Saying "See Ya Later"

It's tough, isn't it? Whether it's to family, friends, or our husbands saying "see ya later" just never seems to get any easier. 

This weekend, our closest friends left the island. While I'm so happy that they're going to be able to see family and will be much closer to them once they get to their next post, it's still difficult to see them go. They were our first friends here and they've stuck with us ever since. 

I actually found Mrs. C through her blog while we were still living in GA. {Surprised? Yeah, me neither.} We "met" via a phone call because we were having some Army-related paperwork struggles with our move. Her hubby was able to give Joe some advice which was golden. We sent several emails back and forth talking about moving and Hawaii.

After Joe and I got to Hawaii and settled into lodging, we were finally able to meet up! They picked us up at the hotel and took us out for dinner. All 4 of us clicked right away, which is really rare. After dinner, they invited us to get out of the hotel and stay with them for the night. I know what you're thinking, and looking back I still can't believe we did this! We ended up staying the weekend with people we'd never met before...and people we met online. =P I think all of us were a little bit crazy!

Mrs. C and I. I'm pretty sure this was the weekend we met. I could be wrong, though.

The Joes. :)

All of us just outside Margaritaville in Waikiki!

It's crazy to think all we've been through together in nearly 3 years. My Joe deployed. Mrs. C helped me unpack the rest of the house after Joe left. She kept me company frequently while he was gone. They invited me to church with them, for dinner...kept Jasper for me/us several times. Oh! We locked ourselves out of the house one day and had to pull boards off the fence... And then Mrs. C broke the screen door on the patio! That was a fun afternoon! She took pics of us when he came home for R&R. And I'm fairly certain we all hung out while Joe was home, but I don't quite remember it.

Holidays. Birthdays. Pregnancies. Births. Girls and guys nights. So many things.

Our girls. 1 month & 8 months.

LOVE.

Charlotte thinks Mrs. C's hubby is hilarious!

I'm glad that we were able to spend a few days/nights together before they left. I know it's difficult getting out and about with a newborn! 

Daddies & daughters = melty mama hearts.

I know it isn't the end - we'll see them again, even if we have to make an extra effort now that the Army has separated us. But it sure is tough to think about them not being nearby during our last few months on the island...and then again when we move to GA.

So much happens in just a few years' time... The ending of our time here in Hawaii turned out to be a little bittersweet after all.

It Ain't Easy...

Even though Joe has been in the Army for 2 years there are still times when I feel like a complete newbie. Another milspouse first for me happened yesterday morning... 

I met up with my fabulous friend, Annie, for some coffee on post. We didn't get to chat long because she and her hubby had things to do, but it was a good chat and I'm so glad I got to see her. This will be the last time I'll see her for who-knows-how-long. She's PCSing to Italy with her hubby and they're leaving today.

It's been a heartbreaking process for her because Hawaii is what she considers home. I think that's only part of the heartbreak for her, though, because once they get to Italy their days are numbered. He's deploying...again. If you remember, we met last year while both of our hubbies were deployed. The unit he's going to is deploying soon after they arrive. I hurt for her because I know how that is. Joe deployed when we'd been in Hawaii for less than 2 months. I wasn't in a different country, but given the amount of people I knew I might as well have been.

I hate that she's going through this and I really hate that I have to finish out our "tour" here without her. We didn't spend just a whole lot of time together once our husbands came home, but I figure that's about normal. We had some great times together while our husbands were gone, and even when they came home. We spent July 4th, my birthday, Labor Day and Thanksgiving together. She {and her hubby} became family. 

And yesterday I was forced to say goodbye to my deployment sister... It's hard saying goodbye to family, even the ones you adopt. I still don't know how I made it through the day without crying.

Several of the friends I made during the deployment are leaving soon, so I know this is just the first of many to come. I dread all of them and can only hope that God will send me some more friends and help me to keep in close touch with the ones who are leaving.

Saying Goodbye...

totally sucks.

I dropped my bestie off at the airport about an hour ago. *sad faces*

Is it weird that dropping her off was almost as bad as dropping my hubby off? Granted, I didn't cry as much dropping Melissa off, but...I was still upset. I was good, though, and didn't cry until I was in the car on the way home. {Probably not the safest thing in the world to do, but it couldn't be helped.} We had such a good time, and I'm so glad that she was able to come visit. My birthday would have been a total suckfest without her. =)

We took in "the sights," did some pretty good shopping, ate some expensive good food, made cupcakes [and attempted to decorate them], did some crafty things but only got one project accomplished, and hit the beach a few times. All in all, I think we had a pretty good, full week. I just hope she had fun, 'cause I know I did! It was nice to have another person in the house. And now, I'm alone again. *sad faces* It sucks... I know I'll be ok, but I just feel *bleh* right now, ya know? I am in serious need of a routine...

Anyway, I'm going to share some pictures of our entirely too short week together.

Melissa & I at Waimea Bay after getting slapped by a wave we weren't expecting... =)

Our pretty much identical pedicures [after a visit to the beach].

Us at Dole before riding the Pineapple Express (not as cool as it sounds, lol!). And for some strange reason, my eyes look green! I swear they're blue... It does happen on occasion though.

Melissa sitting under broken umbrella #2 at Sunset Beach.

(Not the one in NC. Apparently, there's one in HI too.)

I stole her hat so I could read without squinting while she sat under the broken umbrella. The umbrella idea was a complete fail. It probably would have helped if I wasn't such a tightwad and had shelled out more money for a decent one. Oh well.

Melissa and I at the luau last night. =)

The luau is right on the beach - perfect for a good photo-op!!

I miss her already! And don't you just love her momma-turtle-and-baby-turtle necklace?! I love the little shops at North Shore...they're perfect for finding unique things like that. =)

I'm sure I'll be back later with a more detailed version of her visit. I've missed blogging!! My inbox has been so lonely without all of your sweet comments!

Oh! I almost forgot! My sweet Papa is going home from the hospital tomorrow!! =D His surgery was on Friday (it just had to be on my birthday...) and it went really well. They're sending him home with boatloads of medicine, and they have told Mom and Nana that the surgery definitely remedied the aneurysm and should shrink the tumor. No blood supply should make the tumor shrink [and hopefully die]. Thank you so much for your prayers and comments. God is awesome!!!


Don't forget to enter my giveaway! It ends Sunday at 2400 EST! I know at least some of you want something from Hawaii!! ;-)