Sometimes when I’m out driving through my little neighborhood, I’ll think to myself, did I really spend that much time on line today?  In comparison to real life (or IRL as we say on line) the internet seems like make-believe in a way.  Compared to living trees with falling leaves, the little old lady crossing the street, and saying hello to the postman we know so well, the internet doesn’t even seem real sometimes.  And yet, I’ve developed some profound friendships on line. 

As I think about the complexity of it all, I remember a friend in the deep south who’s expecting and tired and I think a quiet prayerful thought for her and the baby.  Or I think of a sweet friend up north who seems so much like myself and I wonder if we’ll ever meet in real life.  Or I think of my friend in the midwest who deals with some special needs, as we do here, and I wonder how her day is going.  The list goes on and on.  In nearly every state in America there is someone I’ve met on line, whose life I know a bit about and whose well being really does matter to me.

Will I ever meet any of them?  Probably a few of them.  Will I ever meet all of them?  No.

I wonder.  Has the internet made the world bigger then?  Or smaller?

Though I have to guard against spending too much time on line (simply because real life is full and important and I must take care of it), my on-line friendships have made my life richer.

Earlier this week I received a message from one of my Five In A Row friends.  She had been to a yard sale where she saw some things that made her think of me and she wanted to send them to me.  I was so touched.  I also think it’s amazing that on-line friendships can grow to the point that you know what would appeal to someone and what would not.

So imagine my excitement when I saw this lovely package, especially after the last three weeks of hospital time for Hubby, doctor visits, an altered work schedule and not spending as much time on school as I’d like.  The wrapping alone made me happy. 

Yep.  I’d say she has me figured out.  The word “seeds” jumps out, and a sweet little poem about the morning glory.  And be still my heart, is this a tablecloth and old crocheted doilies?  And a grean tea towel?

Thank you so much!  You made my day.  You really did. 

I had already been thinking about several threads and posts I have seen on line lately about what people put on their blogs and why.  I tried to remember why I started blogging in the first place.  I think I can honestly say it was because I enjoyed reading other blogs done by homeschooling moms.  They encouraged me so much, I felt like it would be fun to share what we did here.  Maybe it’s like this for many who blog every day, but for me blogging evolved into more than just that one focus as I began to make friends on line and discover that there were others who had very similar interests.  I have exchanged letters with people on line.  I have had phone conversations with people I have met on line.  I have met in person a few people that I met on line first.  I have e-mailed back and forth with readers and gotten to know them better.  And this is not the first time that someone has sent me something very thoughtful that just reminded them of me. 

I guess I just wanted to say thank you to all my on line friends and my blog readers and everyone whose blog I read.  Thank you to my FIAR friend for the sweet package yesterday.  Thank you. 

Lynn