We're Back!

Hey everyone!
Sorry I haven't posted in such a long time. We have been back for 2 weeks and it has been a whirlwind! We have already moved into our house (seeing as how we weren't expecting to move into the house till August sometime) and have been to Dallas and back with our truck.
We are enjoying our vacation time but it is going by way too fast! We haven't had just one day to sit and relax really or go somewhere to camp or 'explore' but things should be slowing down pretty soon.

As far as jogging as been, I have been about 5 times with Sarah and have been trying to motivate myself to get back into the habit! We average 2.5 miles now and she is doing so well! Today we did the Greenwood trail and it was so beautiful. Jake goes with us also and he is such a great motivator to the both of us.

I might as well let ya'll know about our little puppy we were going to bring into our family this week. I had been in contact with the breeder since March. It has been a wonderful and anxious 4 months of waiting and planning to be able to meet Copper. I know this may seem silly to you all but Jake and I had already fell in love with him.
Monday I had called the breeder 5 times and left some voice mails because we were going to come out to the farm this week and meet him but I could never reach her. I had been to TJ Max and bought some items for him and already painted 'his' room in our house. Tuesday was our move in day with the movers and that morning the breeder called me with the most devastating news. She said that the puppies didn't make it. She was very upset and kept apologizing and I kept saying it was alright, I mean what else was I going to say? After we got off the phone I just balled. I knew I looked silly but it hurt so much to know that our little puppy that we already fell in love with hadn't made it. The vet said that it had just been to hot for the little ones.
I know it wasn't our little Copper and one day we will bring Copper home but it still hurts me even right now as I type this I just want to crawl into bed and cry. I know when I tell people it is just really awkward because they just look and me and think it's 'just a dog' but really, it wasn't. Not to me.  This morning on the trail, Sarah and I ran by an older golden and my arms just started to hurt from wanting to just drop down and hold it.
Please don't think I'm pathetic...I'm just so devastated...

Anywase, after that happened I have been just up and down this week. I know God had a plan for our little family but right now it just hurts so much.

Besides all of that we are happy to be home and are excited to see where God is taking us.
Hopefully talk with ya'll again soon.
Sorry this was a depressing/random post!

Motivation where did you go!?

Ugh. You guys I have no motivation! Its been over a week since my last run....
and it really was such a good run 2.5 miles! Plus 2 on the bike and another mile walked.

It has just been so hectic and stress-filled.
Jake and I have been going walking every other night instead because he is borrowing an awesome bike so he rides while I walk beside him. We walked to this super nice park and then to the beach one night and just listened to the waves. It was pitch black and really serene. I am really going to miss that smell and sound.

I leave a week from today!!
7 more days in Hawaii!! I am so ready to leave tho. We will be spending the 4th of July with the Pantlings. They are having a cookout and there will be a show on the Harbor. It will be wonderful.

I am sitting here watching Aubree and Linus on Skype and listening to all the different military members here at Starbucks. There are men from Australia and Canada in front of me and I am enjoying there accents.

Jake and I got our truck sent off! Whew, one more thing that is marked off. Excitingly tho, that was the second to last thing that was to be marked off....

We are borrowing a truck from the Pantlings so we are able to still go around the towns and enjoy our last week.

I better go, just thought I would do a little update. It is getting a little distracting in here so I'm not sure how this post is sounding. Sorry! I was never good with distracting environments ;)

MIA

Ok guys Im sorry I have been missing in action on the blog! Our internet decided to stop working about 3 weeks ago so we had to go ahead and cancel it.

ALOT has been going on!

First of all, we are all moved out of our house. THERE IS NOTHING in that house. We moved out everything on Monday and literally have a matress, little couch, and carboard boxes leftover from the movers as furniture. No tv, internet, and rarely phone usage because I don't want to use data.
Its super nice when Jake is home but I get so bored when he is gone. I am spending the afternoon watching Aubree cook on Skype at the Starbucks on base so I could do a little socializing and a blog update.

The move went by fast but it was super stressful. I have a lovely huge fever blister on my face to help remind me of those couple of days. Finally got our motorcycle shipped as well. We were planning on staying up at the Pantlings to save some money on BAH (housing allowance) and to take care of jake (the lab) but the people here who manage our rent would have feed us over $2300 for moving early.....
yes....corrupt people...not to mention all the other fees they are already charging us for not notifying them early. Because being in the military we have all of our information on anything weeks ahead of schedual *sarcasm*.
It has kind of left a bitter taste in my mouth about this island and leaving now isn't so sad.

However, Jake and I spent a night being tourist the other night out in Waikiki and the whole evening I was savoring every moment. I love how Jake and I fall in love more and more each day and those butterflies still flutter around in my stomach when I spend time with him :)

We drove down to the strip and walked around Waikiki. Started out going to a little tea house and sampled some teas and ended up buying some AMAZING little teas! We then saw that we were in around the time the Farmers Market is open so we walked through the market and tasted some pastries...mmmm
Next we walked to the beach and sat at the park till dinner time. Went to our special chinese place called Noodles for dinner afterwards. We have gone their with my family each time they were in and went there the very first time I came over. It is in the Hilton Village and just holds some sweet memories. We then went and sat out by the pool (where I spent my first evening here visiting with Jake 3 years ago!) and listened to the outdoor band for a couple of hours. It was the most beautiful night! We walked along and took some pictures of us wading in the lagoon and watched the sunset. We went and walked throught Fort Derassy park and looked though the Hale Koa hotel and just had the most wonderful evening.
We hardly go over to the tourist side of the island because it costs so much over there but I'm so glad we went.

I have been keeping up with my running. Not so much this week. I went Sunday morning and did real good. I am averaging about 2-2.5 miles straight with no stops but walk another mile and ride the bike a couple of miles sometimes. We've mostly been walking this week because of everything going on.

I need more motivation! Hopefully when things settle down. Its hard to cook healthy without any staples in the house let alone any kitchen appliances!
Sandwhiches and soup is on the menu for the next 2 weeks!

Yes, 2 weeks from today I will be boarding a plane out of here.
Wow. Didn't I just write a post about it being 3 more months in this place?
We almost got the truck ready for shipment so that is just another little step closer to home!

Jake suprised me and rented a boat for this Saturday so we are going boating!! I'm super excited because I've always seen the marina full of boats and sailboats coming and going from the base but we just never went. So Jake secretly took a Hawaiin boating class to get his liscence and asked me out on a date :)

It seems like i'm rambling...sorry! My mind is just a whirlwind.
I better go, theres alot of people in here so i'm getting distracted! haha ...how can people do homework in a public place like this???
sorry random thought

SEE YA"LL SOON!

Weekend recap!

This past weekend was soo wonderful! Jake and I had a blast! Friday, Jake took me to Bellows beach which is next to where Jake and I got married and spent the afternoon out there. It was so nice but a little windy and cloudy. I am really trying to work on my tan so I was kinda bummed out. We came home and just relaxed. Saturday I was wanting to go to the outlet malls but it was so nice so Jake offered to take me to the beach again! (this is a big deal for my husband who does not like the beach!)Saturday we spent the entire afternoon at the beach here on base and it was like we had it all to ourselves which was so wonderful! So we had a little subway picnic on the beach and just watched the tide come in ;)
Yes it was very romantic

That night we went running. It was so hard because the sun totally drains me! I did not want to go but I knew I would regret it if we didn't go. We walked up our little hill behind our house and started our jog. Since Jake had been home, I never got around to doing the laundry so Jake had to wear long shorts (he likes to wear shorter shorts to run in... ;) ) so they were not cutting it for him so I had to go bymyself. This is the first time in a month! It was so mental for me to keep going but I knew I had to. Before I knew it I was already at the gym, did 2 miles on the bike again, and ran another mile back home! 3 miles!!

Sunday we went to the outlet malls. Jake actually got something! My husband hates to shop. He will wear the same thing everyday just so that he wouldn't have to pick anything out or choose anything to wear. He likes the basics. So when he said, "Hey, sweetheart I found a really cool belt that has a cool little latch on it and some new swim trunks" for some reason it just made me so happy inside. I guess I just want him to have that special feeling of shopping sometimes also. haha. He bought me a cute maxi dress (mainly because he said it made me look tall....and it was on super sale..and a CUTE little bathing suit cover because it made me look tan). We went to chilis (thanks momma for the gift card) and came on home.

Yesterday we went and saw a movie (we had a free movie ticket!! Yay for being a movie club member) and got some awesome frozen yogurt! Came home and was seriously not wanting to go on my run ...again....what has gotten into me??! Jake has to train for his pt test so I cannot keep up with his pace so I was just going to stay home and do laundry...but I didn't! I went and felt so good! It was only 2.5 miles or so but I just love the feeling afterwards. We did look for me some new running shoes specifically for pavement (mine are more for trail runs...which are completley fine) but $5 off of the original price doesn't cut it for me.

I woke up this morning and was feeling a little discouraged. The stupid scale hasn't moved one blessed pound so I sent a picture to my sisters (where one is brutally honest...i'll let you guess which one) to see if they could see any difference.
I don't have a before picture or anything because I don't like taking pictures of myself. I am soooo shy! I don't know how people can have whole albums just dedicated to themselves....I just could never do it! So it was stepping out of my comfort zone this morning sending it to them but they were soooo encouraging! It's really stepping out of my comfort zone to post this but maybe it will help me stay accountable!

I know I still have a ways but one day at a time!

I am really striving to get to 3.1 miles with no stopping breaks so I can do a fall 5k. Is it bad that I just want a tshirt more than the actual accomplishment??? Maybe...but....

MY PUPPY IS GETTING BORN THIS WEEK YOU GUYS!!! Ugh, I am so ready! I will be calling the breeder again to see how everything is going and I hope to get some pictures soon. We should be getting our orders in this week ( PLEASE LORD) and get our moving dates in the next couple of weeks!

Big things are happening here, I just hope everything works out :)



Don't ever take for granted...

Tonight was a personal best record for me! I actually ran a full 3 miles! We started off with the warm up brisk .3 of a mile but I did not count any of the walking, we just turned off the mapmyrun app everytime I needed a break and turned it back on when I started to run (which Jake says I am running since I average 12.5-14 min miles...I really don't know if that is good or bad but for me its a 'way to go girl!'). I walked .8 of a mile and ran the other 3!
When we were closing in on the last .1 of the 3 miles I looked over to a group of men and saw a man in a wheel chair missing both of his legs.

....missing his legs....

I know in Greenwood AR we don't ever see anything like this. I never had. Colors started to play and while Jake stood to attention I. JUST. WEPT.

I don't think I am able to communicate how proud I felt...how completly HUMBLED I felt and also how ANGRY I felt at all the ignorant people out there who just shame themselves trying to put down the military.

I sit here with tears streaming down my nasty sweaty face and am so so so proud of the freedom that I have and for that man to have sacrificed for me to sit here and share this with you all.

Next time you see a wounded warrior pray for them, thank them, and bless them.
Next time you think Fort Chaffee is getting a little bit too loud and start complaining, ask for forgiveness of your ignorance and selfishness.
Next time you want to talk during the football game when the anthem is being played please remember this man here missing his legs because he gave them up fighting for your freedom.

and this weekend coming up, please remember that it isn't just a 'lake' day or vacation day, but remember what it stands for.

LIMBO

Well Jake and I are just waiting on our orders for now so it feels like we are just staying in the waiting period. I know in a couple of months we will look back and say," Wow, that really did go by fast." As for right now, its pretty stressfull and full of patience filled days. Take yesterday for example, one of the lawn workers decided to hit and run over our dish causing it to crack, chip, and disalign. Direct TV charges $50+ to come out and realign the dish (this has happened before by moving crews who were SO AWFUL). Jake witnessed the man doing it, took pictures, and can describe the time and what the man looked like. However, our Forest City managment told me today, and I quote, "Don't get your hopes up on a reimbursment..." UGHH. It would be cheaper to just go ahead and suspend or cancel our contract.
Jake is NEVER mad....well he was mad last night I can tell you that!

Waiting for paperwork, orders, flight dates, moving dates, packing dates, and everything else is stressful but I have to be grateful. I am scared to death tho that someone is going to steal our stuff because it is 'common' around here from the movers....very reassuring.

Woke up this morning feeling horribly dizzy. I have never felt like this before. Jake told me to drink a lot more water because we lost alot of fluid from last night run (2.8 miles!!) but I have had 3 glasses so far and still fill sick. I wasn't even able to go to my last bible study meeting on James.

I've been reading the runforcookies blog that can be found on pinterest for inspiration on running and keeping up the motivation. I completly realize that it is as much as a mental game as it is physical. I did receive some great advice about weather running so I feel better about Arkansas. I guess I am just spoiled here. :)

On another note, I have not gotten my hair cut since March 2010 (besides a trim last May) because I do not want to pay for it....is that the most pathetic thing you have ever heard?! I called the local salon here at the mall (Trade Secret) and asked how much it would be for a trim.....$45...I said, "Oh, I don't want my hair washed or styled"...oh ok...$40.

I think I'll wait.

Jake is supposed to get his hair cut once a week...thats $10 a week for his hair....which just seems funny to me.

I am SOOOOO excited about our puppy! He is due now at the beginning of June so that should work out perfect for his 6week weening period.
We thought about naming him Mississippi. I have always loved that name after watching El Dorado (John Wayne). I mean I LOVE it. I wanted to name my little boy Mississippi Dean but I would feel so bad for him in grade school. Jake was totally for it but we will see whenever we see him. I have a feeling Copper is going to stay tho.

I sold my second cow today. Actually, my dad sold it for me but it was still my cow. Jake and I just had a little cow born last month and he is precious!
I think I remember sharing that while in my first year of college, my mom advised us to invest in something either in stocks, guns, or cattle. I chose cattle. I started with a momma cow who had a little one and then that one had a little one and now we have 4. Well, we just sold one but we should be expecting another next year.

I am very grateful to have a daddy that will take care of my cows for me....seeing as how I don't know how.


Can't wait to see everyone soon!  Sorry for the random post :)

Pinterest and Products

With wanting to eat cleaner I have found some really good products that have worked for us. However, being on a budget is so hard while trying to do this! Take for example the cream of anything soups. You can buy the cheap brand here 72 cents a can; however, for the clean stuff it is $2.99 each! :( I love the Pacific foods brand of the version:



They have 2oz more than the can and you can get a 12 pack on amazon for $30.48. But that is still $2.54 a carton..which is cheaper than on a military base?? anywase. The ingredients are simple (only 4 or 5 compared to the can) and it tastes so fresh! But that price is just absurd. So I think I found a solution! On pinterest there is a site where you can make your own cream of anything soups yourself!

Ingredients:

• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 small onion, diced
• 1/2 cup main ingredient, diced
• 1/4 cup butter or substitute
• 1/4 cup flour or substitute
• 1 cup milk or substitute
• 3/4 cup broth

This is great! The author suggests to just quadruple the batch and store them in the freezer.Or just can store it in a jar up to 4 days in the fridge. Her link is here. With crock pot recipes, your gonna come across some of these soups and I recommend going for some of the substitutes in the ingredients and making your own healthy soup!


Another product Jake and I both are loving is the Cascadian Farms cereal. Jake really REALLY loves cereal. I don't blame him but cereal is expensive here and he can go through a box in 2-3 days. The cereal he LOVES is about $3-$3.50 a box here but they are all full of GMO's. Who cares right...they taste goooood! But, I have found that the Cascadian Farms cereals are only $2.50 a box and all ORGANIC! I know that still sounds expenisive but cereal for some reason is a lot more expensive here. They have some that if I would just pour in a bowl and not tell Jake what box they came out of, he couldn't tell the difference and his happy/healthy tummy is none the wiser. We also like the granola but looking online, it is super expensive (like $4.58 a box!). The box lasts us about 2 weeks and we put it in our yogurt or just grab a handful for a snack. If anyone sees the prices in local stores let me know.


Another pinterest find that really does work is the lemon on hard water stains. You just cut up a lemon and scrub the heck out of your facets and it makes them all shiny without having to spary clorox on it and get the scent stuck in your nose hairs. :)
When I did this I was fustrated because we have an older house on base and I know its been used and abused but that still doesn't mean I want it to stay nasty. But the water stains on some of the facets are just permanent; however, I bet if you lived in not so old or nasty of a house, the lemon would work wonders. It helped to a large degree on the sink facets.

Also, I cleaned our mattress. I have never once done this before in my life. So I took a cup of baking soda in a mason jar and dropped about 10 drops of lavender oil and shook. Then I strained the mixture over the matress with a strainer from the kitchen and let it sit for a couple of hours while I washed the linens. SMELLED GREAT!! The mixture is supposed to lift all the nastiness out of the mattress and bring it to the surface...did it do that? I don't know if it did or not, but mentally I felt better about our mattress while I vaccummed everything up and it smelled excellent. :)

Jogging Journal:2

Ok ya'll we did it! I met my goal of 3.1 miles!!! I know that is like a 5K so it was as if Jake and I had our own personal 5k ;).
Saturday we were both not in the mood to go running (which I really do have to make myself go upstairs and change and then walk out the door) and it was a complete mental game. It seemed I was too hot, or my toe hurt, or something else BUT we kept going. Jake kept pushing me and we made it to the gym. It was only 1.8 miles to the gym so we went inside to get some water and then we did 2 miles on the stationary bike for a rest. Back outside I felt another burst of energy so we ran back through the neighborhood. When we got back to the house I just knew I could go more so I asked Jake how much more do we have and he said .3 of a mile. I knew I had to do it, I was so close! So we did! I felt liberation...as Jase Robertson would say.

Anywase we went again last night and did 2 miles which I was still really proud of. It is week 5 of this new journey and it's great. Last night was sooo hot tho, it was in the 80's yesterday and it just seemed too humid. That is what scares me about Arkansas weather so if anyone has any tips on how to stay motivated with hot weather please help! There is something strangely satisfying about having sweat pouring off of you tho...I know gross...but awesome! haha

Things I have GOT to remember:

• DRINK WATER!!!!!!
• Don't just pay attention to the scale
• Stretch
• Motivation
• Thick socks
• KEEP GOING EMILY!! YOU CAN DO IT!
• Drink my green tea every day!
• Don't push too hard or you'll burn out.
• DRINK WATER!!!!

Jogging Journal

Ok, so I thought if I kept a journal about my jogs it would help me be a little accountable. My bible study only has 2 more weeks left so I need to have some somewhere! Last night we went through the calender and marked off the days we went and how far. I read that if we have something visibly in front of us it would help with encouragment.
First of all I just want to say that I am so excited that I am in my 4th week! I read somewhere that in order to create a habit, you need to do something for 2 weeks? If thats not true than maybe it's 4. haha

After looking past the 4 weeks I have noticed a small improvement:

April 20-2.5 miles
April 22- 2.45 miles
April 25-2.27 miles
April 28-2.55 miles
May 2- 2.3 miles
May 4-2 miles
May 6- 2.7 miles
May 8-2.6 miles
May 10- 2.92 miles -woo hoo! Almost there

Last night was brutal! I drank water all day because Jake texted me with little reminders to drink my water so that I wouldn't be dizzy. On Tuesday it didn't seem so bad but last night was hard! We trecked up a monster hill and then jogged back down and through the neighborhood and I could have just tripped by husband everytime he said "Just a little more"! We stopped at a rest station and grabbed some water (really cool thing about living here is that they have rest stations around base with water and disposable cups) and we were off again. I literally wanted to sit on the ground and cry! Which its super hard to do when you have a husband who thinks you look cute instead of serious when you try to cry! He just laughed and encouraged me to go a little further again until we got home. 2.92 miles! Again I know it sounds like such a small number but we burned 400 calories and I feel amazing!

Climbing up the hill was just as hard as jogging on level ground. I think of the reward at the top of the hill and it makes things better. The view ya'll is amazing!


This is the view from our house of the hill...




I live in one of those little houses :)

there are saliboats out on the harbor but they look like tiny little white triangles just floating on the ocean and on the jog down....I mean it is def. a reward! The little hike there is also so pretty! We go through a trail between the woods and last night they had jets and huge airplane take offs. They looked so close that they looked as if coming right out of the trees on the left of us!

Why did we wait so long to do this?
I don't know if this is going to be a new hobby for us, but I would really like for it to be. It will def. be hard when we move but as for right now I'm going to enjoy it!

Getting motivated!

I mentioned last week I believe that Jake and I started to go jogging during the evenings, well this is my 4th week at jogging and I feel so good! Ever since we started eating cleaner and less processed foods and exercising, I feel my mood just lifting. I pray I never get out of this habit because afterwards I really do feel amazing even if I want to throw up in the middle of it. Jake is so encouraging when we go out. He constantly tells me good job and those little words help me keep going. Last night we jogged a full 2.5 miles! This is a big deal for me considering the last time I probley jogged was in 8th grade track with Coach Casselman. Or was it in basketball?? Anywase, I am getting out and doing it! The hardest part is getting out the door, once your out the door you can go for it. We take a break when colors is being played and the flag being taken down while Jake stands to attention and then we take a water break but afterwards we keep going. We have been doing some different trails but my favorite is the sunrise/sunset hikes up KT hill behind our house. It is a pretty big hill and once you get to the top your surronded by the ocean. We jog down and back through the neighborhood and the smell of the ocean and wind just envelopes you! It truly is such a blessing. I have told my bible study to help keep me accountable with this. I really want to go every other day and so far it has been great.
Something funny that really does help me is looking at my motivation board on Pinterest. ha. Isn't that funny?
A couple of the pins are these:









These are just a few that help. I love the prayer that is listed even tho I am by NO means a runner I love how the prayer is written and pray this while outside.

I thank God for blessing me with two legs and the ability to go jog and also for a husband that is able to run more and longer because he truly encourages me! I would love to get to 3 miles so we can do a 5k! How awesome would that be?!

Get motivated today! I promise you won't regret it. .... now I just need to remember this haha!

Is anyone of you sick? He should....

This morning during my quite time, I felt a shift inside of me to share a story with ya'll.

Almost 2 years ago exactly, I was walking down the spice aisle at the commissary when I got a phone call from my 20 year old husband. I remember being kinda annoyed because once I get a phone call I almost always forget what I need down that aisle and the next and the next...I answered the phone and Jake tells me, "I was just getting a check up and I am going to have to go get some x-rays done so I might not be home for lunch." Ok, I thought wondering if this sort of thing was normal. I knew awhile back ago Jake had tested positive for TB when they tested him and still to this day has a nasty scar on his arm where it never healed. I just assumed it had something to do with that.

I believe it was during the end of May because I knew he was about to leave for his 7 month deployment in August. I suppose those xrays sat on the desk awhile before someone saw them because Jake was called back to have more x-rays done in June.
I was sitting on this red couch in our front room when Jake came home and walked up the stairs. He sat down beside me and looked at me and quitely said, "Everything is going to be ok. Do you believe that?" I start to cry. "The doctors found something on my x-rays that they are very concerned about. There seems to be a large mass on my lungs in the x-rays they have been taken and they want to start treating whatever is wrong immediatly."

Of course I just stare at my healthy, strong 20 year old husband whom I have been married to for a total of 4 months and could NOT believe it. We call his mom and share with her what we know while I call my family.

I remember being mad at the military but I don't ever remember being mad at God.

We start making appt. for more bloodwork and tests up at Tripler to have a cat skan ran.

During this time we were going to our church each Wednesday night for bible study. Jake wednesday night group consisted of several men a 'few' years older than him. Jake ran across this verse and afterwards decided to call these men up and have them pray over him:

"Is any of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord....the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." James 5: 14, 16b

After that night we went to the hospital for the tests. I was so angry because Jake literally left for Japan in 2 WEEKS! Not as much angry with God, as I mentioned before, as I was with the military. The man left me in this little waiting area all alone while Jake went down the hallways for his tests. I remember sitting there, I was freezing because it was such a cold place, and listening to some soap opera on the tv. I kept thinking, "why is everyone so mean here? Don't they realize Jake is leaving? Don't they realize how scary this is?"
I was NOT the best christian example that day to any who spoke to me. After the tests, we left and called his mom again. 
They said they would call us back the next afternoon.

As you can probley tell right now what the outcome was. But that afternoon we didn't know. Do you want to know what my husband did? He prayed. He was calm. He silently cried and held me and was so much stronger than I would EVER be. We watched some movies I think, I can't really remember and we must have eaten dinner but he constantly prayed not for him....but for me...
what a man I married!

The next morning the tests came back. Completley clear.

I believe with everything inside of me they came back clear because of what Jake did. He followed Christ's words of love and had the elders pray over him. God tested Jake and knew the outcome already.

I know many people would say, "oh, that is just a coincidence, something must have messed up the x-ray. God doesn't do miracles anymore, that's just in the Old testament. or something ignorant like, Well, he was lucky!"

NO, we serve a great a merciful God! A Lord who is full of compassion and mercy!-James 5:11b

I don't know why I felt the need to share this this morning. I know there are many people out there with hurts and sickness. I just thought our story could shed some hope and I urge you to pray and have other gather and pray around you because God is the greatest doctor of all!

Little Hobbits

I know, I know, I have not been blogging as much as I should be but really my life is not at all interesting so I have nothing to write about! haha

Jake and I are LOVING BBC's Top Gear. Seriously, these 3 guys are absolutley hilarious!



We can't ever tell whether they are being serious or whether what they are saying is scripted, but nonetheless, its fantastic! It is about cars which I really don't have any interest in BUT they make everything so funny I am enjoying learning all I can!


Hmmm....what else...well I have been learning about different foods and other health subsitutes for items from my day out with Veronica. She introduced me to pink salt, sucanat, and brown rice syrup.  I have not heard of any of it till being here because of course we NEVER cooked with those types of items but I'm telling you they are so good and GOOD for you!

Pink Himalayan salt is EXPENSIVE if you buy it in a health foods store so I went to Ross's (which is a lame excuse for a TJ max here...) and they had 16oz for only $4! Compared to 8oz for $13. My sister says they carry it at home at the TJ max there and I highly recommend it.

Benefits:

• naturally pure
• extracted by hand in the Himalayan mountains in traditional salt crystal mines (I know this isn't really a benefit but def. cool)
• Contains 84 minerals
• free of bleaches, preservatives or chemical additives
• contains trace elements in amount to provide a multitude of health benefits.

You use it the same way you would use regular salt. They have it online at Amazon for 5 lbs. for like $4 so that is probley the best deal.

I haven't used the brown rice syrup yet but am planning on making some sticky nuts with it and the succanat. You can sub. this syrup for caro syrup in pecan pies for half syrup half caro. It's just a natural sweetener like agave. Use it instead of sugar or tea sweetener ;). But make sure it is organic because some pretty nasty things can be found in the GM kind.

Sucanat is just dried cane juice that has high levels of vitamins and mierals in it compared to the refined white sugar. It is composed of molasses and sugars. It is pretty pricey so I'm not sure how often we are going to be using it but thats ok. I found a little store in Dora OK called Squash Blossum and am gonna check it out when I get back home and plan on going to the Downtown Farmers Market some Saturday mornings if anyone wants to come! Not sure how excited my sweetheart will be about waking up at 7 just to go produce shopping.

Speaking of my sweetheart, he went jogging with me the other night and was sooooo kind! Of course it was easy for him seeing as how my short little legs couldn't keep up with his long strides but he taught me some breathing exerices and other techniques and afterwards I asked him how long we went and he only guessed about a mile. Well the next day I did the same route and it was 2.5 miles! Shows how much fun we had. lol. I've been trying to stay on track with this jogging/power walking hobby and I feel so good! I am scared to go back and miss this beautiful 70 degree weather tho :(

I am currently obsessed with Once Upon a Time! I can't believe there are only 2 more episodes until a next season! What am I serisously going to do.....I guess start all over again. No but I wish I lived in Story Brook! I love all the characters!

Watched 101 Dalmations the other night and boohooed throughout the entire thing. This shows how much I want my own little one and how evil Cruela is! haha

I am needing this weather to be beautiful so I can actually convince people that yes, I lived in Hawaii....just look at this tan I have! But as of right now, theres no tan and only boring whiteness.

Hmmm...what else...this is a random post.
OH, is it just me or is it that everyone and their mother is pregnant! What is going on? What is really sad is a lot of people aren't even married!?! What happened to True Love Waits? It is so sad. So SO sad. Hopefully Jake and I can wait a little longer and enjoy each other till I have baby fever again but seeing as how everyone will have a baby around me, I don't know how long that is going to last. You see, I LOVE babies! Everything about them! Here the fever has died down because its just Jake and I really, but at home...MY GOODNESS! Some of those babies are just gorgeous tho. I hope to not weird anyone out if I randomly just want to snuggle with your child for a good while. :)

Jake is wanting to play on a softball team when we get back. I LOVE softball. How cute would it be to go to his games and sit on my little quilt with my baby and puppy.....oh I mean just puppy. Not so fast. Our baby would either look like a hobbit or a German Natzi I have decided.
I hope it's a hobbit.
Oh I know what we are doing for Halloween now!
ok not so fast...haha.

well I am gonna skype with my momma. See you all soon!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well its Almost Here!

I know I have been kinda vague on my blog posts about where Jake and I will be after his EAS date of August 12th of this year. We weren't for sure about reinlisting or getting out to pursue other things. We honestly were and still are seeking God's guidance for our life and at this moment feel at peace with our decision to move back home in July! It is going to be hard to say bye to this beautiful island. I am going to miss so many people, places, and memories here because this is where it all began for our little family. It will be hard not being able to go to the beach every other day or drive over to Ford Island and across Pearl Harbor every week. People respect America here and you wouldn't dare hear people disgustingly talk down about America or military. I am going to miss that bit. Well....the natives here don't much respect America but to an exent I can't really blame them with all the corrupted history.

Anywho, please pray for Jake and I as we make this HUGE transition. I am so looking forward to a whole month of payed vacation with Jake that I don't even know what to do! We are wanting to go camping and start moving into our little house. There are so many decorating possiblities I feel as if I am in nesting mode!

Also......WE GET TO BECOME PARENTS!

to a golden retriever ;)
There will be a new litter available towards the end of summer and if everything works out, we will be bringing home a beautiful ball of fluff named Copper I believe. I already called the breeder and she told me to call her back in a couple of weeks to see when the litter will be available.

Packing this place will be so strange. I came over here with 2 suitcases. Jake owned a car and an X-box. We built our home here and to see it all put into boxes and into a crate is weird. Hopefully it will arrive sooner than the alotted 2-3 months later in all one piece!

There are still many options that we have to decide on but this new season is coming and is coming fast!

I am really going to miss these women here I have become friends with. Many of them have become role-models to me because they have shown me so many wonderful things. I love how true and pure their views are of Christ and how they don't let the world pervert them. They all have stories and testimonies that would humble anyone and have shown me a love that I never expected while living here.
I have learned so many wonderful things about marraige here. I know that it isn't the popular view but it is the biblical view. I've learned about nutrition and exericise. I have learned about perseverance, patience, and humility. I have learned how to sing the Doxology in native Hawaiin also!

One thing we are desperatly looking forward to is returning home to our families and our friends! We do not yet know if it will be a long season back in Greenwood but that's ok.

and the countdown begins:
2.5 months to go. . .

weekend recap :)

This weekend was so wonderful. Jake had a three day weekend so we got to relax and enjoy each day with one another. The reality of us being here for only 3 more months is slowly wrapping around me and I have mixed emotions about it.
Jake planned on Friday to have a fishing trip for us on Saturday. We cleaned the truck out Friday night and on Saturday morning Jake went and got a new red fishing pole with fresh bate...not worms but squid... and we drove over to Hale Koa. Hale Koa is by the cabanas where Jake and I spent our first 2 months of marraige. It is a camping site and it is beautiful.

He saw some fish but they were a little too big for his pole. It was so nice. That evening our friends took us out to a cute little italian resturant and bought us some great food! Sunday we woke up ate some breakfast and drove to church.
Yesterday we went grocery shopping and then went for a motorcycle ride around Lanaiki beach and rode around all the little beach cottages and EVERYONE and their mother was out running and exercising, canoeing, or riding a bike.

This week Veronica is taking me to whole foods to teach me how to 'eat' better. I have mentioned before that she is organic. She gave me a pamphlet about GMO's and what to look for on ingredient lists and I am looking forward to Friday. Yesterday I was very aware of what was going into our cart and what the total amounted to.
Veronica is also teaching me some knitting skills on Wednesday and had bought me yet another Fiesta Ware casserole dish! I am really going to miss her and her sweet family. She has really inspired me on how to create a home.

Sunday's morning message was so good! It was on Jesus' first miracle at the wedding by turning the water in the purification crates to wine. Many people use this passage as an excuse to say "Jesus drank, so can I!" Well....if that is how you feel like the Holy Spirit is leading you than I can't argue. I can argue that God calls us not to be drunk. Drunkenness is a sin. When alcohol starts altering your state of mind, then it has become a sin. But my question is where is that threshold of drunk, buzzed, and somber? 1 drink....maybe 2? And what about a christian's witness? As for our household, Jake and I have decided not to drink. We would not ever want to risk our witness or have others question on faithfullness if they see a beer in our hands. I know there are arguments but really, any one can make arguments on anything. This is how we chose to live.

If doing something that may risk your witness, then why risk doing it?

I don't ever want to be a stumbling block for my brothers and sisters in Christ. This means in all areas of life.

This morning I found a beautiful path right behind our street that leads up to an amazing view of all Kaneohe Bay and the base. It was so nice!

Hope everyone is enjoying their Tuesday!

Food for Thought

There are a list of foods that are labeled 'The Dirty Dozen' because they contain 50-60 different pesticides found within them.

40-60 different pesticides.

1. apples (more than 40 different pesticides have been found on apples)
2. celery ( USDA tests have found more than 60 different pesticides on celery)
3. strawberries (nearly 60 different pesticides have been found on these berries, though fewer are found on frozen strawberries...wooh)
4. Peaches (more than 60 different pesticides found...fewer can be found in canned)
5. Spinach (nearly 50 different pesticides..frozen spinach has nearly as many, canned has had fewer detected)
6. Nectarines (imported)- are among the most highly contaminated tree fruit...overall 33 pesticides have been detected.
7. Grapes (imported)- more than 30 pesticides found. Raisins also have high pesticides residue.
8. Sweet Bell Pepper (OH NO!)- (nearly 50 different pesticides have been detected on sweet bell peppers...)
9. Potatoes- (more than 35 pesticides have been detected on potatoes in USDA testing.
10. Blueberries (more than 50 pesticides have been detected as residue on them [consider juices also]. Frozen blueberries have proved somewhat less contaminated...thank goodness)
11. Lettuce (...kinda figured... more than 50 pesticides have been found)
12. Kale (tie with collard greens and fatty meats)
13. Milk (crap...)- Twelve different pesticides found in milk alon! This is a special concern with pregnant women and children's diet. Still not sure if I am willing to fork over $11 for a half gallon of organic milk tho...



But there are 15 'cleaner' foods that are so clean of pesticides that you wouldn't need to buy organic.

1. onions
2. Sweet Corn
3. Pineapple
4. Avocado Avocado
5. Asparagus
6. Sweet Peas
7.  Mango
8. Egglplant
9. Cantaloupe
10. Kiwi
11. Cabbage
12. Watermelon
13. Sweet Potatoes
14. Grapefruit
15. Mushrooms

Products I Love

Nestle just came out with a natural coffee creamer...



It has literally only 4 ingredients: milk, cream, sugar, and natural flavor. When they say natural flavor (ex. vanilla) they dry out a vanilla bean and then take the flavor from those seeds. I learned about this in my thursdays bible study and compared it to the usually fat free coffee mate I was buying and never realized what was in the other kind. The natural bliss is kinda rich so a little goes a long ways.



Another product (and brand) that I have been introduced to by Mrs. Pantling is this old country styled muesli. You can buy a 4 pack 18oz on Amazon for $16 (good deal). Here they are only $3.50 a piece since its on a military pricing but its very good. She told me to use it on top of cobblers or mixed into granola for a heartier healthier meal. I did.....OMYWORD...so good!
He also has some gluten free Cornbread mix which is amazing! I am a Jiffy cornbread mix but his is so moist and sweet...

Life Is Good

This week Jake and I are getting to have jake over for a week long visit! Last Friday I went over to the Pantling's and she taught me how to make macaroni casserole and she made some for my friend here who just had a little boy! She is so thoughtful and let me bring jake back with me till Easter! This past weekend was just purely wonderful. We took jake to Kailua beach and ran around the park and had a picnic. Can you say perfection?!
We sat out by the pier and watched the wind surfers and other dogs run around in the waves...sigh...

Don't get me wrong, I love our Boston Terrior's but they just don't compare to the loving you can get with a big secure dog!
Which brings me to another subject! Jake and I will have enough money saved up by August to finally be able to buy one! We didn't want to just spend frivously on buying a dog so we (as always it seems) took Dave Ramsey's advice and have been putting back enough money each month to be able to buy one, plus food for several months, dog crate, house, leash, and shots. :)

We want to name him Copper.

Last night we had a little date night and went out to the food court, looked around at the PX for some things we wanted and are waiting for till they have 20% off day (I love 20% off day, it only comes around April 21st each year and its where you get 20% off anything you can fit in your bag) and picked up some movies to rent. We came home and watched the most WONDERFUL movie! We Bought a Zoo is such a great family movie and I just can't say how much we enjoyed each scene. We did not want it to end. Def. worth buying! It reminded me a lot of Secondhand Lions so if you loved that movie (momma) you will LOVE this one!

Well I'm gonna get back to snuggling with this precious animal right next to me! Hope everyone is enjoying their Wednesday!

Saddened

How sad would it be if you were to speak out in anger; and in the process, hurt your credibility as a christian? A christian who speaks of unconditional love and forgiveness from God our Father.
But that is exactly what can happen.

James 1: 26

"If anyone consideres himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless."

In one's anger watch what you may say or write because your anger does not bring about the righteous life God desires for those who love Him.

Many times we read or hear something we do not agree with. That does not mean to go slander your brothers and sisters. It means to sit back and if that person is sinning, to confront them with a friend and help and love on that brother.

In your anger watch out to not disgust yourself and others by using filthy -unwholesome-language. This will hurt your Father and it will cause a brother who struggles with that to sin.

Learning a lot in my James study. Learning a lot about what the bible specifically says.

Beautiful scriptures

I have had some amazine devotionals these past few weeks. Verses keep coming up in my mind while driving down the road, doing laundry, or fixing dinner. I am so happy to be more aware of the Spirit that resides inside me and to not have Him pushed back any longer. I love digging into the Word and seeing His truth.

One of my favorites, and most convicting is Proverbs 17:27-28
"A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered. Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent and discerning if he holds his tongue."

Not always having an argument on the tip of your tounge is a blessed man.

Like many of you who read this blog, you know Jake and I are dealing with some decisions. I know I haven't been so clear as to what we have and havne't chosen because God could still change our paths. One of the verses that keeps resonating in my spirit is Proverbs 16:3

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed."

I know their is a lot more to this verse tho because having plans of moral filth is not going to honor God. In James, Christ's half brother speaks of looking intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continuing to do this, not forgetting, but doing it, that man will be blessed! (1:25)

The law could be the new covenent law as in Sermon on the Mount, the ten commandments or an old testiment law James was referring to, either way, Christ did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill the law. If I listen, hear, AND do, then I can commit those plan to the lord and He will see them to succession.

I am loving James. Each verse is so pure and true and it touches a different area in my life. There are going to be hard times, I know this, but God says we are blessed when we are going through trials of many kinds.

I know I may seem old-fashioned to many but I am ok with that. I like to keep my household rid of moral filth, whether thats bad language, things we watch on television, or the angry conversations that can arise. Christ wants us to rid that moral filth that is so prevelant (SO SO SO SO PREVALENT) and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save us!

Again, what beauitful scriptures! I know God is preparing my heart for this next stage of life. It will be different. Completley and utterly different from everything Jake and I have known so far in our marraige. It scares me. It does. But hiding the word in my heart and letting Christ be the light in my life is helping me more and more each day.

I know this post did not have any clear flow to it, but its ok, I mean look how James wrote! haha.

Be doers of the word, not just hearers! Don't try to take a verse and mold it into what will fit your 'life-style'. It is a living Word, let it live in you! It is already planted deep in there, just humble yourselves and accept it!

Things I Love

This is going to be a long and boring post considering the fact that I am sitting here watching Jake play video games...


Things I love...

• I love waking up in the mornings next to my husband. Sometimes he puts on music for me to wake up too. Recently it has been the Doris Day Pandora, Coldplay's 'Paradise', or Karman. I love it. Also some mornings when he doesn't mind me staying in bed, he just puts in As Time Goes By and tucks me into both of our quilts while the Hawaiin sun rises behind our headboard.
• I love the smell of fresh towels out of the laundry after getting out of the shower just to be enveloped by the smell of Lavender Gain.
• I love sitting down with my friends, whether they are 23 or 77, listening to the tea pot whistle at us while going through assortments of teas, and talking about all the amazing things God is doing in our different and special lives.
• I love driving in this big 'ole Chevy with the windows down and listening to a range of music from Simon and Garfunkel, Journey, NickleCreek, or Lady Antebellum.
• I love new windshield wipers.
• I LOVE Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Fablehaven.
• I love sitting down on this red couch snuggling up in a Cracker Barrel quilt, sipping my coffee, and reading a good book.
• I love going to Waiminalo and Kailua beach here.
• I love golden retrievers.
• I love when I'm walking somewhere beside my husband and he takes my hand in his.
• I love when I go to sleep at night, I not only get to see my husband beside me but I also get to snuggle up with my Lovey :)
• I love that Jake and I are together and he's not hundreds of miles away from me.
• I love new baby angus cows.
• I love when all the flowers come out during Arkansas's spring and looking out my window at all of them.
• I love riding on the Polaris with my daddy and picking Muscadines off the tree to eat.
• I love Amanda Wade's facials.
• I love going to Branson and looking at all the Christmas lights.
• I love banana nut cheerios.
• I love Antique Roadshow, Once Upon a Time, Vicar of Dibley, and Franklin.
• I love the memories I have with my Memaw.
• I love care packages from my momma.
• I love playing the guitar.
• I love kisses from Pumpkin.
• I love hugs from Dewey Hickey.
• I love cookouts with my family.
• I love everything about Christmas.
• I love Jcrew.
• I love that I have two very special and very different sisters who will be my best friends for the rest of my life.
• I love that I am graduated from school and I don't owe one dime!
• I love spending time around Jake's grandparents dining room table with all of his (and my) family.
• I love riding on motorcycles.
• I love grilled salmon, pomegranate greek yogurt, peanut butter sandwhiches, and chili on a cold day...with cheetos.
• I love the book of James and 1&2 Timothy.
• I love my friends.
• I love golden retrievers...have I mentioned that yet ;)
• I love Farmers Bank. haha, no I really do, they are always so nice to me.
• I love fresh honey.
• I love that God forgives and blesses me daily even when I do not deserve anything.
• I love that I used to could stick a pencil in-between the two front teeth in my mouth and now they are perfect without the help of braces.
• I love the atmosphere of Razorback football game days.
• I love the smell of Yankee candles.
• I love looking at pictures of Ireland and knowing that one day I will walk through that Emerald Isle and love every moment of it.
• I love knowing that I married the man of my dreams. I love that he would have been the first man I have ever kissed and the last man I will ever kiss :)
• I love that I am the first girl Jake has ever kissed and will be the last girl he will ever kiss! ;)
• I love being a graduate from Greenwood Highschool and that I have my name engraved in the same ground along with all of mine and jake's family.
• I love evening walks around Greenwood with my friends and sisters, just catching up on life.

I am sure I have tons more but I was getting pretty bored just sitting here watching some man named Shephard attack all these aliens on our television.

haha. Oh I got my blood taken today and I didn't faint! PRAISE THE LORD ALMIGHTY!

Well It's Friday

So today is the day I am having to do something I have been avoiding since growing up...yes...I have to get my blood taken...
I know this sounds so ridiculous. This may or may not be one of the reasons why I keep putting off having children.. :(
I have a severe problem. I faint like its going into fashion. Getting a manicure=fainting in salon floor. Stubbing toe in Physics class=fainting in front of class mates. Cutting finger of cheese grater, cleaning knifes, etc.= fainting in front of stunned husband. Step on tack=faint. Talking with manager about a miscarraige=faint in bathroom on nasty floor hitting head on commode.
I'm serious. Its bad.
The last time I had my blood taken is when I was 10 years old and back then, I took on the world! But now I am such a sissy. Jake put everything into perspective this morning when he said that men on the front lines don't get a nice office and nurse but whatever is available, or when a child has cancer and has to go through chemo. That has really helped. Probley wont stop me from falling out on the floor in front of countless military men but it has helped.

ugh please pray!

Peace

So last night I was the only one to go to my bookclub again but sometimes I really enjoy that. We sat and enjoyed a nice cup of tea and just talked about military life and how God uses each one differently. I love the fact that Veronica gives me sound, biblical reason and scripture that helps me weekly. She really helped me understand peace better. Throughout this decision making process Jake and I are experiencing, I sit and wait for this enveloping peace to surrond me at any moment, thinking then we can move on because we are at complete peace. I've been waiting for ..awhile.. now. I'm not going to sit and say that peace hasn't come. It has in a manner. I'm at peace with my relationship with Jake. I love him and I have loved learning to be his help mate. Jake and I are closer that we have ever been and it is because God brought us to this tiny island to learn what it means to become one. I am finally at peace with living here. I was talking to amanda last night and I told her that it doesn't 'feel' like I live here, it just feels like and extended vacation. I have peace that God will guide us each step of the way if we walk by His holy lantern and not our blind selves. I have peace that God is continually molding me to become His daughter. I have peace that whatever happens God will and promises to answer us..whether my whispers or a Holy storm.

As I was driving across the harbor to Ford Island, the sun was setting and I was actually driving our big Chevy by myself. I looked at all the ships lighting up the harbor and at the memorials and thought, "Do I actually LIVE here?" I mean, how many people get to look at this harbor and see this just on the way to a book club? Have you seen pictures of this place and the atmosphere it brings with it? I mean...it literally takes your breath away. I then proceeded to go park next to the sunken USS Missouri. I just sat in the truck and listened to some country song ( I tend to do this NOT because I actually like country, but because it makes me think I am in the South again) and wanted to just cry. I am blessed. Last Monday on my way to Pearl Harbor, I counted 20+ waterfalls falling inbetween the huge crevices along the highway. EVERYWHERE!

This was a picture i just snagged while driving a couple of weeks ago. I thanked God for bringing Jake and I here and all the love we have built together and the strength that only God could have provided to bring us to the marraige that we have right now.

Veronica said that peace does not have to be just an overwhelming factor in decision making. She said that faith is needed before sight. I knew this but I was just thinking that peace will follow, which she said it will. She said to look at each incidence and see where God's hand was leading up to our decision and if that procession is still leading to where we believe God is taking us. We truly feel like each step of the way is taking us closer to this next destination. Jake and I both have passions. His are more noticeable then mine I think. He has a passion to give back to this nation or to it's people. He always has. I on the other hand do not have that passion; but, I think my passions complement Jake's and in the long run, that could help us in ministry. But for now, we can't just jump into something but sit back and listen to where the Holy Spirit is guiding us. Peace can be given to pass all of our understanding WHEN WE ASK AND BELIEVE. However, Faith has to be put in that equation.

We serve such a powerful God and I never want to make Him smaller than my fears. Jake and I were created for a purpose. We are still here aren't we?
In the mean time, I will enjoy these Hawaiin beaches as long as I can and look forward to the one on one time I have with my Jake each day.

Hello All :)

So my hair keeps getting longer and longer. I really should get it cut considering the fact that it keeps falling out everywhere and attaching itself to everything. Jake would like me to get my bob haircut back. I would really like to grow it out enough to be able to donate it and still have a long enough hair cut to put into a poney tail. I LOVE the ladies haircut on itsthesmallthingsblog.blogspot.com. I LOVE IT!

 

Maybe just a bit longer so I won't feel so self-consious BUT who knows. I've been saying this for over a year.

SO...I have been doing the body-by-vi shakes for about a month now and have yet to weigh myself. I don't want to be disappointed. Especially considering how much the stuff costs.  I am too lazy to go out and buy a scale and I haven't walked down to the gym since Hawaii decided to turn into Rainy Town Central.

I was looking so forward to my bible study this morning over James and had all my verses memorized and my homework completed till I walked outside to see my purse sitting inside the locked truck holding my set of car keys. Jake is on the other side of the island at Pearl Harbor securing a convoy SO I had to stay home. I am really enjoying this study and love each day.

Saw a pair of cute affordable shoes I want from LL bean! Only $29.99 and tax free and shipping for free!

There are several things I would just love to have in my closet right about now:

I'm loving these short Hunter rain boots!

I'm especially loving Jcrew's stripes and chino shorts!

why does Anthropoligie have to cost an arm and a leg for a simple c.u.t.e shirt?


 LOVE

Jake was really kind enough to take me out and let me have my shopping fix a couple of weeks ago after church. I got this GORGOUSE sweater from Banana Republic that was on sale! And a striped shirt :)
He is so nice to me. I don't know why I have the need/desire for new things. That morning it just seemed like everything in my closet had holes in it, stained, or too small/big. It is so hard to have the majority of your clothes stored 900+ miles away. I never want to find my worth in clothes. It seems when I go back home I feel so pressured in having nice new things while being here it doesn't matter. I seem so content. Why is that? I know that is so materialistic and I HATE it. I think that for me, it helps me feel prettier to know I look nice in what I am wearing. I don't like stores which a lot of people do like. It seems like the only clothes that look decent on my come from the expensive clothing lines...banana republic and jcrew. I wish I looked good in target clothes and old navy. I just feel like they don't flatter me and I feel awful in their clothes. I know I can't be the only one that feels this way!? I also wish that the only jeans that do flatter my body costs way more than I care to admit. I just love the feel of Sevens tho! sigh.....wouldn't it be so nice to be able to look great in any brand of jeans?

ANYWASE...

Some exciting news! Megay (my beautiful cousin who you can read about here) told me about her tennis coach breeding amazing golden retrievers!! Hopefully we can bring home a new addition to our family by the end of the year! It shouldn't be so stressful since we should have the money saved up by then and we will be moved into a new home!
We have 3 names so far:
1. Archimedes
2. Shamus
3. Copper

We both like the name Copper and think it fits really well for a red haired beauty! However, I HAVE ALWAYS loved the name Archimedes so we might fit that in their as well ;)

I hope everyone has had a nice rainy afternoon! I know we have had plenty of rain enough for everyone!

Weekend Recap...

Oh goodness it has been awhile since I have blogged! This weekend was pretty normal. I started a new bible study with some women from church Thursday morning. We are doing Beth Moore's James Mercy Triumphs. I am loving it so far! But I have always had a special place in my heart for James. The ladies there are so hard core about memorizing the entire book. I was a week behind in the meetings and they are already to vs. 15 or so! I used to have the first 3 chapters memorized so maybe they will come right back out! This study has really spoke to me so far with the decisions in Jake's and my marriage. Ask and God promises to answer. BUT DO NOT DOUBT! That is a key in the first chapters. When we doubt, we become unstable in all we do, just like a wave of the sea which is blown and tossed about. I don't want to be a wave and tossing a decision about every other week. I want to know our decision is based on a rock solid foundation in faith! Woo pretty powerful devotionals!

Saturday we went to go see the Lorax with our friends and their litter girl. It was such a cute movie and I love that Ed Helms was the voice of the Onceler! We came back home and then later went out to eat with them out in Kailua! God has really answered my prayers by bringing me this friend and her family.

Sunday we went to church and our hearts were so warmed and refreshed by the message. The founder of International Baptist was there and spoke of our being a chosen people. We are royalty and should be lights to the world. This church is HUGE in missions and he shared several testimonies of people he knew that died for Christ. It was convicting, uplifting, and wonderful to know that God chose us for a reason. He loves us and has a divine purpose for each of his special children.

We came home and relaxed the rest of the day. It has been pouring and raining nonstop for over a week and I am ready for the 78degree Hawaiin weather to come back to us! We watched our Sunday shows and I LOVED Once Upon a Time! It was so romantic!

Today I have woke up, drank my green tea, and am getting ready to spend the afternoon with the Pantlings. She has given me the gift of one of her favorite Fiestaware Casserole dishes and is teaching me how to make a FANTASTIC cobbler! I prayed specifically that she would ask us to let Jake spend the week with us. God says we can come to Him with our requests and I know that if its His will, he can come see us :)

I love that nothing is too petty for Our God that we present to Him!

I also got the greatest shirt ever this weekend:

Its my first Harry Potter shirt and because it is about Snape, means its the best shirt ever! Its American Apparel so its also super soft. I should wear it to my book club just so I can let them know that this series is not of the Devil! But they wouldn't know what it means anywase so I will probley just wear it everywhere else.

Hope everyone enjoys their Monday! I have heard several times that it is beautiful back home! And Congrats to my cousin Madison for making 8th grade cheer! So happy for you!

Firetrucks and Strange Man

Ok, so yesterday I had an experience not like any other I have ever experienced before. I believe it is worth telling you all because if this situation ever presents itself to you just remember:

Always wear pants

Yesterday afternoon I had decided to scrub out our bathtub from head to toe. This in turn made me want to take a long relaxing shower/bath in our newly clean tub in the later afternoon time. I was just finishing up drying my hair and putting my t-shirt on when Jake comes home from work. He told me he was having to go help Harold (an older man who Jake works with who has tremors, dips 24/7, and cusses like a sailor) change his tires in his old truck. I was like ok and was going to go finish dressing. About 2 min. after Jake closes the door, he runs back upstairs asking me where a wire hanger is, "I don't know," I said to him. He finds one (suprisingly fast and I don't know where he pulled that thing out from) and I ask him if he locked the keys in the truck knowing we had another pair in my purse. He mumbles something about our neighbors. I have yet to meet these people. I said, "Oh, they locked their keys in their car?" Jake says, "No, they locked the baby in the house!"

Well, you know that's probley not the best thing to do. So he runs back downstairs to attempt to pry open their garage with a wire hanger. Yes, it makes just as much sense today and it did yesterday. I carefully walk to the front room windows making sure if anyone outside would only see my top half of my body. There are police man all in her front yard and 2 cop cars in front of our house.

By this time I look off and a man is walking up to the house. Jake runs back upstairs to climb through our frontroom window to get on top of the roof to try to open the neighbors window. 2 months ago, we had people come put in Security locks on our windows so people like Jake would not be able to pry the window open. I told everyone this (from the security of behind my brown curtain) about 3 times before Jake says, "Wait, they just put safety locks on these windows....-rolling my eyes-. At this time, the strange man who I will refer to as Dwight because he exactly like Dwight from The Office runs up to the mom. She says, "Oh, go through our neighbors upstairs room and climb through their window and onto the back of the roof to get to our bedroom window!" The door is still open where Jake leaves it and Dwight yells up at me asking if he could come up while already running to the door. I was put on the spot. I knew there was a baby in that house what could I say? "YEAH COME ON UP".

Oh wait. I'm standing in my underwear in the front room while Dwight runs through our open door. I ran as fast as my short hobbit legs would take me up two flights of stairs and into my room thinking I would be safe. Uh no. Dwight decides to take 3 stairs at a time. I knew what he must have seen running up the stairs after me and it was SO EMBARRASING. I immediatly find safety in my closet while Dwight decides to move our nightstand and say something like, "I'm going to have to take off the blinds, curtains, rods, and move your 1000 lb bed. I'm still locked in the closet. I grab some shorts. I bravely walk out and look at him. He has sweat pouring off his face because HE WAS ON A MISSION. All I could think of was that this strange man saw my white behind covered with the most beautiful pair of white underwear (not) running ridicuously up stairs away from him. I said, "um, its locked. there are safety locks on those windows." He still pushes the bed away like it would move. Jake appears out of no where and says the same thing I said so this makes Dwight even more angry and a choice word came out while he fled back downstairs never to be seen by me again. I hope. By this time the fire truck shows up along with every child on the street.

I am still mortified.

The fireman saved the day and rescued the locked in baby.

I am just going to tell you it took a couple of hours for my heart rate to return to normal.

So remember to always put pants on after every shower because you never know when Dwight will decide to rush into your bedroom!

New Season

Today I read something that calmed my spirit so much. I was at kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com and ran across something she wrote about this new year:

"But He doesn’t need me to be ready for this season because He is ready. He just needs me to be clinging to His feet"

Jake and I have been presented some options in our life. We thought for so long to choose one option because it was 'safe' and 'secure'. God may tell us at the last second that "yes, you need to go here". We are scared, unsure, uncomfortable, and nervous about our choice. But as of right now we aren't. We are walking into a world full of 'what if's.'
Is this wrong?
For the past week it has been a whirlwind. I have cried, been sick, angry, confused, doubtful, at peace one second and then so scared the next.

This past year has been so hard. I see God in everything here. The beauty is unbelievable. The provisions He continually bestows on us just blows my mind. He has protected our marraige in everyway as a military couple and made life seem so 'easy' at times. I know I have taken it for granted. I know. I also know I spent the better part of last year huddled up in a corner of the house wiping tears from my face because it was 'too hard.' This life is different from everything I knew.

There are constants in a military life. One being -your husband will leave you- the other -you will always be moving- and another -is my husband safe today?-

I have made friends here that I love. I have experienced life here that could not be done anywhere else. I have a beautiful husband that actually cherishes me. All because God blessed me. I don't ever want to look at these past years of my life and just feel hatred and bitterness. There has been so much good.

But a new season is approaching and I am not ready.

That is when I ran across what Katie said in her post. God wants us to follow Him with everything in our being. With all my heart I wish that a hand would appear in front of my face and write on the wall in front of me the exact place He wants Jake and I to go.
But I have faith in Him to guide us in this new life. It is so funny how you want something so bad for the past 2 years only to find when it is presented to you, you want to go run upstairs and hide in the closet. This may be because I don't like change.
You may find that hard to believe considering the place that I live and what all I have changed in our lives to be here. And the fact that we are in the military.
For far too long I have missed that ever present quickening inside my Spirit. Instead I have daily laid hurt, bitterness, anger, and resentment on top of it.
I miss the feeling I get when I play my heart out to God while my fingers glide over 12 guitar strings. I miss that accountability you get with christian sisters while pouring over God's Word. I miss learning about God's Word.

I know this is my own fault because I chose to be apart from this pagan island. I chose to believe that I could manage by myself.  I don't need to use the gift God gave me for this season in my life to help me grow. I don't need to gather with much older women to help me learn.

I WAS SO WRONG. I have missed out so much this year because I was too scared. Too uncomfortable. Too stuck in my ways to change.

Now, when God is leading us gently into this new season, I want to cling to His feet. I am not ready. I still want to run upstairs and hide but today I felt a flutter in my spirit. God is ready to use me. He has always been ready to use me but I have pushed Him aside far too long.

I hope people will understand what Jake and I choose. But more importantly, I hope Jake and I are faithful enough to go where God chooses for us.

Life

A Day at the Farmers Market

Yesterday I had asked if one of my friends and her little girl would like to go to the Kaneohe's Farmers Market with me. I had never been before and wanted to see the price differnce and freshness of the local food compared to what is sold in the commisary.
We get there and immediatly see tons of booths set up with loads of fresh fruits, vegetables, hot plates, breads, jams, honeys, butter, vinegars, syrups, coffee, tea, and I'm sure tons of other stuff!

I LOVED taste testing everything! I swear, yesterday I ate some of the best honey, peanut butter, and jams I have ever eaten.
The first place we stopped at was to taste some local honey that is made up on the North Shore. They had Christmas Berry, Rainbow Blend, and I think Macdamia Nut. OMYWORD. So fresh and I love how you know exactly what is in the honey. It was a tad too expensive for us both so we went ahead to the other booths. We then went to this booth where the men make their own peanut butter. Ughh....so good. He had coconut peanut butter, Mango, banana spread, and papaya I believe. I bought the Macadamia nut peanut butter and want to eat this on everything! Next was some more honey's. We looked through all the fresh herbs, veges, and fruits. I got some little bananas, I never realized how little they are compared to the monsters that are sold in the store. They were about 9c more expensive so not bad. I loved smelling the fresh rosemary, basil, and tyme. I bought a little bag of assorted bell peppers and some of the best butter ever! It is guava butter and a lady in Kailua makes all of her butter herself. My friend bought some Lilikulani Syrup...I regret not buying that which I will next time. She made her butters out of fresh flowers found around the island. One butter is made out of a flower that is gathered only once every 15 years that grows near the volcanoes.
I then got some fresh honey.
We had such a great day!

I can't wait to go back!

Beauitful mornings

This morning I took a walk around our base. Each morning here feels like spring while the afternoons feel like summer. I love seeing all the kids riding their bikes to school and see all the beautiful dogs beings walked or the new moms pushing their babies around in strollers.
This morning I had a lot on my mind so I put in my ipod and just went for it. While I was walking up this hill that over looks the ocean, beaches, and helicoptor hangers, I was just so overwhelmed by how much God has truly blessed me.
So many times I place bitter seeds in my heart for being here so far away from home but I hardly embrace the beauty this place has to offer. I was listening to August's Rhapsody and just felt like God was reaching down to hold my hand and walk with me the rest of the way.
Sometimes You can truly feel His precence all around you and other times it feels as if you so alone you could cry. But we are never alone.
God will take Jake and I to higher heights any where we go because God's plans are for the best of us.
Some days are harder than others but today is a day to embrace and be thankful that I had such a view to look down at.

It really is beautiful here.

Happy Anniversary!

This weekend was so wonderful! In fact, Jake mentioned this morning that this week has been so great. I asked him what made this week stand out so much and he simply said, "Because you laughed everyday." It made me realize a lot.
I had been so down before this year and did not realize how if affected the both of us. I partially blame it on my birth control that I was taking and seriously believed it changed much of my personality. I also know that I let situations determine my attitude and how ugly that must have made me appear.

Friday I spent the afternoon up at the Pantlings talking about legos and Mario Brothers with the four boys and drank tea with Veronica while jake was climbing all over me and completely embarrasing me because he was not being obediant whatsoever. I made a banana nut bread made out of my homemade applesauce, agave, bananas, and eggs. No sugar, oil, or butter and it was soooooo sweet and good!
Saturday Jake took me shopping for Valentines Day at the Executive Chef! We got some jams and 4 beautiful coffee cups! We went to Elvins Bakery and had turkey sandwhiches with avacodo and just walked around Kailua and window shopped. It was perfect.
Saturday night we went to the Lt. Dan Band's concert held here on base and it was SO FUN!



us sitting with a thousand other marines and their families-perfection-




Gary Sinise getting his groove on in the middle

They played all these cover songs and we just stood and sang with them! The place was packed! We were right up front with all the crazy people and dancing  and singing like no one cared! When the alcohol started flowing freely and people started dancing all up on Jake we decided to leave haha. Gary Sinise was so awesome! He played that base like no other and danced with everyone. Nothing like I imagined him to be.
The guys behind us kept yelling ou icecream at him ALL NIGHT and kept asking why his legs came back...I couldn't stop laughing.
We came back and stayed up till 12 oclock and danced in the kitchen for a little bit to welcome our anniversary :) Jake is so wonderful.
This morning we decided to go to brunch at our favorite island resturant (Haliewa Joes) and enjoyed a luxury and huge breakfast! -thanks again Robert and Jacque!-



this view never gets old



It was so wondeful. We got some beautiful cards from my family and have relaxed the rest of the day. We are waiting to finish this perfect day off with Once Upon a Time :)

I found a cute idea on pinterest for a picture to take on each anniversary so we started that today.

I think it will be super cute. I think I need a haircut tho... it keeps getting longer and longer! We are holding a picture that was taken on our dinner cruise last year on our anniversary so next year we will hold this picture in a picture frame and keep going.
Jake wanted the pic. in the back of his truck... of course haha
Hope everyone had as great as a weekend as we did!