Sweet Friends

We all know the joy of having a great friend. It really is a precious gift. Well, Connor got to experience his first great friend in Colin. They really were two peas in a pod. Colin has an older brother, Ryan, who Connor idolized. These boys have a baby brother, Blaine, and two great parents, Tim and Laura. We love this family very much as just a few weeks ago had to say goodbye as they packed up and moved to Germany. It's almost like the Army didn't care that we really enjoyed each other! Connor has a precious tender heart but he also has an aggressive streak which can mean that making friends isn't super easy. He is working on it and I really can see growth but for whatever reason, he and Colin hit it off right away and have never once had issues. They played side by side, but independently for a long time and as they grew they learned how to play together. It has been a really great last 2 years knowing that Connor has a friend in his class at church that will play with him and looks forward to his arrival. As a parent it has been great to allow my kids to play at a friends house knowing that their values, standards, expectations, etc. are very closely related to ours. It is comforting to know that my child will be corrected appropriately when he makes a poor choice or that he will be praised when he does well.

We have been upfront with Connor about their move and initially he would burst into tears and sob "I not want Cowin & Ryan to move to Germ-nee!" In more recent days he occasionally, with a quivering voice, will say, "I miss Cowin & Ryan. I not want dem to move to Germ-nee." And at night he rarely misses an opportunity to tell God thank you for his friends "Cowin & Ryan." I love this sweet family and am tearfully writing to say that we already miss them dearly. Please pray for Connor as he adjusts to life without his friends Colin and Ryan. Pray for me as I adjust to life without Laura (one of my closest friends I've made since moving to Cove 3 1/2 years ago.) And finally, pray for money to fall from the sky so we can go visit them in Germany!

Connor & Colin "camping"

Ryan's lego creation

All our sweet kids (Milly & Andi joined us) lined up at our last dinner.