Leaving Big Spring

It is just now starting to soak in that we left what was normal and comfortable to us. Things were so crazy for the two months before we moved that adrenaline was running and the excitement of something new kept me from really allowing the fact of leaving to register completely. But the reality of not being near some very dear friends of ours is becoming real. The weekdays aren't so bad because I typically didn't see too many of them during the week but church times are harder. I still hope to get to join Scott and Lauren or Reuben and Shannon for lunch at Cowboys and to join the "older clic" for supper at Sky's. I know that we'll make lots of friends here with time, but we left some very dear ones behind.

The first to befriend us when we were just interviewing in Big Spring were Danny and Mary Kay. They became very good friends that helped us get going. It then expanded to Rick and Donna, Ben and Max, David and Lynn, Russ and Debbie, Kay and many more. They were all around our parents age so they adopted us as children and grandchildren. They were wonderful mentors in the church and wonderful adopted grandparents for our children. Ryland especially was very sad to leave many of these great people.

The size of the group of people around our age started out very small when we first moved there. We were about the only active church members less that 35 at the time. Then many more moved in and out during our 7 years there. Scott and Lauren were the first close friends though. We had known Scott since his freshman year at LCU. We grew to love Lauren when she started hanging around him too. When they were finished with school, we talked them into applying for the youth ministry position at our congregation. They soon moved down and we increased our friendship. Lauren and I have become very good friends in that past 5 years. We have helped each other through pregnancies, moving to houses and just with life in general. I could always call on her for a quick lunch or a trip to Midland to get away. They were both always such help also when I got in a bind with kids. I will miss Lauren greatly - more than I'll ever admit.

Us with Scott and Lauren. Will and Claire were hanging out with Nana so we missed them in the picture.

Reuben and Shannon will be missed a lot also. Although they have been in Big Spring for as long we were, we didn't get to know them until they began attending 14th and Main with us. Our friendship grew over the past year with them. We vacationed during Spring Break together and spent lots of time at Furrs eating and visiting. Shannon also has adopted my kids. They love her a lot. Raylee many times preferred Shannon over me. I didn't mind at all - I enjoyed the break. Reuben and Shannon were also such a big help with our move. Before Leland bought his pickup, we had to call on Reuben many times to help move things to our storage shed before the house went on the market. They helped a great deal with moving also. We've promised that we will help them move when the time comes.

Ryland and Raylee playing with Reuben and Shannon during a break at our move in Mansfield.

There were several others also - Charlie and Abby moved there a couple of years ago. Abby and I were in LCU freshman orientation group together. We have grow close over the past year also. Cole and Katie have moved to and from and back to Big Spring since we've know them. We have always enjoyed them and their friendship. She also kept Raylee for me during this past tax season which I'm so greatly for.

My girlfriends - Abby, Shannon, Katie, Lauren and me. We had been out on our final girl's night out together the weekend before but I had forgotten to take a picture so we got one at Ryland's birthday party.

There are also many school friends we and especially Leland will miss; Pam, Denise, Tracie, Charlotte just to name a few. Such wonderful people at Big Spring High School. He will miss all of you greatly.


Well, thank you Big Spring for a great 7 years. We went there right out of college and moved away with 3 kids. You helped us become good parents, better Christians, and better people overall. We will always remember our time there and the wonderful people we shared the experience with.