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.