As a stay-at-home mom who can't stand to stay in doors all day and who was adjusting to a new place and to the life of having two kids, I needed such a friend. So much so, in fact, that I was praying for one. Someone that I could call at the last minute to go to the park with, someone to run errands with, someone to go shopping with at the end of the day when the kids were in bed and the husband was studying or doing stuff for his calling. When Chase was just a few months old and the weather got a bit warmer, the kids and I would venture out on walks around our neighborhood and would consistently stop at Melissa's, who was always outside with her girls. Nick was obsessed, to say the least, with their five-yr-old- girl, Morgan, and would ask about her nonstop. When we decided to move down the street to be in an end unit and to get away from 2 smoking neighbors, we moved in right next to them.
I admired Melissa in every way, and eventually these walks turned into play dates at the park, galavanting around to every activity State College offered in the spring/summer/fall, 5:30 workout sessions every morning at the Y, and resulted in a friend, a best friend, to talk about everything with, to call every day (even though we lived next door to each other)to go grocery shopping with, to ask parenting advice from, to share heartaches and joys with, and to laugh with.
The WORST thing about living in a college town is the transience. Adam (smarty-pants), finished his PhD in 3.5 years, and they moved to Idaho a few weeks ago. And seriously, I know how incredibly cheesy this post is, but I miss her everyday. There are not words to describe Meliss. In the last few weeks they were here, I heard no less than 8 people tell her things like "you are the glue that holds our ward together," and it's true. She silently took care of everyone. She is outgoing, beautiful, hilarious, friendly, completely self-less, the best mom, generous, and absolutley wonderful in every way.
My favorite memories of her include:
*Having her go up and tickle the back of one of our friends at the gym, only to discover it wasn't our friend!
*Lying on the gym floor, supposedly working our abs, but laughing and talking forever.
*Bringing our baby monitor over after all the kids were in bed and playing games
*Preparing for the Super Saturday enrichment, and trying to figure out those bath salt ornaments! :)
*Grocery shopping late at night, then staying in the car talking until 11pm, when we know we're going to see each other at 5:20 the next morning.
*Watching our kids play together.
*Going to Huntingdon, and seeing her with her YW
*Our "glorious" trip to Lancaster
*Getting lost and going on a scooter hunt in Belleville
*Dinner at each others houses, and our Christmas party
*Eating at Baby's
*Go-karts!
*Seeing you go through the frustration and then the excitement of house hunting, and finally getting what you and Adam have worked so hard for these last 7 years!
I feel so blessed to have made this friend, for life.
Me and Meliss
5 comments:
This is the sweetest post. You guys were BOTH so lucky to have each other. Especially to have someone next door.
Darling post! Friendship can be such a beautiful blessing. I must admit, the line about working out at 5:30 a.m. - whoa! :) XOXO
hey there, I agree. I miss her very much. I was very envious that you got to live right next door. She is so awesome. We should get together. I can't get up at 5:30 to go to the gym...but I would love to play date with ya. Have a great day.
Way to make me almost cry, Bekah!
:) Good friends are indeed priceless.
You guys!!! Sweetest friends ever!!! PA will always hold a special place in my heart because of the friends I made there! Thanks so much. And know that you guys are missed a whole lot more over here!
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