impending craft loneliness

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last family pic for awhile

To be honest, it’s been a rough week around here. Between Adam’s Board Exam (just round 1 of 3- ugh!) and my sister moving across the ocean, I’ve done my fair share of cuddling up in my bed with a cup of tea and a box of tissues this week. Actually, I may or may not have spent the better part of one day in bed, letting Burke and Piper Jane watch movies on the portable dvd player next to me as I sniffled my way through the day.

Also, Burke has learned the phrase, “Don’t worry mama. I’ll take care of you when your Jojo is gone,” if that’s any indicator of the state of affairs around here.

I don’t remember it being this bad last time Jord moved overseas. What’s that you say? Have I done this before? Yes. Several times actually. The first time was in 1998 (she was headed to Argentina as an exchange student). Thirteen years later and we’re still at it, this me-putting-her-on-airplanes-so-she-can-live-far-away stuff.

And it’s been tough on me every time. But this time feels rougher if that’s possible.

Let me say this loud and clear- I couldn’t be more thrilled for them. They are brave. And adventurous. And in reckless pursuit of their dream. And I am so proud of them.

However, regardless of how certain I am that this is exactly what Jord and her fam should be doing, I still just miss my best friend when she moves, gosh darn it.

Here’s the thing, y’all- Jordi and I have spent the last four years talking every. single. day. Ok, actually, we talked multiple times every day. I called her when I saw something I think she’d like, I called her to tell her the latest Burke and Piper Jane antics, I called her as I perused the clearance section at Target to be sure she didn’t already buy the cute dresses I just put in my cart for her girls (speaking of her girls, do see my adorable nieces? What the heck am I going to do without my monthly-ish dose of those girls?).

And I called her (some might say excessively) about my crafty endeavors. Over the phone we’d hash out party favor ideas (rimming salts or little glasses for favors at the Sips launch party?), adjust camera settings (ok, she’d just me what to do in these cases), consult about design decisions (blue paint or gray paint for the guest room?), pass along must-try recipes, add pins to pinterest boards… you get the idea.

Which brings me to my impending craft loneliness (ok, really, since she’s already moved, it’s more Already Here Loneliness than Impending Loneliness… but impending sounds like it should be paired with words like “doom” and that’s sounds about right).

I don’t really have many ‘crafty’ friends,ย  y’all, especially not ones that I call on the phone to chat about menial things like fabric pairings and font choices. I’m pretty sure there’s nothing to do about it (unless any of you need a craft friend to jabber with all day every day), but I hate it just the same.

Any tips for me, friends? What do you do when your best friend moves? And, if you don’t have a sister that shares your affinity for pretty paper and making things, how did you find your crafty friends? Help?

Also, if anyone has stories about living across the ocean from their sister and it working out just splendidly, with close cousins and warm fuzzies and sunshine and butterflies, now’s the time to share those. Anyone? Anyone?

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20 Comments

  1. Oh girl, you can call me anytime! I would LOVE to discuss crafty stuff. I try to talk about it with my sisters or even my best friend. They just don't get it.

    Let's get together and play soon!

    Angela

  2. I'll be there for you! I'm just up north but always need a fun IKEA browsing buddy ๐Ÿ˜‰ and my husband is sick of me yapping his ear off about fonts!

  3. I'm not much of a commenter, but can completely understand and relate – although I am on Jordan's side. It is so hard….the hardest for me, actually, is not having the cousins "grow up" together. We left two years ago for Ecuador as missionaries and it pretty much sucks to be away from family – especially sisters.
    The three things that keep me going? Christ for sure is the number one. Second, when I get to see them (two sisters and a fabulous sister-in-law) every two years, we make the most of every single second and eat them up (figuratively, of course!!). And finally – I just have to keep being super-duper thankful that we live in the age of facetime/skype, facebook and vonage phones!
    Its hard, but its worth it. Distance really can make the heart grow fonder.

    http://www.breathingdeepwheretheairisthin.blogspot.com

  4. Oh sweetie, I am so sorry! I do understand where you are coming from though but for me it has always been on the other foot. I am the one picking up and leaving… and it NEVER gets any easier. And as far as crafty stuff… lets just say I am SO LONELY!! NO siblings, mothers or anyone else but a cousin (who is now working doing crazy things like staging houses in and around denver…) HOnestly for the past 10 years all my crafting has been a solo adventure.

    Now on to the it gets easier being away from family… um yes and no but here is the BIG QUALIFIER the yes is that you have to stay in contact. skype every chance you get so that the kids see each other and have a chance to visit, e-mail, send packages, write good ol' fashioned letters… in fact pretend you are talking to her and write it down… A friend of mine does an interesting thing. She asks her sister a question and then leaves a big empty space. Her sister answers the question in the big empty space and mails it back. She once told me e-mail would be easier but it feels so good to actually see her sister's handwriting and little drawings that are enclosed. It was something she can take with her….

    e-mail me if you want and we can discuss this further! Take care now and know that you have friends far and near who are thinking of your and praying for you! Toodles!

  5. for about 2 years my family and i lived in Papua New Guinea…away from family, friends, etc. it was very hard, but God blessed me with amazing friends that became family too. i did miss my sister terribly, but we made it work…we emailed and skyped a lot. we no longer live in another country, but she's in california andi'm in colorado. the times when you are together, will be that much more sweeter. allow yourself the time to cry, i think it's just the way we are made.

    i love you honesty and your amazing blog!
    ~Melissa

  6. Girly, girl!! I'm sure it's hard I've never been that far from my sisters!!!! ๐Ÿ™ All I can think of right know it SKYPE or Facetime(I think on the iPhone), I have a friend who is always on there with her family and she is over seas too. Hang in there and keep bringing us stuff, we love seeing all your fantabulous stuff!!
    Ruthie:)

  7. Me and my besty live across the country and each have 5 littles and hubbies that aren't always home. We email a ton each day, links, ideas, thoughts and questions. She's my go to girl for everything and while we can't talk much, we certainly "talk" a lot via email each day.

    Maybe it's HARDER this time cause you both got kids? Kids breed a whole nother NEED for each other and advice:)

  8. This is precisely why blogging is so important to me…because I didn't have anyone to share my obsession with. Keep creating, keep working, and the ache will dull a bit. Thank goodness for the internet and fairly simple ways to stay in contact. Wishing you a wonderful weekend.

  9. A good friend of mine just moved halfway across the country to go to grad school. Skype is out go-to! I highly recommend it! It's the way we get to do tea-and-book-club meetings despite being in different states!

  10. So sorry about all the loneliness. I can relate. My brother just moved to Japan, supposedly just for 9 months or so for his new wife's green card to be processed. Now the tell me they think they will just stay there. He isn't crafty but he's still one of my best buddies. I miss him, and I miss the chance to get to know my new sister-in-law. I miss that my son won't grow up with his aunt and uncle in his life. I miss that if they have children we will see them only very rarely. Yet, I know this is what is best for them. I want them to follow their dreams, so I am happy for them too. And, you know what, with Vonage he has a US based phone number so we talk almost everyday for free. So at least we are in touch by phone almost as much as when he lived 30 minutes away!

  11. I feel for you. My sister/friend moved to the Middle East last year (Dubai, actually) all I have to say is thank heavens for video chatting…we're not crafty sisters like you two…but I sure miss her and her super cute kiddos!

  12. Oh goodness this post made me cry! My sister is in Jersey and I'm in Ga. Your words made me miss her even more. She's not into crafty stuff, but appreciates that I am. I guess that's why I blog!

  13. I don't have a sister, but I have a best bud that I've known since we were 2. We are the closest thing to sisters that non-sisters can be. ๐Ÿ™‚ I moved to Turkey and (shhh! don't tell my family!) I missed her most of all. Sure, we Skyped and e-mailed and texted, and that helped, but I won't lie to you and say that it's the same. The thing that helped me through my tough days: Knowing that she believed in me & why I moved away from everything I knew & also knowing that I could call her any time if I really needed her — even if I woke her up at 3 a.m.! You guys will do great! You'll find ways to continue your relationship seamlessly! She knows you believe in her & that's HUGE! I'm back in the States now & my friendship with Britty is even stronger than it was before we spent that time so far away. I know the same will be for y'all.

    Hang in there!

    P.S. Thanks for the great blog. I look forward to reading!

  14. Girl!!! I'm so sorry!

    I remember when my best friend moved away over a year ago and I cried for days… and now I'm in a similar funk having just moved with a newborn. I am sad/lonely too! ๐Ÿ™‚ I know that we have never officially met BUT you can email/chat with me anytime!!!! I am in desperate need of a crating buddy ๐Ÿ™‚

    -Heidi

  15. Oh man. I wasn't ready for this post! It made me cry and I am so sad that y'all won't be able to talk on the phone all day, everyday:( Love you guys!

  16. So sorry to hear about your sister moving that has to be hard! My sister is 14 years younger and still in high school, so we haven't been close…yet! I hope someday we have a great relationship! I also feel your pain on the craftiness bit, most of my friends look at me like I've lost my mind when I mention sewing! We just moved 220 miles, so to get over leaving our friends, I just sew more! ha!

  17. My cousin & I are both only children & the closest thing to sisters either of us has. Although we've never lived in the same state, she spent all kinds of time at my house during the growing up years. Now, there are almost 5 states seperating us & we only visit once a year. We both have only daughters (so far). We talk on the phone, text a LOT and send pictures & videos of our girls.

    The most intersting thing to me is that although our daughters have probaly only seen each other a total of 8 times, they have an incredible bond. I text her last week to tell her I was missing her, and she replied that she had told her daughter that our hearts are always together, our bodies just have to catch up. Best of luck, your bond will stick, that will never change

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