The final lap

One week. 

One week until my contract is fulfilled and I am back in KC.

This past week has been actually pretty eventful! I went to see my Great-Aunt Diane who lives in Willis, TX- about 45mins north of my house down here. What a great day! We hung out, chatted, went shopping and grabbed lunch down in The Woodlands, and had a lovely day! It was great to get to know her and I really felt sad when I left that she does not live closer.

I went to the benefit show/art show for Not For Sale to raise money for the fight against human trafficking, which my beautiful cousin is on the team for.

I went to Hobby Lobby (yes, again... we are now on a nickname kinda basis, from this point on it shall by referred to as simply the Hob) to get more craft supplies. This time I somehow made a decent fabric flower when I got home... the stem could use a little rehab, but in my defense it was pretty late and I really wanted to just get it over with at that point. Nevertheless it came out quite well. I have a ton of fabric that I might be experimenting with in between packing.

 BUT.... How sad is it to leave all of these great people in Houston?!?

      And boy, have there been some great ones!

                

         Here are a few of my faves (in no particular order):

                                                     

                                                           

    Oliver, Elliot, and Lochlan

    The cute little boys I helped babysit! Seriously cute! (Oh and they are currently learning the art of eating with utensils... hence the mac&cheese/yogurt faces!)

Roomies! Holy cow. These three ladies will stay in my heart forever! Thank you guys for everything- being there for me, sharing your space, and most importantly your lives with me! It has been more fun than I could have imagined and I will miss you so much!

 

 TCH gals! I have been so very blessed to get to know such a wonderful group of women! Having you guys made this transition so much easier! Thank you for including this short-term gal in your plans and in your lives!

   We may have been a little loopy at this point!

  

Tomorrow is my last day off before I leave! How crazy!  I will definitely be glad to be *home* and see all of my loved ones, but I did not expect to meet SO MANY great people here!

Can't I just wrap everyone up in a pretty ribbon and send them home as a gift?!? Please?

Materials not included

Today, I decided to make a trip to Hobby Lobby. My goal: make something pretty that can be used (or possibly used) in the wedding. My outcome: a bag full of supplies I cannot use in the least right now. Why would one go all the way to HL-- which in Houston involves a 45minute drive in traffic one-way-- for nothing??
Well, I came across a DIY blog  (one of the many in my search for DIY wedding decor) and decided that I wanted to make this particular product. I scrolled down to the "Materials Needed" section, snapped a photo, and headed out the door. It wasn't until I was home that I fully read each step, including the step stating, "Now set your sewing machine to..." Wait, what?? Sewing machine?  I feel that an entire MACHINE would be a good material to list. There goes that idea...
That failed attempt gave me some extra time to think about the face that I only have two more weeks here. This is very bittersweet! The bitter: I love my roomies and my co-workers. It seems like my life down here should just flawlessly flow into my life in Kansas City. But it doesn't. The sweet: I get to be home, with Shawn and family and friends (and our puppies of course).
I made a much needed to call to my Great-Aunt Diane. She lives about an hour north and with being so busy, I have yet to make time to visit her. We set up a date for this Sunday, my only weekend day off till I go home, for lunch and day date. I am excited for that! Connecting with family is always wonderful.
Other than that and work, I have to pack next week, babysit one day, and spend some roomie time before I go. My Momma is flying in on my last day here and we are going to visit her cousin in Austin before heading home. This journey is almost over... and I'm ready to start the next one! ;)

The Most Amazing Trip

The second week in March started off like usual: working. Three shifts, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. Wednesday bright and early I boarded a plane for KC!  We had a little gathering with family and friends at the new bar in Zona, Bar Louie. Good times with great people!
On St Patty's Day, we left for Hawai'i! Roughly 12hrs later and two plane changes, we landed in the most beautiful place!

We flew into Oahu and stayed at Embassy Suites (which if any of y'all forget, has delicious breakfast) for three days. (Oh yea, and "y'all" is in my vocabulary  now... sheesh!)

While we were there we went to Wakiki beach and the Pearl Harbor Memorial. Interesting observation: There is a large number of Japanese tourists in Oahu. I would estimate that the memorial had more Japanese tourists than American.

        



     

The memorial  was more than breathtaking. To see something up close that you have learned about so many times is nearly overwhelming. Particularly when you are there with a family that experienced the ultimate loss of a son/brother/friend in the military. To stand over the USS Arizona knowing that so many men still lie below you, buried at sea, really weighs on you.  A unique and humbling experience.

 
 






We stayed for three days then flew over to Maui! We had such a great time! There were nine of us total: Shawn's "adopted/bonus parents," Kim and Jon, their son Ryan, his wife Liz, their beautiful baby girl Kayla, daughter Lindsey, family friend Devin, and Shawn and I. We stayed in the Maui Banyan condos which was great, right across the street from the beach in Kihei.

The boys boogie boarding

Pig cooked in the ground

While we were there we went snorkeling and snuba diving (like scuba but your tanks float on a raft above you instead of your back, bypassing all the training you would need), drove the Road to Hana, went shopping, paddle boarded, boogie boarded, had lots of yummy food, flew to the Big Island and went up to the top of the volcano, went to the top of the volcano on Maui, a lavender farm, winery and a very fun luau!



 

Beach in Kihei, lava rocks

The Road to Hana- One of many waterfalls

It was truly an amazing time and I cannot think Kim and Jon enough for allowing us to accompany them on this trip!

Lindsey and I

One of many beautiful sunsets

Beachin' it up

OH YEAH!! PLUS, I GOT ENGAGED!!!!! :)

For those of you who don't know, I met Shawn almost 9 years ago at college! He left for the Marines later in the year and we kept in touch here and there. We both took our own paths in life and those paths eventually crossed again, and boy am I glad! Not only is he a man that has been through so much and is well grounded, but he treats me great (I'm talkin' being my best friend, compromising with me on things, being a gentleman-- holding open doors kinda stuff-- and being my honest to goodness soulmate)! I could not ask for a better man to spend the rest of my life with. I am lucky gal and I know that life will be nothing less than fabulous from here on out!