Our little home

It has taken me forever to get the house where I somewhat want things. Those who know me well know that furniture can be moved for a reason and holes in the walls are easy enough to fill!! So that being said, I already have plans to move/add things in our house. But I have been asked for pictures so here are just a few for you!!

The master bedroom

The spare room which is my crafting room

Living room and dining room

The below pictures are our thanksgiving set up and a peak of our kitchen

24

As my birthday is rapidly approaching I have been reflecting on the past year. I think my birthday is a better time to set resolutions because it is an new year for me (and I don't feel like I am jumping on the band wagon).
This year has been one of the best years of my life. It has been a roller coaster, but it has had some incredible highs.  Last year I got to spend my birthday with the love of my life, my parents, some of my closest friends and my kiddos.  Brandon and I got to spend Thanksgiving with his family,which was super fun. I spent my last Christmas in Arizona with my family (for a while that is). Brandon came home for new years and we got engaged. This news received mixed reactions, but in the end I think everyone was on the same page or at least chapter. We got married in May. The planning process was full of ups and downs. During the planning I got news Brandon got orders to Japan. We moved to Japan and started this new chapter in our life. Brandon went back to Arizona (not good news, but ironic) and while he was gone I finally got a job offer. I started my job this week.
I know a lot of this involves Brandon, but a lot of these are first for us, so it has been a big year for us as a couple. Through the move, I have learned much about myself. I forgot how much I hate strangers, so that has been a fun adventure for me. However, I have made plenty of friends and really created a life here. I absolutely love it and I am so excited that this is where we get to start our life adventure together. It is not a normal experience for most of our friends back home, but we are so lucky to be out here on our own to figure out marriage.
I have also come to the realization it is a great ease into marriage. Brandon and I were not used to being together for long periods of time, so in some ways I was beyond ready for him to go, but in others ways I was finally getting used to our new reality. I think this way we get the best of both. We get to spend time together, but it is likely he will be gone at least 1/3 of the time we are here, if not more. In my eyes it is the perfect balance for us, especially if after this tour he gets out because we had the time to transition. :)
I am hoping 25 is even better! It too will have its challenges with this new life we have, but ones we are ready to face head on!!

Some of my Folley fam on my birthday last year

The crazy kids I spent my birthday with last year

My lovely bridesmaids minus one

Our mommas and me

My wonderful aunts and momma

Belle!! She is my favorite. You'd never know how sick I was in this picture :)

Festival in Oki

B really wanted this shirt :) Oh the irony

So cheers to another great year! Thanks to everyone who made 24 so wonderful.

Just one of those days

Today has been an interesting day. This morning Jason (our sponsor) and I took Brandon and a couple other guys to the airport...off they went to Arizona. A few hours after we got back I decided to head up and check the mail. I had a lovely care package from my aunt. She sent us a lap quilt from her church. As they tie the strings, they pray for us. The quilt is then passed around the church. There were some strings left to be tied so she called our family. It also came with a card I have not read because every time I try I cry. It is such a sweet gift that I will cherish.  Then I get a message saying a lady from the church I have been attending was wanting to get in touch with me, so what do I do next....cry.  I have been teary eyed all day. Yes I think part of it has to do with missing my husband, but the other part is feeling overwhelmed by people's kindness.

Big things are coming

Well this is kind of an exciting for the husband and me. We have a new baby niece, which is so exciting!! I can't wait to meet her :)

Our other fantastic news is we are no longer homeless!!! This is the best news ever! We have lived in a hotel for the last month and I am not cut out to me a hotel wife!! We've had to be creative in dinners and just living arrangements.

Our new house is furnished with government issued furniture (at least for the time being). We get most of our stuff in a few weeks. Brandon will be headed back to our home state just a week later. (I know super awesome that we were here for less than two months and he's headed home). The only thing that bothers me is that he is missing my birthday. He could be gone 364 days of the year...just not my birthday or our anniversary!! I know that is ridiculous, but birthdays are my favorite, so it bums me out some. Yes I know marrying into the military this would happen someday...but I don't have to like it :).

We are also getting our first reimbursement check so I can finally have a little liberty and get things like curtains since the blinds are too short!I can't wait to have this place put together. I am waiting on pictures because I want to do before and after...I think it is much more exciting that way!

Stay at home wife

Never in my wildest dreams did I picture that as my role in life, regardless of how temporary. Stay at home mom, yes, but stay at home wife, never!!!
Well it is an adventure! Today we finally got our first shipment, which I was excited about, but now feel like I am living in a mess. Yes it has only been in our house for about 4 hours, but I am feeling like I am hitting road blocks. I was so excited when I saw our comforter in the box, that immediately I wanted to wash it. Well big mistake...it does not fit all the way in our washer, which I didn't find out until most of it was soaking wet! Pretty sure it is still not dry, what a mess!! I unpacked all of our dishes and have been running the dishwasher making sure they were ready for the meal I was planning on making for dinner. I went around unpacking the rest of the boxes to find somethings are missing. I can't decide if it is a box missing or if the object is really right in front of my face! There is still so much to do and a pile of trash on our balcony waiting to be taken out.
I know not every day of being a stay at home wife is like this, but right now everything little thing is daunting!! I have no motivation to finish anything because I feel like everything I start is not working. I was hoping to have a somewhat clean and settled house before Brandon got home, but that doesn't seem like it will happen!!
Wish me luck and sanity :)

A little taste of our new home

Okinawa is wonderful!! We both absolutely love our new home. There is so much to see and explore! I cannot wait for the many adventures to come! Here's just a few things we have been able to experience so far....

Some whale sharks at the aquarium! So many cool things at this.

Our view from lunch after the aquarium.

These next pictures I stole from Sarah.

Underwater observatory

Our amazing sponsors and new friends!

Glass bottom boat

Pumpkin and sweet potato roll....purple sweet potatoes are an Okinawan think.

We also bought a sweet new car!!!

Don't judge a book by its cover

When book shopping I am guilty as charged for judging a book by its cover (but that doesn't always mean it's a good book, just like covers I don't like may be an awesome book)

Well I feel the same can be said of people. My husband and I have tattoos (he has plenty more than me). At first I had a few struggles with some of his tattoos, but now I don't even think about them being there. They are part of his skin and I love that. Trust me I don't love all the content of his tattoos (nothing horrible, I just like girly, happy things), but I can appreciate the art of them. Not all of his have meaning, but my four do and I absolutely love all of them for what they represent. My first was a word "msamha", which means forgiveness in Swahili. The second was a Bible verse Eph 6:10 which states "finally be strong in the Lord and His mighty power." I am so humbled by my faith and know I do not go through my struggles alone. He got me through some of the worst times in my life. The third is a yellow gladiola for my grandma. She was teaching me to paint, but we never finished. I decided to get a flower similar to the one we were painting. The last (for now) is an anchor with a bow. My husband and I went back and forth for month on what to get and trying to suit both of us. He found these anchors one with a bow and one without. We decided that was it and to get them on our honeymoon. Because we are apart so often this tattoo means the world to me. Regardless of where we are in the world I have him with me and he has me with him.

While I know plenty of people who do not have tattoos and do not like them, you should not judge a person just because they have them. Mine are a reminder of the past, present and future. While some don't see it necessary I like them. I think they are a great way of expressing yourself. So while people may look at my husband, myself or anyone else with tattoos and judge you may miss out on a wonderful person. I am not saying you need to agree with getting tattoos or run out and get one right now..but be respectful of people's freedom.

Reflection

It has been a crazy few months for us. I have spent the last two weeks getting our stuff ready to move, so when Brandon comes home we can enjoy our time.
A few days ago I went to the Brantley Gilbert concert and ended up finding Kelley and Shaun. It was so good to see them seeing as we are all PCSing, but different directions. I haven't seen Shaun in close to two years I'd say. We wanted to stay and watch the fireworks and it hit me this is my last fourth of July here for a while. The move is finally starting to hit home. I have been so busy I haven't thought about it. Well it is coming whether I like it or not.
It got me thinking about how crazy this past year has been. Brandon and I have been through a lot personally and together. We have tackled obstacles I hope most people never go through in their lives, but it makes us that much stronger. There have been quite a lot of highs to go along with that. 2013 has been a lot of good for us. We got engaged, married, and soon will be moving and living together. It will be one of the biggest adventures we probably ever go on and I couldn't imagine someone better to share it with. I know it won't be easy, but I also know it will be one of the best things that could ever happen to us. We will learn to depend on one another much better than we do now. It has been over six years since we have lived in the same state, so this will take some getting used to. We are both incredibly independent, so it won't be easy.
Had I been told a year ago this is where we'd be I think I would laugh in someone's face. Our journey hasn't been an easy one, but it is one to remember. All the headaches (or most) we can laugh about now. I know there will come a day when we can laugh about all of it! I know when we look back on the next few months we will laugh about the problems we had. It will all be growing pains and getting used to being together.
Last night we went out to dinner with Kelley and Shaun and talked about how couples in the military (who get stuck with drill instructor) can get divorced when they are apart too much. Brandon and I laughed because we are used to being apart (not laughing about them getting divorced) and knowing it is an issues I think it makes a world of difference.
I am just excited to be able to reflect on this time in our lives and laugh about the little things we stressed about.

BTW Wedding

I am so sad the wedding is over...I wish it could be everyday. I would go through all the headache and hassle all over again to have a perfect day. And it was a perfect day. Don't get me wrong plenty of bad things happened but it couldn't have been worse than anything we had already dealt with.
The week after we got the new our venue closed, my parents and I spent time at new venues on top of working full time. We found one that would work perfectly and good thing it did. So the next two weeks were spent finishing up touches and enjoying family and friends.
The Wednesday before the wedding Brandon came home....two and a half months is far too long especially during a 4 month engagement. It was nice to spend some time with him before all the family got in town. Thursday and Friday everyone started arriving and I was one happy girl. I absolutely love having my family around and it was so great to see them again. It is so wonderful to see so many people so dear to me have marriages that have lasted far longer than most. It is a sweet reminder of the beauty of marriage and two people making it work because they love each other.
Thursday was the bachelor party and I spent the evening with family and friends. There was an incident with a groomsman and a car accident, but everyone was safe, which was such a relief. (just a few bumps and bruises). My great aunt was also in a car accident the Tuesday before and was so dead set on making it to the wedding regardless of her being over three quarters of a century old.
Friday was the rehearsal and just time to spend with everyone. I went to the movies with friends and my brother while Brandon recovered. Then we met and unloaded the cars and got everyone herded to get this show on the road. We lost some of the little ones before dinner, but had a great time hanging out with our families and some of our closest friends. That night the boys hit the town again and the girls hung out eating donuts and drinking champagne (I know it is a great combinations)
Saturday finally came!! The BIG day, the one I had been waiting for, spent the last few months agonizing over. Oh man was I excited. It was perfect and everything I could have ever hoped for. We woke up and went to brunch at my parents house. My mom and her friends did a fantastic job. It was beautiful and the food was great. The girls and I set off to get our makeup done, while my mom and her wonderful friends went to set up. We arrived at the hotel and I went to sneak a peek at the venue...boy was it looking great and what a wonderful feeling to see all my hard work come into play.
Getting ready took FOREVER, I was so ready to see Brandon. I was so excited to see him in his blues, even though I have seen him in them before. This time was different and I couldn't wait. Everyone said I was quite calm, which was reassuring, but I knew in that moment unless the building was on fire then we were good. I got a phone call that one of the groomsman bought the wrong color suit and I just laughed. Just my luck, but I didn't care. We had a few other minor bumps, but we were off. It was the perfect day and in some ways I wish it could be everyday.

A sneak peek of some of my favorites....

I am pretty sure I asked how I was supposed to eat four pieces of cake if I couldn't breathe. (yes I have great priorities)

Boys getting ready

B looking at his groom's cake. (so much for the surprise)

I don't know why I love this pictures so much, but it absolutely melts my heart. 

Confetti!!!!! 

My lovely parents

B's mom...I love their expressions

Now the party begins...I have to say it looks just as fun as it was!!

AHHHH!!!!!!

Between the wedding and getting ready to move life has been fairly stressful. So far I think I have been handling it fairly well.  The only person who really gets to hear my being upset is the one who chooses to be with me and love me unconditionally. There have been quite a few people that have told me how calm I have been. I have to say it can be incredibly stressful at times because a lot of the work has been on me. Most of the time I am ok with that because I can make the decisions I want and be creative in my own way. Now it is just hoping the wedding turns out.
I am trying not to be bothered by the dumb stress of some people, but at times it gets difficult it tune it out. I want people to support and love us. I don't need to be lectured, pestered, threatened or have hissy fits thrown. Let's all grow up and move on. I tell people things on a need to know basis. If I don't tell you it is because you don't need to know. I don't need more stress in my life.

Bittersweet Emotions

After spending the last two days packing and getting ready for the move, I am just exhausted. There are so many unanswered questions and in true military fashion it is a hurry up and wait game. Through all of this (and at the wedding) there is one person I wish more than anything I could talk to. My grandma was an army wife who moved overseas multiple times and with infants. I know she would understand better than most what I am going through. It has been harder lately to not have her here, even though it has been three and a half years since she left us. I know she's looking down on me thinking I am silly...I am not the first to do this and certainly not the last.
She was the best grandma I could have ever asked for. She had beauty, grace, integrity. She was patient, kind, quick to listen (and genuinely listen) and silly as all get out. She was also strict, firm in her beliefs, compassionate. I could go on forever, she is the person you hear about and can't fathom how it is all true. I love being around her family and hearing the many wonderful things about her and knowing she was always that person. I am so incredibly blessed to have such wonderful aunts, who are just as strong as she was.  I miss her dearly, but I know she is where is was meant to be.

My beautiful grandma (the only picture I have of her)

Her wonderful sisters and my aunt and mom (so blessed to call these women family)

A Nightmare Come True

Sunday evening, just three weeks before my wedding, I received an email that the venue was being foreclosed upon. I was in complete shock and then broke down sobbing. My perfect fairy tale day wasn’t going to be what I had dreamed. (which lately has been nightmares, so there is a silver lining) It has been a rough and quite emotional few days for me. My parents and Brandon have been great through the whole thing. Letting me cry, be upset, mad, disappointed. Whatever I need to feel they let me and have helped call places and anything else they can do. This morning an article was posted online and our vendors now know and are trying to help. I feel so blessed that the wedding community here wants to help those in my situation. Our amazing photographers emailed me to check on me and to give me possible solutions. 

While we are looking into these options I please ask you be respectful.  I go from cry to wanting to kill someone the next second. This is a completely awful and stressful thing that has happened.  For those of you attending the wedding, right now we have no answers. I am sorry we don’t but it has been a rocky few days looking into our options. I just ask that you please refrain from asking questions. It is a delicate situation and one I don’t really want to talk about. I had my perfect day planned out to a tee and just not that much longer until I got to see the whole thing come together. Well we are having to start over and the next few days are going to be consumed with meetings and talking through what is the best option to move forward with.

I know it is just one day and it won’t matter in the end. I get to marry Brandon and that is all that matters. But I have spent the past 3 and a half months making every center piece, mantel decoration, etc. Everything coming into our unknown venue has been approved if not made by me. So it is heart wrenching to know some of those things may have to change.  I know it will all come together and be a wonderful day.

While we do appreciate the concern, love and support…right now I don’t have it in me to talk about it. It is not to be offensive to you, but to save the silver of sanity that is rapidly leaving me. I was completely sucker punched; had a bomb dropped on me…whatever you want to call it…it sucks. Please refrain from calling for the next week or so…I wish I could turn my phone off, but sadly it is also my way of contacting new venues, my parents and Brandon. I just please, please ask that all of you can help save my sanity. I know people have asked what they can do to help, but right now I just need some peace and quiet. Every time someone brings it up, I cry…I don’t have time to cry. J So what you can do to help us in the meantime is be respectful that these next few days are going to be complete craziness for my family. I will get answers to all of you as soon as I have them…and for those of you who know I am a control freak know it will be soon. :)

Thank you everyone! We love and appreciate everything you do for us.

The Bad and The Good

I know to some this may sound trivial, but it’s been bothering me and I need to get it off my chest.  This weekend was my bachelorette party and bridal shower. They were both beautiful and exactly what I had hoped for, for the most part. Some of the guests’ behavior was kind of offensive. I actually felt left out and these are the few things that can actually be about you. I was not impressed at all and felt bad for others who may not have known other people. I was completely shocked that people that are such a big part of my life could behave in such ways. But I guess you really never know people.

There is a silver lining…we are incredible blessed to have such sweet friends and family that got us gifts that we can take with us on the move and use for the next long time. I am so excited about our kitchen gadgets and bathroom stuff (that’s about all we registered for). My mom surprised me with something old, something new; something borrowed, something blue and six pence for my shoe. It was by far my favorite gift and such a sweet surprise! I can’t wait to wear the stuff from my mom and use all of our other things!!! Woohoo! Thanks for all of those who came to show their support. It means the world to us.

Wedding bliss/stress

I am sitting here watching videos from out cinematographer and am about to cry. I had a meeting at the venue last night and realize how many more little details there are to plan. I am feeling a tad bit stressed, but also incredibly blessed.

In the past few days I found out that my great aunts and uncles are coming to the wedding and everytime I cry. Even when I think about it I cry. I feel so loved and lucky. I couldn't ask for a better gift or family. Even through the ups and downs I know it will be perfect.

I am completely my parent's child (a perfectionist and detail oriented). We don't do things unless we can do them right. As stressed out as I am, watching those videos I know our wedding will be perfect. Regardless of what does or does not get done it will be perfect! We are so blessed to be so loved and fortunate to have so many people there to support us on our big day! Now its just getting there :)

Updated Nanny Diaries

Looking back I wish I would have wrote more Nanny Diaries to look back on. I am getting so sad to leave my munchkins. Today was not our most eventful day, but definitely entertaining and truthfully one of the reasons I can't wait to have kids. On the way home from karate Miss P asked for gum so I gave her some. She decided she was done, but guess what little lady, we are on the freeway so that means chew it or hold it.  Well Mr H decided he would chew it (nothing like brotherly/sisterly love). Guess what folks, that was short lived and Mr. H was done and wanting to put it on the floor of mom's new car. I put the kibosh on that real quick. But then he tried for the center console. I told him hold it or chew it and he could throw it out when we stopped moving. Well he decides to hold it in his hair. Hahaha yes you heard me right. Smeared deep in his hair. Miss P told me that his gum was in his hair. So I tell him we are going to have to cut that hair out and then shave his head. I know I am a great nanny. Well we get home and I tell his mom and we continue to laugh. He instantly comes in looking for scissors. After ice and a good amount of peanut butter he is gum free and still has all of his hair!!!
It's days like these that I realize how much I will miss them and can't wait to have my own.

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

I know many people love being in this place (hahaha)!!!!  So the joys of planning a wedding have completely gone out the window. We are having issues with some people who are supposed to be close friends. I am feeling completely stuck right now (damned if I do, damned if I don't)  I am stuck in a place someone very selfish has now put me in. I have to choose between something I so strongly believe in and honestly don't want to back down on and hoping B doesn't regret me later for it or throwing what I believe out the window. I am at a loss of what to do. It makes me sad that a person who is supposed to be a big role in my love's life is choosing not to be there. It is an impossibly hard decision to make. And normally I wouldn't hesitate to stick to my guns, but the idea of having him resent me is killing me inside. :/ hoping one side becomes softer.

Control Freak

I will openly admit I am a control freak. I think it is part genetic and part learn. In all of the wedding planning I am realizing how bad it truly is. However, it has been such a blessing to literally have no idea what is going on for my bachelorette party and shower. I know the days and I sent this lists of who to invite. That is ALL i know. It is a huge struggle for me, but it has also been incredibly fun because I don't have to stress about it! So for today I am going to try not to control too much and enjoy what everyone keeps telling me will be the best time of my life! I just love being reminded of how truly blessed I am! :)

Venting

In the past few days I have been feeling slightly frustrated. I know there are people who don't support me getting married. I think that everyone is entitled to their opinion  but when it comes to my relationship with the love of my life they don't know what happens. There are two people in a relationship and only they know what it is about. I very much appreciate the concern, but I also don't appreciate people doubting my decision. I get where everyone is coming from, but I need people to stop and minute and see where I am coming from.
Marriage is once in a lifetime to me. I don't jump into this lightly, but there is no doubt in my mind that this is the person I am meant to be with. Yes we have a story, that some make shake their head at. At the end of the day our past, collective and individually, is what made us the people we are today.  People who love each other unconditionally. No our relationship isn't easy (mostly just the distance). We are well past the honeymoon stage of things. While most people think we rushed this, I think it is something that has taken a long time to get there. For the past nine years we have had a mutual attraction, but it took us dating other people and growing on our own to find our way to be with each  other.
So while people on the outside can speculate all they want they don't know what our relationship is like and until you stop and ask you don't really have a valid say.
I know this isn't the most uplifting of things, but it is becoming a burden to feel like i have to make people happy with this decision. Today I talked to a dear friend and she told me I have to start with myself. I truly think if I stop worrying about making everyone else happy they will see the happiness from me. I am the one living with this decision and I can't be any happier with who I get to spend everyday for the rest of my life with. :)
Thanks for letting me vent.

Everybody's two cents

While I cannot complain about being engaged and 95% of the time I love it (stress and all).  That other 5% of the time I am getting everybody's two cents. I appreciate most of it and understand it comes from a place of love and protective nature.  I am totally grateful that I have so many people in my corner to look out for me. But like everything else there is that negative vibe people give off. A girl I work with doesn't like that I didn't get the big ring. She said she wouldn't say yes unless there was a big proposal and a big ring. To each their own, but I also feel quite sorry for her. To me it isn't about the ring, but what it stands for. Whether it be a ring from a gum machine or the most fabulously expensive ring in the world (which most people don't wear in public), it comes down to what the ring stands for. I have a ring, that to many maybe be cheap, but to me means the world. I would be devastated if something ever happened to it. It is a symbol of our love and commitment, not about wealth or status. While yes I would love a sparkly ring, right now this ring is perfect.  We want to be able to enjoy one another before starting a family and I'd choose being with him over having a ring. Some day I will get a new one. It may be in two years, it may be in 50 years. That isn't what is important. It's about the relationship.

I do have to add that I have been so blessed with the overwhelming amount of help people offer. Almost everyone we know and have talked to about the wedding have offered to help! It's amazing and I have a fiance who has an opinion (that is a double edged sword). It has been quite a humbling experience to see people you don't talk to much at all want to help in the biggest day in our lives thus far!

So thanks to everyone's love and support, we appreciate it so very much!

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Founder

This quote may sound cliche but I find it very true to my life.  I have been so lucky to find a man I love with all my heart. He is funny, sweet, and has a big heart (I could continue with the list).   He constantly drives me crazy, but the second he is gone all I want is for him to drive me crazy.  We spent the last two weeks together and just said bye.  Man do I miss him like crazy.  I came home to watch The Bachelor and all I want is to have his annoying comments driving me up a wall.
I am used to us being apart because he is a Marine and isn't stationed here.  I don't think we have gone more than 6 weeks without seeing each other and I can't say it is too bad.  But the shorter he is gone the more I miss him.  He will only be gone for 9 days and I am already counting down the days until I see him again. But I will continue to watch The Bachelor and await the day he comes back!