an unpleasant event.

One of our best little friends moved away with some of his family yesterday.

“There is a painful difference between the expectation of an unpleasant event and its final certainty.” (Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen) That is how I feel about all these goodbyes. Sometimes I’m not sure when they’ve started and when they’ll end, but they are certainly upon us.

I can’t even pretend to have the words, but I have photos. We’re just trying to figure out how to do this.

I’ll just go ahead and admit we’re taking a second Sabbath tomorrow, since this week’s Sabbath involved a bicycle wreck and learning this little guy was moving away.

We’ve known him since he was a toddler, and since his older sister spent a lot of time at our house, so did he.

Now he comes all the time and loves Minecraft–he’s built up quite an amazing little world full of books and three or four houses and incredible tunnels. His creativity is amazing, and I still love how Minecraft gives you a glimpse into kid’s dreams.

His birthday was coming up this Sunday, and he’d been anticipating it so long, so midnight on Monday found me making a big chocolate birthday cake & decorating it with sprinkles and chocolate chips in the shape of Superman.

We had invited everyone who was leaving to have breakfast on their way and did a special birthday party for him over Breakfast Club, hoping that would encourage them to come say goodbye and not just slip away.

We also went to pick up his best friend that morning to be sure he got to say goodbye and they got a photo together.

We have so much history with the whole family, it’s hard to put into words. But I will say that Laytahoo & Yaminoo’s dad–here smiling at the camera–has grown so dear to our hearts. He has been going to church with us this year and was baptized in May. And ultimately, we’ve watched his life change in some incredible ways over the past seven years. It’s has been such a privilege to witness that and the incredible effect it has had on their family. He will be missed and forever be a friend.

As stateless friends without phones and documents, pray for this crew as they they set up a life in Burma, as well as the few left here with us for a bit longer. Pray they are reunited before too long.

Goodbyes are hard. I probably should have used my trick of taking this photo from behind, because–as you can tell–goodbyes involve a lot of tears, a lot less sleep, and a lot of prayers.