Two Announcements.

Happy Thursday, friends! *silently promises to come up with a more normal intro than stating the day of the week* 

But, Thursday, y'all. That means tomorrow is my favorite day of the week. xD Okay, okay, I'll abandon the rabbit trail and get down to business... Anyone remember the two upcoming-epic-things I mentioned in my most recent wrap-up post? 

Well, I'm here today to tell y'all about those. One of them is blogging related and the other isn't (although it sort of is?), but I'm pretty sure y'all are gonna enjoy hearing about both when the time comes. ;) 

First up, the blogging related announcement! Many of y'all probably recall the Five Fall Favorites party that Rebekah Morris at Read Another Page hosted last year. Well, it's happening again and I'll be taking part! 

Book recommendations, discounted and free books, a super awesome giveaway (including a signed copy of Dandelion Dust :))...there is simply no reason you shouldn't attend the party! 

It will be going on Monday, October 2nd through Friday, October 7th with daily posts from each of the participants on the invitation below. (Some but not all of the bloggers will be posting on Saturday to announce the prize winners.) 

Spread the news, peeps! We're going to have SO much fun!! 

Secondly, the not-really-blogging-related-except-sorta announcement. (On this one, I'm giving y'all a bit of backstory. Just hang tight, bear with me, and don't you DARE skip ahead.) 

In the spring of 2015, I started this blog. One of my first followers and commenters was an young, aspiring author who's blogs I had been reading for several months. She commented, asking if I'd like to swap emails. I agreed, and we started talking. Every couple days...every day...several times a day... Over that spring/summer/fall we quickly became great friends, and kept discovering the oodles of things we have in common. Writing, reading, family, books, Nazis, blogging, school. (We literally have the strangest conversations sometimes.) 

That fall, my family was planning a trip out west and, of course, I was immediately like "Are we going through Kansas?!" Turns out, we would probably be coming through some part of Kansas on the way home. So, of course, I asked if it would be possible to meet my friend and her family. 

(By the way, this certain, amazing girl is Jesseca Dawn from Whimsical Writings for His Glory. Did I forget to mention that until now? Pfft, half of y'all had probably already guessed it.) 

Although not a long visit, we were able to meet up with her family for the evening and get ice cream. It was SO amazing to meet in person someone whom I had only talked to online!! 

Yeah, that's us...a really terrible, really fuzzy picture. But look how young we look, y'all!! o.O

Nearly two years has past since that quick meeting. During that time, we remained friends (obviously) and talked, almost jokingly at first, about when we would be able to get together again. (When you live 1,000 miles apart, this is not exactly simple.) 

Then, sometime back in August, Jess was like "ya know, I should come visit you this fall." My immediate response was "YES YES COME," followed quickly by, "please be serious!!" 

And she was. And, yes, it is happening. *squeals and grins and dies* 

PEOPLE. This girl is coming to see me in, like, less than three weeks!! And I get to spend ten glorious days with this beautiful, amazing, inspiring, young lady!!! <3 One of my favorite people in the world!! <3 

*cue background noise of dramatic screams* *cough* Yeah, I'm sorta-kinda excited and probably won't sleep a wink for a week before she gets here. XD 

All that said...blogging friends, y'all are special. Very special. Don't let anyone ever tell you that such 'online friendships' aren't real friendships. Because they are – or can be. And I'm blessed to have the best ones out there. <33 

(Jess, I'm so thrilled this is happening. <3 Forgive me for stalking your social media to collect that second picture? *wink*) 

~Faith