Eight years ago our lives completely changed, we welcomed into the world our beautiful Isabella Jean. I will never forget that day. I was so anxious to meet her, to see who she looked like, wondering if she would have hair or be bald like her mother until age 2.
In one moment my life changed forever. When I first held her and locked eyes with her she became my everything. I became a mommy and my world changed in an instant.
At the age of 8 Bella is in 2nd grade, takes ballet, tap and hip hop dance classes, is in running club and is anxious to start volleyball. She is extremely kind, sweet, funny, stubborn and loving, she makes us so proud every single day. One of her favorite things to do is to just hang out at home with us watching movies or playing games, lately she loves playing "school" where she is the teacher and Kyle and I are her students.
Watching her grow into this wonderful young lady brings so much pride and joy to my heart. There are days when I wonder how in the world did we make this awesome little person? She is truly one of my best friends, the best part of my day is when I get to be with her. Every day after work I am so excited to pick her up from school and hear about her day. She is just as anxious to ask about my day and Kyle's.
I hope that throughout her life Bella stays just as she is. Full of confidence, ready to take on the world and help others along the way. I could not possibly be more proud of who she is, she is truly one very special little girl!
I love you Bella Jean and I am so proud to be your mommy! You make life so joyful, I love you the mostest!
I hope that everyone is able to have very special friendships in their lives. They make us who we are and sometimes those people become much more than friends, they are truly a part of your soul, who you are.
I am fortunate to have multiple friendships that affect me in such a way, friends that truly are a part of me and being separated from them is very, very hard. I do not adjust well to changes, I never have.
One of our dearest friends left on Sunday for a new adventure. David has been in our lives for a long time. Kyle and I met him when Kyle was in college, first I met David's beautiful boxer Lakota and fell madly in love with her. When I met David we just clicked and our friendship grew into something so incredibly special.
Over the years we became inseparable. We could not go a week without seeing each other, he lived with us, he became a part of our family, a part of my family. We have been through so many ups and downs together, health scares, family issues, relationship troubles, moves and so much more. David and I have grown together and have become very strong, independent individuals who happen to rely on each other heavily :)
Kyle and David are the two people who very literally pushed me and helped me achieve one of my biggest goals, they have shared in my struggles and my triumphs. David was a constant at the gym with me, he would be the one person that could understand me without me having to speak a single word. He has supported our family through some tough times, Bella adores him and even though he may not know it he has taught her so much. The Griffin family would not be who we are without David!
He and his boyfriend Brent decided to move to Florida. Tired of the cold winters, wanting a change in life, making a new beginning for themselves. I could not be happier for them, honestly!
Saying goodbye was one of the hardest things I've done. I have to admit that I didn't know how much this would affect me. To realize that I won't be able to just stop by their house at any moment, call David last minute to meet up for a drink, have him pick me up for a trip to the gym. Yes I can call him at any moment but that just isn't the same.
These first few weeks are going to be tough. I am so thankful to have a wonderful husband who fully understands and a beautiful daughter who is very protective of her mommy and is going above and beyond to make me laugh and smile.
I am the luckiest girl in the world to have the family that surrounds me and the friends in my life. To have such special relationships with people, it blows my mind the connection you can have with another person.
When we did say goodbye on Sunday it was kind of fitting to see two big caterpillars and watch Bella take them from the driveway over to a tree so they would be safe. Kyle and Bella got to meet David's grandparents and see the family farm. It was a beautiful day, a bittersweet day.
Good luck to David and Brent, Florida is so damn lucky to have the two of you. Thank you David for being you, for being such a big part of our family and you know you always will be, for making me such a big part of your family. We will miss sweet little Woneya, Tybalt will be missing his girlfriend! I will miss you more than I can ever express, even though we will see each other often. Gotta line up many more competitions for my stylist to be at ;)
Cherish the very special relationships you have in your life, I know we always will.
