Long Distance Friendships.

We were blessed to have our friends visit us from Hamilton this afternoon. It was wonderful to see how their children have grown. 

We're now etched in memory as "the house with the big stairs", by one of their children. 

Another set of friends recently shared news that they're moving to the Kapiti Coast, further down the North Island. We've inherited part of their puzzle collection:

It's bittersweet but it also seems to be the way of life in such a large country-- people come and go as God and opportunity lead. On the bright side, the husband says we'll have more reason to travel NZ and more friends to visit across the Island.