Things I will miss #5

May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant. Psalm119:77

this is our Sunday School class at our going away party.  Thanks everybody! We miss all of you dearly. 

Well, to say I'll miss some friends, would be an understatement.  I have lived in Florida since I was 5 1/2 and have thousands of memories of many people.  I still keep in touch, not as much as before, with two good friends from high school. And, since the evasion of facebook, I seem to keep tabs on many people I may not know anything about had I not "friended" them. So, off the top of my head, I can think of a hundred people that I will miss, once I move to Arizona.  Unfortunately, I cannot post a picture of all you on that list- just trust me that one of those memories is of you.
Being apart of Westside Baptist Church has changed my life and brought many wonderful friends our way.  I think just about every person I will miss, is someone I know at Westside.  Brian and both started going to Westside about the same time, back in 2001, however neither of us knew one another.  I was off in my own world trying to get over my ex-boyfriend and slowly (re)surrendering my life to Christ, after pulling myself out of my mess I had made of my life.  Brian, well, pretty much the same thing.  Actually, I take that back.  I started going to Westside when my good friend, Holly, that I met at Shands, invited me to go way back in 1999.  That was in the old building, which is now Life South.  Anyway, years spent being challenged by Pastor Gary and building friendships with many senior adults has provided our family with many blessings and lessons of wisdom. We started out in a singles Bible study class which allowed us to become friends with many that are still are friends.  Through these years, we have shared the birth of our kids and spent days at the park.  My most close girlfriends have come out of the first Sunday school class we attended. (Annie, Suzanne, Katie, Jennifer, Abby....) As we grew as a married couple, we met new couples that have encouraged us along the way- the Swansons, Allens, Tilleys.  I know I am missing some as I write.  Our great friend Modene, has become a grandma to our kids and a mother-like figure to us both.  I cannot begin to express how deeply we will miss seeing her weekly and sharing Wednesday nights at supper together.

This picture was taken over and over and over, can you tell?  The boys and miss Lily were not feeling photogenic that day.

Of course, most of all I will miss my parents.  The only thing I worried about, when we decided to move after tons of prayer, was that I would break my mom's heart.  She told me that she had done that to her mom, when she moved away from Ohio when I was kid.  My mom has assured me that although she is deeply saddened, time is a healer and she rests in knowing that God has provided this opportunity for us.  Apparently, this move is His plan from what we can see.  Selling the house in a little over a month without a realtor. Brian selling off all of his big equipment. Helping us find a school for the boys and possibly a church. God provided us a rental home out of the blue, with two weeks to spare, before our arrival.  A family friend of a friend who was willing to lease month to month, located in Surprise.  Well, that is no "surprise" because God seems to have orchestrated this move from a very long time, and I am beginning to see little tidbits as His plan unfolds.

Nothing will however, fill the void that is in my heart for the loss of my dear friends, or leaving my parents.  I only fall in the arms of Jesus and ask that He ease the pain, helping me cherish the many, wonderful memories that I have.  I don't want to forget any of you, or do I want you to forget me.  But, I realize from past experience, that time has a way of taking some of the intimacy out of relationships and naturally that may happen.  Tears flood down my face as I consider that possibility.  I want to hang onto every friendship that has touched my heart.  Many of you will come to mind, as the kids grow and I remember past birthdays together and how the kids shared classes together and played.  I guess God knows what He is doing but it doesn't mean I have to like it. (smile)  

Greater love has no one than this; to lay down one's life for ones' friends. Proverbs 15:13