Black Saturday i.e. Moving Day
It was December 16 when we shed the first tear over the possibility that our dearest friends next door could be moving. It was a reality that was almost inconceivable to believe as this friendship with our next door neighbors has been better than we could ever have hoped for. I remember that day. The boys and I were crossing the street to get the mail when all of a sudden there came a banging from the hammer that was pounding the For Sale sign into their lawn. It wasn’t even a cushioned sound that might come from a hammer on wood, but the clanking, rattling sound of a hammer on metal. How symbolic, I thought as I realized the pain in my heart. But, listen, the last six months have been a growing experience for me. Yes, I said it, for me. My friend, Jen, the one who is moving, is an extraordinary example a person who lives by her faith. When she said she couldn’t help but feel like this was God’s will for her and her family, at least to see if the house would sell before July 31, what kind of person or friend would I be if I questioned that. She said she felt like if she didn’t at least do it and see what happened then she would be doing a disservice to everything she believes in. I’ve watched the process that she and her family have gone through in six months. Learning patience, tolerance, obedience and acceptance by the strength of her faith alone. I can’t help think all of this was meant to be an influence on me as well.
They aren’t ready to even move into their new home yet! They are storing half of their belongings in a friend’s garage and moving into her mother’s town house for 45 days while the house they bought is renovated and added on to. They only just found out their offer was accepted on the new place Wednesday night last week! Talk about trusting that there is a greater power at work here and a perfect plan that awaits them! I heard her say, more times than I can count, over these last months, “Just pray for God’s will,” “He wouldn’t abandon us after we’ve come this far,” “God is good…” While the uncertainty wasn’t always easy, she never bat an eye, because she knew she was doing the right thing.
So, it’s hard to believe that this day has come. I think it really hit me last night when I arrived home from work because I didn’t have anything left then to fill the time between that moment last night and this day today. And, it’s been a lot harder than I think I expected. We tried to make light of it all while the house was on the market. We did share plenty of laughs. Whenever there was a showing, sometimes we’d tell Logan to get his spy gear and we would all hunch down below the front window of our house and peek out to catch a glimpse of who any future neighbors would be. We didn’t always use the spy gear, but we were always sure to catch a peek.We’d watch and wait and determine how long they were there and when they left, send Jen a message that they could come home again. It was always light and fun – making the most of what would be inevitable. I even caught Chris in the act trying to take the sign down while they were on vacation!
So, with two weeks left before their deadline to take the sign down and the house off the market, some people came and decided that they liked it. We couldn’t believe it. A couple days later, after the news broke, I took Craig and Jen’s picture so that when we were outside visiting (which we won’t anymore, how can we?), we could hold their picture up and it would be like they were still here (I don’t think they actually speak that much with their hands-it was for dramatic purposes!).
Here are some things that I will miss the most about having Jen, Craig, Ema and Caleb as neighbors:
1. Coming outside and visiting whenever we want. That’s the best thing about having great friends as neighbors, you don’t have to worry about making plans and waiting. You just do it right then.
2. Backyard fence “Wilson.” Remember “Home Improvement?”
3. Window Scarecrow.
4. 30 minute projects – even if it was surely longer, we always said it would just take 30 minutes and we could move on.
5. Every year on or around the Kentucky Derby, Craig helps Chris fix our busted sprinkler system.
6. Jen spray paints everything in her front yard! I always knew because I could smell it and I eagerly wondered what it was that she had picked this time!
7. Instant consulting. If we need advice of how to place a new something in our house or where to rearrange something pre-existing, they come right over to brainstorm. Whenever they finish a project, we go right over and tell them how great it looks!
8. Ema coming and talking to me about what she’s learning in school or what her latest book was that she finished, or about the next American Girl doll that she’s saving for.
9. Caleb coming to the front door to ask if he can go in our backyard to get a ball that was kicked over the fence.
10. Hearing Craig tell me he’s marvelous every time I see him and ask him how he is.
11. Discussing what Netflex movie came in their mail twice a week…(just kidding, more like once a week).
12. Sitting on the green electrical box in the front and talking.
13. Sitting on a blanket under their tree in front and talking.
14. Sitting on whomever’s front steps happened to be out of the sun at the given time of day and talking.
15. Joking about building a retaining wall in the front and putting a putt putt golf course on it!
16. Pretending that the dividing line between each of our properties was the determining factor between “upper crust” and not “upper crust.”
17. Sometimes Jen just comes over, sits at the kitchen table with us in the afternoon and drinks lemonade and talks.
18. The kids playing anything and everything outside, but especially Legos on the front steps…or racing Matchbox cars down the driveway!
19. Sharing cake.
20. Saying good night when we part ways in the evening and telling each other we’d see ‘em tomorrow, because we most always do.
On this moving day, we were grateful to get to help pack them up, enjoy one more Boriello Brother’s Pizza at lunch and dig in to one more cake from Sam’s Club that said, “You’ll always be a part of the ‘hood.”
To our dear friends: We wish you the very, very super best and we love you so much. Cheers to nine incredible years together and a lifetime yet to come! I miss ya, already, Soul Sister! XOXO
Me too, baby! Me too!
Thank you for such a wonderful tribute. I sound like a Super Woman, while I know that I am just an ordinary lover of God and living this life to the fullest. Hopefully making Him smile at some of the choices I’ve made, and relishing in the times that He shows me I’ve made a wrong turn and gets me back on track.
Thank you my friend. I will cherish you always, no matter the distance between our homes!