Goodbye Anna

Once again, and all too quickly we are reminded of how friends can come and go out of our lives. This past year, our friends Paige and Dusty have hosted an exchange student from Italy. Over the course of that year, we have become very close and our kids have absolutely fallen in love with Anna. As she and Paige visited us at the beach this past weekend we were faced with the fact that it would probably be the last time we would see her, as this was her final week with her host family. As we said our goodbyes, I was heartbroken, and I've never seen my kids cry that much. I had to remind my children to not be sad because she was leaving, but to be happy in remembering all the good times we spent with her. That was difficult to do because I had a hard time believing it myself. I will especially miss the way she says "Mister Payne." Arriva derce Anna, we love you and miss you greatly.