Guess who I met??

When I first started blogging...sometime in December.  My motive was to capture moments!  I didn't want to forget all of the crazy, hilarious, and strange things that occur on a daily basis in this little family of mine.  I had just been gifted a camera by my dear sweet lover-boy and had a slight addiction to photoshop.  I would spend hours playing with my pictures and then close em' up..only to start over the next night.  I had also kept an adoption blog for two years and had recently had it printed into a book.  I was amazed at all of the memories and emotions that were brought to the surface as we flipped through the pages.  It was then and there that I decided to start blogging again.


Enter "The Peanut Gallery".  I remember the day I rounded up my first follower. Since I didn't really read many blogs, I had NO idea what a follower was, and to be honest, it kind of freaked me out.  I remember telling D-man that I might just delete that follower widget.  I couldn't figure out why in the world, someone who didn't know me, would follow me!  The word "stalker" did come to mind.  When I had blogged a few years ago..I don't think the follower widget was even available.  If it was....I was completely oblivious to it!  However, I started to visit new blogs and realized that a follower wasn't all that bad!  In fact, I started visiting my followers blogs and was pleasantly surprised to find perfectly normal little families.  There were so many women that I actually had a lot in common with.  Smart, funny and talented individuals that made me laugh and sometimes even cry!  I quickly became a "follower"! 


Then one day, I found a great little blog.  I think I must have left a comment.  I was pleasantly surprised when this muy cool lady paid my tiny little blog a visit. 

Her very first comment was, "Well thank you for stopping by my blog. I am a sucker for photography. So I think I will stick around ;)"

And just like that, I had a new follower! 

I had no idea that I had found a true friend in this new follower.  But as time passed, and she smartened me up and told me that I could set my email to receive comments, we became fast friends.  We emailed back and forth.  We emailed about our family and faith, and lots of little funnies in between.  So, when this new friend mentioned meeting up someday...I was quite excited to tell her that my husband was actually already planning a road trip to his favorite state! 

ARIZONA! 

And..just look who we happened upon right there in the little town of Sedona!

Can you guess who this lovely lady is??

I'll give you a hint.

She lives in Arizona...and she's a Mamma!

And, she's an awesome photographer.

After much planning, and a 4 hour drive for each of us...I finally met the "Arizona Mamma" face to face!

And it was like we'd been friends forever!

Please forgive me...I am unable to fully relinquish control of my camera.

I'm not sure why I can't just shut up and say "cheese".

I'll tell you this, Shannon (Arizona Mamma) was every bit as funny, kind, and warm hearted as she seems.  No duel personalities with this lady!  I'm sure she was questioning her judgement in choosing to meet me, at this point! 

We had a lovely lunch together, one in which C-boy quietly dismissed himself and went and hurled in the bathroom.  I, of course, was horrified at the thought of spreading the "pukes" to our new found friends.

I'm so thankful they didn't pack up and leave on the spot! 

So, while C-boy was doing this...

We decided to hit the little town of Sedona. 
Shannon's children are completely adorable.  S-girl was so glad to have a "girl" to hang with!

And Addyson is every bit as cute in person!

The kids had a great time.

And Drew led us on a hunt for "knives".

Apparently the Trading Post was just around the corner!

I was so impressed with Andy and Shannon's kids!

They were so warm and friendly.

J-boy was in awe of this older, very cool kid who was giving him so much attention!

The kids got a lesson in candle making.

Riveting..I might add!

Our visit was much too short. But I can truly say that I have been blessed with a new friend. I am thankful that the Arizona Mamma was a "sucker" for photography and decided to "stick around"!

And I might add, that Colton's kisses are every bit as cute as she described!

 

So, my new friend...thanks for taking the time to venture out into the unknown and meet this crazy family from the Peanut Gallery.  I'm so glad that you did! J-boy has asked when we are meeting you again!

And...I would like to give a little shout out to Andy, who took a day off of work to make the trek to meet us!

When we very well could have been a family of ax murderers!  

Thanks Andy!

I hope we weren't too scary! 

So, I'm off early Friday morning..sans kids and husband..for a weekend wedding.

I'm sure I will miss them all desperately.

I told D-man tonight that I was so sorry I was going to be leaving them all.

He wondered why I was grinning like a Cheshire cat as I said that, if I was "so sorry".

But, I am a woman who must fulfill my obligations!

When duty calls,

I answer!