"Goodbye lunch with friends"...

Alexa (1 on 11/5/08) and Elijah Brooks (1 on 11/7/08) 

EB has found his tongue! This is his new face!  Also, check out the lovely bruise on his forehead. He crashed into his armoire the other night while walking on his wobbly legs. 

His tongue, and his bruise! 

Sweet Alexa! 

Opening gifts with Daddy.....

Alexa with her mommy, Rachelle, opening her present 

Erin and Rachelle with their big 1 year olds! 

My good friend Rachelle and her husband Brad and their little girl Alexa, met us for lunch today to say "goodbye".  We are moving in 1 week, which is so hard to believe.  Jay and I were just talking this morning about how we have been so busy the past several months, that we have not even had time to process the fact that we are moving and leaving dear and precious friends behind.  I know it is going to hit me like a ton of bricks when I have to pull away from my driveway next weekend.  I have been savoring the time I have left with my friends.  This past week, I had a "goodbye" dinner with my dear girlfriends from RTS  (Seminary).  These girls and I have become so close over the past 2 1/2 years, as we have watched our husbands answer the call from God and go through the rigorous training of Seminary.  We all came in together as Freshman, and our husbands will graduate next May together.  We will all be moving on come next Spring - but we just happen to be the ones who are leaving first.  I met my dear friends Kelly-Jane, Kelli, Rebecca, and Natalie for dinner last week to say goodbye.  The night before, I met my other dear friends from my church, Judi, Laura, Ilse and Stacy for a goodbye dinner (though I will see them again tonight, as we are getting together with our husbands and kids tonight one last time).  Tomorrow, Jay preaches his last sermon at Bethel and we have a church-wide farewell luncheon for us after church. Today, we met the Kelly's for lunch.   Rachelle and I met during birthing class last August.  Our babies were born 2 days apart at the same hospital! We obviously developed a very special friendship while walking through pregnancy, childbirth, and our babies 1st year together.  Both of our kids had their 1st birthday party last weekend, but with so much family in town to celebrate the birthday's, we weren't able to be at each other's parties.  So, we met for lunch today for a "private party"!  

I have so many friends all over the country - and even my best friend Stephanie lives in Japan - so I know I will remain dear friends with all of my girlfriends. Saying goodbye is never easy though, and I am going to miss everyone so much.