Once upon a time there were four little kids who played together all. the. time. Sarah, Angie, Nate, and Dustin. They were two brother-sister sets and they were double first cousins. It felt more like they were all siblings rather than cousins. Their parents took lots of cute pictures that would be really fun to put on here but they're all stored away somewhere in a box. So those pictures won't be seen here anytime soon. Those four kids grew up to be the best of friends, along with being family.
Once upon a time (again), Sarah met a girl named Mandy on one of her Jamaica trips. Mandy was from Florida, and Sarah figured their relationship would just stay at "went on a mission trip together" status. But about a year after they met, Mandy decided to move to Illinois and needed a place to live. It just so happens that Sarah was looking for some roommates and after some discussion, they decided to move in together. They had a third roommate, Bekah, and the three of them had the best of times living in a somewhat sketchy apartment complex. Those pictures are also, unfortunately, in a box.
(Jamaica- March 2001)
Because Mandy was from Florida, she couldn't get home to visit very often, so occasionally Sarah would invite her along to her family gatherings. On one of these occasions, Mandy met Dustin. To say she wasn't particularly fond of him might be an understatement. But, as things sometimes do, that feeling changed. Long story short, Dustin and Mandy got married. Sarah loved having two of her best friends be married to each other, especially because that meant Mandy would always be a part of the family. For a couple years, they saw each other often, and it was a glorious thing. Then Sarah moved to Alabama and the times they all had together were very few and far between. It was a little sad, but it made the times together that much sweeter. Also, Sarah figured she would eventually be back to Illinois and they would once again have many times together.
(D & M going away party- May 2009)
However, two years after Sarah moved to Alabama, Dustin and Mandy moved to Indiana to serve at Gateway Woods. This meant the times together were even more few and far between. But it was okay, because they were all doing what God had called them to do, and there was great blessing in that. Sarah did end up moving back to Illinois, and though the miles still separated them, she still got to see Dustin and Mandy more often than when she lived in Alabama.
THEN..... Sarah got engaged to a really awesome guy who just so happened to live in Indiana- about 45 minutes away from Dustin and Mandy! It was the closest they had lived together in quite some time, and it helped Sarah to know she would still have some family close by after moving away from hers again. But shortly after Sarah got engaged, Dustin and Mandy announced they were moving again. To Florida. By the time Sarah got married and moved to Indiana, they had just three short months to take advantage of.
And so it was, they once again said their farewells and won't be seeing each other for a very long time. But once again, they know it's okay because they are following the way of the Lord.
The End
D & Mandy, you will be missed!! Thanks for making the effort to come visit before you moved. I wish we had more time together but you moving just gives us a reason to go to Florida. And there's nothing wrong with that:) Love you guys!!!
