Reflecting....

So today I will share on the more personal side of my life... 

What you may not know is we are a military family and for the most part have come to appreciate our life, but when moving time comes, I get sad. This is the longest place we have lived in one spot since we got married. It will be a month short of three years when we leave. For a girl like me who had the same friends since grade school and didn't move till college, I've come a long way. 

Now don't get me wrong I'm not looking for sympathy. I know I married a military man and moving was part of it. I know my kids will survive just fine, learn to be resilient, become wonderful people for the many experiences they have- all that is true- I know. But it doesn't make it any easier to leave friends we wish we could know longer, play with more, and have more deep nourishing conversations.

This was solidified when we met up with some old friends from South Korea over the weekend. We met them at the smallest base in the Navy- Chinhae, Korea- at a soccer game of 12 people. We invited them over for dinner and the rest was history.
 It was before we were married and long before we had kids. They were our only Korean friends we knew and we loved hanging out with them. They treated us like family and we loved the many experiences we had with them. Over the years I've thought of them often, and wondered how they were doing- but had no way to contact them. Then through the miracle of Facebook, I was able to find their email again and reconnect right before Christmas.
Then we heard they would be coming to FL! 

I was ecstatic! We hadn't seen them in over 8 years! They took the longest drive they have ever done in their lives (Korea is small) and came to see us for 1 day. 

I soaked it in! I loved every minute and desired more. I loved seeing their sweet boy who was growing into a wonderful young man. I loved how we caught up instantly. I loved how we talked about all the fun memories we had and laughed at all the days we were together. But most of all I loved seeing who they are today and knowing their hearts once more for the amazing people we met years ago. It was the most perfect day you could imagine, and when it came for them to leave, I really cried. I cried out of pure sadness for not having those years in between. I cried because although I knew we would see each other again, I knew it would be a very long time until then and there would be so many more things I want to talk to her about before the next time. 

Their friendship is such a blessing. As with all my sweet dear friends, I make friends fast and usually try not to waste time with being superficial, but around move time that makes it difficult for me. 

So today school started a little slower. The kids acted up because they were tired and I just wanted to live here a little longer. I looked around our house and thought about our great classroom and wished with all my heart it wasn't going to change in a few months.  I questioned all the things I do when I get ready to move to a new place. Will we make friends that love us as much as the ones here? Will I love my CC group there as much as I do here? Will I ever see these wonderful people again? Will God be so good to let our paths cross once more? 

We called a friend to come over to do volcanoes, but they had plans, then another, plans too. Then after 10 minutes a sweet friend called me and asked us if we wanted to come over to play. I jumped at the chance. I gathered up my half dressed kids and ran over. 

Then the inevitable question came, "How are you doing with the move?" And this time I couldn't hide it, I just cried. Seeing our kids play together, laugh and swing like they have no care in the world. Knowing we were close enough for me to walk through her laundry room- knowing all that, I just cried. So tonight I'm reflecting on God's sweet goodness to us through all our moves and the many more to come. I'm thankful for friendships that have been over just a few months to a few years. I'm thankful for them all. 

Yes, God knows what we need, and I know I will have that there- I know all that. God is good. God is faithful, just sometimes I wish I didn't have to move to see it. 

Here are a few pictures of our wonderful Korean friends... 

I could fill this blog up with the many dear friends God has blessed us with, so in just posting these I hear His sweet voice of love to me. I'm thankful. So thankful today for friends who mean so much and the new friends to come. 

Thankful for the wealth of true friends.

Blessings to you and yours,

Crecia