Saying goodbye to Missouri was harder than I had ever imagined it would be. Our friends there quickly became our family, and it was heartbreaking to leave them.
I wish I had a picture of our friends the Woodlands. Sonya was the best thing to happen to me in Missouri. She pulled me out of my comfort zone in such a good way and helped lift me out of the "moving depression". Derek and Richard were able to play soccer together and go to World Series Cardinal games together. Their older girls, Hannah and Whitney were amazing to my kids and were willing to babysit anytime, and just take care of the kids whenever Sonya and I wanted to do something.
Allee and Mia were great friends and had many a sleepover. Jackson was Pierce's best bud and introduced him to things like monster trucks, Scooby-Doo, and most recently Star Wars. Even little Layla had a buddy, she and Audrey were only six weeks apart.
I was able to go to Sonya's and exercise three times a week, which was not only physically but emotionally therapeutic. We went to movies like Footloose and danced in our chairs. I couldn't have asked for anyone better to be in my life.
The Wilkins family in our ward has the most amazing kids. This is Gavin giving Pierce a ride on his pony. Pierce absolutely LOVES Gavin, and bless Gavin's heart he is 10 and will still take Pierce out to see the chickens, horses, and other animals on the farm without complaining. Pierce calls him one of his best friends. MaKenna is Allee's buddy and since Alan is the bishop, MaKenna would come over almost every Sunday after church until her dad was done with meetings.
The older boys, Austin, Caiden, and Colten have been some of Derek's young men at one time or another. He became so attached to them, and they will forever have a special place in his heart.
The Carter's lived right across the street. They were one of the first to "adopt" us. Allee and Mikiah became instant friends and they played together practically every day. In the summers they were inseparable from sun up until bedtime. Multiple times when I have had the girls around town I have been asked if they were twins. They love to dress alike and have their hair the exact same. Kiah is such a sweet and amazing girl and she will be so very missed.
Pierce's bedroom.
The girls room.
Miss Lynn. I cannot say enough about Lynn. She has become another Grandma to my kids. She loves them so much and would come over and ask if I needed to go somewhere just so she could spend time with the kids. She is an amazing woman, and someone I look up to so very much, it was insanely hard to say goodbye to her.
So now here we are, trying to adjust to moving again here in Texas. We love our home which helps a lot. So far we haven't met anyone, but we are hopeful to find some friends for the kids to help make the transition easier on them. Time will tell.
For now, we are enjoying time together as a family.
