"Why can’t we get all the people together in the world that we really like and then just stay together? I guess that wouldn’t work. Someone would leave. Someone always leaves. Then we would have to say good-bye. I hate good-byes. I know what I need. I need more hellos." ~Charles M. Schulz

I grew up in a fairly small town.  I was blessed to have my extended family close by.  Granny and PawPaw lived a short 10-minute drive away.  It was easy and common to stop by their house anytime we were out and about.  Some of my most treasured memories of my Granny were the days I stopped by to visit with her as a young adult living on my own a few miles from her house.  I loved being able to pop in at Granny's house whenever I wanted.  Additionally, in my early life, Uncle James and Aunt Sallye lived within a short bicycle ride of our house. Uncle Bill and Aunt Billye also lived in the same town.  I have wonderful memories of ordinary days spent at their houses.  I had other aunts and uncles, but I never developed close relationships with any of them.  I tend to think a big part of that was distance.

As I think now about my own family, I was curious about how society has changed in the past generation.  I googled it and was surprised at what I found.  A study published in 2008 determined that the typical American lives only 18 miles from his or her mother.  As I continued to read, I learned that those who live farthest away from mom are those who are more highly educated.  So I guess Jeff and I should not have spent all of that money on those university degrees for our children!  Just kidding.  But my reality is that Sarah, Ryan and Lydia live 612 miles away, and Caleb lives 129 miles from us.  Becca and Jeff - who have been a close 65 miles away will be moving next week -- 448 miles from home.  And from Sarah's home to Becca's new location will be a whopping 995 miles.  At least we are in the middle - they can meet up here!

Where our children are concerned, Jeff and I have always taken the view that we were raising them to leave.  Maybe not in the 600+ mile way, but to make their own lives separate from us.  We have prayed for them to have their own faith, and to be a light in their own corners of the world.  They are doing just that, and we couldn't be more proud of them.  The two who are married have truly followed God's command to "leave and cleave," and I'm very proud of that as well.  They both have godly men who are leading their new homes and providing well for our girls, and we are thankful.

Unlike the generation I grew up in, we are blessed with technology that helps to keep us close.  I love the ability to FaceTime - my Friday morning FaceTime dates with Sarah and Lydia are priceless to me.  And the bluetooth capability in our vehicles is priceless as well - most of my phone visits with Caleb occur while he is on the road.  We are also blessed with the ability to span the miles between us in a relatively short time -- I can get to Nashville on a two-hour flight, or a nine-hour drive.  I know other families who are separated by much greater distances.

So next week when we load that truck and travel with Becca and Jeff to their new home in Midland,  I will try to remember all of that, and not dwell on the fact that we live outside of the "typical American" statistic.  I'll be happy for them and excited for this new phase of their journey together.  I'll come home and see the wood burning gift that Caleb made for me hanging on our kitchen wall, and I'll be reminded and thankful for the deep roots that keep us close.  Because after all - my children could all live within that statistical 18-mile radius and not have the close-knit bond that we enjoy in our family.  That would be much worse. And I'm already looking forward to this Friday's FaceTime call, the daily text messages, the on-the-road phone calls, and especially the next time all of my precious ones can gather under the same roof.  We are truly blessed.