community

You know what I love about blogging? The community. The fact that there are so many great people out there who have blogs. It started with Liz and Abigail.

Liz: dreamer, Jesus lover, baker, artist, cupcake connoisseur, and a sweet dearie friend.

Abigail: along with the above - beautiful, funny, honest, a serious heart for God and His people. Friends since age 3.

After my real life friends came new sites. New people with new stories. Pioneer Woman, Bakerella and Miz Booshay over at Quiet Life. Then real friends interspersed with bloggie finds and there was Pastor Ryan, Julie, Sean and the other Moose. My list could go on for days. A real web of thoughts, sharing, tears and laughter. My prayers are lifted up for sweet Kate. I laughed with PW's "enormous" snake. What joy community brings! It is a joy to pray for others. It is a joy to laugh with them. It is a joy to feel connected.

These are real people. With real passions, real lives and real stories. I love stories! Everyone has them. They are all unique. Good, bad, ugly, beautiful, awkward...it is the tie that binds. In the last week I have found two wonderful bloggers. Farmgirl Paints and through her site, Pampering Beki. Confession: Everytime I see Farmgirl's name pop up on my blog updates I think it says, "Farmgirl Pants." I don't know why. Paints is so much cooler and appropriate. She is NOT the farmgirl pants type. I don't think. Not that there is anything wrong with farmgirl pants. What would they even look like?


Anyway, I digress. It just makes me smile, because I secretly like thinking someone would call their blog farmgirl pants.

But, you see, that's just the thing. Even with my goofy dyslexic mix-up it makes it personal. It's a story. Albeit, a totally dorky story, but it's still real. I love the genuine aspect of my bloggy friends. Even if I never meet them and never know them for 'real'. They are still real people who share some pretty fun and honest stories. This is life.

So, Farmgirl PAINTS is having a giveaway. She is giving away a beautiful piece of jewelry from her friend Pampering Beki. PB sells things on Etsy. I heart Etsy more than bacon! Mmm, bacon. We all know how much this Midwestern girl likes her bacon. Which shows how much I adore Etsy!

Have you seen Pampering Beki's jewelry? Gorgeous and unique! Just like my new bloggy pals.

This one is my particular favorite. I love the irregularity of the copper and pearl. It reminds me that God loves us just as we are - irregular yet beautiful in His eyes.

And I wish I was French.

So, go enter her giveaway and cross your fingers. Mine are in my head. I would cross them for real but then I couldn't keep rambling. You wish!

Three cheers for giveaways and stories!

xoxo, Rachel