so here's the deal.

I almost, almost named this blog "Vermanada."

I'll explain later, but mostly I thought it would be too difficult to remember. So here we are at www.allmysoulssisters.blogspot.com. The blog came into being at about 7:22AM this morning as I packed my dishwasher in my pajamas.

It is a combination of several seeds planted in my overactive brain and imagination for the past couple years. First, "Vermanada."

Vermanada is a place created by my best friend Patti and I during one of our girl trips to either N'awlins or SamandTonio. I can't remember which. It is a fictional place where best friends live with their kids only, a commune-like setting to escape to when they finally ditch their husband because he is too annoying, and are able to live peacefully among the sisterhood, happily ever after, with the person they would like to spend the rest of their lives with, their best friend. The name is a combination of Vermont and Canada, which at the time, were the only two places legally allowing same-sex unions.

Then, fast-forward a couple years. I am divorced (surprise!) and one of my other friends, Deb, says during one of walks around the park near her home,"Wouldn't it be great to have a place where women, in Mokena, but anywhere, really, could go and ask a question or advice, and other women could help them out by offering advice and suggestions?" She pointed out that my friend Cathy and I have a divorce and daughters in common, so we are able to relate and help each other when a problem comes up related to our situation. Deb said, "But maybe other women, not necessarily divorced, could offer that same kind of support. Because somewhere, someone else has had to be in the same situation sometime."

I agree.

Then there was Parkview's Pastor Tim's (PT's) August sermons about the book of Ruth in the Bible, and the provident hand of God, Divine Intervention (DI), and how He is constantly and gently leading us in the direction we need to go in life.

Last night I was reading Redbook, with my two daughters snuggling me out of my big bed, and there was an article on blogging. It was the same vein: blogs that have gained momentum in helping women with advice, or support, or just by making them feel not-so-quite-alone on any given day.

And then, my own DI, in my kitchen at 7:22AM. I am blessed with constant DI. You probably are too, so if you think you're not, you are just not paying close enough attention.

So, here's the blog and we'll see where it goes. It's something that I need to do and I welcome your comments, suggestions and contributions as together we can laugh, cry and be each other's sisters of the soul.

Pass the word. It will be a great ride.