When I was a girl my mother liked to have afternoon coffee with her girlfriends. They would sit in the kitchen and “chat” about who knows? What I do remember is how happy those times made my mother. Conversation, connection and fellowship are still around today when ladies gather for coffee.

Reader Lynda Stapp recently invited me to a coffee being held at a home in the Governor’s Club. My first thought was, What will I wear? (Don’t tell me you don’t think about that too.)

The decision to attend ended up being the best decision made all week.

The coffee was held at the home of Alice Breuer, author, motivational speaker and interior designer who lives in the Governor’s Club and her dear friend, Brenda Chappell, a former director of women’s ministry at Brentwood Baptist. The two ladies have been conspiring together to find a way to connect women of Brentwood to each other.

“At the end of the day everyone has a story,” shared Alice. She also encourages women to help other women, especially when they are down and out.

She shared a personal story about her daughter, Tara Richardson, also of Brentwood. It was both moving and inspiring to hear how life experiences can strengthen faith and family.

We each had a chance to introduce ourselves. Of course I was introduced as a columnist for Brentwood Home Page attending to write about the coffee. Thanks, no pressure girls.

Tara and I discovered we had a connection through our kids and we both love to talk about our pride and joys. As we chatted about schools, church and, of course, our handsome hubbies, it was apparent we both have bubbly personalities. Tara, you are a girl after my own heart.

Yvonne Healf shared that when she moved to our area seven years ago she went door to door on her street looking to meet other women of faith that she could connect with. “We need to bond in relationships with other women,” Yvonne says. Today many of those same ladies from the walk seven years ago meet weekly for Bible study and fellowship.

Eleven years ago Maranita Grossmann moved into the Governor’s Club and has never regretted the move for one second. Seems her family was one of the original homes in the neighborhood and she has connected to the ladies through Bible studies and book clubs.

While we were having “circle time,” it made me laugh out loud as one of the ladies introduced herself as “a foreigner.” She lives in Cool Springs.

Close enough honey, welcome to the bubble.

That opened the door for others to admit they too had traveled afar to join in the fun. Vivian Short traveled all the way from Green Hills. Oh honey, you left your own bubble!

Readers take this quote and write it down as it is now on my refrigerator; “You can’t get to know others between the refrigerator and the sink,” wise Alice shared. Get out there and meet people. Share your story and find a voice.

The topic of the coffee was both inspiring and heart wrenching. Although I cannot share details, every woman was touched in some way by the story. Readers who know me are saying to themselves, “Bet we can get it out of her.” Nope, mum’s the word until the speaker’s book is released.

Brenda Chappell had some words of wisdom. “Women have a difficult time sharing the ‘real’ in their lives at time. We all have experiences positive and negative.”

Oh, how true! In a culture that wants us to be perfect and stereotypes abound, being “real” is not as much fun as the pretend lives we invent in our own bubbles.

Another coffee is being planned for the middle of August. If you would like to attend, email aliceball@hotmail.com for further details. I feel so inspired that the next coffee may be at my house. First, though, Alice can you come decorate?

Jodi Rall is a special events coordinator and publicist who lives with her husband, four children, two dogs and various other pets in Brentwood. She has been known to play tennis. Contact her at jodi@brentwoodhomepage.com. Follow her "Jodi in the Bubble" blog by Clicking here.