the last of our kind

Wow. It's an unreal feeling. And very lonely. When we joined our church 6 years ago, we never dreamed that we'd spend much of that time saying goodbye. It's hard. It's no fun. Yesterday we said goodbye to the last remaining "original" class members. We're all that's left. Looking around I don't see all the familiar faces that were once there. It's sad. I miss all our "old" friends. I miss how things used to be. I miss it all. I know change is part of growth, and I am glad we are growing, it's just that letting go and moving on are hard hard things to do, and today it's weighing just a bit heavier. We said goodbye to another couple last night, and it was hard. I wanted to stall them longer, keep talking longer, hug the kiddos longer. This morning I woke up feeling heavy. We've said goodbye so many times. I guess it's just a sad morning for me. I hate when friends move away. I miss all those familiar faces. We talked with a few "new" friends last night after the "old" ones left about how much the face of our church has changed. That's when we realized Scott and I were the last of our "kind". Six years ago there was a solid class of awesome people, and now we are all that's left. Many have moved on because of military transfers, others have moved on to be closer to family, others for various reasons, but all have been sad. And as one more leaves, it just gets sadder for me. I am missing the way things used to be. I'm missing Debra's smile on Sunday morning, Ernest and those ties; Annette's laugh (bunko! oh that bunko!), Steve's violin; Bernie and Becky simply being Bernie and Becky; Pugs... oh man, there are not enough words to say all I miss about them; the Flippo's stories and Michelle's incredible way of making me laugh even when things were not so peachy; and the Fortson's... I miss my friend and confidant. Things will get better and we will move on. Today though I'm taking time to remember the good old days. I pray that wherever they have ended up, they are doing well and are being blessed beyond measure. We pray for all of you and miss you more than words can say. And to the ones who just moved... ya stinkers! :) We love you guys and are praying that someday the winds change and you get to come back. Our kids will be older, we'll have time for Starbucks!