Ed, Kaden and I have started our first leg of summer travel this past month as we flew from Okinawa to Spokane, WA to visit my mom and brothers. It was really sad for me to leave, because I knew I wasn't going to be back to Okinawa, and it's been my home for four years.
We left May 8th from Kadena and flew for about 9 hours to Seattle. Kaden did really well on this flight, but only slept for about an hour at a time and only did that sporatically for 24 hours. By the time we got to Seattle and were getting ready to fly to Spokane, Kaden was having a hard time. The poor thing hadn't really slept in 24 hours!! He had a bit of a meltdown on that flight, but it only lasted a few minutes...but we were definately THAT family with the crying baby on the airplane.
The first few days, Kaden took some time to adjust to a completely flip-flopped schedule, and because it stays light so long here, we adjusted his bedtime to stay up later. It's nice to be able to have some more time to hang out with family in the evenings this way!
At first, Ed was here for a training and we were able to stay in the TLFs (temporary living facility) on base. It was a nice place with a kitchen and a park and the library close by, so when Ed was at work, Kaden and I had plenty to do. After that week was over, however, we couldn't stay on base anymore and we ended up staying at this disgusting motel, but it was really so bad it was funny. We went to Bed Bath and Beyond to buy sheets and stripped the bed, because there was no way I was sleeping on the sheets that they had on there. I don't think they had ever been washed! There was a pink leopard print dust ruffle! I was going to take a picture of it, but didn't. :) The room was so bad that we didn't want to stay there during the day, and just ran a bunch of errands all day. Poor Kaden was so tired of being in his carseat. The weather has been gorgeous, but it caused all of the snow in the mountains to melt, and the river overflowed. We went down to the park and saw the falls, which was crazy, they were rushing so hard. Ed and I even left Kaden with uncle Phillip one night and went to a football game. Another night, grandmom watched him and we went to a really nice dinner.
After two nice weeks of vacation, Ed had to leave Spokane to pack us up in Okinawa, and Kaden and I moved into Phillip and Ashleigh's house. It's a super cute little house across the street from a park, where we go play every day. It's also close to everything, and we go on walks everyday and go window shopping in the cute stores around here. Kaden and I are having a great Memorial Day weekend hanging out with Phillip and Ashleigh!
Ed called this morning and he made it home safe and sound. We will now be apart for a month, but it's okay, because it will make packing and moving way easier on Ed without the baby to worry about. It's sad to be away from him, but it is good time spent with my family before we move to California in July.
I'll try to keep up with the blog better, now that I'll have lots of downtime this month. I'm staying with Phillip for a few weeks, and then I'll stay with my mom for a few weeks too, out in the country. Kaden and I fly out of here July 3rd to meet Ed at our new home!! It is a very exciting time :)
Monday, May 26, 2008
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Ed's NCO Graduation Ceremony
This past Wed. April 9, Ed graduated from the NCO Academy, a looooong six week program necessary before sewing on the next rank of Master Sergent. It was a nice morning ceremony to recieve his diploma, and then we had a formal dinner. Ed's Commander and supervisor and their wives were in attendance, and our very good friend Amanda also came to support him. Here are some photos from that event.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
The End of This Chapter
Ed and I have been in Okinawa now for just over 4 years, and I'm sad (and a bit bewildered) by the fact that our time is up already!! This is the island where we started our marriage, I got my first real teaching job, and we had our first child. The amount of friends we've made is astounding, and they are the kind of relationships that I know will last a lifetime. Our relationship with the Lord has grown in leaps and bounds from when we first arrived as young, nervous, naive, careless kids. :) I am really amazed at how we've grown and changed. For all of my Okinawan family, I love you and will miss you. For my American family, we're coming home and can't wait to begin the next chapter. We'll miss it here, and we'll always have the fondest of memories for Oki.
Now that I'm done being all sappy, here's what's been going on this past month or so!! Ed has been at the NCO Academy the past 6 weeks, and he's doing great in his class. We're pretty sure he will graduate with some kind of honors. His graduation ceremony is April 9th, and both of us can't wait for it to be over. The amount of hours he's been at class and the amount of homework Ed has had meant no fun for any of us in the evenings or weekends!
Kaden and I have been keeping ourselves busy with implimenting a strict bedtime/ naptime routine which is working wonders! I know that sounds boring, but it has been so necessary! I was still getting up 4 times a night just a few weeks ago, and now KK can sleep mostly through the night, with maybe just one feeding. Also, we are taking a Rockin' Baby music class with two other little girls, both 6 months old. KK is the only boy and the youngest, yet he's by far the largest baby! It's really fun. Next week, we will also be starting a library lapsit program!
For all of you who have not heard, our family recived word that we will be stationed at Edwards AFB, CA this summer for a three year tour. Edwards is about an hour and a half north-east of LA, in the middle of the desert. The good news is, I get to keep my flip flops for the next 3 years, but the bad news is, the town sounds pretty podunk. Oh well, they say (I'm not sure who "they" are, but I've heard) that the housing is newly renovated. Those of you who know where we have lived this past 4 years understand that this is hugely exciting news, since we've been in a dump!
Kaden and I plan on flying Space Available back to Spokane, WA in mid-May (looking at the 10th) to spend time with my mom and brothers for about a month. Ed will then try to get an early return date to CA so that he can drop off Sampson in the kennel, get our house, and then we'll fly back to Baltimore for a week, and PA for a week. Ed wants to try to attend his 10 year reunion in Sayre, which would be fun to go to. We'll see if the dates match up for that.
I think this is an easier way to keep everyone updated on a regular basis with pictures. I'll keep everyone updated quite regularly, since this will be a crazy and exciting summer/ fall. One thing I am excited about with Southern California, is that it is Calvery Chapel country, which is the church that we have attended here the whole time we've been in Oki. I hope to find a church that we can jump right into with ministry opportunities. We're not sure what our ministry is going to be yet. We have been working with high school for 4 years here, but I'm not sure we're being called to do that in CA too. We'll see where God leads us in that aspect.
Now that I'm done being all sappy, here's what's been going on this past month or so!! Ed has been at the NCO Academy the past 6 weeks, and he's doing great in his class. We're pretty sure he will graduate with some kind of honors. His graduation ceremony is April 9th, and both of us can't wait for it to be over. The amount of hours he's been at class and the amount of homework Ed has had meant no fun for any of us in the evenings or weekends!
Kaden and I have been keeping ourselves busy with implimenting a strict bedtime/ naptime routine which is working wonders! I know that sounds boring, but it has been so necessary! I was still getting up 4 times a night just a few weeks ago, and now KK can sleep mostly through the night, with maybe just one feeding. Also, we are taking a Rockin' Baby music class with two other little girls, both 6 months old. KK is the only boy and the youngest, yet he's by far the largest baby! It's really fun. Next week, we will also be starting a library lapsit program!
For all of you who have not heard, our family recived word that we will be stationed at Edwards AFB, CA this summer for a three year tour. Edwards is about an hour and a half north-east of LA, in the middle of the desert. The good news is, I get to keep my flip flops for the next 3 years, but the bad news is, the town sounds pretty podunk. Oh well, they say (I'm not sure who "they" are, but I've heard) that the housing is newly renovated. Those of you who know where we have lived this past 4 years understand that this is hugely exciting news, since we've been in a dump!
Kaden and I plan on flying Space Available back to Spokane, WA in mid-May (looking at the 10th) to spend time with my mom and brothers for about a month. Ed will then try to get an early return date to CA so that he can drop off Sampson in the kennel, get our house, and then we'll fly back to Baltimore for a week, and PA for a week. Ed wants to try to attend his 10 year reunion in Sayre, which would be fun to go to. We'll see if the dates match up for that.
I think this is an easier way to keep everyone updated on a regular basis with pictures. I'll keep everyone updated quite regularly, since this will be a crazy and exciting summer/ fall. One thing I am excited about with Southern California, is that it is Calvery Chapel country, which is the church that we have attended here the whole time we've been in Oki. I hope to find a church that we can jump right into with ministry opportunities. We're not sure what our ministry is going to be yet. We have been working with high school for 4 years here, but I'm not sure we're being called to do that in CA too. We'll see where God leads us in that aspect.
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