Bittersweet Farewell

If you have been around here for any length of time, you might know that I have had a number of friends (and family) move in recent years.

To be accurate, I would say that ALL of my close friends and family members have moved on.

Each one for a better reason than the last.

Each one more painful than the one before them.

This week my bestest (a LittleMiss word) friend moved. Far, far, far away. There will be no visits to her new place with out a passport and a month long sabbatical. She has taken her family on an mission for an indefinite amount of time ... a minimum of three years but they are committed to ten or more if that is what they feel called to do.

I admire her faith in the knowledge that she is doing the right thing. She has a clear mind and conscience that this is where she is supposed to be and doesn't doubt herself for a minute.

Heck, I doubt myself when I take the girls in for an extreme haircut.

But, I digress ...

She is really the final friend that I had left in my sleepy little town. Not that I don't know other ladies who I can sorta relate to - but she is the last one who has my story, and still loves me. She knows all the dirt. She has seen me breakdown, she has seen me rejoice in the smallest accomplishments and has held me tight when I have come unraveled. She has called me on my BS and praised me for things that didn't seem praise worthy to me. She has been a trueblue-oktocallinthemiddleofthenight - lovesmenomatterwhat - seenmemorethanalittletipsy - checkedmyheadfor*icky**icky*thingsafterareallybadcampingtrip - broughtmefoodafterthebirthofmybabies - helpedmebreastfeedthosebabiesandNEVERmadefunofmydroopyboobs - mademeseetheneedtogiveMr.Farmermoregrace - and always, always, always told me the truth, even when it hurt -BFF. And I am going to miss her so much.

And everyone says you can call, write, email, video conference ... yada, yada, yada. But I know it is not the same. I know because I have tried to keep up with the ones before her. And you do - for a while and then they get settled, meet new people and move on with life. I will make new friends, continue to live my life and think of her daily bit run out of time to send that card, make that call or plan that elusive trip.

She'll be back for short visits and it will be grand - I know this. But I also know that it will never, ever be the same. There will be details about her life that will slip through the cracks, things that I no longer instinctively know about her. New friends that I will be jealous of. New journeys and adventures - that I will also be envious of. A new language learned. New cooking skills. Different clothing worn. A different family scent. New, new, new. Different, different, different.

And yet, in some ways I know that we will pick up right where we left off. I know that I will never stop loving her. I will always consider her my BFF, even if I don't see her for ten years.

Today though, I am sad. I feel a great loss. I am also excited for her and can't wait to hear all about her journey!

Frannie


Friends... They cherish one another's hopes. They are kind to one another's dreams.-- Henry David Thoreau.


For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:3-4