Goodbyes are Hard

I don't like to say goodbye.

Who does, really?!?!

But we had to say goodbye to our very best friends this week.

Moving day came WAY too soon.

We'd all been praying for over a year 

that Layne would find a better job for the coming school year.

God is good and answered that prayer

but, unfortunately for us, it meant they were moving to Iowa.

They were the first friends we made when we moved to Utah 8 years ago.

We met them at church

and they invited to join their Bible study at their house the following week.

We did and the rest is history.

We adore their 2 girls, 

love to hang out with Shirley (Erin's mom who lives with them),

 spent LOTS of time hanging out with Layne and Erin

and we will miss their faces!

We've been friends through a lot:

hospitalizations, job changes, school changes, 

the adoption of Baylee, Erin's mom moving in with them, 

their dog dying, road trips, breakfast dates,
 birthday parties, backyard dinners, desserts,
graduations, family visits, football gatherings,

took a zillion pictures of their girls, card games,

housesitting, babysitting, playdates, bonfires,
too many Bible studies to count, St. Patrick's day dinners,

school programs, t-ball, and adventures around Utah.

They have lived in Utah for 18 years

and always told us that we could never leave them when Kevin graduated.

They bargained for us to stay often

and little did we know that we should have been talking them into staying!

 We headed down to their house with their favorite dessert to do the dreaded thing.

We chatted and tried to pretend that their empty house
and lawn chair seating was the norm.

I served pie, chatted with the girls and then it was time to say goodnight.

I cried...

Kevin and I had a pep talk about this and I thought I could go without crying.
Who was I kidding??

I got it under control and went back to serving pie to the adults.

We talked about the latest happenings 

and what the next few months had in store for us.

Then we had to say a real goodbye.

Erin and I both cried.

The boys thought we were being dramatic.
Hugs, crying, reminiscing, etc.

 We know we'll see them again but it won't be the same.

We'll be living 14 hours apart.

They won't be able to call us and say, "Come down for dinner in an hour."

But we will see them again... hopefully soon!

Maybe we'll get to head to Iowa next summer.

I've only driven through Iowa 

so we're glad to now have a new spot to visit.

See you soon Layne, Erin, Shirley & the girls;

Utah won't be the same without you!

Love, Whitney & Kevin