It's another goodbye

Life is full of many sorts of goodbyes.  Some are harder or longer than others, but it's still a goodbye.  Thankfully, for Christians, all goodbyes are temporary, but that doesn't always make them easy. However, partings do teach us to value people as much as they are worth.  It reminds us of what we had in that person and what we are losing.   

Well, last week we said goodbye to Anna, whom I have mentioned in only a couple of posts.  Legend has it that we met her on the streets 3 months ago and took her in.  That's right--we've only known her for 3 months, but have immensely enjoyed getting to know her, having laughs together, sharing a crazy life, and so much more.  She was almost entirely initiated into the family, too.  We have been thankful for her hard work, friendship, and (maybe most of all) her endurance in living with us and abiding by our tiring schedule. When it came time to say goodbye last week, it wasn't so easy.  We have a lot of inside jokes and memories together that were hard to part with.  However, her initiation has yet to be completed, and we have insisted upon her return when she gets rested enough to come wear herself out again.

< One day, just before her departure, Anna, Tirzah, and I took a day in Sequim together.  Here are Anna and Tirzah in one of our favorite tourist shops downtown where there are the. most. comfortable wooden, Amish-made chairs ever.  So we wandered around the store trying them all out again.

After our quick tour around downtown Sequim, we stopped for a quick look at the water....it was still there.

As if the concrete trail along the water wasn't obvious enough.

Lovely sunset as we left town.

And what would a late night drive home be without a last blizzard together?
That's right: cheaper.  It would only be cheaper.

On the day of Anna's departure, we thought it would be a good idea to take an 5+ mile walk on the beach to a lighthouse just before returning her to the airport.  The problem was that we would also have to walk that far again to get back to the car.  So we sped-walked 11 miles in order to get to the airport on time.  But it was a great day for a long walk.  The sky was clear and the temperature wasn't roasting.

Anna and Tirzah speed walking on the beach.

The rest of our group: Mom, Keren, Moriah, and Selah

At this point we were "so close."

We actually made it!!

Some of us got to run up to the top of the lighthouse before taking the long walk back.

The view from above

Anna, Mom, and I in the lighthouse.

Tirzah, Anna, and me

Keren, Tirzah, Anna and me

Don't worry.  It was dead.

The whole group minus Keren, who was done being in pictures

We made it back!  And our legs were all still attached.

Anna, thanks for putting up with us so long!  We miss you!!