It was a quiet and slow drive home last night, after an unexpected late Thanksgiving with friends, through dense fog and as Nathan concentrated on getting us home safely, I sat quietly with tears streaming down my face with thoughts and emotions flooding my mind and heart.
It's beginning to hit, like a ton of bricks... We are leaving.
We are leaving our family.
They may not be blood related, but our friends here have become our family. And now we have to say good-bye.
Good-bye to friends who have watched our children grow up from infancy. Who have walked with us through so many changes and growth. Friends who loved our family and encouraged us in our walk with the Lord. Friends who were there when we moved from our home just prior to the flood and then tirelessly and selflessly helped us when we began the venture of building our house. And now the Lord has called us somewhere new, to new beginnings and it's time to say good-bye to our friends... our family, here in North Dakota.
This weekend we watched the Lord work all things together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Our little Elijah got sick two days prior to Thanksgiving which made us cancel our plans last minute to head to Minnesota for a couple days to spend with extended family. With our kitchen almost fully packed and no plans we spent a quiet Thanksgiving home alone as a family.
It was hard. And I wondered why. Why did Elijah have to get sick now when we want to make the most of our time with friends and family here before we leave?
But then we got a call Saturday morning, an offer to join some friends for a late Thanksgiving get-together. So we headed out to their home for the afternoon and were so blessed by the opportunity for one more evening spent together.
And as we drove home that night I knew I had just witnessed some "lasts". You see, things change. And while change is a good thing, it can also be very hard and very sad. And while I know our friends here will be lifetime friends, the dynamic of our relationship will change. Especially for my children. And I think that's where my heart begins to hurt the most. Because I know they won't remember after time has passed.
It was the last time McKenzie would run into Marissa's arms and follow her wherever she goes, a precious young lady who loved my daughter and showed her such kindness. It was the last time my kids would jabber with excitement the whole hours drive on our way to see the Morrows and Nelsons. It was the last time my kids got a chance to play with all their friends whom they have made their first memories with. And for them, being so young, time will steal those memories and fade their love for our precious friends. And while they may not forget completely things will not be the same and that is where change can be so hard.
My heart is filled with so much love and gratitude towards all the families we have come to know and love here in Minot.
I am learning that it is hard for me to say good-bye. To express to each of you just how much I truly love you and how thankful I am to the Lord for bringing each of you into our lives. The love you all have shown our family here has blown us away. We were without family and you became our family, took us in and loved us and our kids unconditionally.
We are eternally grateful to each and every one of you! We love you all so much and will miss you terribly! (and truly hope to see you all again!)
So we leave you with this, and ask the Lord to bless you far beyond what we could ever do!
“The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.”
Numbers 6: 24-26
