I'm excited about going to Ohio... but not because it's Ohio. Not that I mind Ohio. In fact I really like Ohio! No, I love Ohio! I would've married Ohio had person-to-state marriages been legal! I wonder what kind of kids a Joel-Ohio marriage would've produced? Hmm.
But really, I'm looking forward to Ohio because me and my family are gonna meet up with some really wonderful grace-friends there next week! You're invited, too, by the way. I know this particular blog post is short notice, but we've been talking about this since October. A link to the details is below, in case you're nearby and wanna come spend some time with us!
We're staying a couple of nights at a KOA Kampground near Sandusky, Ohio, with no agenda except to have some fun and to get to know each other a little better. A few people have expressed regrets at not being able to join us, and I truly understand. The distance makes it an issue for some, and we hope to be able to have grace gatherings in other locations in the future. The people who are planning on coming to this grace gathering in Ohio, in addition to my family, are Ryan and Jamie Weeks, Matthew, Leonard and Bino's family. It's also a wonderful thing that my parents will be staying with us! Because of distance, I normally get to see them only two or three times a year, but this will be my third time seeing them in a month! Our family has made reservations to stay in a park home next to Ryan and Jamie's park home, so we'll have a common area to spend time together.
As with my experience in meeting and spending time with some fellow bloggers at the Radical Sonship Conference in Atlanta this past March (John Fincher, Ryan and Jamie, Matthew, Gary and Sherry Kirkham, not to mention Steve McVey and Paul Anderson-Walsh, and meeting a few new friends as well), I imagine that this will be somewhat of a surreal experience. Words and photographs on blogs and websites are one thing, but it's quite a different thing to be there in person! I'm really looking forward to this time with my online friends!
Here's da details.
Joel,
ReplyDeleteI wish we could be there, I hop ya'll have a wonderful time. Tell Matt not to party too hard. We are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the new grandbaby. If he's not here by next Friday, the doctor will induce. I feel some blog posts coming. :)
Gary
I am sad. Too much to prepare....passports, etc. This single mom couldn't swing it this year, but if y'all have such a good time....maybe next year....Have a wonderful time and think of me and I will be doing the same for y'all.
ReplyDeleteIn Him,
Wow Joel! Sounds like so much fun! My goal in life is to meet people around the country, I have done some of that, but would love to continue meeting amazing people! I am glad that Father has opened this door for you to meet people on this journey! God love ya!
ReplyDeleteIn Freedom, Nicole!
Joel, I'll really miss being there with all of you but as it turns out I wouldn't have been able to make it anyway. I found out this week that my sister died and right now everything is up in the air but I know I'll have to be travelling to North Carolina to deal with everything up there.
ReplyDeleteI'll be thinking of all of you and maybe next year, I'll be able to get there if it's a bit closer.
I know you'll have a great time!
I wish YOU ALL could be there! How exciting and fun that would be! I would LOVE to drive around the country (including the northern parts of the country, AKA Canada... LOL) and meet all of you, and maybe someday I'll do that! Otherwise I hope to meet you (or meet you again) somehow, some way.
ReplyDeleteGary... a pre-congrats on the upcoming arrival! Looking forward to hearing all about it!
Aida... I'm very sorry to hear about your sister. My thoughts are with you and your family.
Thanks, Joel. Hopefully, next year will be different. Like Nicki, I want to meet as many of my online friends as possible. So far, I've met one and hopefully in a few weeks, I'll meet another.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how authentic these relationships can be. It's almost like we've always known each other. Maybe we all have . . . in the spirit.
That's how it felt meeting John, Gary, Matthew, Ryan and Jamie in Atlanta! It was surreal but yet very real and it felt like I'd known them for years.
ReplyDeleteOne way or another we'll all meet together sometime!
Wish I could be there!
ReplyDeleteSilent Wings... I was just talking with Jamie a bit ago and we fully understand that many would like to go but aren't able to. It would be great to have many more come along, but we're also of the mindset that this is just one opportunity of hopefully many more in the future, so we look forward to all of us being able to meet together in one way or another some way, some time!
ReplyDeleteAdd me to the list of regreters. I so thought (initially) that I'd be there, no matter, but alas, as time has neared, I've realized that I have to take MANY things into consideration (yes, distance and money are 2 of those things) like my dear hubby's perspective/desire/schedule. I am sad to miss out, but agree that I will be glad to try for the next opportunity. It will be awesome to meet my new friends! I've said that I feel like I have lots of friends now... I've just haven't met them yet! ;)
ReplyDeleteY'all (that's the way we say it in Texas) have a fantastic time together!! :) I'll be thinking of you! :)
FS... We'll definitely be missing you! Sure wish you could be there, but as with the others, I understand. And yeah, I feel the same way... so many wonderful friends... that I just haven't met yet! Someday, hopefully someday!
ReplyDelete