I don’t why certain events in my life move me so profoundly, but this past weekend has been one of those occasions, and today my heart is hurting. Thankfully hurting. Seems an odd contradiction, but the “hurting” signifies that my past weekend meant more to me than simply an enjoyable weekend between friends. A thankful hurt signifies something far deeper. It means that there is love attached to my heart, and, right now, I’m not quite sure what to do with it. I’ve been trying all day to get my thoughts down on paper, but the words are mostly vacant. Not because they’re not there, but rather because I can’t seem to pen them with the justice they deserve. Some memories just write me rather than me writing them.
This past weekend deserves more than a few words. It deserves a chapter all its own. And while this chapter in my life known as “Elaine and Beth E., her Bill and my Billy” may never make it to print, it certainly has scripted its remembrance into my heart for always.
I like knowing that my “life book” now includes a chapter specifically designated to the companionship I shared with my husband and a Virginia couple on a beautiful November weekend in 2009. It cannot be changed, altered or tweaked to read any differently than it lived. It simply was and, therefore, continues to be because it is now a part of my history. A history that I am better for living through because of the beautiful friendship that was birthed in the end.
Beth and Bill are the real deal. I already loved Beth for so many reasons (even though we’d never met face-to-face), and Bill quickly warranted my genuine favor as well. He’s funny, laid back, talkative, and very kind to his wife. Very kind. It’s obvious to me why they’ve made it to almost thirty-one years of marriage. Kindness in a marriage does that. It births longevity, and as I watched them interact with one another, I couldn’t help but hope for the same in my marriage with my own Billy.
And for more weekends with them. Lots of them. In fact, if we lived closer to one another, I’m confident we’d spend lots of nights eating Hillbilly Salsa together and allowing our “Bill’s” plenty of time in the man-cave to do, well, whatever Bill’s do in a man-cave. Some friendships just seem to arrive automatically, genuinely and without a lot of effort on the front end.
That’s the friendship me and my Billy now share with Beth and hers. Our lives are similar in too many ways to chronicle here, and our hearts deeply connected because of the love we share for our Lord. I’m not sure what that means for the four of us down the road, but my heart tells me that another trip to the mountains or to Montana or to the movies would be just fine with me. I know that heaven will be filled with fellowship akin to this past weekend, but until I get there, I wouldn’t mind a few reminders like this past weekend to “hold me” until then.
Only God could dream this up, friends—these cyber connections culminating into weekends and retreats and all manner of gatherings that he intends to endure for all eternity. I imagine he’s dreaming now and that, before long, those sacred dreams will birth deeper friendships in many of us. Until then, let’s keep connecting, keep opening up our hearts to one another, keep praying for one another, and keep writing the truth of the One who threads all of our hearts together with the single chord of Calvary’s love.
It’s my privilege to be in community with you all here. And while it sometimes hurts to love so much, I wouldn’t miss a good hurt for anything. A good hurt is the foundation for a good growing, and this past weekend, I grew at least an inch. Thank you, Beth and Bill, for fueling my heart’s development. Until next time…
peace for the journey,
~elaine
PS: Leave a comment for a true mountain give-away… a Christmas dove ornament, hand-crafted by Liza Bach and showcased at the Highland Craft Gallery and a pair of earrings, hand-crafted by me at the Smoky Mountain Bead Bar and Gallery. I’ll draw a winner later in the week.
And now, meet two blogging friends who had an idea not long ago… (I apologize in advance for the quality of this video/slide show. I don’t know what I’m doing, so if anyone knows how to make a slide show using a specific song as background… would love some tips!).
Elaine… Looks and sounds like you had a great weekend – thanks for sharing with all of us 🙂 Looking forward to your next vlog whenever that might be!
greetings,
Debbie
Aw, what a sweet tribute to true friendship, Elaine. Thank you for sharing the wonderful connection that we share in Christ and one another when we remain in Him.
It sounds wonderful and how awesome that you connected so much that you would spend a weekend with them!! I so look forward to the day when I can meet you in person too! How is the book coming along??
Well, I had to smile all the way through this one! Beautiful! Beautiful!
How exciting that you all got to meet in person. I follow Beth's blog too and connect on Facebook. How cool that the two couples got along so well, Elaine.
So glad you enjoyed such a blessed weekend together. Can you just imagine what heaven will be like? All of us together rejoicing in the Lord and basking in His love!
What a blessing, Elaine. It's incredible the connections we make with people we've never "met." And, yes, what a sweet taste of heaven you've had. Thank you so much for sharing it, my friend.
Elaine, beautiful heart-felt words and video. After 4 days of the Sister Retreat I too can understand the "good hurts" it's those hurts of having to say goodbye for now.
You and Beth E. are two special friends in my book. I'm so glad you four had the opportunity to love on each other for a weekend.
Blessings dear sister.
What a sweet and loving post, Elaine! You somehow reached into my own heart, pulling out the same emotions as yours, and put them to paper. I've going through that same thankful hurt today.
I have to say, the slide show almost did me in. I sat here crying, laughing, and thanking God for two very precious friends…you and Billy. Bill and I can't stop talking about the fun we had with you two. We're already thinking about when we can together again.
Love you,
Beth
P.S. I don't know what made me laugh harder…our Bill's and their goofy pics, or you and I under the Food City sign! lol
Seems like this is the week of Friendship posts…I've read several. All of them beautiful.
Oh, sounds like such a great weekend! So glad the four of you had such a grand time together!
A beautiful post, and a beautiful new friendship, formed by the Lord in your hearts. I love it!
Elaine, I am so glad to hear that you and Beth and your husbands had such a great time and that God has united your hearts even deeper. Loved all the pics too!!!
Beautiful, Elaine. God is good!
Such a precious tribute to friendship, bless you.
Absolutely beautiful! So glad that the Bills' and their girls had a wonderful time. A chapter written into eternity by the Author of all that is good and lovely.
Shalom,
Denise
Kindred spirits in the four of you is what I perceive in this lovely slideshow. So glad to have been able to peek into your private weekend away. This friendship will last through eternity!
That is so beautiful! I loved the youtube too! I love Beth E. though we have never met in person. I'm sure she is such a delight.
Thanks for sharing this with us.
Love!
Beth
What a special friendship and blessing in your life. I would say they were a Divine Appointment in your life!
Elaine, I would imagine that the women's lives that you have had the joy of "living connected" away from the computer this past year feel such deep emotion for the woman of God you are as well. I can't even imagine the pleasure of having done so, as each time I pull up a chair and sit a spell here at "peace for the journey" I think to myself, wow that lady knows how to love.
You are a blessing!
Lovingly,
Yolanda
What a special time and obviously the start of a special friendship between all of you. There are some blog friends that I am hoping I can meet face-to-face sometime.
I loved the pictures–looks like the trees were still beautiful.
Thanks for sharing your "good hurt". Donna
What a Fun time! The mountains in the Fall are my favorite.
What a wonderful thing to develop sweet friendship. Your Billy and Beth E's Bill even favor.
Blessings,
Marita
what a wonderful gift from the Lord! How special that He blesses us with these precious friendships along life's journey!
Thank you so much for the encouragement you left me!! and thank you thank you thank you for your prayers!!! God is good!!
So glad you had a blessed and anointed weekend. We just need those, don't we? I love that I am meeting so many new friends in this world we call blogging.
Leah
I just had a similar experience reconnecting with friends from l-o-n-g ago…. My thoughts, too, went to Heaven. I, too, had a thankful hurt in me. I wonder if God isn't getting us all prepared for Home. Very soon!
How fun Elaine to meet your friend! I know why God led me over to your blog today. I was on the same page as your thoughts.
Only God could dream this up, friends—these cyber connections culminating into weekends and retreats and all manner of gatherings that he intends to endure for all eternity.
I told Tiffany aka Tea with Tiffany something similar today. Only God could put us together to do ministry in His name. I am blessed to see what God is doing in your connections. I pray your 'life book' is full of amazing chapters titled 'Only God'. Barbara
Billy and the bears!! Love that shot!!! Why didn't you and Beth have your pics made with those critters??? How fun!!! So glad y'all had a wonderful time in Tenn. We'll be there for Thanksgiving this year. Love that new pottery!!
I know what you mean about those cyberspace friendships! I wish we were closer! I'm ready to road trip again! Or, you come here next time!
Love you!
Susan
Hi Elaine,
Welcome back! I loved the story of your weekend vacation. It pretty sums up what happens when cyberfriends get to meet one another face to face.
I so enjoy my cyberfriendships…for me they are as real as my face to face friendships. There is something in a blog friendship that makes it easier to go down deep and take root, and bear fruit. I guess it is the common things that led us to blogging in the first place, then the transparency, the honesty, the willingness to be vulnerable.
I actually tried to comment last week, as your post on the 4 year old boy also stirred my heart. I read that post through teary eyes, so I will have to read again one of these days.
Your blog is one of the blessings I truly appreciate!
Love
Lidj
I stopped in from Beth's blog. I enjoyed your pictures. It looks like the four of you had a wonderful time. Thank you for sharing… Plan on returning!
One of life's greatest blessings from the Lord are friends.
So glad you had a great time.
I think that you did justice to this topic and more.
So glad that you and Billy had fun with your friends.
Looking forward to the next slide show…video…or whatever else you've got up your sleeve.
Sweet dreams.
So glad you had such a great time. your video is great. You did a super job. It is so nice to be able to get with friends and have some true fun and fellowship together. God put you four together, enjoy yourselves.
"Kindness in a marriage does that. It births longevity … ". Wow, that packs a whallop! You need to weave that one into your writing.
It was so good to see you & Beth together. You look like sisters! And I thought it incredible that the "Bills" looked like brothers. On so many levels it's prophetic & profound.
You girls bless my socks off. Just wish I could have joined you!
The Cyber-Mom
Kathleen
Elaine, I found you through Candle in the Corner. Congratulations on winning an item! I love your blog, your writing style is so eloquent and real.
Hey Elaine!
Just catching up on my blog visits and just loved sharing in ya'lls wonderful blessed awesome weekend!
Aren't God connections the most amazing things. I mean hearts suddenly joined in true friendship forever…….through eternity!! Wow!
Sweet Blessings!
Jackie
Dear Elaine… I know what you mean… about the words not quite coming out… well, I went to Yosemite over the weekend… and what I saw was beyond imagine, but my words can't express… nothing can. And it hurts in a way that I can't share that with everyone… just like I want to share who my Lord and Savior is…
Wonderful friendships… God is good, my friend. All the time.