The event host recounted a story of a woman who called to get tickets for the Horizon Christmas Tea. Unfortunately the event was sold out, but the caller insisted on attending even if it meant hosting a table for the tea. Alison, the event host, went on to share that at the last minute a table was opened and the caller and her three friends were able to attend the event after all.
When I asked Alison who these crazy girls were, she confusingly responded, Your blog readers.
When I heard this I immediately asked her where their table was. I left the green room, grabbed my notes, and marched to find them. If blog readers came out to an event YOU BETTER BELIEVE I’M GOING TO FIND THEM. Alison thought the whole thing was slightly stalkerish, but I thought it was amazing!
See, here’s the thing. Everyday I’m committed to documenting the journey the Lord is taking me on. The successes and failures. The wins and losses. The ugly and beautiful. For those that have been following along, it feels like we’re friends. Like for real friends. Weird, right? Yes, yes it it.
When Alison introduced me to the table, Briana [my blog friend] responded with, Oh my gosh! To which I replied, Oh my gosh! We were both excited to see each other but for totally different reasons. I was excited to meet someone who would take the concerted effort to attend an event I was speaking at and she was excited that I was so excited to meet her. It was all very cyber-worldish.
As she explained how she finagled tickets to attend the event, I just hugged her. Really, what else could I have done? She then introduced me to Denise. It took me a second, but I totally knew Denise. Denise writes comments. Denise posts stuff on my Facebook wall. Denise’s last name is DeCarbo. I know Denise! When I said, Hi, Denise DeCarbo, she about had a hot flash. You know my name, she squealed. Then I squealed because she thought I was someone cool. We were both embarrassing ourselves.
I met their friends, Sarah and and Brit, and we agreed to meet up after the event to take a picture. I wanted to document the day blog readers and followers became real friends. I found a large sign which read JOY. Meeting them was such a joyous experience, I knew it was the perfect spot.
Brit, Briana, Sarah, me, and Denise DeCarbo <3
Honestly, I love meeting people who believe that we are on a journey together. As weird as it sounds, I love connecting with people who love God, love others, and want to see the world be a better place by inhabiting the commands of Jesus.
I’ll be speaking at Whittier Area Community Church tomorrow. If you’re there, I’d LOVE to meet you. There may not be a joy sign available, but know that it would be my joy to meet you! 🙂 I’ve requested a few tickets be saved for blog readers [even though the event is closed]. If you would still like to buy a ticket, call (562 )945-4500 to request a ticket.
Have you ever had a cyber friend you met in real life? How’d it go? Inquiring minds want to know… 😉
That is awesome! I am going to Vegas in February where I will meet a whole smorgashbord of web friends! I can’t wait…it feels like we already know each other!
Ohmygosh this is precious!!! I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting any of my cyber buds in real life.. yet. I believe eventually it will happen! 🙂 Hopefully one day I can meet you! Ahh love this post! love you!
Denise! You went and didn’t tell me! We’re totally P31, SD, cyberworld Facebook friends. Ugh. I’m totally relegating you to cyberworld acquaintance 😉 I hope you had fun! (P.S. You make my daily read of B’s blog feel totally normal. 🙂
Hahaha… i thot this was funny. Cyber acquaintances! The world of WWW.
I have a friend (then blog reader of mine) who was on your blog and saw a comment of mine, found my name interesting and clicked over to my blog. I blogged that day about losing my dad to cancer and her dad got diagnosed with cancer later that day.we.connected. The rest is cyber friend history. She is now my friend and sister and I so blessed by her friendship! We are actually meeting up this week for coffee!
Thanks to “in the name of love blog” (ok that sounded like a e-harmony commercial) haha
That is so fantastic!! I just met Bri in October when she was here in Colorado for a friend’s wedding. Love the pic in front of the JOY sign. How perfect!!
I love this! I feel exactly the same way when I FINALLY meet my cyber friends. It is crazy, but it’s also so beautiful. You already “know” each other and simply putting a face to a name is all it takes to come “real” face-to-face friends. Too Cute!!
Cute shirt! ; )
I WOULD be the girl with the huge suitcase who completely forgot to pack the right outfit. At 3:00pm the day of the speaking event I have to run out and buy one?! I’m fired.
Sweet story. I am hoping I can meet you soon too. I am meeting some real cool people on the net, but I am yet to meet any. I am looking forward to that day.
You are such fun Briana. I love it.
heeey! I know those girls!! they are my P31 friends!! how awesome they got to know you!! I’m sure you rocked the night and looked great in your outfit!!
Cyber friends..oh yes I have many and I’ve been getting to know them little by little. The first ones I met are from Pursuit 31 San Diego and love them all!!
BIANCA! I read all your blogs and feel like I totally know you… then when I see you in person, I realise that you are JUST as wonderful and JUST as fun and JUST as smart as your blogs indicate. And this all makes me very glad and honoured to know you.
To all Bianca’s blog readers – GO AND SEE HER. You won’t be sorry.
Oh Vicky, you are a gem. Seriously, I cannot wait until we see each other again… whether for work or for fun, California is calling! 🙂
When are you coming to or near Atlanta, Ga?
I’m just saying…
I’ll be at the Passion Conference, January 2-4 🙂
One day I will get to California and I will definitely be looking you up (in a total non-stalkerish way)! Until then, if you’re ever in Edinburgh let me know and I’ll clear my diary! x
Yes I have. Her name was Andrea, we met through Yahoo and met up at a Dodger game a few months later. She was a debout Jew, Me a Christian. I shared Jesus with her. She passed away a year later in her sleep… How I miss her. I can honestly say NOBODY has ever hugged me the way she did.. I sure miss her.. My beloved Andrea
Bianca… You are so awesome 😉 I can testify of this you genuinely love people and embraced them as a real **Carnalas** Thank you for just being who you is **quote f/fab pastor Pancho** 😉 to God be the Glory friend… Merry Christmas, hugs!
E
Oh. My. Yes.
I have met MULTIPLE blog friends, and several have become very dear real life friends.
I took 7 of my kids on a cross country road trip in 2009, and contacted some blog friends to see if we could meet up. We stayed with a family in Co, another family in OK, another family in LA. We met another family in OK and 2 families in TX. TOTALLY FUN!
Then, a blog family with 5 young kids went on a road trip and they came to visit US in Washington … and parked their HUGE RV in our driveway.
I can’t wait until we get to meet you some day.
🙂 🙂 🙂
B. you are the best! You love God, you love Matt, you love your family and church and the virtual blog readers that you bless everyday love you back! Maybe i will attend a function soon. Will you be speaking at CCM Women’s Retreat?
Ohhhh myyyy goodness!! I have no words. Well I do have ALOT of words but all I can truly say right now is God is Great and you were made in his image!! What an honor, Bianca!!!
Haha, I’ve got to laugh because the person I got to meet in real life was your sister, Jasmine. I stalked her blog for years, and then jumped at the chance to model for her workshop in Australia – so fun. Now, I stalk your blog 😉
Oh my gosh, I KNOW YOU! I totally remember you from Jazzie’s post. Wow, what a small world. It’s so nice to meet you, Lacey 🙂
This is so awesome! I kind of did a similar thing…to meet your sister Jasmine. I found out she would be speaking at a conference in a suburb of Chicago, and I took the leap and paid for the conference…went alone and said if I did nothing else I was going to meet her. I almost talked myself out of going up and waiting in the looooonnnng line…but I did it. That was over a year ago, a pic of me waiting to speak with her made it on that blog post…that was just too cool.
She was so sweet and just as genuine as she comes across on her blog..that I do stalk daily. I also gushed that I stalk your blog as well. =) You guys Rock!!!