Taking a Time Out

Okay, so I know that I haven't really been my usual blogging self this last month or so. What can I say? The holidays are a time for reflection and I've been doing alot of that. I've also been doing a lot of stressing out and hyperventilating as we have been awaiting our seemingly mythological military orders to make our big family move to Maryland at the end of the month.

Well, the orders have finally arrived and most of our out-processing is complete. In a mere 13 days, we will be on a plane, flying over the island of Oahu, saying good-bye to the place that this young, newlywed couple started their family. It really is bitter sweet.

On one hand, I cannot wait to be closer to grandparents. I really hate that they are not accessible for birthdays, outings, firsts, etc. And on the other, the autonomy has been nice and much needed as Paul and I worked to solidify our family unit. I'm very much looking forward to living in a place that actually has 4 distinct seasons, but at the same time, I'm afraid my kids will freeze to death as I have NO idea how to dress kids for cold weather. Heck, I don't even know how to dress myself for cold weather...I grew up in Florida!

I will miss my brother Ryan and my sister in law, Jacquie. Jacquie and I have gotten closer than I could've hoped for when they moved here over a year ago and she has become someone that I love whole heartedly. I'll miss my church, my routine, my familiarity with the traffic and the way of life out here. I'll miss Kasey.

Hawaii has been special to me. I spent 3 of my childhood years out here and one of my favorite things to do is drive around base looking for landmarks that hold specific memories for me. I glance at our old house with the sprawling Plumeria tree in the back yard every time I drive down Fox Blvd. My brothers and I used to climb those branches and sit there eating Corn Nuts or sunflower seeds. I see the sidewalk that Justin and I used to walk to school every morning to Hickam Elementary. A long sidewalk lined with gigantic trees that yield fragrant, sticky seed pods which litter the ground. There's the patch of asphalt behind our home where I learned how to ride my bike with no training wheels or the "hill" in our front yard that I was afraid to roller skate down. And now, Hawaii holds even more memories for me. It's the place that Paul and I made our first home together. The place we became parents, twice. My memories of this place have only broadened and become even more dear.

I don't know what it feels like to have our family anywhere else. Weird thought.

Anyway, Paul and I are trying to capture the places that hold memories for our family on film in these remaining days. And as you all know, we spend a lot of time at the park on Worthington and First on Hickam AFB. Enjoy the photos!