One of my dearest and closest friends is moving an entire province away this week.
Her eldest child Ben is Graham’s best friend. They met at the age of one and have held hands through Preschool and Kindergarten.
Her second child, Megan, is Nathan’s best friend. He speaks of marrying her one day.
Her third child Olivia is exactly four weeks younger than Emily. She is one of the Fantastic Four.
Christy and her husband Dustin feel that the best choice for their family is to move to Alberta. We have all tried to dissuade them (out of selfishness), but they are certain that they this is what they are supposed to do. We have all resigned ourselves to the fact that they are moving but it has been so far in the future that it has felt like the day would never actually come.
That day has arrived.
When I turned thirty, Matthew organized a booklet where everyone wrote memories/thoughts about me. It was/is one of my most favourite gifts ever. I rallied the troops to do the same for Christy as a going away gift for her. I asked the boys if they wanted to dictate a note to their friends that I could include for them.
Graham’s contribution:
Dear Ben,
I am going to miss you. Have a lot of fun. Um, Ben? You can come over some day. Um, Ben? Well…make sure you have a lot of fun with your Grandma and Grandpa. That’s it.
Graham
Nathan’s contribution:
Dear Megan,
Happy Birthday. Goodbye. I love you. God wants us to share.
Love, Nathan
Here is my contribution.
I dropped Graham off in the nursery and saw an exquisitely adorable boy around his age. His name was Ben.
I wandered into service and sat behind two people whom I had not seen before. He, tall and dark. She, blonde and beautiful, ripe with new life in her belly.
I remember introducing myself. Telling you about the nine-week-old baby in my own belly.
I remember that very first play date we had. Three babies in car seats with a hip-check to the door to make it shut. We got to know each other. Our families, our history, our very being.
Between then and now there are too many memories to mention. We are sisters in Christ, and our children are forever bonded. You are family to us. Truly and forever.
I cannot imagine life without you. I truly can’t. No girls’ nights, no play dates. No chats at school, or at church, or on the phone. I am full of snot and tears as I write this.
You are a woman of faith, of beauty, of grace. I will miss you more that words could ever adequately express.
I love you.
Please excuse me while I go weep in the corner.
I could post a hundred photos but will limit myself to a select few from the years.
2005:
2006:
2007:
2008:
Last night was our last girls’ night out with Christy (except for any future visits). We went to a beachfront restaurant and sat on the patio. We ate great food and listened to an amazing artist. There was a lot of laughing and a few shed tears. We walked across the road to the beach and I took eleventy billion photos. Here are just a few…with more to come once I edit them all.
The Girls:
Me and Christy:
The requisite Kissy Face:
You will be missed, Christy, more than you will ever know. Our loss is going to be some lucky Albertans’ greatest gain. They really have no idea.
I refuse to say goodbye. I will stick with “See you soon”. Love you.
35 Comments
You two are so adorable!
It is hard when friends like this move away. I’m still having a hard time with it after my two BFFs and I moved away from Northern California and moved back to our home states, IL, MN and AZ. That was 3 years ago.
Kristabella’s last blog post..I Love Reality TV
Comment by Kristabella on July 7th, 2008 @ 10:05 amDude - last week I cried during America’s Got Talent. Yesterday I cried during the Wimbledon final. This? Got me going AGAIN. Thank you for my daily cry (and, um, any advice on how to NOT have a daily cry?)
hills’s last blog post..Lay All Your Love On Me
Comment by hills on July 7th, 2008 @ 10:06 amWhat a sweet post! I’m so glad that I was able to be there last night! Looking forward to more photos and I’m listening to Ari’s myspace page right now - love him! I see that his name actually Ariel - I think I might have known him 100 years ago (actually 10) if he is from Oliver. Except back then he had platinum hair and went snowboarding every weekend.
Comment by Tamara on July 7th, 2008 @ 10:16 amI am sad for you.:-( I know that leaving good friends is a heart wrenching experience but that true friendships can shift and become even greater, despite distances. I learned that the hard way when I moved here to WA from CA.
*big hugs*
sizzle’s last blog post..Living The Life
Comment by sizzle on July 7th, 2008 @ 10:25 amI’m so sad for you. 
Having a dear friend move is tough. I hope that you guys have lots of e-mails and phone calls in your future.
Kristie’s last blog post..Sensibility be damned
Comment by Kristie on July 7th, 2008 @ 11:18 amWhat a totally beautiful tribute to your friend.
She Likes Purple’s last blog post..There We Were, Here We Are
Comment by She Likes Purple on July 7th, 2008 @ 12:10 pmSuch a gorgeous post. Now I’ve got that “Friends are friends forever…” song stuck in my head. LOL.
Friends like that are so special, and no matter how far away you might live, you’ll always be connected.
Sharon’s last blog post..On the lookout for more books
Comment by Sharon on July 7th, 2008 @ 12:27 pmOh, my heart just ACHES for you.
And?
Is it just me or are Canadians all freaking HAWT?
(I’m just sayin’…)
Loralee’s last blog post..Hey, Jealousy. (Of the blogging kind, of course.)
Comment by Loralee on July 7th, 2008 @ 12:58 pmAw. Christy will be missed so much. She is really something.
Comment by Jen on July 7th, 2008 @ 12:58 pmI know how rough this is. Only help is to visit often.
witchypoo’s last blog post..Camping
Comment by witchypoo on July 7th, 2008 @ 1:10 pmI know it will be hard for you when Christy moves away, but the best thing about being sisters in Christ? You’ll be together again oneday … forever!! And of course in the meantime there are emails, blogs, webcams, phonecalls, visits and vacations … so you’ll still be able to stay close.
((Hugs))
Hannah’s last blog post..Perfect weather for ?
Comment by Hannah on July 7th, 2008 @ 1:20 pmI am so sorry, Angella. I understand the pain.
And it is pain. It hurts!
Being a military wife I know the feelings of being separated from precious friends all too well. I’ve told my daughter (in an effort to comfort myself too) that she is SO lucky! She is going to have great friends all over the world. So we should thank God for good friends, and fun times, and look forward to visits.
(it’s not ever really the same, though.)
Road trips never sounded so good, right?!
-Andrea
Andrea’s last blog post..Oh, yes we are…
Comment by Andrea on July 7th, 2008 @ 1:43 pmOh, I know this feeling and I know it well. There is a reason Michael W. Smith’s song is a classic: because it’s true. Friends really ARE friends forever when the Lord’s the Lord of them. I will be praying for you as you miss your dear friends!
bethany actually’s last blog post..Annalie’s room is done!!!
Comment by bethany actually on July 7th, 2008 @ 2:06 pmi know how much it sucks saying goodbye to best friends…thank god for blogs, email, and phonecalls to keep in touch!
joyce’s last blog post..Hot summer days…
Comment by joyce on July 7th, 2008 @ 4:37 pmAmazing photos of your friends through the years. May you be able to visit with each other often and have many more memories together.
TheAngelForever’s last blog post..Q&A Fun Time
Comment by TheAngelForever on July 7th, 2008 @ 4:43 pmIt’s so sad but you guys all sound so close, you will find a way to make new memories together!
Hugs!
Kami’s last blog post..15 and counting
Comment by Kami on July 7th, 2008 @ 4:55 pmoh, this post breaks my heart. Few things are worse than a true friend moving away.
Janssen’s last blog post..Making Breakfast for the First and Maybe Only Time
Comment by Janssen on July 7th, 2008 @ 7:41 pmWhat a sweet, sweet post. I know I don’t know you guys, but I can tell you guys really love each other. Friendships like that are awesome and they will last forever. I feel for you though, and I know your heart must be breaking. Loved the pics too…
Dana’s last blog post..Best Shot Monday
Comment by Dana on July 7th, 2008 @ 7:51 pmKnowing that my best friend will be moving away in the next year and a half breaks my heart. I can only imagine how broken your and your kids’ hearts are. Thinking about you 
You are truly blessed to have so many great friends! I don’t even know that many women. I am sure your friendship will remain just as strong no matter the miles between you.
180/360’s last blog post..Opening a can of worms
Comment by 180/360 on July 7th, 2008 @ 11:36 pmFriendships are so much harder as we grow up. They all have to seem to move away. Can’t they just stay close to us - like forever?
Comment by gorillabuns on July 8th, 2008 @ 7:24 amI webt out for lubch yesterday with Manda and she told me about this post. I avoided reading it all day. Just as i stil have yet to red all the writing in the scrapbook. I’m totally in denial. I love you. SO much.
You’re making the crack in my emotional dam widen.
Seriously.
Thank you so much for this…..for all of it. Especially for you.
christy’s last blog post..Ride the Giant
Comment by christy on July 8th, 2008 @ 8:15 amLike I wrote on Amanda’s post, I have been there. I know what it is like to be Christy. To be the one leaving, but not staying. Even though we were in Regina for 8 short months, I think I found my soul mate as far as friends go. We spent almost everyday together, and our kids were tight. Kynan was in love with her daughter, Maren. And best buddies with her son, Izzy. We would talk about everything and anything under the moon. I think other than Dana, she is the one person I felt I could be real with. Leaving Regina was heartbreaking because of this. I still cry often. I miss her terribly. I won’t say time heals, because I am not sure if I believe it myself. But I will say that God places in our lives for a season. If only for a mere short months or for a life time. The is always purpose. Though distance my change the dynamic of your relationship, you still have each other. The only thing that is helping me right now is praying, and reaching out to others. We all will miss Christy, some more than others. I just wanted to say that I know these feelings.
Susie’s last blog post..Downloaded!
Comment by Susie on July 8th, 2008 @ 8:55 amSounds like a friendship that will span the miles, but I am sorry that she won’t be right next to you anymore.
I love the notes from the kids. How sweet!
Elaine’s last blog post..Our Very Own Super Hero
Comment by Elaine on July 8th, 2008 @ 10:47 amThat is such a wonderful post. You and Amanda…so sad. I have only gotten to know Christy over the internet, blogs, lots and lots of emails and now our hubby’s email often. I can tell they are a family who loves the Lord and wants to serve Him with their whole hearts. Friends like this are rare and a jewel indeed! I am sure she will leave quite a hole in all of your hearts. I love the photos….
Filtering Life’s last blog post..Told you so
Comment by Filtering Life on July 8th, 2008 @ 11:50 amHi!
I linked you from bloggymomma and Thought I’d say hi. I, too am moving in a few weeks and my 5 year old is heartbroken that he wont be riding the bus to kindergarten with his bestest preschool buddy. Moving sucks, but good friends will last forever! I’m sad, but here starts a new chapter. Tell your pal good luck with the move!
mollie’s last blog post..BUSTED
Comment by mollie on July 9th, 2008 @ 7:25 pm[...] I promised I would post more photos from Sunday, and would have done so sooner had I not taken on a work project for the week that IS TURNING MY BRAIN INTO A BIG STEAMING PILE OF POO. [...]
Comment by Dutch Blitz » Canadian Chicks Are Hot on July 9th, 2008 @ 8:44 pm[...] past week has been a difficult one for me, emotionally. One minute I am waxing poetic over the loss of a good friend, and the next I am dancing around with giddiness (and posting facts about myself) all to do with [...]
Comment by Dutch Blitz » Up And Down And All Around on July 11th, 2008 @ 6:30 pmAw! Sorry dude! That totally sucks. Isn’t it great to have such amazing friends though?!?!
Mrs. Wilson’s last blog post..Old Dirty
Comment by Mrs. Wilson on July 12th, 2008 @ 5:41 pm[...] talked to my Mom on the phone this morning. She told me that she was sorry that Christy was leaving, and was happy that I had hot friends. She had a bone to pick, however. And I quote, “I [...]
Comment by Dutch Blitz » Three Posts In One on July 13th, 2008 @ 6:40 pmGreat post, Angella. Christy will definitely be missed.
Elizabeth’s last blog post..It’s all good
Comment by Elizabeth on July 14th, 2008 @ 12:06 am[...] with NBC Universal. Part of the deal is that iVillage is posting links to BlogHer posts. My post about Christy is one of three posts highlighted (The title was changed to “BlogHer: My closest friend is [...]
Comment by Dutch Blitz » BlogHer/iVillage on July 17th, 2008 @ 8:16 am
I have a similar post brewing but am not ready for the weeping that will accompany my typing, so I’ve been putting it off.
Comment by Amanda on July 7th, 2008 @ 10:03 amAmanda’s last blog post..Better. Much, Thank You.