Hopeful Tide : The End of a Chapter

Tonight marked for me in many ways the closing of a chapter. I dropped my dear friend, Kristi, off at the airport tonight for their next big Navy adventure, Spain! I am so excited for them and what this new chapter holds, but my heart hurts tonight as well. Norfolk has been many things for us. It has been our city of firsts, with David and my first apartment together, our first duty station together, first pregnancy, first baby, and first time navigating our relationship as a married couple with a crazy military schedule. We have made amazing memories here. I wouldn't trade it for the world. We have had fun at the beach, tried more restaurants than is probably healthy, explored the city together, gone on a few road trips to nearby locations such as Annapolis, Charlottesville, Philadelphia, Asheville, and our longest, New York. We went through the challenges of finding a church and were blessed with finding one that we love. Perfected recipes together (we challenge anyone to make a better margarita pizza than us!!) We have also deepened our relationship and I have grown to love David more deeply every day. However, our time here was also full of a lot of hard stretches of not seeing each other, many nights apart (over 250, actually), David's sleep deprivation from long shipyard days, disappointment when plans have fallen through due to Navy obligations, missed holidays, and David and I working on opposite schedules much of the time.

However, God has provided a gift in my life unlike any I could have ever imagined. That gift is girlfriends. I never could have dreamed that God would place friends in my life like the friends I have known here in Norfolk. These are the kind of friends that are always there for you no matter what. From girls nights when all the husbands are gone and Christmas Eve movie marathons when husbands are on duty (thanks, Val!), to a shoulder to cry on when you just don't want to do Navy life anymore, these girls have been there for me in every way. We have celebrated pregnancies, and births, brought meals to each other, babysat each others kids, hosted showers together, planned parties, chocked up lots of running miles around the city, and enjoyed lots of much needed Starbucks, chocolate, and playdates. Above all, however, these women have encouraged me in my faith. I can always count on them to point me to Christ, and speak truth into my life. When David was getting ready to come home from deployment and I was growing anxious about all the changes that were about to happen to my life after we got married, chiefly, moving away from family to a city I knew very little about, and making friends, I remember the Lord bringing to mind Jeremiah 29:11 and Matthew 7:11. He promises that He has plans for us that are good, and He promises to give good gifts to those who ask Him. I have been blown away by God's provision in my life and His fulfillment of this promise. As I sit here with my girly wine and bag of chocolate (yes, bag, not single piece), Nathan sleeping in the other room, and David gone on duty, I am really sad, but I am so grateful. Thank you, friends. Thank you to all the special women that we have met and that have been so special in my life. Tonight was the first time I started to feel and admit to myself the closing of our time here in Norfolk. So, friends that are still here, I am excited to make a few more memories with you, but I am beginning to realize it's about time for our new adventure to start. Praying for courage, grace, and hope as it begins.

Hello, San Diego.

Here are a few reminiscing pictures of my amazing friends...