Dear Jaimee and Megan...

And Nancy and Elizabeth and Matthew and Paige and Reese and Paisley and Emory and Kayla and Daisy and Aspyn and Kaden and on and on and on...

 We miss you a lot.  Too much, in fact.  I got a sweet letter from Reese and Nancy last week and it made me cry.  I cried because I miss being surrounded by my friends, but I mostly cried for my girls.  I know they miss going out the front door and walking less than a block to play with any number of their friends.  That was such a blessing.  I knew it at the time and I knew it would be hard to leave; I just hoped we would move to a neighborhood full of new little friends.  We bought this house in this neighborhood with that in mind.  Unfortunately there isn't a kid to be seen in our neck of the woods. We are still told that there are lots of kids in our neighborhood, but it is hard to meet them when we don't go to church with them and they aren't in the same grade as Riley at school.  I have also been told that a lot of the kids in our neighborhood go to the Catholic school.  We are bound and determined to meet all of these kids at the pool this summer. It's either that or start knocking on doors!

I also talked with Jaimee last night, which I don't do enough, but it is hard.  I admitted to her that sometimes it is just easier to pretend my Idaho friends don't exist.  That way I don't miss them.  Selfish, yes,  but it works.  I always miss them more after I talk to them. Last night I dreamt about running with Jaimee, her leaving me in the dust, while I huffed and puffed behind her.  Then we ran by the river and I mistakingly ate a little frog and puked - because it wouldn't be one of my dreams without something completetly crazy happening.
After my conversation with Jaimee I told Todd I was a little bit nervous about this summer.  I worry that after playing with Elizabeth and her cousins for a full month, Riley will just miss them all the more when we return to Kentucky.
We got Kade's Baptism invitation in the mail last week.  Riley tried her hardest to convince me that we could make it.  "It is on June 4th.  I get out of school on June 2nd!  That gives us two days to drive there!  PLEEAASE!!"

It broke my heart as she cried and pleaded with me.  I tried to explain that Dad has to work and that we would see them three weeks later.  I know she misses him.  She has been really strong, which I am so grateful for.  She has made some good little friends, but it isn't the same.  You can't just run on over after school for a bike ride.  Since her friends both have working parents, arrangements have to be made a day in advance so they can ride the bus together.  It is really frustrating for her. 

There is a big house for sale on our street and I seriously pray that a family with kids will move in.  Never mind that it has been for sale for over a year...it is possible.  Feel free to pray with me. 

Do I sound horrible and whiney?  I hope not.  We have been blessed to meet amazing people and to make some excellent friends.  It is just hard not to miss the ones we left behind.