Pamepoo

Over three and a half years ago (three years and eight months to be exact), I moved to this cute “painted-egg” neighborhood.  And I just now realized that I’ve lived here longer than I’ve lived any other place since I was 16 years old. 

Shortly after my family and I moved in, I met Pam. She and her family had arrived only weeks before us. We share a duplex. We share a driveway. We've shared a lawnmower (thanks for that by the way Pam). We share our belief in God. We've shared lots of memories.

Tomorrow, Pam and her family are moving out of their home of almost four years. And my heart is breaking. I have seen and spoken to Pam nearly every day since I have lived here. She has blessed my life in more ways than I can list.  She has become a constant. A rock. A support in my life. I know life will go on, and we will remain friends and keep in touch. But tonight I am so sad to think that she will no longer be right next door.

I have been crying for too long tonight. So to cheer myself up, I started going through photos and reminiscing about the things I love about Pam and the memories I have of her. I thought I would share a few here:

• Only weeks after we moved here, everyone in my family got sick, and Pam brought over homemade chicken noodle soup made with Cars-shaped pasta
• Pam is a fantastic neighbor. Many of our neighbors have come and gone, but everyone of them can attest to that

• Pam is always (and I mean ALWAYS) prepared. Anytime I was in a bind and needed something for a recipe, I could count on Pam to save the day
• Also, did I mention that she is a fantastic cook? Oh man! 

• Pam has volunteered thousands of hours to our community. She teaches fitness classes and plans races and sports events. She sometimes even holds PT classes for the soldiers
• I watched Pam live through a deployment when her husband went to Afghanistan, and I was blessed to witness his homecoming with his kids

• She also "held down the fort" while her husband went off to other training courses where he was gone for months at a time
• Pam always remained positive

• Pam can pick her nose with her tongue. I know you're jealous. I certainly am

• Pam can also pick her nose with her finger. But strangely, I don't have a picture of that
• Pam made me my favorite cake for my birthday this year. I was busy and wasn't planning to take the time to make one myself. I cried when I saw it
• Pam has a great sense of humor, and she makes an awesome Napoleon Dynamite

• And maybe the Lorax? Not sure here...

• Pam is the most selfless person I know. She is always out doing something for someone else
• She and her family have helped me in more ways than I can count
• She is always feeding someone - the missionaries, a new family, a stranger... you name it
• Pam is an amazing photographer. She has photographed my family several times; she took photos of Joey in her baptism dress; really I could fill this whole post with pictures she has taken for me 
• We've spent several holidays with Pam and her family: Thanksgivings, New Year's Eves, Mothers Day... Pam definitely knows how to throw a party

• The thing I will miss the most about Pam is standing on the porch or in the driveway and just talking. About the day. About our kids. About our husbands being away or their work. About what we are making for dinner...
• I will also miss watching our kids ride their bikes or play while we chat

• We walked each other's kids home from the bus or picked up each other's kids from the German kindergarten when we were in a bind
• When we weren't in a bind, we walked to the bus stop together
• Our kids have grown up together from tiny things, and they play together all the time. It will be strange to not have Cooper or Annie or Noah knock on our front door after school

• Pam has loved my kids as her own... I can't look at this picture without crying. I truly don't know what I would have done without her when David was small... especially when Erick deployed. That's when Pam became family. And David just LOVES her 

There are a million things I could add. Truly. But it's after midnight, and I don't have any more tears left.

Bye Friend. Good luck with your next adventure, and stay in touch. I sure love you!

Thanks for the memories!