Goodbyes. . .

FRIENDS, FRIENDS, FRIENDS, FRIENDS. . . .

Anna, Jen, & Lauren (minus Dan and Eric) *****Marsha

Jen and Dan were one of the first couples we became friends with in Ottumwa. They had just returned from spending a few years in France and we were so excited to have their friendship! Lauren was born just 2 days before my mom passed away and the reality of "The LORD gives and the LORD takes away" was more true than ever. It was so fun to watch her grow, then to welcome Anna and then to actually be with Dan and Jen as she gave birth to Eric last summer! Again, thank you Jen and Dan for allowing me to be a part of such an incredible miracle! I'll never forget our times! Jen ran part of my marathon with me and they were there to cheer me on in Chicago. . . thanks for making that trip and encouraging me to finish! Also, thank you for your wisdom and advice and knowledge of the JD ex-pat experience! Thank you for being a loyal, loving, deeply-caring friend! Marsha, what do I say? I love your friendship! One of the first times we hung out, we went to Bellacino's and a movie. . . you realized we were Josh's age and I realized you were my sister's age:) I love that the difference in our age didn't prevent us from becoming friends! Thank you for loving me so well, for the massages, the long talks, cooking together and teaching me through just spending time with me! Thanks for one final road trip. . . the cheesecakes and cream puffs were worth it all:)

Danelle, I have very much enjoyed our talks when I come to get adjusted and I will miss those times! I love how positive you are and I'll never forget the time that I needed some serious encouragement, you and Dave were the ones to lift me up (and fix me up for that matter). Thank you for sharing your own experience and for loving me and Kevin through a tough time. I respect you two greatly!

Angie just makes me smile! She has blessed Emma incredibly with enough clothes to last her a few years! I usually end up laughing when I'm talking to Angie and I'm thankful for their family! Steve got me into coaching and I never would have met some of the people I did if he wouldn't have encouraged me to help out! I miss the days of coaching high school girls, but I wouldn't trade them for the days I have now!

Laurel and Cindy Sponheim

Emma's friends, Lilly and Quenton and Josh

Mark and Kevin were on the worship team together. I can't look at him without getting a little teary. He's just one of those men that I know Kevin respects deeply. His sense of humor and the uncertainty of what he's about to say keeps me smiling every time I'm around him. Mark and Kim are very special people and we will miss them greatly!

Mallory is very sad Emma's leaving!! She'll be less sad though, when her baby brother or sister arrives in November!! Congratulations Zach and Julie!! Again, Julie, I don't have time to cry while I'm blogging, so just know you are loved and will be missed way more than you know! Thank you for being such a positive, loving, serving, giving, funny, sensitive, amazing friend! I will think of you every time I walk into Emma's room. . . so, pretty much every day:)

I feel like I've known the Boyers most of my life. Well, I guess it's been most of my Ottumwa life! They were one of the first couples we met at Northgate and we spent many hours at their house playing with their kids! Tracy and Marvin, you are a great couple and I hope one day we can visit you where your dream will be a reality! Thank you for sharing life with us!

Gerrii's about to give birth to their third daughter. . . any day now! We took a late-night trip to WalMart a few nights ago. She's nesting and needed some last-minute things! We laughed and joked and I felt like a college girl again! Our friendship is fairly new, but very deep for the short time we've known each other. Once we get to talking, we can't stop and usually I end up coming home a few hours later than I planned! Kevin is very gracious, and knows me (and Gerrii) better than we know ourselves! He just adds a few hours to the time I tell him I think I'll be home and usually he's right! Thanks Jay and Gerrii for being so easy and fun and comfortable to be around. I have sooooo enjoyed our talks and the laughs that never seem to end! Thank you for letting me grieve with you also, for your loss and the pain that will be so heavy for a while now. You are loved and your friendship is such a blessing to me!