It Started Ten Years Ago

Us

Karl and Roger comparing work schedules.

Melanie taking her turn as grandma.

With my dear friend Susan.

Bob and Jonathan telling grandpa jokes.

Betsy and Debbie - always talking about something funny.

Betsy and Karl

With my old roommate and good friend Bev J

Karl and Del talking farming.

Jonathan and Brian

The Crawfords

Hilary - brought the baby she had THREE days ago.

The Webers

The Davis'.

The Roberts

The presents

some had to have something enticing on the outside to be chosen

Melanie with her new boyfriend.

We moved to Texas ten years ago into a good ward where we instantly made some great friends.  It helped that my old BYU roommate and her husband Jonathan, were in the ward and had lived here for years and knew tons of people.
There was a group of us, 5 couples, that started doing everything together....Friday night dates, game nights, BYU games and parties.  Our binding tie was BYU sports and we were all fanatics!!!  So that first year, we started what would become an annual Christmas party consisting of yummy food, BYU sports and a white elephant gift exchange.  It was a blast.
Over the years, we started inviting other couples in the ward...on average, we would add 2 new couples each year to to where, now, we have probably 25 couples or so.  It is huge...and it gets funner and funner every years.
But this past year was slightly different.  At least, I noticed a difference.
Things are changing.  Ten years ago, we were all one ward - the Frisco 1st ward.  We now have 7 Frisco wards - and a Prosper ward...and just three weeks ago, the boundary lines changed yet again, taking several of the wards and shuffling people to new wards with new people.  And we have moved away - 2 other couples, the Hickens and the Ellisons have also moved away, out of state even, to Utah.  And a few new couples have been added.
BYU isn't talked about as much - grandchildren have come to some, marriages happened to others - job changes, kids graduating and going off to college and our lives are all moving on. It's weird, but I almost felt lost.  Found out some others are moving to Utah and yet others are changing jobs and possibly moving also. I felt out of the loop...misplaced...and a little sad.
I guess it was a sign of growth...but I was missing what 'used to be'.
Most of them will always be friends...but then again, most of us are focusing on our new lives and the new people in them.
It was a fun party though.