Cheesecake and Tears

Speaking of blessed, after such a fun day seeing our son for the first time and working on baby registries we were treated to a night with our friends. The guys got together and ordered pizza and played poker. They were thoughtful enough to get Matt IBC Root Beer (his favorite). The girls and I went to Cheesecake Factory, one of my faves and ate dinner. We laughed and really enjoyed each other's company. Afterward we walked over to a fountain in the shopping center and took pictures together. I felt so silly because the place was packed with shoppers and the regular dinner crowd and here we are, these grown adults taking picture after picture in front of this fountain. After dinner we went back to Cara's house to eat our cheesecake and just spend time together. We laughed and talked and then they brought out a gift bag for me. I opened it and found two scrapbooks inside that they all worked diligently on for days. They were so beautiful. I cried before I even opened one. These girls took the time to make over 100 pages of photographed memories of our time together over the last 3 years. I laughed and cried and felt so loved. Again, we are so blessed. I can't imagine the time and money these girls put into such an effort. They have been such an amazing and special part of my life that I can't really imagine not seeing them often and regularly. We laughed about how different some of us look from when we met and cried over some really fond memories made together.
I believe that the Lord gives us some friends for a season and some friends for a lifetime. The friends for a season are significant and special and can teach us so much. They are immensely valuable. However, I know in my heart that some of these relationships are not for a season, but for life. I am not delusional enough to believe we'll see each other twice a month and alternate who drives to visit, but I believe that we will be connected for years to come. These are blessings that the Lord has lavished on us that I am unwilling to let go of any time soon.

Tonight there is a going away party planned for us. I am very sure that more tears will fall but I cannot express how grateful we are to be so loved. We have been given abundantly more than we could ever ask or imagine. Thank you Lord.