For my WAHOO's

I am blessed with a very special gift: I am part of a group of 8 friends that I can truly call my sisters. Even though distance separates us and even though we don't talk every day, we have a very special bond and are there for each other always. Our friendship started at Winthrop University after we all joined the Sigma Sigma Sigma (we really are sisters) and picks right back up every time we are together. Many of our memories revolve around the house most of us lived in at some point in our college lives. The address was 1021 Park Ave so I often get a good feeling anytime I see 10:21 on a clock or in today's case on the calendar! So in honor of October 21 (10/21).....here's to my Wahoo's!

The Wahoo's technically started in 2003 on a road trip to Florida on our way to the Bahamas. We thought since there were so many of us it would be easier to have a "group name." I remembered  hearing from a girl in high school that a Wahoo was a fish who could drink twice it's own weight. Being in college and thinking we were such rebels...we thought the name fit! So now instead of Maria, Jax, Hartley, Hales, Jessica, Heather, Ryan, and Harvey....we are the Wahoo's!

We mostly live in either the greater Greenville, Rock Hill, and Columbia areas of SC, one in Raleigh NC (finally got her closer than San Diego CA), and one near Hartford CT. We plan weekends at least 1-2 times a year and the great part is all of our guys get along too so we can leave them and have our own good time! One of my favorite Wahoo traditions is our "hanky." Ryan had this made when the first Wahoo got engaged and surprised us with it at our pre-wedding Girls Weekend. It has all of our initials on it and she had Hartley's wedding date embroidered. It's been added to and passed on through 5 weddings so far and has all been everyone's "something blue"

The hanky is still going strong, but as some start new additions to their families, we've begun new Wahoo traditions too....

We've seen life come and we've seen it go! We've been too far apart at times and then there have been others when you didn't even know we were there. It's been an incredible 7 years of friendship and it's still only the beginning! I wrote this poem a few years ago to share with my Wahoo girls and now I'll share it with my fellow bloggers:

"Few will ever understand....especially because it is so difficult to put into words what we have. An understood level of friendship, created from a sisterhood, has developed more than we could have ever imagined. We each add another layer to our inner circle...never quite realizing the true extent of our own contributions. To each other, we are a lifeline. Through all of our ups and downs, we have been and always will be together. So many parts of our lives will come and go , and although not always physically, the eight of us are always here. One by one and with each other, we are strengthening the bond of WAHOO! As young adults we begin into our journey of life and togetherness. I can't wait to grow in life with you."


I can only hope that all friends and family have something so special, now or someday!
Happy 10/21 day to my girls, in our bonds, harvey





Jamaica Mon!!!

Brent and I spent our 3rd anniversary in relaxing Jamaica!! After our wedding we didn't really have the money for a tropical honeymoon so we spent that time in the mountains. In some ways this was like our belated honeymoon; we've never been anywhere like this together and it certainly did not disappoint! We had a hard time narrowing down all the wonderful Caribbean destinations we had heard about so we had a travel agent help us out. She sent us to the Iberostar Grand in Montego Bay and we already can't wait to go back!!She really hooked us up with an ocean front room although you could see the ocean from all the suites. This was the view from our balcony!

Montego Bay was a great choice because it was a direct flight only 2.5 hours from Charlotte and then only a 20-30 minute bus ride to the resort. We got checked in and the butler showed where everything was in the room and then we went to explore and eat. This was the view from our first meal in Jamaica!!

Then we changed into our suits and hit the beach. The weather was beautiful most of the entire trip. Highs were 85 every day with a breeze...it was amazing! It was a little risky being hurricane season but it worked out very well for us. It was so UN-crowded that it was almost like having the whole resort to ourselves....and a few pool friends we met along the way!! This was our first day on the beach...they had tons of chairs and beach beds just feet from the brilliantly blue water!

Did you see the local in the bottom left corner of the first picture? We learned quickly that before and after the lifeguards and security guards are working (9am-5pm) that the locals come into the water either swimming or in a boat to sell you their "goods." Flames was the first (and only) one we personally encountered and lets just say his "goods" could be described as a " specialized water pharmacy." We obviously did not partake from the charming Mr. Flames! We mostly just chose just to soak up the sun and didn't leave the resort for any excursions. We were perfectly content the entire week with what the resort had to offer!! We also continued our tradition of taking a picture each year on our anniversary.

Happy 3rd anniversary to my love! 9/22/10

We spent a lot of time in the pool and at the pool bar. This is a view of the pool bar....its hard to tell where it stops and the ocean begins! The bartenders were fabulously friendly and very good at what the did!

 The bartenders were fabulously friendly and very good at what the did! We learned to LOVE Red Stripe and experienced some signature concoctions such as the "No problem," "Morris Day," "Greased Lightning" and more. They even invited me to sing into the exclusive A-1 microphone they used to entertain everyone!! Of course I had to decline for fear of getting us banned with my terrible voice!!

 The food, atmosphere, and people were all so great!! Although we don't have anything else to compare it to, Long Live Jamaica!!!

Our last night =(

It's hard to believe we've been married for 3 years already, and it's only getting better!!!! I count my blessings all the time to have found the one who was made just for me!