Goodbyes

Goodbyes are not easy.

Our good friends, Rich and Carolyn, were leaving Kansas to go to California.

We had just said goodbye to our dear friend, Helen, and now Carolyn too?

Our Bible study decided to throw a farewell party.  We had thought at first to just go out to eat like we had with Helen, but then realized we had to include Rich and our husbands also.

So a potluck was planned at church with our Bible study, their small group and a few others.

I suggested we do a sunflower theme since they were leaving our fine state and the Kansas flower is the sunflower.

I found this cute idea on Pinterest.

I took an atlas that I had, and copied all the states they will drive through from Kansas to California.

 The mailbox was used to place our cards in.

 Another Pinterest idea.  Rich and Carolyn have spent hours packing up their house.  Selling furniture and giving much away in order to down size.

One dish I brought was from things I raided from Carolyn's pantry.  She called us over to help her clean it out.  When I found the exact ingredients I needed for this recipe, I knew I would have to make it!  I modified it a little, by cutting up the cake into squares, and making it more like a dump cake.

Pig Pickin' Cake (by Donna Swart, a missionary friend from Ethiopia)

1 yellow cake mix

1/2 cup oil

1 small can mandarin oranges with juice

4 eggs

Mix above ingredients well with beater for 3 min.  Bake in round greased and floured cake pans for 20 min. at 350.  Once cooled, cut each layer in half.  

1 large container coolwhip

1 large can crushed pineapple with juice

1 3oz. box instant vanilla pudding

1 cup coconut

Stir until well mixed and ice cake with it.  Keep refrigerated.  Makes a 4 layer cake.

Once the guests of honor arrived we began to fill our plates with delicious food! 

 Jaxon knows just what he wants to eat!

 When people had their fill of food, Rich was asked to share about their upcoming plans.

And of course we had to have music!!

 We were so happy that their daughter-in-law from California flew out to help them this last week.

 Rich is an excellent pianist and we will miss his playing so much!  He honored us with a selection.

 Several shared some thoughts and memories.  I knew I just couldn't without breaking down.  (And Carolyn will tell you that later on I broke down sobbing!)  We closed with laying hands on them and praying for them as they go onto their new adventure.  This farewell is an answer to a few years of prayer but now that God has answered that prayer, we are all sad.  Yet rejoice also, because they get to go live with their sons and families!!

We were sad that several were not able to come.  It took 25 e-mails to finally nail down this one date that worked for most.  And we probably left out some people who would have loved to have also shared this farewell.  We're sorry if that is the case.  

Farewell, Rich and Carolyn!  You have been such an inspiration to us!!

 

Remember our trip to Gypsum Hills and Sun City?

God's richest blessings to you!