The hardest things ...

In this life I have had to do lots of things that were tough, and unpleasant. But I find that the hardest one is to say goodbyes to the people that you care for. Today my sister and I met with some of the dearest people in our lives, Kevin and Melissa Brooks to say goodbye before they take off for their new adventure in Montana.

We met for dinner, next time we see them we will be wearing sweaters and boots, yay for winters, haha =) 

They are like a family to us, older siblings that I never got to have. Melissa takes a really special place in our lives cause we learned about the church from her. Some years ago, this zealous young missionary came to our house to teach us about the gospel. She was SO cute! She had been only two months or so in Ukraine when she and her companion came to our house to teach us. Both of them knew just about enough to get around :) It was a great experience. Melissa is a real example to me. If you look for a perfect woman role model that would be her. She is amazing. She is everything a man could wish for (lucky Kevin, haha). She is a perfect mom, and a great wife. Every time I am around her, I think to myself: "I want to be like her". She is consistent, persistent, loyal, kind, fun to be around ... and the list goes on and on. Melissa is a mom of four adorable children whom we love greatly. We were sad we did not get to see them, but hopefully, we'll be able to get together a few times a year and see them all.
Kevin is an ambitious man that we love as well. I hope one day I will meet a man that would be as ambitious, smart, and aggressive as Kevin is. I always look up to him. He is motivated, driven, and I just love him cause he reminds me of myself, lol ;))))))) (I had to compliment myself in this entry, just kidding).
But seriously, I have learned SO much from this couple. I got lucky to live with them in the fall of 2008, and it was a blast. I loved every second of it. I miss our evening talks on the couch when Kevin and Melissa would ask me about my life and we'll talk about my career goals, Ukraine, boys, and life in general.
Oh, how much I am going to miss them! I wish I spent more time with them when they just lived twenty minutes away ... and it was always nice to know that if anything out of ordinary happens, they are there. Now, I will have to make an 8 hour drive if anything ... haha ... which is not a big deal, right?
 But do not get me wrong, I am excited for their new adventures that are ahead of them. I am SUPER excited for Kevin's new job. I am just whining cause I feel like screaming "Take me with ya!" haha.
This family holds a very special place in our hearts and I am just grateful we have them. It is just hard to have them leave, but changes are for better.
I will definitely miss all the teasing about being a BYU fan, cheering for Klitchko because there is no one else to cheer for in Ukraine, and lots of other things. And who is going to tease me about my boy situation? Oh, I forgot I have a sister that lives just ten minutes away, lol.
We love our Brooks family. They are amazing! We are SO grateful for everything they have done for us. I do not know where I would have been and what I would have done with my life if Melissa Brooks (Sister Keith) has not touched our lives in a very special way.
It is hard to see them move out of state, but we will find ways to keep in touch and stay close.