Friends on the Move

One of the hardest parts of moving is having to say good-bye to friends.

This week we were visited by some friends who are preparing to move out of state. I knew it was coming. They had mentioned the timing of completing schooling and finding new job opportunities before. Even still, it is hard to say good-bye. They are sweet folks. I miss them already.

We have a special connection with these friends. We met at a support group for bereaved parents. They understand the pain of losing a child. We met the summer of 2000.

We met again in 2004. I took a chance on a local mommy group that had a message board on the internet. I attended one of the park events. This couple joined the event, with their daughter, and I invited them to share our blanket on the ground. As we chatted, about parenting our young girls, I could not help but feel I knew them. It turns out I did. It took me a few minutes, but I was eventually able to place them from my past.

What a blessed reunion that turned out to be! We had gone on in life to expand our families after battling grief. At the park, I introduced them to my two daughters, Jersey #1 and Jersey #2. They introduced me to their daughter....who was born on Jersey #1's 1st birthday!

We kept a birthday connection with them. Through the years, we visited at the kid's birthday parties.

They have added another daughter to their family. She was born the day we were leaving the hospital after having Jersey #5.

Dear friends, if you are reading this blog post, please know that we wish you the best in your big move. I will keep in touch. And if you plan any visits back to this town, be sure to schedule those trips around one of my kids' birthdays, so we can reunite over birthday cake!