Good Times and Good Byes

Salut everyone!  Sorry for our extremely long hiatus, but we have been without internet.  Finally, we are once again connected to the world!

It certainly is weird starting up with a routine again and having to work (okay, it's only 12 hours a week but between traveling to and from school and lesson planning--YUCK!--the hours start to add up), when we spent our last month in the States just spending time with all of you, our friends and family.  But, despite all the good times, it is tempting to never leave any of you again for the simple fact that saying goodbye is MISERABLE! The next post will describe more transportation-related details of our crazy travels across the country and world, but this post is mostly a tribute to you, to let you know how much we love you :)

In Searcy, we had a brief time to spend with those who returned for school before we had to leave, and this was just the beginning of our long list of goodbyes.  Brittany was sent off with wonderful gifts from the Kernodles, and there experienced one of the first official goodbyes.  Particularly after spending most weekdays there this summer, it was like saying goodbye to family (not to mention having to leave her favorite kids ever!)  We were both also lucky enough to spend an evening at the Latture's.  Of course, we were treated to the best food around (we are now cursed to always compare other meats to Freckle Face Farm's, and it never measures up [not to mention the milk, which we still refuse to consume here, except for in Cereal where the lack of flavor is drowned out by the ungodly amount of sugar]), but more importantly we got to spend some great quality time with our favorite farming family.  We had a day-long extravaganza with our "France friends" (your card is in our room on the window sill by the way), and thought how strange it was to be going to France without them.  We were treated to a gathering at the Elrod's, our home away from home, where we had to face the fact that we were all finally going our separate ways and really couldn't all live together for the rest of our lives. And then there's Kevin.  As we said goodbye to him on our last night in Searcy, the tears started to truly sneak out for the first time.

But alas, time was ticking away and so we hurried to Fayetteville where we had one of the best visits with Derek's relatives.  We saw his Dad/Aunt/Uncle's old high school, the farm where Derek's Dad and Aunt grew up, listened to hours of guitar at a family reunion, and got to play games with the cousins.  Once we arrived in Dallas, the reality that we were not just a few hours away and returning for Thanksgiving anymore truly began to set in.  Here we started to get down to business (as indicated in our earlier posts), but luckily we had much time together, especially at mealtimes! 

We were so busy in Pittsburgh that we hardly had time to notice we would be in France in merely a week.  We did probably have the longest visit with Sarah and Katie we've had for a while, and as a bonus we got to spend the night at the Jackson's!  Between the smores, the campfire songs, and The Pokey Dot, you could say our time there was magical. 

We definitely didn't get to see family as much as much as we would have liked to, but we are thankful for what we had, especially the addition of Aunt Bev to the mix!  We couldn't get enough of the babies of course, even after the few long days we got to spend with them. 

In what seemed like the blink of an eye, we said a teary goodbye to mom and dad and headed to D.C. We did get a wonderful visit of the city thanks to tour guide Courtney, got to see some famous people, and best of all, went to a chocolate bar (as in, a bar where there are chocolate drinks and desserts)!  But after two nights and with a rather anti-climatic departure (due to our characteristic tardiness), we hurried in the cab to leave for good (Rachael--you're adorable card is also on our windowsill!)

Though we had a fantastic time being with you all, it was so bittersweet.  We just want you to know that we LOVE you and we are not complete without you!  Luckily we have met some new people thus far, but it really is rather lonely when you are not surrounded by an awesome community of family and friends.  If you feel like traveling (hint hint), just let us know because we have a spare room in our apartment just waiting to be filled! Until next time, gros bisous <3 (kisses!)

P.S.-Sorry for the lack of pictures for the first half, that was the pre- new camera time, but we are ashamed we didn't take any pictures!