Friends

This past week we have been reminded of how blessed we are to have such wonderful friends. We have really been showered with love this past week as we have said our goodbyes to so many people that we will miss living life with.

My dear friend Erin and I have been on an eerily similar life pattern ever since we met 8 years ago. We first met at the Chicago airport as we boarded the plane headed to Africa. We spent the next year together on a roller coaster adventure in Kisumu, Kenya, serving at Agape Children's Ministry. We both have degrees in exercise science, got married within 3 months of each other, both went back to school to get nursing degrees, and our first borns are only 3 weeks apart. It has been amazing to go through life with her and we have been blessed to be living just 45 min apart for the past several years. With the looming realization that we are about to hit a huge fork in the road, me going one way and Erin going the other, we made plans to have a toddler free trip together to Columbus. (Actually Erin did ALL the planning and I just showed up!) We had a wonderful time hanging out and catching up!

This is the most recent picture of Erin and I that I have. It is obvious that we only take pictures of our kids now....

I went from my time with Erin right into a going away party thrown for us by our community at church. We have been a part of this community for the past 5 1/2 years, long before any of us had any children. It has been such a blessing to have these amazing friends to walk along side as we all grew in careers, grew our families, and grew in the Lord. They threw us an awesome party (including a rendition of the "Amazing Race" game through a park) a time of prayer, great food and fellowship. We will greatly miss having wonderful friends at our fingertips.

Us with our awesome Bolivia Cake, courtesy of our friend Willa

Ella and her Buds

The Girls