Well, we’re down to single digits. 7 days until LAUNCH. 7 DAYS! Time to really start wrapping stuff up and getting down to the hardest part- the goodbyes. I am terrible at saying goodbye. Last weekend, my parents and sisters came down to Carolina Beach for one last family hoo-rah. We had a great time. Hung out on the beach, had Thanksgiving dinner, went geocaching, went to church across the river in Southport where the pastor from our old church just started. It was great! But man, am I going to miss them!! I am so thankful and blessed to have such an amazing, supportive family.
I’ll miss Christmases like this:
… and times like this at the Jimmy Buffett concert:
Unfortunately, I can’t take this rowdy bunch with me in person, but they decided to send a piece of them with me for the year. Before leaving, my mom gave me several cards with dates on them to open on random days and holidays throughout the year. I am so excited that they want to be a part of my journey and walk alongside me in whatever way they can. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!
It’s been an emotional week so far and I’m sure will continue to be the closer we get to September 5th. One great lesson I have learned through this “goodbye process” is that it is okay to cry. It is okay to tell people that you’re gonna miss them like CRAZY! I think that for the last 23 years of my life I took my family for granted. Yes, I loved them. Yes, I appreciated them. But up until now, I never realized how awesome they truly are, how much of an impact they’ve had on me and how much I deeply love them. So, here I am… a hot cryin’ mess. But I’m gonna embrace it. I’m going to take the good memories with me this next year.
So for those of you who are getting ready to leave or say goodbye to a loved one who is leaving, I would also encourage you to OPEN THE FLOODGATES and cry all you wanta. Be a hot mess! 
