never cross, your friendship has touched my heart and I'm so grateful for this blogging world.
      Looking forward to learning from each other as we take this journey of JOY together.
      Much love to you, Sharon.

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  14. Love this post, sweet Beth! You certainly radiate JOY. I can see why it's your word for 2014 :)

    If you're ever in the midatlantic or the southeast, BE SURE to let me know! I've been know to take daytrips to hug the real-life neck of an online friend :)

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    1. Thank you, Susan. I will be sure to let you know. Or maybe we will connect on a trip to Guatemala one of these days. :)
      Blessings to you.

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  15. Love this post, Beth. How wonderful to connect in so many meaningful ways. I agree. It's so much more.

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  16. It's hard to explain to others outside this blogging world just how much you come to know those who you may have never met, although you have had the pleasure to meet quite a few. Blogging has definitely given me so much more than I could ever expect.

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    1. Oh I agree, Wanda. It is so much more than I could have ever imagined. God is SO good.

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  17. Some of my favourite people in my life are those I met through blogging! I miss dearly my one friend who did live in my town and who also blogged, but has since moved. We have a special bond because of blogging.

    (P.S. I accidentally linked up with a mobile link from my phone this morning - can you delete that one? It's number 11. When you open it, it comes up as a mobile friendly screen, but not so computer friendly! I'm going to relink now that I am on my laptop. I'm so sorry!)

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    1. God does some amazing things in this bloggin world. Hearing how it has blessed so many others keeps the smiles coming over here.
      Thanks for linking up, Andrea.
      Blessings to you.

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  18. HI Beth, I really enjoyed seeing all your pics. What a beautiful smile :) Have a great rest of your week!

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  19. I love this. You are a kind heart and it reflects in all that call you friend :)

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    1. You are so sweet, Lisa. Love you. I'm so glad to call you my friend.

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  21. The happy dance, never gets old! :) So happy you met Amy. It makes all this online stuff more, in person, real.

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    1. I've been doing the happy dance for weeks now. :)))

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  22. Hi Beth :)

    Thanks so much for sharing your joy with us - it's beautiful. I am rejoicing with you :)

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  23. Beth~how could we not love you? Your love and zest for life attracts us. And your JOY shines through. So happy to be here, to be considered a friend.
    And since my word for this year is LOVE--those ending words on your post have special meaning.

    "Let all that you do be done in love."

    Love,
    Janis

    P.S. Look for the debut of my new blog site at http://heartfilledmoments.com. I'm so excited!!!

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    1. Oh yeah! New blog site... I know how exciting launching a new site is. I will be visiting you soon. Thank you so much for your kind words, Janis. I'm so blessed to have you as a blogging friend.
      Much love,
      Beth

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  24. Yay! It's amazing the connections God is making! We couldn't make them if we tried! Praying that you have a fabulous time at the conference and can't wait to pick you up Saturday! Hugs in real life! YES!

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    1. Well I just LOVE you. I'm so glad God brought us together IN REAL LIFE. :)))

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  25. How thankful am I to have "met" you in this online world, Beth! You are a beautiful, wonderful soul. I hope we can share coffee and a hug one day. Thanks for sharing your journey. Love you, my dear milspouse friend.

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    1. Karin, I'm praying for the chance to share a cup of coffee with you. (((hugs)))

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  26. Beth,
    This is simply beautiful! And I feel the same way about friends I've met online. What did we all do before the internet?

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    1. You comment made me smile. I can no longer imagine my life without all my online friends.

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  27. A little late linking up...but I'm here, lol! You're so right Beth...online friends are very special and near and dear to our hearts! It's as if they've been our friends forever! So excited for you that God is allowing you to meet some of your wonderful friends in person...He definitely loves you Beth, by keeping you surrounded with beautiful people while your hubby is deployed! Have a blessed rest of your weekend my friend!

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    1. Thank you, friend. I was just sharing with my husband today on how God has just been showering us with blessings during our time apart. I know He has placed some amazing people in my husband's life too to support him during this time and I'm so very grateful.
      God is GOOD.
      Much love,
      Beth

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  28. I love this! I've only been blogging since the beginning of the month, but I can see how relationships and friendships with fellow Christian women blossom quickly. What a blessing to live during a time where this is possible with technology. As a side note, I've known Holly Barrett in real life for a long time (and she's known my husband even longer) and she is a beautiful soul inside and out! Love her encouraging heart. Thanks for your encouraging comment on my About page. Blessed to 'meet' you!

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    1. Holly is such a delight. How wonderful to hear of your friendship. Super cool! So glad God has connected us in this online world.
      Blessings,
      Beth

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Much love to you.