One street ends and a new one begins

You know those best friend necklaces we thought were SO cool in elementary school? The ones like the picture above where one half says "Be Fri" and the other half says "st ends?" I had one of those. Katie and I were bff and we wanted the world to know it. She wore the "Be Fri" side and I wore the "st ends" side. It was awesome.

Then she dropped a bomb on me and moved away to Arkansas. My world was rocked.

Then junior high happened. Ashley and I spent so much of our 7th and 8th grade years writing notes back and forth that it is a wonder we learned anything during those years. Then 9 weeks before the completion of 8th grade, the school closed and we all had to switch schools. She went to a new private school and I started attending public schools. She got to be with a bunch of our old friends and some really awesome new friends and I got to go to a new school and come home and cry every day.

Church friends can always be counted on to be around forever, right? Erin was my best church friend and we had a blast together in the youth group. Then her family decided to move to Texas in the middle of our ninth grade year. Later, all my other church friends left the church when an ugly church split caused divisions.

One of my best friends in high school was Deena. It was my honor to help lead her to the Lord and watch her grow for a few years. But low and behold, her family also decided to move away... just before our senior year.

I was where the street ended, it seemed. Just like my part of the necklace, "st ends" = me There were times Satan tempted me to believe that I was a dead end friend. That it was my fault and I tended to drive people away. Never the case, but nevertheless, Satan tried that one a few times. I stuck my tongue out at him and moved on with the Lord's help. (It also helped that the constant "best friend" that I had during most of those years was my future husband. That street will never end :) thankfully)

Funny how our lives sometimes have a repeat button.

Nearly 8 years ago, my brother married Vanessa. Vanessa was not only the perfect life mate for Kyle, but the perfect friend for me. She has about a gazillion other super friends, but the past five years, she's been best friend to me. Likewise, Kyle has become Joey's best friend as well.

Today, Vanessa, Kyle and my three nephews boarded a plane for Kenya. They'll spend the next two years there. Joey and I are mourning the loss of not just part of our family, but also our best friends. However, I can honestly say that I'm rooting for them. I'm proud of them. I'm impressed by them. And most of all, I'm excited for them.

The following is part of what I wrote to them in a goodbye card. I wanted to emphasize the excitement I feel for them as this "st ends" and a new one begins. I titled it

I’m excited...

I’m excited that you will be able to be directly used by God to do HIS work in a much needed place. Most of us can just hope that what we are doing is what He wants us to do. You know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are exactly where He wants you to be, doing exactly what He wants you to do. How cool is that!

I’m excited that you will rarely be more than a few steps away from a beautiful scenery that will WOW you and cause you to live in even more AWE of God and his creation.

I’m excited that Kyle will be able to use his many skills to heal people - not just physically, but spiritually. He is so good at both of those.

I’m excited that Vanessa will get to use her many talents not just in the home with the boys, but with the countless women she will meet. Vanessa has the best relationship skills of anyone I know. She truly loves people and that will multiply her ministry in so many ways.

I’m excited that your marriage will grow even stronger as you adjust and learn how to go through this experience of a lifetime together. You will depend on each other more than ever and you will hold each other up better than ever.

I’m excited that your family will get to spend more time together as a family without all the distractions and events that kept you so busy in the States. (Feel free to say no to things in Kenya if necessary. Things could get hectic there too. Never take your family time for granted.)

I’m excited that your boys will grow bold, strong and confident.

I’m excited that Hudson (who is the most caring four year old I know already) will be able to minister to people in his own special way. His heart will be stirred for missions and his life will be forever changed.

I’m excited that Jude will experience his “terrific” twos while surrounded by people who exemplify true unselfishness in the way they serve others. This will rub off on him and the normal selfishness that comes during the terrible two years will be replaced by unselfishness and a desire to serve alongside his parents. His terrible twos will be terrific twos, I am sure of it.

I’m excited that Isaac will not become accustomed to the pampered life that so many babies get from day one here in the States. He will know and experience a simple life with simple pleasures that will make a huge impact on him as he grows. Even if he doesn't remember much about these first few years, this lesson will last.

I’m excited that your kids lives will be forever changed. Their love for the Lord will grow, their concept of the world around them will be enlarged and their tenderness to the things of the Spirit will be astounding.

I’m excited that you will be free to dance in church and worship God without shame. I’m excited that you will get to see and help people come to the Lord regularly.

I’m excited that you will not just hear about miracles and answers to prayer, but you will witness them firsthand. In fact, just your obedience to follow God’s call to go to Kenya is an answer to prayer and in itself a miracle of God’s providence in both your lives and the lives of those people in Kenya who have fervently prayed for a doctor and his family to come serve them.

Kyle and Vanessa - 2 years and 2000+ miles won't change our love for you and our friendship with you. May the Lord bless your ministry and make two years go by super fast!

Hudson and Hannah

Doesn't Hudson (age 4) look like he is excited but slightly terrified? He is adorable and so sweet. He really felt the sorrow of leaving all his cousins this morning. Keep him in your prayers.

Jude (age 2) is a little firecracker. He looks a little like he has plans that may or may not be mischievous in nature.

Isaac (6 months) looks like he is ready to take on the world.