Hard Week

Well, here I am with the beginning of school just around the corner. I have so many things I need to blog about, but the days just keep passing by without the motivation to do it. I've been going through the motions of back to school prep. Cleaning out kids rooms - check. Yard sale - check. School supplies - check. Trying to get our calendar of activities and commitments organized - check.

But through it all I've had a little lump in my throat and a little drag in my step. Last Saturday one of my nearest and dearest friends and her family packed up the last of their belongings and headed off to start a new life in a new town. As I looked at her empty home void of furniture and pictures on the walls it finally became real that they were really truly moving on. I watched their U-Haul drive away down the street and wiped the tears from my eyes. We have shared so many good times together and also shared the hard times too. Camping trips, girls nights, play dates at the park, backyard barbecue's, church functions, sporting events, long phone conversations, babies, morning sickness........all things that I will fondly remember (well not the morning sickness, ha). Kristen was one of my first friends I made after moving here almost five years ago. Kristen's home was always a place of laughter and fun and noisy kids and love - everyone who entered was welcomed as a friend. I know it will be the same in their new town. I'm confident that they will find their niche and become a valuable part of their new community.

So if that wasn't bad enough, this week brought saying goodbye to another near and dear friend. Although Nan isn't moving as far away, I know Pasco will never be the same without her little family living on Park street. I can't imagine how weird it will be to see a new family living in their home. Nancie always has such a positive attitude about every situation, and her family's move is another stepping stone in their journey to get to the goals they have set. Nan is the best hostess, she will make you feel so welcome and like you have not inconvenienced her at all by stopping by for a visit no matter what she has going on. She throws the best parties and has a wonderful talent of making you feel like an old friend. I will miss all of our fun conversations, girls nights, date nights with our husbands, and her generous attitude. My only regret is that we didn't become close friends earlier in life. Nan is the type of person who blooms where she's planted - she is literally like a ray of sunshine when she walks in the room and I know she will be a huge blessing to the new people she meets although Pasco will be a little less sunny without her.

Tuesday night we went out for one last girls night before Nan moves on Saturday. It was weird to not have Kristen with us, and hard to come to terms that our group of six would now be whittled down to four. I know individually we all have other good friends, but the six of us have shared some great memories over the last few years that can never be replaced. We've had birthday brunches, monthly girls nights, and a few adventures thrown in the mix that we may or may not ever confess to. I never thought that I would meet some of my best friends when I was older during my child rearing years, but I am so glad that I have. I have truly been blessed.

Kristen and Nan - you will be missed more than you know.