Goodbyes are Never Easy

Back when Ryan and I were trying to sell the various houses we owned, we learned something: all the houses on the market sold except ours. We joked that we should just offer a service to any of our friends who contemplated selling their home. Want to sell? Put it on the market right now. Should fly away in no time, and ours will continue to sit. We were good luck charms (except there's no such thing) for everyone but our own selves.

We've decided a similar trend is developing in the relocation of our friends. Thinking about moving far away? Become friends with us. You'll fly the coop in no time. We'll help you pack. And then we'll cry.

The summer after we got married, two of Ryan's best friends in the world moved away. One was Adam, who along with his wife, Sara, stood beside Ryan at our wedding. We had been looking forward to double dates and just the dailyness of life with them, but God called them into ministry in another state, so instead we donned our grubby clothes and spent a hot Saturday carrying boxes from their little ranch house into a moving van.

Right about the same time, Ryan's good friend Randy moved out of state, too.

In just a few weeks, the two guys who carried Ryan and held him accountable were hundreds of miles away, and my heart grieved for Ryan's loss.

The good news, of course, is we don't live in the days of yore. A cross-country move doesn't have to mean goodbye forever, now. We still get to see Adam and Sara now and then, and those times of fellowship are sweet indeed.

And bonus!!!! Randy moved back, and we get to meet him for (crazy early morning) breakfast now and then.

So then we found a new "couple friend" in Nate and Jenna from our church. Ryan and Nate met in PTA school and the four of us really enjoyed hanging out together. So naturally, Nate got a new job out of state, and we said goodbye to them, too. :(

This week there were new goodbyes. One of the first "couple friends" we made after becoming a couple ourselves moved away. What a sweet history we have had with these two, watching them move from dating to engaged to marriage to parenthood:

And this week we said our goodbyes. Well goodbye for now. Not goodbye forever.

But I am so grateful for these two. Grateful for their love and investment in us these first five years of our own marriage.

And you know what else I'm grateful for? The host of other friends we have, near and far, who love us so well. Goodbyes are never easy, but having friends to even say goodbye to is a sweet gift.

Friends? WE LOVE YOU!!!! Goodbye-friends, hello-friends, and always-here friends. We love you all!