Monday, October 27, 2008

all good things come to an end..................

It was a dream come true, an answered prayer, a wish granted.....our visit with dear friends, Marion and John, from Wales....I read Marion's gardening blog many months ago but at that time, I didn't have a blog. I wouldn't dare leave a comment.

On their 25th wedding anniversary Marion wrote a tribute to John about the wonderful husband he is.....I did leave a brief comment and just signed it 'Mam'....the name my grandchildren call me.....

Marion's email address was included on her blog....I br
avely wrote telling her how much I enjoyed her blog, etc. I debated a long time before pressing the send button. To email someone in Wales that I didn't know was so daresome for me. I thought that was the end of it. However, the next morning (Wales is 5 hours ahead of us) I had a long, newsy email.....I was thrilled beyond words....We emailed several times a week and the following Easter I received an unexpected phone call....from Marion. We often talked about how we would like to meet each other.....I never in my wildest dreams thought we ever could....Our Lord is so gracious......perhaps He knew we each had something to give each other that would enrich our lives tremendously....

From there our friendship has grown by leaps and bounds. After several months, we extended and invitation for them to come for a visit and they accepted. For 12 glorious days
we enjoyed them immensely......but sadly, the time came to carry them back to the airport in Atlanta.....



John and John.........


The morning of departure our daughter, Amy, and grandchildren came to bid them bye......
Marion had mentioned she liked to see the Union Jack flying so we flew it while she and John were here.......

Curbside at the airport......
Trying to think of everything we hadn't said that we wanted to say.......
Holding back tears that I shed later.......

A picture that is burned in my memory................when we returned home, I traced their flight on the computer until they arrived back in England....then they had a 3 hour drive home....I didn't sleep that night.....Marion called me once they were safely back home......was it real or was it a dream...their visit.....no, the evidence is here.......Marion dropped a shopping bag that she had tied with a knot (a safety precaution) by a wall and .......I've left it there. Every time I see it.....I know they really were here......we don't say goodbye in our family....when our twin granddaughters were born we lived next door to each other but my husband as well as our son-in-law are ministers and the time came when we each had to move. They were so heartbroken each time we left each other. They would turn their heads and not look at us when they left. We agreed to just say, "Fare thee well." So that was our parting words to Marion and John.....until we meet again.........

10 comments:

Barbara said...

What can I say, except I know how it feels having dozens and dozens of times been in this situation with various USA friends.

TO BECOME said...

Dear Betty, and I know that you will meet again. IT is so wonderful to have such good friends. How God blesses us to give us Friends. connie from Texas

Cathy said...

That is a sweet post, Betty. Your pictures are so good. It is wonderful you could meet and have such a great time together.

Brenda@CoffeeTeaBooks said...

My very closest friends are a group of women I met online. They are closer than my own sisters just because we communicate online so often. I have met a few in person.

Speaking of which, when my own sister was here two weeks ago, I didn't want to wash the water glass she had been using so I understand all about the plastic bag. :)

Susie said...

So glad you had this time with Marion and John. I know how hard it must have been to have to say goodbye.
It's wonderful the friendships we form through blogging.

Yolanda Elizabet Heuzen said...

Sadly, all good things must come to an end but you all had such a wonderful time together. And, the most important thing of all, your friendship will last for ever! Perhaps now is the time to dream about a visit by you and Edward to Wales?

Barbara said...

Betty, I have an award for you on my blog.

Linda said...

What a wonderful tribute to your dear friends...I feel your path will cross again and they will be forever in your heart...hugs, Linda

Mary said...

Betty,

Isn't it wonderful that we can get to know each other through our blogs and make friendships that would never had occured without the Internet.

I know you had a great time with Marion and John and I'm sure you will get together with them again. It is especially difficult to say goodbye and I much prefer Fare thee well.

Enjoy your weeekend.
Blessings,
Mary

Reflection Through The Seasons said...

Dear Friend Betty......
What wonderful memories your lovely post evokes....... Those 12 glorious days we spent with you...... such happy days that will live in our hearts for ever....... The places you took us to visit, the people we met, getting to know your adorable family and the children...... Oh the children.... we love them so! You have indeed enriched our lives beyond measure....... our friendship has been truly blessed..... and I give thanks for that.
Hold on to that dream Betty and remember the words of the song we sing in Wales...... “we keep a welcome in the hillside”, John and I are waiting with that welcome for you and Edward.

Blessings dear friend. Marion