Island Girls

I didn't even know their last names.

I've been reticent to blog about my weekend.

You know the one...

...where for three days I ventured to an island that was 3000 miles,

and a million thoughts away,

from home.

It was the trip that was to be filled with "strangers."

This would be the vacation where I would leave my children with family,

and miss my husbands arrival to the desert,

to meet women who were but voices in a world that feels tangible,

and is yet,

distant.

Now it's over...

that meeting of women who I once knew only through written word...

and I feel betwixt and between a joyful sorrow...

Because now this wonderful world of cyber-friendship suddenly feels

like it won't be enough.

As we shared our lives,

our laughter,

and our love for God

with each other

I remember looking across the table at these women and realizing

that this is authentic:

Courage...

Joy...

Strength...

and

Hope...

...in the flesh, sitting before me...

I didn't need to know their last names.

At one point Gretchen and I had a few minutes in the early morning

when all was quiet and cool.

I said,

"I wonder what God is up to?"

because I cannot imagine why He would allow me the privilege

to meet these four women from four different states...

it cannot be for nothing.

So we had a lot of fun,

but there was bittersweet in the weekend too.

There were three Island Girls who weren't with us...

and though we had never been together,

instinctively we knew

that we weren't complete.

There will be another time...

it may not be on the island,

but they will always be

my Island Girls.