Taking a Chance

I admit it - I am a Facebook junkie.

I feel like I am a part of my kids' daily lives just by reading and commenting on their daily adventures.

It has been a wonderful forum for me to stay in touch with my cousins - even second generation cousins. Instead of waiting for funerals and weddings, I can always say "Hi" and catch up on the little things that are happening with them. It keeps us close at heart.

I have been fortunate to be able to hook up with old classmates from High School - WOW, what a blast!!

I have even become quite proficient at Facebook Stalking... you would be amazed at what some people post about themselves.... but that is a topic for another blog entry.

Included in this "social network" is a very addicting 'game' called Farmville. I accepted an invitation to join about a year ago from one of my "second-generation" cousins. I entered the Farmville Community very slowly and cautiously, still unsure of what I was doing. In a short period of time, I became an addicted player: timing my crops so I could harvest in time, taking care of my animals and trees all the while progressing level by level. Soon, I found myself begging for neighbors so I could expand. I was quite proud of myself. I had over 100 neighbors and only personally knew about half of those people. The rest were suggestions from friends and 'neighbors'.

One evening, while tending to my farm, I see that one of my neighbors (who had a huge, exquisite farm) was asking for trees. I saw her online and simply asked, "What are you going to do with all those trees?". This started a conversation that has lasted for months on end!

At first our conversations were all about our farms. Soon we progressed to talking about ourselves and our families. I was amazed at how our friendship grew. Finally, after several months of talking, I asked where she lived (she was one of the smart ones who did not post her personal information). WOW - she lives about 15 minutes away from my sister!!

Mr. Wonderful and I planned an impromptu trip to see my sister in Florida. We were going for an extended 4th of July visit. My sister suggested we have a dinner party while I was there - JUST SO WE COULD COOK TOGETHER AND NOT HAVE TO EAT IT ALL OURSELVES (maybe I am kidding, maybe I am not!) My sister invited 4 of her closest friends and I invited my "friend from facebook" because I had to meet this person, that I have been talking to forever, face-to-face. We had an incredible evening, full of laughter and sharing. We made an unforgetable memory.

God sends us Guardian Angels all the time. It is up to us to realize that they are here and welcome them into our lives. I am grateful that my "friend from facebook" took the chance to come and meet me face to face. I am grateful that my kids no longer refer to her as "mom's imaginary friend". I am blessed to have a new real friend who is a part of my everyday life.