Friday afternoon, I took Olivia, Julie, and Jessica (a young lady from our church) on a overnight to visit to just outside Birmingham. We attended a young ladies' Bible study in the home of an online friend that I had never met in real life! Sally was our gracious host, and she and I have been email/yahoo group friends for about 7 or 8 years now....but we had never seen each other in person until Friday night! It was so exciting to finally meet her and her precious family.
Sally also homeschools her six children, and we have seemed to have so much in common as we have gotten to know each other over the years. While she is only about two weeks older than me, she has served as sort of a mentor to me in many areas. She was all that I expected her to be and more! We talked, and talked and talked. She likes to talk as much as I do!
About 20 girls and two other mothers attended the all-girls evening. We began with pizza, breadsticks, and dessert. Next we had a time of beautiful singing followed by a thought-provoking and lively-discussed Bible study. The topic was dating/courtship/choosing a spouse/marriage--I can't remember the exact title, but the study was excellent. Sally is an excellent teacher.
Most of the girls and one of the other mothers left around 9:30. The rest of us changed into our pajamas and the slumber party began! Some of us played games, some watched a movie, and everyone talked and visited! For a long time! I finally went to bed at 2:00 AM. I told the ladies that that was the latest I had been up since I have had a newborn! I slept until 7:00, so I did have a decent night's rest. Julie says that she slept about 2 hours, and Olivia did not go to bed at all! Her first time to stay up all night! Jessica tried to sleep, but she was in the room with the girls who stayed up all night! Poor Jessica!
We started drinking large amounts of coffee at 7:00 AM, and visited some more. Sadly, we had to get on the road at 10:00. It was such a fun visit! I took yet another cup of coffee for the drive home, and we were off.
Sally lives about three hours and twenty minutes from me. I wish it were closer. I know that if we lived in the same town we would be close friends. She is a godly wife and mother, so patient and cheerful, and it is evident that she lives a life of service to the Lord. Her home was just lovely. I really enjoyed my time with Sally and her family.
So happy for you! I also have a friend just outside B'ham that I met online. I often wish she lived closer! Glad you had fun!
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