We had no expectations, no opinions, and no knowledge about Mississippi when we first moved there in May 2016. It was probably the last place in the world I ever thought I would live, but that is where we ended up and that is where we were meant to be! The first thing I noticed about Biloxi was the white sand beach and the palm trees all along the main highway. And when we drove to our house for the first time I couldn't believe how many trees there were and how green it was! Everything grows and thrives there, and I've never seen so much rain (even in England!). We loved going to the beach and going swimming and enjoying the beautiful views. It was the perfect size town - big enough to have all the stores and activities we needed, but small enough to rarely have bad traffic or huge crowds.
It was a new experience living in the deep South and we loved it. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming and warm. The home-cooked food was delicious and I even grew to appreciate fresh seafood (at least some of it!). We made friends with our neighbors and long-time locals and other military families and are so grateful for all the people who are now a part of our story. We were loved and served and supported through two of the busiest and hardest years of our lives. But at any moment, I knew that I had 20 people I could call on for help and they would be there for us. We loved having people in our home for dinner and piano lessons and game nights. We loved our regular walks through the neighborhood and how safe and welcome we felt there.
Joseph worked 70+ hours a week in his residency program, and was busy, busy, busy. He learned so much and did so well and loved the people that he worked with. It was such a positive experience for him, even though it was such hard work. Matthew and Anna grew into big kids in Biloxi, and each had hardships and challenges that they learned to manage and overcome and turn into positive memories. They made some good friends and adjusted to the big school and learned how to say "Yes, Sir" and "No, Maam" when responding to adults. I was able to teach piano lessons to lots of little friends and our home was blessed by their presence.
When I was diagnosed with breast cancer last August, we quickly recognized that we were not in Biloxi by chance, and were exactly where we needed to be to make it through this trial. We feel that specific people were there just for us and were instrumental getting things taken care of so quickly. Joseph's work was extremely understanding and he was able to be with me when I needed him. Our ward friends offered dinners and babysitting and so much support. It was hard to be so far away from family, but we were well taken care of.
There was a point where I thought I would be happy to leave the Mississippi years behind us and start fresh. But then I realized that I could never and would never want to forget our experiences, the people we knew, and the things we learned there. I will always hold a very special place in my heart for Mississippi and our season there. I am so grateful for the beauty we saw and love we felt and knowledge we gained.
We will miss the gorgeous winter weather, the beach trips, the beautiful southern architecture, our big yard, the flowering azalea bushes, and wonderful people. We will not miss the summer humidity, the hurricane threats, and recess only once a week. We are excited to move to Las Vegas and be closer to family and hopefully stay put for a few years! We can't wait to see what is in store for us there.
See previous farewells to England, Texas, and New York.
