Sunday, March 28th, we attended a goodbye party for the Koschnike's who were moving back to Germany. Viola first moved to our ward as a live-in nanny for another couple in our ward. She quickly became a member of their family, and thus of our extended ward family. Then this sweet boy, Lars, that she had known back home in Germany, decided he missed her too much and moved down as well. She wasn't convinced he was "the one", but he patiently bided her time, and eventually they fell in love and got married. It was fun to catch glimpses of the progress their courtship was taking when they would come to my young adult Sunday school class. First, they sat next to each other, but with lots of space between them. Then they would sit with shoulders touching all.the.time. Then he would risk putting his arm around chair. Then they were holding hands and being so cute! Aahh! I had four in love couples in that class. Two ended up getting married.
Anyway, you know the rhyme. After love and marriage, comes the baby in the baby carriage. Little Moritz was born on my birthday! Which makes him my favoritest kid in the world, after my own blood children and relatives. :) It doesn't hurt that he is so.stinking.adorable! He and Alexandra attended Nursery together every week, and got along pretty well.
But, alas, life goes on. Lars wanted to start his own business, and was having trouble doing it here. So, they decided to move back to the homeland and make a new start. The woman Viola had worked for all those years, my friend Terrian, threw a lovely farewell open house for them and many in the ward ended up stopping by.
My kids cried before the party, and on the way home from the party, but while there they were all smiles.
Sarah has pretty much decided she isn't going to ever make friends again, because it hurts too much when they move away. I told her that when we are sad, that is a good thing. It means we learned to love another person, and learned from that person how to be a better person. We can be sad that they are gone, but happy we knew them while we did. I hope she listens to me.