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)