As I took a break from packing, my friend—who also happens to be my former coworker—and I made plans to visit a nearby mall to say goodbye to some of our old colleagues. Both of us are leaving Dayton, OH in a few weeks. Her husband accepted a new job in another city, and mine also has a new position in a different state. Life is changing quickly for both of us.

So we drove out to the mall and had lunch with some of our former coworkers. The lunch went well—it felt so good to see familiar faces again. We talked, reconnected, and after some laughs and updates, we said our goodbyes as they headed back to work.

After lunch, my friend turned to me and asked, “Do you want to do something else?” Since we were in a shopping area, my first instinct was to go look at a few dresses. But before I could even say it out loud, something inside me paused. I started thinking about how many boxes I had already packed, how much I still had to do, and how I really didn’t need to bring home anything more to pack.

So instead, I said, “Why don’t we just get some ice cream?” The weather was sunny and beautiful, and ice cream felt like the perfect way to enjoy the day.

We went to a nearby ice cream shop. I normally don’t eat sweets, but this time, I just wanted to savor the moment. I wanted to enjoy these final days in Dayton, and this time with a friend who’s also preparing to leave felt special.

We sat outside on the patio with our cones, soaking in the sunshine, catching up on life, and talking about our bittersweet feelings, future plans, and the unknowns ahead.

Somewhere in the middle of our conversation, I felt a deep sense of peace. I was glad we didn’t go shopping. I didn’t need another thing to carry—I just needed that time. That quiet, simple time to sit, talk, and share a moment with a friend.

When I got home, I was empty-handed—but my heart was full.

I’m so thankful for friendships like these, for the stillness between transitions, and for the reminder that sometimes, the simplest moments are the ones that stay with us the longest.

“A sweet friendship refreshes the soul.” — Proverbs 27:9