Saying good-bye to the house where we became a family was really difficult. Saying good-bye to our friends who became our family was even more difficult.
Our sweet friends from our small group came into our lives three years ago. It was just before we understood the joys and difficulties of parenthood, as we were preparing for Emma. Through the years that followed, they prayed with us and for us as fertility struggles struck again claiming five more pregnancies. During a time when we were learning many of our friendships were not very grown-up, these precious people picked us up and reminded us of His love and lifted us up. The men have enjoyed golf trips, the girls have enjoyed girls night out full of worship and dinners, and we have met every Tuesday in between with our families all together for studies and life reflections. I know Emma is missing her play dates with all the children in our group that she has known since birth, and their sweet parents. Before we left, they had a going away/baby shower party for us. They spoiled us with precious baby gifts, and a family Bible with scripture written in the front pages.
Toska has been such a great neighbor for five years. A year and a half ago, she rescued us from a situation where Emma was left without a sitter after finding that the lady she had been going to wasn't a very nice person. She took Emma in on the days I worked and loved her like her very own. She is the next best thing to being with your kids yourself. Emma asks for the whole Tiemann family every day. The day we left, she brought best friend Seger by... it was a very tearful good-bye for all of us.
My dear friend Brooke has been so busy with school and work and mothering two young boys, but made a little time out for us the last week we were there. I knew she had so many things to get done, and really appreciated her giving what little time she had to me. My sweet friend Melissa, my friend from middle school, moved to Kansas City just over a year ago. It was so nice reconnecting with her over the last 12 months! She spoiled me with a nice dinner and evening full of reminiscing before letting me leave ;).
Everywhere from work, to church, to walks around the block her full of "lasts". It was quite emotionally exhausting! By the end of November, we were ready to pull the band-aid and set sail.
Brett's sweet parents came up the weekend before to help pack and load up the house. We spent the last week with just a mattress on the floor and a t.v. as we tied up loose ends with business. Emma was such a trooper. As things disappeared out the door, she played nicely and made the best of her confusing situation, and tried to "help" as much as she could.
While we were busy with selling, buying, and packing... Emma continued to grow. She talks in complete sentences so well, using grown up words. It's crazy. We've enjoyed being able to slow down the past few weeks and give her the attention she was deprived during the move.
