A Meeting of the Creative Minds

When you spend a lot of time in Blog Land, writing posts, receiving comments, and visiting other people's blogs, you make lots of online friends you feel you know pretty well even if you've never met one another in person.

I finally had the chance to meet one of my "Bloggy Friends" (as I like to call them) just yesterday:  Laurie of Lone Black Bird came to Philadelphia with her friend for their annual summer trip, and she met up with me and the girls in the lobby of her hotel for a bit of a chat.

Laurie and I

When I entered the lobby, I found her sitting at one of the tables, working on her travel art journal--of course!  She greeted me and the girls so warmly, and presented Katy and Bayla with little iCarly stationery sets, including a pad of paper, pencil, and pencil sharpener. They were thrilled, and settled into doodling.

I thought that would keep them busy so that Laurie and I would have time to chat, but before I knew it, Bayla was showing Laurie each individual tiny little item she had brought along with her in her backpack.

Laurie patiently and graciously pretended to eat plates-full of toy food.

She read pages and pages of the book Katy brought along.

Thanks goodness Laurie works with children just the age of my girls!  She showed them more patience than they get from their own mom!

I am so thankful for the chance to meet Laurie in person.  It is so fun to see the living, breathing person who has been visiting and commenting on my posts, and providing me with creative inspiration on her own blog.

I hope I'll have a chance to meet some of the rest of you in years to come!  If you're ever traveling in Philadelphia, PLEASE let me know.  :-)  Maybe I'll get a chance to come chat with you WITHOUT the children in tow!