On Being Like-Minded and Making Friends

lydia and friends on a field trip

When Lydia went into kindergarten, I prayed that the girls she met would be her Sisterchicks. What are Sisterchicks? Well, they are my five best friends. I’ve known most of them since I was 4 and the rest of them since elementary school. Somehow, through High School, college, marriage, moves and children, we’ve remained friends. We chat, text and facebook daily. We go out once a month (or so) and have a Christmas party together every year.

my sisterchicks

We also love each other when we really need it. My sisterchicks have been there for me when my dad was sick, when my children were born, when I moved into our new house and every moment in between. And I know they’ll be there for the big moments that are coming in my life, too. I know most people don’t have in-real-life friends like these girls. I realize what a huge and deep blessing this is.

photo by alicia

What’s even cooler is that God has given me other sets of “sisterchicks” in life, too. I’ve found online friends that “get” me in other ways. The bloggers who have been around me since the beginning and know what this online world looks like. These are girls who have come to my house to spend the night, who have traveled across the world with me and have stayed up late typing prayers into Skype. God has used the internet to bring friends into my life!

There is something so great about finding like-minded people. My sisterchicks are like me because they’ve seen me in every season of my life. My online friends get me as a mom-blogger-wife trying to balance it all. And as I’ve entered this new phase of homeschool mom, I’ve found new friends–the moms in Lydia’s class. We are at each other’s kids’ birthday parties, planning field trips, bringing snacks to school and emailing each other when we can’t figure out an assignment. I can see if we all stay in this homeschool/school community together, that we’ll be friends for life as we raise our children together.

Would you like to find like-minded, soul-encouraging, forever friends like these? Well, I can’t promise you that, but what I can do is invite you to (in)RL which is an un-conference hosted by the ah-maz-ing (in)courage community.

It’s a two day event–Friday, April 27 you tune into the (in)courage site and watch a webcast at home (in your jammies, on your couch, whatever!). Saturday, April 28 you attend a meet-up hosted by a local woman in your community! At the meetup there will be other women from your area, food, probably some giveaways and a short webcast(s) to watch together.

Isn’t that cool?

Who knows who you might meet and become friends with! Maybe God will bring you that like-minded in-real-life friend you’ve been needing to help you on your journey in life and motherhood!

All you have to do is show up. So, head over to the (in)RL page to register (it’s $10 but you get a tshirt and a pack of cards) and then click over to see which meetup is in your area. If there isn’t one in your area: HOST ONE YOURSELF!

There are two meetups close by to me, so I’m still deciding if I am going to crash their party or host one myself. Oh, and to whet your appetite, here’s a little video by some of the (in)courage ladies about (in)RL.

So, are you (in)?