I have been so blessed over the last 2 years to have become friends with my dear Kate. But alas, we find that she and her husband Chris are moving to New Jersey at the end of this week. I am so very sad, as is Joe. They have become like family to us in such a very short time, and the memories that we have crammed into the last couple of years have been AMAZING!
It was Kate that inspired me to learn how to ride a motorcycle, and she has been encouraging me all along the journey of getting my license. And this past weekend I finally got to live the dream of riding with her, just the two of us girls, out on our bikes!!! That was so fun, except for when I ran out of fuel! We made another memory.
There was a fun slumber party on Friday night with a few of Kate's friends from church that could come. What a great time of laughing, crying, celebrating together we had. Even more sweet memories were made in just a few short hours.
Yesterday was their last day to worship with us, and what an emotional time that was. I stood with her, both of us sobbing, and just sang about how much HOPE we have because of Christ; knowing that really, we're not saying good-bye forever, even if we never see each other in person again on this earth. We truly will have ETERNITY to spend together because of the sacrifice of Christ and His grace that He has poured out on our hearts. The people that gathered around them to pray and send them off are all such precious people. I noticed that Chris was just looking around at each one of them and I thought, "He surely is trying to hide this all in his heart." All the memories that have been made, all the work that he has done for so many of them, all the times of fellowship and ministry, YEARS of what I like to call "doing life together." Those are the things that I'm sure Chris and Kate will hang onto, as will those of us that are left behind.
We were so honored that they chose to spend their last Sunday having lunch and hanging out with us! And Kate and I were able to have a moment of exchanging letters and cards, and then had time to pray together, just thanking God for the gift of friendship, for His blessing to ME by giving me this opportunity to have known Kate...that is a moment that I will hold dear for ever!
We then made our way to the park for a church-wide send off for them. What a blessing it was to hear all the things that were said about them, their compassion for the Body of Christ, their vision for the church, their love of people, no matter where they are, and on and on the list went. Keep in mind that this couple is just in their mid-twenties! I told them in a card I gave that one of things I was grateful for was how they invested in my boys. They gave life and breath and skin to The Gospel in the form of how they ministered to my kids!!!
I know that we still have a few days left to hang out and spend a little more time together, and we do have your dog at our house (hey, we could hold him hostage!), but I wanted to go ahead and say "Thank You" to Kate for walking this road with me, for being my friend and sister in Christ, and I am so thankful for technology that will allow us to keep in touch over the next few years! I love you, Kate!
