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 Life. I'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 Jeans. Amy 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