Selamat Jalan

There are few things in life I dread, but the month of May is one of them. The month of May sends my heart into a mix of emotion ranging from relief because the end of the school year is here to deep sadness because good friends are leaving, some for a short time others with no plans to return. The weeks leading up to graduation have me continually saying good-bye and trying to squeeze in just a few more minutes together. The week after graduation there's a large void in my heart. It's me grieving, I know. This happens every year. This year we said "See ya later" to the Ferderers.

I knew I would be friends with them the first time they ever said anything! We were at a teachers meeting for the beginning of the school year and the new teachers were introducing themselves. Ben said," My name is Ben. My wife's name is Michelle. We are the Ferderers, it rhymes with murderers." I never forgot their name, and instantly knew we would be friends. 

Ben and Michelle served as nurses and teachers. Michelle was the first person in the entire world that I emailed a picture of Kate's dirty diaper so she could tell me if it was normal. She has been a constant benchmark of what normal is in parenthood. Our girls loved to play together. Kate still will ask for E when we drive by your old apartment.

There are way too many memories to share here, so I'll share some photos that spark lovely times spent together. These pictures don't capture the companionship that encouraged us to just keep going. They don't capture the tears shared or the hard questions asked that provoked insightful conversations about ourselves, God, and each other. They don't capture all the meals shared together. They are only a glimpse of the journey we share together.

Rockin' the "Dad Plaid" and the babes are wearing neon

We miss you! We're looking forward to meeting up when we're stateside.