Dear Donna and Mike...

Dear Donna and Mike,

First off, we love you guys so much!  

From the moment that we came to Eastport, you were there to make us feel so welcomed.  Donna, when I was pregnant with Christian, you and the other ladies of the church threw me a wonderful baby shower.  

I felt incredibly loved and was so blessed by that day.  You and Melissa were also there at the hospital, the day that Christian was born.  The bad news was that he made you wait over six hours in the hospital waiting room.  The good news was that you two were the very first visitors to welcome him into the world.  I spent a good portion of my labor thinking of you guys and how I couldn't believe how special it was that you were there.

You continued to be there for us as our children grew.

We have so many wonderful memories with you guys.

And we are so incredibly thankful for the special role that you've played in the lives of our kids.

They will forever have such special memories of Nonna and Mike and we thank you for that!

Not only has it been a blessing to know and love you both, we've also been so blessed to know and love each one of your beautiful kids.  

It's quite clear that they have pretty amazing parents.

We are also thankful for the years of ministry that you have done.  You've blessed to many through your work in various areas throughout our church.

Eastport Bible Church is such a special place because of the role that you two have had.

Tonight, we celebrated an ending as well as new beginnings.  Mike and Donna, for you both, it's the end of your time here in Eastport.  But at the same time, it's also the beginning of your new life as you move out to Arizona.

We celebrated you as churches do, with lots of family and friends and a good ole fashioned pot luck dinner.

Because nothing says we love you more than a variety of delicious foods made from the love of your church family.

It was also great to have your actual family there to celebrate you both, including your sweet Granny.

After enjoying a wonderful meal, we spent time reflecting on the blessings that you both have been over the years.  There was laughter and there were tears flowing as the love and fond memories just poured out from so many.

It was so special to hear the many, many lives that you've touched.

Dear Mike and Donna, we love you so incredibly much.  Thank you for the memories that we've shared.  Thank you for the kind words, the sound advice and for living out God's incredible love throughout both of your lives.  Thank you for being our church family and for having such an impact on our lives since we've been in Eastport.  We pray God's rich blessings on you both, as you begin a new chapter in your lives.  We pray for health and safety as you travel to your new home.  We pray for the special time that will be spent with your sweet grand baby.  And we also pray that Arizona won't be too hot.  Know that you will be greatly missed, but that most of all, we rejoice in knowing that you are going where God is leading.  We love you both very much.