The Meek Family: Saying "see you later" to our friends

Leaving Dallas was difficult, but we are comforted by the fact that its a short flight or 5ish hour drive back. Our last few weeks in Dallas were so much fun - spending time with friends, going to our favorite places, and soaking up our days doing things we loved.

We left for Midland at the end of January, then came back for 5 nights to stay in our house before the movers packed everything up. During that time I went crazy with our camera, attempting to document just about everything (but of course I still didn't get pics of everyone - bummer!).

Here's a few of our memories from our last weeks in Dallas...

Community group dinner with some amazing couples (minus chris & abby and adam & kristi)! They've each been a huge part of our lives over the past 4 years. So grateful for their friendships,... and the laughter and tears we've shared.

Sweet girls: Hope, Sadie, and Lily Ruth -community group girls!

Fun with Kamara and her girls...we love our trips to the mall. Kamara is one of my best friends and since I lived in Dallas and she lives in Frisco we spent a lot of time on the phone. Not that it made moving away from her any easier, we're just already great phone friends, so its been easy to maintain our same level of talking!

We'll miss the zoo. It's our favorite place to go. In January we went twice in three days just to really soak it all in. Both times Colton's best friend Mia got to join us! Trisha and I piled all 4 kids in her minivan and off we went! Caleb and Lily Ruth joined us one day and the kids were so cute playing in the jeep while the cheetahs devoured food just inches from them!

I love this picture - Maggie and Sadie are grabbing Mia and Colton's hair. :)

It's hard to describe just how sweet and precious Colton and Mia's friendship is. Trisha and I met in Square One (through church) when Colton was 3 months old and Mia was just over a month old. Soon after we started taking walks in the neighborhood, then helping each other out by trading kids each week. What a blessing it was to hand Colton over to Trisha, who has such a sweet, gentle spirit and who took care of Colton as if he were her own. Trisha has become one of my best friends too and I've been grateful to have a close friend just a few blocks away. We saw each other OFTEN - almost every day! Colton and I have been going through detox ever since we moved. And, Colton asks about Mia all the time. His favorite phrase is: "Mi coming home?"...he wants to know if she's coming over, if she'll be meeting us at the park, if she'll be at church. We'll get to see her in a month when they come to visit us in Midland - C thinks Mia is going to sleep in his top bunk. :) We can't wait for their visit!

My small group of high school girls had a fun going away dinner for me. Stacey was oh-so-smart and found a restaurant with a round table so we could all talk (not a problem for these girls!). They gave us an awesome basket full of travel items! I've been with these precious girls since sixth grade and they are graduating in May - crazy! I can't believe it's been 6 1/2 years. They are college bound next year. CRAZY! We're getting together next weekend at the lakehouse for a fun small group retreat - I can't wait to see them!

Love this picture - Stacey had her sweet baby (number 3) five days after our dinner!

Back row - Shannon, me, Christin, Allison, Allie, Stacey and front row - Brynne, Catie, and Sarah Hope

Our amazing neighbors across the street - Lorna and Maggie. Colton loved going to their house to play and I loved having these sweet girls over. We've been praying for sweet girls and boys on our new street (or at least nearby)!

Aunt Linde with Sadie and Colton. She's been one of my best friends and a BIG part of my life for many years and as she told David we've lived in the same place (apartment, house, and at least city) since our college years. I will miss getting to see her anytime I want to....she promised to come before all of our boxes were unpacked, and just fulfilled that promise by coming this week! I loved having a dear friend come visit!

Linde, Lan, Tricia and I have been getting together for monthly meals for a long, long time. These gals are precious to me. We go all the way back to college and have stayed very close. Lan and I can talk on the phone for long stretches of time - I'm so glad that she's just a phone call away.

Jen and Dina came over to visit on our last night at home and brought their kids. Colton misses his Sophie, Jackson, and Kennedy!

Jackson, Kennedy, Colton, and Sophie

Colton trying to put his arms around the girls. :)

Kennedy likes to pose for pictures, so Colton is posing with her.

Fun times at the park with playgroup friends!

Our playgroup going away party - the moms and kids threw us a fun little going away party. The group gave us a gift card and an adorable picture book for Colton. I miss seeing their faces every week!

Colton and Mia playing at church