As I sit here at 1018C OG, thinking of all of the memories that took place in this cement casa......from the first time we came to look at it and Hunter saying it was kind of like living in the "ghetto" well little did we know that it really was the "ghetto" from all of the mold, ceilings falling apart, kitchen sink plugged. But that was the start of it all!!
I guess I will start with all of the things and people that we have met on this "Journey" and that have now became our "OKI FAMILY":
The Springers: John, Jordan and Crew, the first time that we met up with them was while staying at TLF they brought us an armful of movies and Jordan was about 7 months pregnant and miserable with the heat, come December they brought little Crew into the world and let us be part of it, they are an amazing young family that SACRIFICE for our freedom (THANK YOU JOHN), we are so glad that they would let us tend Crew now and again and get to be with that cute little guy! Everytime I see them I ask if I can just adopt him! Hayleigh and Hunter like to think of him as their little brother! So at that we will miss them but they will always be FAMILY!!
The Parkins: Oh am I so glad that we became family with this family. I don't know what I would have done without Katie and Orion! Those two got me through all of my black and blue days! Orion could always bring a smile to my face. We did alot with them Butterfly Gardens, Cocok's, 4th of July's, watching Stadium of Fire together, Waffle Mondays, Torii campout, then they added little Zoey to the family which is always fun to be around a new baby! I wish them the best on their extension but will patiently be waiting trip back home to do some serious shopping with Katie!
The Wrights: Never a dull moment on the Wii with this family!! What a wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas eve with them! So thankful to them for introducing TANTAN to us and we would usually pass them either leaving or going! And another lil guy that we would opt to adopted! We look forward to coming to a SOONER's game and tailgating!
The Christensens: OMG, becoming family with this family is never a dull moment and we always come home with sore cheeks and side aches!!! This family is the most comical family I have ever met and it is so nice to find a family that fits like a glove! Our kids have enjoyed their kids and we have totally enjoyed them!! We have done some of the most adventurous things : Okuma, having races on the race cars and ending in casualties, APPLES TO APPLES that would usually end up as a UFC fight of who was the KING, Baby Huey on New Years Eve, The Hooka Bar, The "SHOW" on BC street, Easter egg hunt in their yard with around 100+ eggs, Western World, Karaoke at Gate 2, ordering a Party Boy! MR. MIke's football games. Memories today Forever Family!
Siddons Fam: The Siddons would usually be with us on all of the excitement with the Christensen's. Quiet family but full of fun!!
Other families that have become forever families that we will never forget: The Euresti's: BRBQ's, Okuma, falling in love with their kids: The most well behaved kids at school! Miquel sneaking me some of his Dad's salsa to school and getting in trouble from Big Daddy for it! You must always wear hip waders around Big Daddy his stories get bigger everytime he tells them!!
Moon: Just being Moon and taking Darrin in as one of his "Bro's".
I am so Thankful that this Journey has added to my address book as well as to my Family list. Thanks to each of them for making such great memories for us to have for a lifetime!
To all of our family members and friends that have kept in touch with us through it all from cards, letters, emails and phone calls you will never know how much it meant to hear a familiar voice or read something new in the happenings! It really makes you feel good to know we were remembered! For the ones that we haven't heard from I hope to see you as we return!
To our families that traveled the Pacific to come for a visit, it seems so long since we've seen you and are looking forward to the reunion. Not a day goes by that I don't walk down the hall and look at each and every picture frame and think of all the fun we had and I am so deeply glad that we could share it with you! From Soba noodles, to sand in your toes, climbing trees, catching spiders, and getting new "SKILLS", big slides, 100YEN stores, China Petes, Shuri Castle, Botanical Gardens, and just a HUGE HUG from each of you! FOREVER FAMILY with Forever Memories!
To Darrin and OUR girls: Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Darrin Thank you so much for taking the Job of a life time, this adventure has been the ultimate. And I am so proud to have been able to enjoy it with you and the girls. It has taught me that we as a FAMILY can "CLIMB any MOUNTAIN" that is placed in front of us! We have grown as a family, we have learned as a family, and we have enjoyed as a family! Getting out of the BUSY American Lifestyle and slowing down to one that we could catch up on and spend quality time with is all that I could ask for! I am so appreciative for what you have done for us as "OUR FAMILY" and without you it would still be just a dream you made it the reality!!
Hunter: You make a MOMMA PROUD!! You have turned into such a Beautiful Young Lady, I cannot even express how proud I am of you in ALL of your accomplishments you have made here on this ISLAND!! I know at first the road was seriously rocky for the both of us and a day didn't go by that we did not but heads, and as you started liking this place the road got smoother! As you started High School and you first tried on that ROTC uniform was probably the proudest moment since you were born! I hope to the heavens that you will continue with the program, I know that you will do an outstanding job in uniform if that is what you seek to achieve! And for your dreams of the soccer team was another proud moment! You worked so hard for what we thought would not happen! Keeping up your grades, running till you wanted to puke, early weekend morning games, 3-6 games a weekend, MAKING Far East as a Freshman! You did it and you did it with a smile!! Domo my girl Domo!
Hayleigh: Lil Miss Japanese, I can't even tell you how impressed I am with you in how well you have adapted to this culture and I am pretty sure you will go through a culture shock when we get home! You have had some wonderful experiences from Girl Scouts, selling cookies at the PO and BX, riding horses by the ocean, camp outs with the Sister troop, running for Student Office, that you did an oustanding job on and walked away with a smile!!! Making friends left and right with your outgoing personality! And your Eisa drumming that you are a pro at now!! Seeing you perform made me proud! I hope that you always think back at this experience and know that you can do what ever you put your mind too!! And telling me every night that "It will be OK MOM"! Domo my girl Domo!
To BOTH of you : Be yourselves, and always "DREAM BIG" you both will be the best at whatever you choose to be!!!
As we close the door here at OG and drive through the gates of Camp Shields for our last time feels like we are closing a chapter of our book. We are looking forward to another mountain to climb (house hunting, job hunting, car hunting, and just plain hunting(DARRIN)and normal shopping!) Thanks so much to all for being with us on this JOURNEY!
A journey is best measured in friends rather than miles ~ Tim Cahill
I will add a few of the things that will be missed:
Ghengis Khan
TanTan
Warm Sand between my toes
Waves to wash it off
The most Beautiful Sunrises and Sunsets
COCOK's
COCO's
My OKI FAM
100YEN stores
The warm SUN
Hospitality of the OKINAWAN's
Yakasoba
Japanese Raisin Bread
Things that will not be missed:
Emptying the DEHUMIDIFIER 3 to 4 times a day
Cockroaches
Dollar sized Wolf spiders
Sayonara Okinawa, Konichiwa Utah
Trin
Okinawa Time
