feeling the miles

One of the toughest things about living halfway across the world is missing the big "life events" in our friends and family.

Like when your best friend has a baby.

For the last five years of our marriage, and even before, we have made a point to visit our close friends and their new baby either in the hospital or just days after birth. Its just been something especially important to us, and something we wanted to witness and be a part of with our friends.

Two years... I knew it was inevitable even before we left. I knew in my head it would eventually happen.

Now its come. Twice actually.

The first time was in August when my very close friend, Danielle, had her baby boy. We met four years ago through a young marrieds group at church. She is a very dear friend who is one of the most thoughtful and generous people I know. She was only a couple months pregnant before we left. I of course was ecstatic, yet a part of me was also selfishly aware it meant that I would miss her having her baby, miss meeting him just days into this world, and missing the first year of his life. I missed her becoming a mom for the first time.

Ryder

I just LOVE that smile!!

The second happened only just days ago, which also inspired this post. Tim's best friend since grade school just became a dad. They go way back... roommates, groomsmen in each other's weddings. We got the call last February with the exciting news. Again, it hit home for us that we were far away. Since we're presently on vacation and traveling around, we don't have phone connection. So we anxiously checked their blog daily (sometimes more than once :) to find out if Becky had delivered yet. We were eager to finally "meet" the little guy. Those two are the kind-of couple where parenting seems so befitting, simply natural.

Our absence is not as hard as I expected. In a way I do feel a little homesick. I want to make a meal for them and send it over, to visit and just watch them be parents, or take the baby for the evening so they can go out. But, my heart is so happy for our friends more than anything! I'm so excited for this new chapter in their lives. Oh I'm sad to not play a more active role in it right now, but we share in their joy. Unlike missionaries back in the day, we have phone, internet, and email to stay connected and up to date. Thanks to modern technology :)

Samuel

I just want to SQUEEZE him!!

To little Ryder (since I know you read this blog with your Mom :) and to tiny Samuel (Happy Birthday, we share the same birth month too :), you are blessed with such special parents! "Auntie" Hannah and "Uncle" Tim are praying for you and look forward to kissing your sweet cheeks when we come home!

Someone in Africa loves you!! :)