End of an Era...but not really.

Growing up in a military town means that I've watched a lot of people come and go in my life. With the expansion of technology, I've also learned how to keep and maintain friendships strictly over the internet. In my life, I have had the luxury of being able to keep a group of girls with me since the 9th grade. We made it through high school together, learning how to cope with not all having the same lunch period. We made it through college, getting through as one of us went away to school and another studied abroad for a semester. We've learned the transitions of new relationships that have grown into marriages. We've grown up, but we never grew apart. Our time together has become fewer and far between, and it's crazy to think it started off by us seeing each other every single day for 180 days straight.

As we are continuing to grow, we are starting to move apart. It's crazy to think that we have been given such amazing opportunities to spread our wings and fly. And while we are leaving some behind, I have no doubt in my mind that God has a plan for each and every one of us and He will let that plan come to light as time goes on.

Tonight I said goodbye to a dear friend. This goodbye was not forever, I know I will see her again soon. And with help from my dear friend, social media, I will see her often. However, we have once again taken another step away from those every day hangouts for 45 minutes in the cafeteria into adulthood. It's sad to face these changes and know that with growing up and pursuing goals we have to separate ourselves from people we love and cherish. It doesn't mean we stop being friends, stop loving them, or even stop seeing them. It just means those visits get a little more spread out.

My sister asked me if I was sad that I was saying goodbye to my dear friend. Someone I have known and trusted with my life for over 10 years. I told her no, I wasn't sad because this year I already know I will see her at least once more. However, the years after that are blurry, and I'm so thankful that our parents decided to stay in the same area because eventually we will all come home to see them. And hopefully that will be a similar time. I'm not sad because I know that even though I am putting an ocean between us, my best friends have high hopes of saving up enough money to come see me at some point. And I have the ability to come home and see them at least once a year. I'm not sad because I know I have the internet on my side. I can facetime, Skype, Hangout, or even just Snapchat anyone I want at any given time. Letting them know they are on my mind and that I love them. That's what is most important.

I'm sad to face this change because where we once were standing together, hand in hand, facing the world and it's challenges and holding each other up; we are not separated a bit more. Our hands are still clasped, but our arms are stretched. We have been through separations before, and we will go through more, but that doesn't make my heart ache any less at knowing these sweet girls will not be just a few minutes from me.

I'm sad to send one of my best friends off because I selfishly wish we could be together forever in our lame little town where nothing ever happens and there's nothing to do. But I am happy to know we are brave enough to explore other options, careers, and new lives for ourselves. I am happy to know we have the support of each other, through thick and thin.

These girls are 4 of my very best friends. They have stuck with me through good times and bad. We have been friends for so long, and it would be silly for us to stop now. I look forward to continue moving forward with them. I'm sad that our arms are stretching a little further, but I know that we will never let go of each other's hands. I love you girls, thank you for holding my hand.