Time for announcements...

Well, we have some news...we are moving back to Colorado! We have been given a great business opportunity (which I will share more about after everything is finalized) that we just can't say no to! We leave this Saturday night and will be arriving in Denver on Sunday morning (21st)...just in time for an "old" friends' wedding! I (Kamma) am still working this week, through Thursday when school is out for winter break, and Michael is hurriedly trying to finish the condo remodel upstairs, all this amidst trying to get everything packed or sold or thrown away! Needless to say, with a little bug going around in the classroom and all this added stress, I have come down with a bit of a cold. I'm chuggin' the EmergenC, though, and definitely feel like I've caught it before it's too bad.

We're feeling a lot of mixed emotions right now; we feel like we've truly found a second home here. We've made some great friends, and have really settled into "island life." The mom's at the daycare gave me a handmade book today at our Christmas party and I almost lost it...beautiful pictures of them and their babies and loving sentiments to me...it's always hard to leave a place you love.

We're also wanting to do as many of the things we've loved here as we can before we go, and visit some of our favorite places. Luckily while Luke was here we got to do some of that, but we still have a couple things on our list....hopefully we'll be able to fit everything in!

Will all that's going on, I may not be posting for a bit, but come back and check, cause you never know with me! I've taken a lot of great pictures at work that last few days that I'm itching to share. Love to you all!

Hair...

Thanks for all your positive comments about my bangs! In case you don't know, it is a big decision. :) Speaking of hair, I gave Michael a haircut a few weeks ago...it hadn't been done since before we left Colorado when my sister did it! He's still growing it out, but now it's much less like straw, and more like nice soft hair. Here are some pics...

Sort of a before...a couple weeks before when Michael's family was visiting and he made dinner for us all!

Half-way there; his left side is done...on to the rest!

Whew! That was nerve-wracking...but turned out pretty good! Now where did all that wave come from?!

Nice little morning-after fro! haha ;)

Moving Day…

Last Friday (April 4th) we looked at 1 (ONE) apartment in the town of Waikoloa Village and knew that it was for us! We signed the lease, and moved in on Sunday. It is in a complex of privately owned condos called Waikoloa Villas, and ours is a ground floor one-bedroom, one-bathroom with a lanai and outdoor wet bar owned by a gentleman in Arizona who also owns a house on the island. These condos were built in 1979, and this particular one does show it’s age a bit, but it is really nice and feels great to us. We have a washer and dryer and a dishwasher, and there is a complex pool that is about a 20-foot straight-shot from our lanai. If we walk to the other side of the pool we can see the sunset over the ocean…amazing! Check out the “virtual tour” pictures if you’re interested…

On another note, Michael started working today (Tuesday), and I’m still looking and waiting on some interviews. I have another interview tomorrow with the Hilton as a beverage server, so we’ll see if it’s the one! I really need to find something soon, and would love to be in the Waikoloa Resort area (where the Hilton and Marriott are, as well as two large shopping centers) so we can carpool easily and not have to drive too far.

It feels really good to be in our own place now, although it was a little sad to leave Hilo and all of the people we have met and made friends with so far; however, we are looking forward to all of the new people we will meet here and all of the new places to explore. We found a small beach this morning and went swimming and sunning for a bit. There weren’t very many people there, and we had a fun time. We drove by another beach on our way home that we’re going to check out tomorrow morning before Michael goes to work at 1.

So, that’s it for now! We love hearing from you all, so please write a comment on here or shoot us an email and let us know how you are all doing. Love and blessings to you!

Leaving...

When Michael and I first started talking about moving somewhere far away, over a year ago, I totally was NOT ready, even though the idea of it appealed to me. I just needed some more time. So when it came up again this past December, I felt a total peace and knew that this was it, time to go. So here we are, 7 days until we leave...done with my job, getting together with friends to say good bye, spending time with family trying to make as many memories as possible, taking care of all the "loose-ends"... We baby sat my niece Molly tonight for the last time (one of our favorite things to do- Molly especially adores Michael!), and as I was singing the same song I have sang to her at bedtime since she was teeny-tiny, it finally started to sink in. We are moving away. We have no idea when we'll be back. I don't know when I'll get to put Molly to bed again, or sing that special song to her in person. EVERYTHING is about to change. Change. A lot of people can't handle it. Some people can't live without it. I've always been somewhere in the middle. I know that change is hard, but I believe that change is good. I want to live a full, exciting, loving life without regrets, and for me and Michael, right now that requires change. We are so excited for the great adventure ahead of us and know that some wonderful experiences are in store. We will miss the people and places and everyday stuff that have made up our life together so far, and are so grateful for all of the support and love we have received; however, we are also looking forward to this next season of being alone, just the two of us, depending only on each other and God, and growing deeper in our love for each other. We are living our lives! Present in each moment, striving to be better and stronger! And perhaps, we might just inspire one or two people along the way to follow their dreams...