Xanga...Who Knew 4-11-08

I want to post just to get that dream post down from the top. I am trying to banish it from my brain and seeing the words everytime I get on here is not helping...so here we are.

Well, many of you all got together on Monday and met for the first time or got reacquainted from knowing one another in the past. From all accounts, you laughed, ate, talked, and thoroughly enjoyed yourselves. I usually am very wishy washy about get-togethers such as these. I can take them or leave them, but this one...I really, really wanted to attend.

I think there are many reasons that it was so important to me. Xanga started out as a way for me to get back in touch with some of my Cedarville friends. From there, I met other alumni and loved hearing about how all of our lives had changed and grown. We all shared a common bond of 4 shared years together at the same school, same profs, chapels, dorms, etc. There is something binding about that place, because whenever I come across an alumni, whether we knew eachother in college or not, I feel instantly connected with them. I love it.

Xanga has become a place where I feel at home. I trust you ladies and I admire you. Many of us share similar day-to-day struggles, along with the ups and downs of our spiritual lives. We tend to stay away from the super deep (for obvious reasons), but yet some of you have become some of my dearest friends. Dear in that I care for you, I pray for you, I think of you throughout my day, I am encouraged by you, inspired by you, in awe of you, and humbled by you. For these reasons, and more, I just really wanted to cross the barrier and meet you for real. I wanted to know that our friendships are real in a tangible way. I wanted to hear your voices and watch your sense of humor first hand. I wanted to "know" you on a different level.

But it didn't happen. Not for me...but for many of you it did. You got to meet. I am so encouraged by all accounts that none of you felt odd or uncomfortable. I am not surprised, though. I think we all strive to be as real and honest as we can be on here, without throwing all of our dirty laundry out or sacrificing the safety of our families.Our friendships feel real to me, and judging from xangapalooza, they are. I am so encouraged by that...and hopeful that next time, I can experience it all first hand too.

All of this to say that I am so thankful for you girls. I never expected you, or this...but I am so thankful for it all. I love the support system...the encouragement that you all are to me. I love that we share the same foundational faith that defines our lives and goals. I love that we care about the same things. I just love that I can call you all my friends