~our farewells~

SLIDESHOW of moving out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwsQfWloUUs

SLIDESHOW of our good-bye's: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7pfO3nIAu8



SLIDESHOW of why & where we were going and what awaits us:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FnkARfPSdg



Well, the time came to say our "see you laters". That was the hardest thing we think we have ever had to do.  We had SO many "families" both blood and chosen that we had to share tears & hugs with before leaving. 

 My last day of work December 1st was a hard one -- that had been my second home for 7 years and met some amazing dear friends that I will have with me always.  They all brought food & treats for my last day && they made me the cutest little scrapbook that of course I packed! I feel like we take for granted the friendships that we make and the people that are parts of our lives everyday & how they have shaped the people we are today.  Nurses are crazy psychotic bipolar loving and nurturing...all in one! We  have a bond that no one will understand.  Most of our conversations would make people vomit & you would NOT believe what we do on a daily basis! I love my Copley family and will miss them so DEARLY.  I was truely OVERWHELMED  with all their support, tears, hugs and some of the kindest words I have ever heard spoken about myself.  I love you guys *besos*

my last "huddle" with them :( I will miss you guys every morning!

LOVE YOU GUYS!

Nurses & booze makes for great entertainment & TEARS!!!

CHEERS LADIES~~next shots on me in MAUI!!

Dec 3rd was our BIG going away party at no other place....JIMMY's! Jimmy's had been our weekend second home for many many years (even before I was 21)!! All of our other friends that live in Maui now had their going away parties at Jimmy's so we had to keep with tradition!! That night Eric & I had no idea that SOOOOOOOO many people would come to see us off.  Definetly had over 100 friends and family come.  It was sad that we couldn't just  sit with each and everyone of them and spend hours just chatting and saying good-byes.  We had this  "in-shock" feeling by ALL the people that showed up.  After giving someone a huge hug & being so excited that they came to say good-bye...another set of people would walk thru the door and give us that same feeling.  It was LARGER than our wedding NO JOKE! Eric & I would walk past each other and just smile and let out a little laugh because it was ridiculous all the LOVE that was there just for us that night.  It would have been pretty funny to have yelled "JUST KIDDING....WE'RE NOT MOVING!!!" 

We received so many gifts and cards from so many people that we will treasure forever --- NO JOKE cause I brought them all with me to make a scrapbook so we can read all the touching words from you guys.  Eric & I reflected on our road trip and realized how very LUCKY and FORTUNATE we are to have such a large amazing group of friends & family that love us so much.  We have surrounded ourselves with LOTS of friends over the years and all of you have been in our lives for a reason.  Sometimes people say "my gosh, you guys have a huge group of friends and you're always so busy being social".  I look at it as my life and ALL the people that love us so much & enjoy having us in their lives as much as we love having them in ours.  

So thank you to everyone that made it out that COLD rainy night to give us a farewell hug.  Your encouragement, support & happiness for us truely means the world.  We will never forget the emotions we have felt thru this whole journey. PLEASE come visit us!!!!!

Not even half of the crowd

OF COURSE I hired a photographer for the night! I will post the link here with all the pics soon for purchase:)

Never say good-bye because good-bye means going away, and going away means forgetting 

~peter pan

One of our last days was spent with our "chosen family" watching the BEARS, singing & guitars and our last supper at no other....PORTILLO's!!!! AND of course tears for dessert!

We also got to spend quality time with our families enjoying lunches, pizza night, mom cuddle day, weekend with dad & gram and cousin night.  I do not have pictures of all the tears that were shed -- especially me & mom!! Those were UGLY buckets of tears!! We gave and received some of the biggest hugs ever from everyone and will hold those hugs with us until next time :) Hopefully it will be here, in our new home as we greet you with lei's!!

~~AaLlOoHhAa~~