Morg & Siri Meet in Person!

Just a forewarning, this post is loaded with photos. And I mean packed to the brim. You've been warned. ;)

ETA: You can read Morgan's perspective on her blog.

---

After being friends 2+ years, I finally got to meet one of my best friends in person for the very first time. And it was awesome! 

We first met online in 2010. We were both on the Lifestyle of Learning kids forum. Since we're both into photography, we often left replies on each others posts and started following each others blogs. I think we eventually started following each other on Pinterest as well. Honestly I don't remember how well we knew each other between discovering that this girl named Morgan existed and becoming FB friends. It's kinda a blur to me.

So in May of 2012 Morgan sends me a friend request on Facebook. I accept. I "like" photos she posts and she "likes" mine. Later in the summer I ask her if she wants to video chat. Kinda awkward at first, but we started video chatting more regularly and we're now really close friends. It didn't matter that we'd never met and person and that I was in WA while she was in GA, we became the best of friends.

She's Morg and I'm Siri. We plan on going to Disneyland together, someday somehow. We send each other photos we find online and text each other. Whenever I find something with The Little Mermaid on it, I send a photo to her. She begged me to get snapchat, but I said I would once she upgraded to iOS7. She doesn't like Doctor Who or sticky rice, but I forgive her for that. ;)

After getting to know her really well, Morg told me how she was intimidated by me since she thought my photography was so good and was nervous sending me that friend request. I'm just glad she sent it wouldn't have this crazy girl for a friend!

Anyways, now to the reason for this post.

Back in early 2013 after much prayer and thought Morg's family made the decision they were going to move up here to WA to be closer to the Lifestyle of Learning ministry. Due to various issues, they weren't able to actually move until recently. They left on the 21st of March, to be exact. Now instead of living on opposite sides of the country, we're just an hour and a half from each other.

So on April 4th, 2014, after much anticipation, we finally got to meet. In person, for the very first time.

It was awesome.

It worked out via short notice that Morg and her family were going to Seattle and asked if we wanted to meet up in a couple days. Of course we did, so we spent Thursday night preparing food to take for lunch. Once we got into the city on Friday, our original plans didn't turn out, so we met at a Starbucks not far where we were originally meeting to discuss where we wanted to go. We finally made it there, parked, and met for the very first time outside of Starbucks on the outskirts of Seattle. It was so exciting and fun and just plain awesome!

(photo by Tiana)

After hugging outside, we made our way out from the cold and inside where we took our first selfies together to share with the world. I happened to squeal fairly loudly right in the middle of the shop. I think I was excited. ;)

Oh, and she came up with a nickname for my camera: Joanie. 'Cause it rhymes with Sony. Her Nikon is named Perry.

My very first picture I took of Morg. Exciting stuff, folks.

After the eagerly anticipated first meeting, we drove (not very far) to Gas Works Park. Even though it was cold, windy, and overcast when we got there, it got sunny and warmer later on. Even though we were all freezing, we were having a good time.

The best part was that our whole family just fit together and we pretty much all became friends instantly. There wasn't any awkwardness, but instead it felt like we'd been friends with them all forever.

The traditional group photo. From left to right: Daniel, Matt, Lauryn, Alina, Morg, Myself, Yulia, and Tiana.

This is what we're really like, though. ;)


Enjoying the view of Seattle from the top of the hill.

First time getting our photo taken together. Awesome-sauce right here!

Okay, so this photo is just so random, but I think it's great. Everyone's doing something different.

There were lots of photos taken of people taking pictures. lol!

 

Love, love, love this one!

After chatting, enjoying the view, and taking who knows how many photos we stopped for lunch. We both brought food and at it at some of the picnic benches there. After we finished, we were freezing cold so we decided to play some games, which included Ninja (the best game ever), races, and freeze tag. Once we got tired of running around, we went to the viewing area on the water to get more photos. It was fun.

The Seattle skyline. Even though I've grown up going to Seattle regularly, I still think the Space Needle is awesome. I haven't been to the top, though, but it's on my bucket list. 

I'm sad this one is blurry, but I love it just the same!

We found a wall. A warm wall.

There was way more photobombing going on that you would have imgagined! ;)

After Gas Works Park, the parents decided we'd go to the Ballard Locks. I've grown up going here every few years, so I was fun going with friends that hadn't been there before.

By now we were really thankful the sun came out! It felt so good and would have been really cold otherwise.

And that's it! Three hours spent in Seattle with my dear friend and her family. To quote Rapunzel: Best. Day. Ever!

I'm so happy that Morg isn't just a friend I met online, but my real life friend. So awesome! But the best part is that I didn't just get to meet here once, but now we live only a little over an hour away from each other, so we'll be able to get our families together fairly regularly. You have to idea how happy that makes me! 

There are many adventures in life, and I'm more than grateful that we'll get to have some more adventures together in the future.