We drove with great anticipation throughout the day.   We spent four hours on the interstate until we reached our destination with excitement building with every single mile.

As we took the final exit that would take us to our friend’s house, we decided to make a detour for some flowers.  I felt that my beautiful friend needed a bouquet of roses upon our very first live-and-in-person meeting.  Once inside the shop, I picked up the prettiest long stemmed red roses that would soon be in my sweet friend’s arms.

Back in the car we went, and 15 minutes later we pulled into the driveway.  I could contain my excitement no longer, and as soon as the car came to a stop, I opened the door, bailed out grabbing gift bags — forgetting all about those roses for the moment, and ran down the path to her house.

Arms stretched wide, me running with my own arm lugging the gift bags and the other up high in the sky with great anticipation, and finally coming together with our arms wrapped around each other in the sweetest, warmest embrace … EVER!  

This was the day that I met my online friend of 17 years in September 2014.

Debbie was the ring leader of our little group.  Debbie was the mother hen that looked after all of her little chicks.

Shortly after this picture was taken, after our very first visit live-and-in person, Debbie passed away.  I got to see her once more in November 2014 before she slipped from this world and on to Heaven with Jesus.

I am thankful for the weekend I got to see her that November.  She was really bad off, and while I did not wish to intrude, her husband was kind enough to allow us to visit as much as we wanted that weekend.  Debbie insisted!  That sweet lady, who would soon slip from this world, allowed us to spend time with her before she breathed her last breath.  My heart was so completely saddened to see her in the shape she was in, yet I was grateful for the time I had with her to hold her hand and tell her that I love her.

And yes … to give her another sweet, warm embrace even gentler than the one two months prior.