(Santa Ynez,
California, taken by LinJane)
“I need friends! I need friends! I need friends!”
I wailed this desperate plea to my Creator. I stood outside of an office sobbing
uncontrollably after just being verbally attacked by those I thought I could
trust; people I called friends. I was
devastated.
Someone
once shared “Choose your friends
wisely. You can be friendly to all, but
they don’t ALL need to be your close friend.” I agree completely.
Yahweh's timing is always perfect. I had not realized at the time what a blessing was entering into my life, but looking
back, I remember sharing this situation with a *secret* group on Facebook
consisting of 15 women from all over the U.S., and only one I had known
previously. I really had not understood the
reason why I was invited to be in this group, but I began to participate
anyway, probably because I was lonely. I
found that I was the oldest in this clan, which kind of boosted my self-esteem
a bit (because growing up I was ALWAYS the youngest in a group of
friends and felt inferior). I asked them to pray for me
and my family. And this was a starting
of a very significant relationship.
I’ve
been “meeting” with this group of ladies for 9 months now via Facebook. I meet with them because it has been a safe
place full of honesty, building one another up, studying Yahweh's Word, lots of
praying and carrying each other’s burdens, an overabundance of joy to be
shared, we joke/tease each other…in love of course, LOL with each other, and
cry with each other, have I missed an emotion?
We come from Washington, Texas, Louisiana, Colorado, New York, New
Mexico, Indiana, Iowa, and Virginia. We
are all believers in Yeshua (Jesus) and we all strive to love Him with
everything we have, say and do. This is
what keeps us alive as kindred spirits.
For
the 1st time EVER, only a week ago, several of us did a Meet-Up that
had been planned since *I* met them…one of which spent precious money and flew
to the rest of us in Colorado. Renee (preggo mama who’s about to
pop!) hosted; Christi drove from Louisiana to meet with Beth in Texas, who then
took the wheel and drove up to New Mexico to pick up Sarah and myself (remember, we have
*never* met each other in person previously…yet it was as if we had been best
of friends for years). We then drove
another 4 hours to the hosting house and picked up Renee, who then took the
wheel, and the 5 of us went to meet Tiff
at the airport. Jenn, living in Colorado
already, met up with us that evening.
Sadly, the rest of the 15 were not able to make the trip….this time. Ashley, Ellyn, Danielle, Amanda, Fe, Tiffany, Wendy,
Carolina, and Lisa we’re looking forward to meeting you at the next Meet-Up!
Meet
the Lovelies…
(Our 1st
meal together at the Melting Pot. Yeah,
we spare no expense!)
This
is a Lovely “Hello” and “Nice to meet you!”
(The flying
Lovely being greeted at the airport)
We
stayed at the Colorado Lovely’s beautiful abode for 3 awesome nights while her
husband and son graciously left us to laugh and cry and eat…alone. Together. As
women must do at times.
These
women have become my dearest Study Buds.
My
Precious Prayer Partners.
My
Worship Warriors.
(with wine of
course)
(my Lovely band)
My
Chatty Sistah’s!
(although, I’m
not sure why they’re just sitting there all looking at ME)
My
Reason to Eat….HEALTHY!
(Lessons on eating Gluten-Free)
(The Lovely Mascot...the Chicken that Beth gifted each of us...really it IS a chicken, can't YOU see it?)
We had a tremendous weekend together and we thanked our Awesome Yahweh for gifting each of us so generously as we huddled together and bowed our heads and got all teary eyed…at least they did ;) My time was later.
(12 feet, one very pregnant belly … not mine … and 6 voices calling upon Yeshua)
PRICELESS
and then we had to say goodbye.
(a Lovely goodbye to our flying Lovely)
These
Lovelies I choose.
Because
I choose to BE Lovely!
Yes
there is a side of the fence you must choose …
· People who are
lovely
OR
· People who are
unlovely
Philippians
4:8 “Finally…whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever
things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are LOVELY, whatever things are of
good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy –
meditate on these things.”
Take
that step to get off the fence of fear, rejection, pride, self-pity and onto
the side of the fence that will lend to you freedom, love, right way of living,
and support.
I’m
a whatever person …. Whatever is Lovely!
Who
are you?
Remembering
who I am…
Cindy
*Pictures
taken by Tiff, Renee, and Sarah ;)
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