Staying Connected Across the Miles

Here I am in Texas, celebrating yet another holiday season away from all of my friends in Virginia who are so near and dear to me.  Leaving them all behind has definitely been the most difficult part of transitioning to a new state.  I lived in Virginia for 39 years, and I had developed a close-knit circle of precious people who meant the world to me.

The thing I’ve learned, though, is that distance doesn’t truly separate us.  We’ve just found new ways to stay connected.  Sure, I miss chatting over a cup of tea at my kitchen table, sharing lunch at a friend’s house, or meeting up at Starbucks for a sweet treat and a cup of coffee.  But there are definitely other ways to stay in touch.

With my best friend, Micka, I’ve been doing a daily chronological bible study this year.  Each day, we read a set of scriptures and share our thoughts and comments with each other through the YouVersion Bible App.  We’ve really enjoyed our discussions and sharing insights that we used to share over tea.  And we text regularly to catch up on personal things, to encourage one another, and to support each other through the everyday challenges of life.

My dear old friend and former colleague, Roslyn, recently surprised me with an impromptu plane trip out here to visit with me for a few days!  I was so excited to see her.  It amazed us how easily we just fell right in line where we left off.  You can do that with people who have been in your life forever.  It’s been so long that she was at my wedding in 1994!  I met her at work when I was just 21, which means we’ve been friends for nearly 26 years!  We just hung out at my house, worked on a jigsaw puzzle together, and went to the movies like old times.  I love her for coming all the way out here just to see me!  I really needed a piece of home, and that visit did the trick, for sure.

My dear friend and former neighbor, Valentyna, has kept in touch by texting with me regularly.  She’s gone back to school to become a nurse, and her studies have kept her on her toes!  She has been under a lot of pressure and has needed a cheerleader to keep her on track, so I’ve tried to be that from afar.  We’ve shared pictures of our kids and have managed to keep abreast of everyday life without ringing each other’s doorbells.  I do miss going to the symphony together and getting our kids together for outings and field trips, but at least we haven’t lost touch.

My nephew, George, was the first to visit me this year.  He now lives in FL, and he had a training class out this way for the military.  He was able to rent a car and visit for a weekend in August.  It was wonderful to see him again, and he was the first person to even be in our new house!  Our new dog wasn’t sure what to make of him since they’d never met before, but after the first day, she finally allowed him to leave the kitchen!  LOL

Another great way to keep in touch is through the Alexa app.  We got a bunch of Echo devices this year during the Prime Day Sale at Amazon.  A couple of them have video screens, so we’re able to have video calls with my nephew in FL (George), my sister in FL (Wendy), and my niece who is now stationed in TX (Katie).  And the Alexa app on my phone allows me to have video calls with anyone else who has the Alexa app, too.  Tomorrow, we’re going to use it to connect with our friends from our old church in Virginia when they get together at one family’s house for an early Christmas dinner.  That will be great, and we’re really looking forward to “seeing” everyone from church again!

My oldest son, Hayden, flew back to Virginia in early November to be the best man in his friend’s wedding.  He got to stay with my best friend, Micka, and my dear friend, Denise, from our old church picked him up and got him to services while he was there.  Everyone at church was so surprised to see him, because no one other than Denise knew he was coming!  Bless both of their hearts for their hospitality!  We really appreciated knowing he was in good hands while he was there.

So although my heart is still heavy at times, because I spend a lot of time alone with only Holden at home, no adults to talk to all day, and no friends outside of church here, I know that the friends who are nearest and dearest to my heart are only a video call, a text, an instant message, or an email away.  We are so blessed to live in an age of technology that affords us so many different ways to stay connected across the miles!

To all of you who are so very special to me and who have blessed my life in so many ways, I wish you the deepest and most heartfelt Merry Christmas and my sincerest gratitude for continuing to be a treasured part of my life, even from so very far away.  I love you all!  <3