Saying Goodbye

Living here can be hard especially when we have to say good bye to people that have become our family. Today we had a goodbye party for our dear friends Marianne, David and their daughter Sarah. David and Marianne have been here since we moved here 7 years ago. They have been a significant part of my kids lives and mine and John's as well. They are the kind of people you look for at your dinner table for Thanksgiving and Christmas and if they aren't present (like this past Christmas) I cry. So tonight we celebrated their time here and took a trip down memory lane with a video of all their years here in Asia. It was neat to see the impact they have had on so many people. We are going to miss them dearly.

Me and Marianne

All the guys.

Layla hanging out in her stroller.

Saying Goodbye

Saying goodbye is never easy. My parents have spent a month with us and we have had a blast! Kayleigh and Zeb have thoroughly enjoyed having their grandparents around and to be honest I have too! Yesterday we both had flights to catch. Ours was back to our city and Mom and Dad's was back to the USA. We had to say a fairly quick good bye because we were going to miss our flight. It was such a quick goodbye that I didn't have time to get sad however, today is different. The kids keep asking where their Nana and Popa are and well it just breaks my heart. How do I explain to my 4 and 2 year old that they won't see their grandparents for a while? I am pretty sure Zeb was convinced that my parents had moved here. He keeps naming random things around the house as Nana's or Popa's. After 6 years of living here you would think that the goodbyes would get easier but they haven't. In some ways they have gotten harder. The older my kids get the more they remember their grandparents and the more they miss them. However, I feel so thankful that they could come and spend a month with us and see our life here. I wouldn't change that for the world.

More Goodbyes

Tonight we said goodbye to some more close friends. My friend Laura and her husband Matt are going to the States for 6 months. When they return to Asia, they will be returning to another city. Kayleigh had to say goodbye to her best friend. She was really sad. Although, they will see each other occasionally it won't be the same as seeing her once a week or so. I have to remind myself that this is part of living overseas and life. People come and go, but I think more often here than in America. I am thankful that there is a time frame that I can tell Kayleigh when she will see Julianna again. We have had some people leave this summer that I don't know when we will see again. That is hard for her little mind to grasp. I'm so glad Kayleigh and Julianna had one last night of fun together before she left.

Julianna, Kayleigh, and Lydia

The Goodbyes Have Started

I have been dreading the month of June for quite sometime. This is the month I have to say goodbye to two of my very close friends here in East Asia. Erin Ashley is moving to America and Laura is going home for furlough for 6 months and then when she returns will move to a different city. Last night we had a farewell party for Erin Ashley and Andy. We showed a slide show of their past 7 years here and presented them with a scrapbook. We also took some time to pray for them and their future plans. I am going to miss her dearly. I don't know life here without her. Erin Ashley made East Asia fun and survivable my first year here. I am trusting the Lord that one day our paths will cross again.

Saying Goodbye

We have lived overseas for 6 years and saying goodbye still hasn't gotten any easier. We leave in two days and have just finished saying goodbye to my side of the family. My sister Hayley had a baby in September. When we came home this month it was the first time I had met her. She is so sweet and I am really sad that I don't get to see her grow and change. Kayleigh loves her and tries to hold her but isn't so successful. We are not sure when we will be home again so saying goodbye is hard. We had such a good time here and our month flew by so fast. We can't wait to see everyone again sometime in the future.

I asked Kayleigh to open her eyes for this picture. This is the result I got!

Kayleigh and her cousins Savannah and Bryleigh.

My sister Hayley.

The First 16 days of August

The first 16 days of August we......

hung out with our good friend Chad

got to see Emmarie and have one last fun time at the lake

said goodbye to our good friend Ellie as she leaves for Boston

said goodbye to Poppa and Nanna ( at least Kayleigh did)

said goodbye to Grandy and Grammie

spent some quality time with Colby and Graylyn

said goodbye to Uncle Johnathan

and....said goodbye to each other. Zeb and I are missing John and Kayleigh so much. We can't wait to be reunited as a family on September 4th. Zeb loves to see his sister on the webcam. She gives us hugs and kisses. He "talks" to her like she understands all he has to say. We are counting down the days!