Long Distance Relationship

My best friend moved away in 5th grade. I didn't take it well at all. I remember one of my teachers noticing how sad I was and she tried to cheer me up and pair me with new friends during group activities. I remember writing a letter to Casey Casem of America's Top 40 hoping he would play Richard Marx's "Right Here Waiting" for my "Long Distance Dedication." (Yes - I know that song is about a romantic relationship, but I was in 5th grade and missed my best friend. It helped me cope.)

My brother moved to Texas a few years ago and I'm still not okay with it. My two best friends from college moved to different states and I probably feel just as strongly about them leaving South Carolina as their mother does. I don't do well with goodbyes. I don't like not knowing "when" I will see someone again. 

So add my tendency toward depression when someone moves away to the fact that I'm extra emotional during pregnancy and multiply it times 10 because now I have to explain "moving" to my 3 year old and it equals a big blubbering mess because... 

The Clarks moved away. To Virginia. The Clarks and the Boozers were our first real "couple" friends and I remember our first time really hanging out watching a Clemson bowl game on New Year's Eve 2007. Shelley and Jessica and I made a new year's resolution to start running and train for the Cooper River Bridge Run and we started running together after work and developing our friendships! Children came for all of us within the next 14 months and we all became mothers and fathers together and relied on each other for help, meals, and most of all - comic relief! These people make me laugh and we have such a good time together. We squabble with spouses in front of each other and no one is free from ridicule - albeit harmless! We have prayed for each other through job changes, losses in our families, child rearing, football seasons and many other things. I can't imagine the last 5 years without their influence! I'm so excited for their future in Virginia and what their new lives will be like and for the new friends they will make. But oh man, I am so sad to have them gone. I am thankful that their families both live in SC and therefore they will be required to visit. I am thankful Wilson is crazy obsessed with the Gamecocks and home games will bring their family down for a visit. I am thankful for impending maternity leave and trying to venture up there for a visit. But mainly, I am thankful for the Lord's providence over our friendships and knowing that this is just a new chapter for all of us. 

The six of us leaving church together for the last time before they moved. (We were leaving a funeral so we all look a little rough and it was an awkward moment to take a photo - but no one does awkward better than us.)

But how do I explain this to Katie? Katie and Maddie stayed together every day since Maddie was 8 weeks old and Katie was 20 weeks old until just this past January. They fought and loved just like sisters. It probably didn't help ease them into being away from each other by having Maddie's last 3 weeks in town spent together at VBS, Ballet camp, and gymnastics - but I wanted them to have several last hurrahs together! The night before they moved, Jessica and the girls spent the night with us after their house was all packed up. I snapped this picture of Katie and Maddie sharing a popsicle on the front porch. I love the innocence of childhood here and I love the closeness of their friendship that they were willing to SHARE a popsicle! That's friendship, huh!?

The Clarks have been gone for a few weeks now and while it hasn't totally sunk in that they don't live here anymore - we already miss them so much. Katie talks about Maddie a lot and asks all the time to go see her new house. Church is the hardest because there was rarely a Sunday when they weren't together so Katie doesn't know church life without Maddie. When Katie says her prayers at night and we get to the part about what she wants to ask God to help her with...she typically says she doesn't need any help because she can do everything by herself. But lately, she's been asking for God to help her not miss Maddie so much. I sure am glad the lights are off so she can't see my eyes welling up with tears!

Katie has been very sensitive and asks me if I miss my friend too. I try not to cry about it in front of her because crying really bothers her - but it's so sweet that she's asking me and caring about me too.

We all miss the Clarks and are so thankful for things like Facebook and texting and free minutes after 7pm to be able to stay in touch much better than people could before all this technology became available. And right now, I'm thankful for the Richard Marx Pandora station that FINALLY played Right Here Waiting. Not quite Casey Casem playing it for me, but it'll do.