#1 Friends

I've got to say that the most meaningful and what I will miss the most about living in Hawaii is all of our friends that we have met along the way of our 7 years here. When you live so far from everything you know that is familiar, the people that surround you become like family. Some friends have moved away but they are still so very dear to us. These friends of ours have challenged us, helped us in parenting, held us accountable, cried with us (okay really just me), challenged us to be better spouses, loved our kids just as much as we do, they were generous with what they had, they laughed with us, talked story with us, prayed with us, helped deepen our faith, were there through births, birthdays, anniversaries, sicknesses, graduations and through happy and sad times (sounds like a marriage vow). These friendships are not only deep because of Christ as our bond but also because they have walked life with us out here in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. I truly love these different people that God has put in our path. He knew we needed community here to sharpen, grow us and point us to our Savior and I am so thankful that he chose to cross our path with theirs.