So, let's talk about what you all have really been waiting for me to talk about...

I guess I've been mum about it all long enough.

Just in case you're not up to date on what's been going on in our lives lately...a few weeks ago our best friends/neighbors announced to the world they were selling their house.  Then last week, they went a step farther and broke the news they were not only selling their house (yes, the house we moved next door to three months ago), but they are moving to Arizona.

Our best friends are moving thousand of miles away.

I think it was seriously a matter of minutes after Nicole posted about selling the house that people started asking me how I felt about it all. 

I keep my mouth shut for a little while because I was still trying to process it all myself, but I'll be honest....it blows.

As you can guess, we've known for a little bit longer than the rest of the world.  Pretty much the moment they came home from the hospital, they dropped the bomb on us about selling the house and their plans.  Though nothing was official till last week, David and I had a feeling that it was for sure going to happen.  We know them well enough to know when they make up their mind, there's no turning back.  I'd like to tell you I was an awesome friend and right away told them to follow their dreams, but for a good three weeks, I did anything but that.

Instead, I tried every way to talk them out it.  I pouted. I cried and when it looked like things were not going my way, I got in a fight with Nicole in the middle of a homeschool field trip.....needless to say, we haven't been invited back. 

After about three weeks of wallowing in my sorrows,  I was on the phone with my mom (she doesn't even know this) and naturally the question "what are you up to?" was asked.  As silly as it may sound, her answer put everything in a different perspective...."I'm going to pick up Laura from the airport." Now, I know you're thinking "huh??" Let me explain...when my mom moved to Nashville fourteen years ago, Laura was one of her first friends. They homeschooled together, went to church together, vacationed together, basically did life together. Well, several years ago, Laura and her family moved thousands of miles away from Nashville to be closer to their family.

Ummmm.....yeah, okay...I get it.

After pouting a little bit longer, I decided to be the friend she needs.  I told her I sorry for being a crappy friend and that they had my support.

I'm a firm believer that with everything in life, that if it's meant to be, it will be.  These are words that David and I repeatedly say about anything going on in our life. 

These past few weeks, things have started to all fall into place with their big move, so as hard as it is to face the reality, obviously, it's meant to be.

Several people have commented about how surprised they are over the move.  As I was telling another friend the other day, them wanting to go to Arizona is actually no surprise to us.  Them wanting to move to Arizona is like us wanting to move to the coast. If you know us, you know it's something we've always talked and would jump at the chance if it ever arose. They have always talked about wanting to live in Arizona.  It's their happy place.  It wasn't so much as a shock of them going to Arizona as the timing of things.  We've always known that one of us would move farther away one day, we all just thought it would be us Mabreys first.  Honestly, I'm even amazed she came back from vacation...I was convinced she was going to go out there and stay forever.

Not only that, Nic wants to be closer to her family.  I get that, I really do.  It's funny because David and I have talked for years about "moving away" if Waffle house ever offered.  In the last year or so, we've talked more about staying instead.  We're lucky enough that most of our family lives within thirty minutes of us.  We get to spend weekends, holidays, and birthdays with them all.  For us personally, we've decided that it's important for our girls to continue to be surrounded by that family.  I want that for Nicole too. I know millions do it each and every day, but I cannot imagine what it's like to spend every holiday away from family. 

So, yes, I'm sad.  A lot of tears have already been cried over it.  In fact, I cried so much the day before she officially anncounced it to the rest of the world, that David had to take me for a margarita at lunch time.  It was that bad. 

At the same time though, I'm very happy for them. They're taking a chance and going after something they've always dreamed of. How can you be mad at a friend for that?

 It's for sure going to be an adjustment.  For the past few years, it's been popular for churches in our area to use the term "doing life together."  Oddly, I feel like that pretty much sums up the past five years for Nicole and I....we've been doing life together.  The hardest part is going to be getting used to  doing life without her right by my side. The waffle life can for sure be a different life and one that not everyone understands.  It's been nice these years to have someone who gets it and who's basically on the same crazy schedule as you.  The funny thing is I actually have another best friend that I literally talk to every single day.  She actually lives only thirty minutes from me, but we only see each other maybe twice a year.  Now, I guess I'm going to have two.

As far as what's happening with us and the farmhouse, we're set to stay for the time being.  The farmhouse is separate from their house and actually owned by Andrews mom.  We've been talking with her since the beginning of all of this and she's giving us her blessing to stay as long as we want.  I'll be honest, it's going to be really weird living here with a stranger living in their house, but hopefully we'll get used to it.  I think who's going to take it hardest is Olivia, but as David has already often reminded me, unfortunately life is full of heartbreak and this won't be the last time for her.

So, that's where I  stand on it all.....I'm happy, I'm sad.  For now, we'll enjoy what time we have left being just step away and continue with making plans for future visits...you know those are already in the works.