Goodbye Washington...

Depending on the way life goes over the next three years I just might have spent my last days ever in Oak Harbor. It is never easy to say goodbye to people who have become your close friends, and at times even been like family, but for better or worse it is the way of the military and something that we are getting kinda' used to. We spent our last night in town having dinner with a few of those nearest and dearest. Thanks so much for sending us off. Carter and a couple of her buddies Carlos...

and Kylie...

Military wives need someone to lean on when things get rough and these girls have been just that for me. I don't know that I would have made it through all the past few years have had to offer without the support of good friends. Thanks girls (Molly, Cat, Lara, Me, Whitney, Jamie, Carter and Kylie)...

The next day was Carter's last day of Pre-School and they had a special Chapel presentation that the parents were invited to attend. As soon as she sat down she began mouthing to us to "Stop smiling!"

That didn't work so she tried ignoring us...

And then it was time for her to receive her Bible...

That lovely moment was followed by a really special one (hint some sarcasm) where she rather loudly said, "I SAID STOP SMILING AT ME!!" Sort of one of those where you chuckle and cringe at the same time. Needless to say we are doing our best to whip her little attitude into shape lately (no pun intended, as I realize I just delivered my third dose of spankings for the evening). When I talked to her about it later after I picked her up she informed me that we were just showing our teeth way too much, and if we smiled with our mouths closed that would have been just fine. Apparently we are just a little to happy for our overly conscientious four year old. Note to self: Smile less. All that aside her Pre-School has been such a blessing in our lives, even for a few short months. She slowly wrote this entire card for her teacher all by herself, and I couldn't have said it better...

With our boxes packed, goodbyes said, and car loaded we were off...

I realized something during our last week in Oak Harbor. I guess you could say I realized how much I really didn't like living there. I think Nate and I would agree neither one of us were ever to crazy about living in a rather un-populated corner of Washington. That being said I am thankful that over the three year period that we lived there we didn't spend a lot of time dwelling on all the things we didn't like. Sure, I had my days where the lack of a local Target had me a little under the weather...but overall I'm glad we made the most of it. I think one thing I'm learning is sitting around dwelling on the things you don't like about something (especially when they are out of your control and un-changeable) just leaves you miserable. Maybe it's all those pep talks from my dad and other Coaches that come back to me...reminding me that most of the time life is about 10% circumstance and about 90% attitude. I've definitely had my share of days walked through with a rather piss poor attitude, but overall I'm so thankful to have these lessons to fall back on. And, in a lot of ways, it feels like we are heading into such a welcome change....here we come TEXAS, and we can't wait!!