Saying Goodbye

The last moments of this little life adventure, with a pit stop in Arkansas, is about to come to an end.
Our one year in Arkansas turned into six and a half years and boy how life has changed.
We moved in December 2005 with just our four legged baby, Sasha and a baby on the way.
We knew nobody.

For a short time, it was just Joe and me.
Then came Lily.

We began to meet people.
Some were neighbors.
Some were from Gymboree, where I took Lily twice a week for music and play.

Our family of three became a family of four in December 2007.
We continued to meet more people.
Although our closest friends remained those first neighbors and Gymboree friends we met early on.

The kids got older and soon started school.
Aside from those lifelong friends we met early on, it was the people we met in our last year in Arkansas that will also hold a special place in our hearts.
They helped me get through the long, hot summers with play dates at the pool.
They worked side by side with me to make Sophia's first year of school easier on me and extremely memorable for her.
These friends love my kids and family, just as I love theirs.

Saying goodbye is never easy, but it's time to take our six years of memories and box them up...

and never let go of those that have been by our side during this journey.

From those Gymboree friends (Deschamps, Hines, Paylor's)
to our neighbors (Needham's, Kippendorf's, Buttrey's)
to our gym pals and my lunch buddies (Kristi, Charla, Alana)
and our precious school friends (Koch's, Tong's, Mrs. Jan and Mrs. Renee).
You have all left an indelible mark on our lives and hearts.
Thank you for sharing this journey with our family!