I will be the first to admit that I love a blate (Blogger + date = blate). But this past weekend was SO much more. This was a blate to the 10th power (inner nerd is shining a little bit). I’m not completely sure how I met Joy @ The Sowell Life, but I know it was through blogging back in early 2011. We quickly became really great friends and have shared some special milestones in our lives. I love how blogging brings people together not just online, but also “in real life”. This past weekend Joy came to visit us in Houston, and this was the first time we met face-to-face. Now we talk on a daily basis, and have been a source of encouragement for one another for a couple years so we really already knew each other, but meeting in person really took our friendship to an entirely new dimension.
Joy arrived on Friday morning and let me just say, she is even more beautiful in person. I mean glowing! When she arrived the first thing she had to do was meet the pups. I mean seriously folks, it. was. essential.
I have never seen Tomlin this excited with someone (including me & the Mr!).
She is head over paws for Auntie Joy!
Then we sat around the kitchen table and talked for a couple hours, catching up on details, asking questions, crying, and smiling…..as if we had known each other our entire lives. It wasn’t like she was staying at a bed and breakfast, more like she was my long lost sister coming home. This, my friends, is true friendship, and, by far, my most favorite part of the entire weekend: no frills, just raw, genuine emotion and friendship. This was priceless!
In the afternoon I had to teach so Joy came to my class and got to see me in action….Cognitive Psychology on a Friday afternoon after a long plane trip I’m sure was not the most exciting thing, but that’s what friends do: life together. After that we met up with another blogger, which Joy introduced me to and I’m so glad that she did. Jessica @ Blue Bird Sisters is another AWESOME Texas blogger! We went to Sweet Paris for some a-maz-ing crepes, and of course lots of laughs.
Gotta have a selffie, right?
I absolutely loved meeting Jessica! She is so awesome and real!
I'm looking forward to many more meet-ups with you Jessica!
PS- Joy, thanks for the pictures! If it weren't for you taking some of these pictures, I'm pretty sure this weekend would have gone undocumented. Did I forget I owned a camera or something?!?!
PS- Joy, thanks for the pictures! If it weren't for you taking some of these pictures, I'm pretty sure this weekend would have gone undocumented. Did I forget I owned a camera or something?!?!
Saturday we slept late and just crawled through the morning; it was divine! Then Fabulous Lady Day started with some fabulous spa pedicures = so much fun and so relaxing. The pedicures and massages took 2.5 hours and of course we chatted the entire time! When we were checking out the lady at the desk asked if we were sisters, and we of course said “yes”! We certainly felt like sisters so we just made it official lol
Since Joy and I have already shared our faith with one another, church on Sunday was a must! It was a great service and I promise when the children sing it gets me every.single.time! Joy and I had to shared the Mr.’s handkerchief during church lol Following church we stopped by a park for some pictures and then went our for some good old fashion pizza.
I adore this picture of Joy!! She is such a great photographer and captured so many great moments this weekend!
In the afternoon we relaxed and chatted. For dinner we got to cook together in my kitchen. Truly I say, this was a dream come true. I look forward to many more of these moments.
This was a weekend I will never forget! Talks of me visiting Bham have already commenced and I can’t wait for our next reunion. Seriously, if you have not met Joy, you definitely need to. I have met her and she is a true gem!
