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Colleen and I have gotten to know each other over the last 2 years through our blogs, (check hers out athttp://becomingchao.blogspot.com/ ) email. and FB, but today we finally got to meet in person! She is a kindred spirit whose story of singleness and marriage came at a time I so needed hope that incredible marriages can & do happen in the 30's. She's someone I felt immediate rapport with and was (and is) a safe place for my most honest thoughts and questions.
So, today it finally worked out for us to spend the day together! I've been as excited as a kid on Christmas Eve all week! It was like a spiritual spa day, as Colleen so perfectly put it. Overwhelmingly encouraging and just what I hoped it would be (and how often can you say that about much anticipated life moments??). I tried to keep my expectations low, because sometimes people really are very different in person than they come across through email. But Colleen and Eddie? They're the real deal - no pretense - & even more endearing in person!
Walking into the Chao home feels like getting the biggest and best bear hug. The brunch table was so classy & beautifully set. All the little details showed the thoughtful care of gracious hosts. I enjoyed the conversation so much it took me over 2 hours to finish my cup of coffee (very un-Jen like. I typically down my coffee in less than 10 minutes!). It's encouraging to meet people who are so spiritually authentic, easy to talk to, personable and hilarious. And their sweet little boy, Jeremy, completely melted my heart with his shy smiles and big brown eyes.
Something that really struck me was how incredibly affirming Colleen & Eddie are to each other - just naturally seeking ways to verbally bless each other and praise each other's strengths. Both of them are also gifted at encouraging others and seeking to draw attention to the strengths of others in conversation. It just really impressed me & set the tone for their home - you can't walk out of that house and not feel overwhelmingly uplifted!! Someone saw me afterwards and noted that I was "still glowing." Words of encouragement and heartfelt conversation does that for me!
Thanking the Lord for an incredible day of fellowship with this sweet family and some of their friends and family. What a gift to know people like this!
