Dear Friend,
I found a new yogurt, new to me anyway. It’s a full-fat, French-style, yummy yogurt packaged in a cute little glass jar. And on the underside of each foil lid that looks like fabric, there’s a different message. Cute, right! My message was Enchanté.
The word enchanté in French means enchanted, delighted, overjoyed, smitten, or bewitched. It is also a widely accepted term used when meeting someone new; “It’s nice to meet you.”
That’s how I feel about you.
I am grateful for each blog subscriber, reader, link-up host, and participant I’ve had the privilege of interacting with and learning from. Because of you, over the last year, I’ve gotten brave enough to post pictures of myself and family, the wonders and woes of my caregiving journey, and other writing. You’ve only responded with kindness.
When Covid-19 had us sheltering in place in March, I started sharing on Instagram, too. Since then, I’ve begun using stories, posting pictures, micro-blogging, and experimenting with all the fun features because sometimes you have to chase the fun (thank you, Annie F. Downs!). Although, I’ve still haven’t learned how to thumb-type any better in the last eight months.
I am grateful for the sense of community, encouragement for writing, sharing of information and resources, and meaningful connections with other public space writers, which can be SCARY. But after stepping into its vulnerability, I found it’s not as scary as I thought because you are there waiting for me.
In my heart, I believe God has given me experiences to share and friendships to make. You have made me feel welcome, and I am grateful. I only hope to encourage you at least as much as I have been encouraged.
It’s been so nice getting to know you.
Your grateful host & friend,
Suzette
I’m posting in the Five Minute Friday Linkup today. We free-write to a one-word writing prompt. This week, the prompt is GRATEFUL.
You can also find me at the Let’s Have Coffee linkup.
Definition and Usage of the French Word ‘Enchanté’ article & Photo from the www.thoughtco.com article, Hinterhaus Productions/Getty Images
Suzette: Your openness and honesty have been a refreshing experience for me. I highly value your friendship. Your blogs have been a source of enjoyment and challenge as well. Thanks for sharing. Blessings!
JKT
Glad you’re back! It’s a joy to have you here and thanks for mentioning the posts are challenging sometimes. I hope so.
Thank you so much. It is so good to be here. It is my motivation to write regularly.
I love reading all the the other posts, and feeling like I have a place to belong.
You do! I’m so glad you stopped by. It’s that writing regularly part that is a challenge for me at times, but we must keep at it.
In person I am guarded,
five words per day will do,
but my thoughts, though hoarded
will try to break on through
the walls I built around my heart
by use of slashing pen,
and thus defenses fall apart
in a kind of writer’s Zen
to hug friends I’ll never meet,
to lift them up in prayer,
and hope that when on Heaven’s streets
that I will see them there,
and that hand in hand we’ll walk,
and then, at last, I’ll learn to talk.
Andrew, you’re tugging at my heartstrings today with that word picture you’ve drawn. I pray it comes true. Take care, my blogging friend.
You take care too, Suzette. Meeting you here in the cybersphere has meant more to me than I can say.
Hi Suzette. It’s so nice to meet you! I found your post on the Welcome Heart link up. My experience in blogging (I have been blogging for almost 3 years now) has been similar to yours. I never expected to meet such a wide variety of supportive, friendly people. I pictured writing to be a much more lonely endeavor, but the community here in the blogosphere is very welcoming. So glad I stumbled across your space here! 🙂
Laurie, I’m glad you found me, too, and you left such kind words. I’m so sorry for the delayed response. I started using a different email and forgot to check it. I hope you visit again.