So, I’ve been thinking about writing this post for a long time. I really honestly didn’t know how to say all that one wants to at a time like this.
You see, we have some really good friends moving away. I have tried to not think about it. But tonight as I got their girl’s little going away gifts printed, I just let go a bit. I’m wiping away huge tears as I type. So don’t mind me as I muddle my way through this post, but I promised myself that if I was going to do this blogging thing, I’d be real.
Have you ever had a plan? You know the one that you dream for your kids? You place them into a neat little world, with friends who are children of your friends. People who aren’t family, but at just the right time become what your children don’t have in family. Those people that you trust with your life, but more importantly your kid’s lives.
Source: maryjanewrites.com via Krystle on Pinterest
You never really think that everything will change. For either of you.
And then it does. You wish that you could talk them out of leaving, but you know that they are following the best for their family. And really it doesn’t change anything really. Or maybe it will. Distance is a funny thing. It can be the tie that pulls you apart or the tie that holds you together. I do think that this is a choice. That people are part of your story, and that it does take time to build relationships.
Relationships are based on time. Nothing more, really. But it might not be always the time together that keeps the ties. It might be the time spent in prayer, the card or care package in the mail, the quick chat on Skype. It’s the moments built together that make the relationship last.
You might not talk every day. You might not talk every week. But when you do talk, you realize, that person gets you. And it’s that one fact that makes your relationship.
As I poured over all these adorable photos I have of our girls since they were babies, I know that distance won’t change too much. There will be less arguments during playdates, be it that those may only be once or twice a year. And they will talk about their new friends, whom each other might not know. But that’s ok, because I have faith that God knows what He is doing in all this. And while I don’t know what He is trying to show me yet through it all, I have faith in His timing. In His purpose. In His plan.
Source: google.com via Krystle on Pinterest
I seem to think that this will be the first real test of my parenting. Walking through Lil’ A’s little friend not being 10 minutes away (or right downstairs like she’s been the last few months.) Speaking of which, I think that’s our silver lining in our friends moving away. He gave us the last few months to say See you soon.
I happened to find these two in the toy box the other day…and I was reminded of some of their earlier days together…..
Lil’ E and Lil’ H may not have as many of these crazy photos, but they’ve been silly enough in these last few months to place their mark in where they stand in this friendship….the “character builders” for the older two.
I feel so blessed to have such a lifetime of memories for my girls with Lil’ S & Lil’ H.
I did get married before J…by 1 month. And while I did have a baby before J (by 4 months)that year, as my high school chums assumed would happen, she’s always been the wiser.
You see, for the last 18 years, J has been apart of my life. I could say so much, but I’ll just say she’s been my youth leader, I worked with her in KKidz, my teacher (she was always mistaken for one of us), my friend, my boss, & most importantly we’ve been mistaken for sisters. She’s come in the middle of the night to watch Lil’ A when Lil’ E was born, babysat at pretty much a moments notice, & been the role of Auntie for my girls.
While I have more words than just thank you for everything you’ve been in my life. I’ll leave it at that because this post is already long enough…and really I can’t seem to get out the words to tell you how much you mean to me.
I am forever grateful to God for putting this family into our story. You have left footprints. You will be missed. And we will Skype and visit. Our home is yours…don’t forget it.
With Love,
