Settled

I'm ALIVE!! We have been off the grid for two weeks now, waiting for the internet to get hooked up (and then actually work). It is INCREDIBLE to be home! I melted into our bed the first night, and slept better than I had in many, many months. Now, we are getting comfortable in our new place. Home sweet not hotel room!!!

We are loving every minute being on this beautiful island. Wade and I were talking today about how, despite the inevitable Americanized feeling, it is really very subtle. The culture of the locals has saturated this place, and it's wonderful. As I've said before, they are very friendly and inviting.

Last Wednesday was Liberation Day, which is a very important holiday here on Guam. It is the day that Guam was liberated from Japan after WWII. They have a huge parade, a giant carnival, fireworks, and lots and lots of 'chow'. We made our way down to Chamorro Village (a local market square) to partake in the festivities, and see what Liberation Day was all about. It was so touching to see how thankful these people are to be an American territory. I mean, let's face it, most of the world is really not in love with America. Not these people. This holiday is not just a day for food and fun, but a day for true remembrance and thanks for our involvement in their lives. My husband was checking out at a small bakery that was in the hotel we were staying in when we first arrived, and the woman behind the counter took him by the hand and said, "Thank you. If it weren't for you, we couldn't sleep at night." It was the first time my husband was really moved, almost to tears by someone's appreciation for his service.

We are home. And, it really does feel like our home already. It's hard not to feel at home with these people. Every day is a new adventure...even if that adventure is trying to get at least one box unpacked.

Good Night Everyone!

Spare Time

Life is good. Wonderful in fact. We are living in a paradise. The sun is shining, the water is warm, and all things 'moving' are going pleasantly well.

We spent our first day being very productive. We got a rental car to help us get around until we picked up my car (which we shipped here a couple of months ago). There is this wonderful company that makes reservations for military families moving onto the island at hotels, and part of their service is to also provide you with a car and cell phone free of charge!! They dropped the car off at our hotel the morning we got in, and we ran off into the unknown to get Wade checked in with his command and to see what we could see.

We picked up some maps and made our way to the Naval base to check out the NEX (Naval Exchange: basically a nice Target) and pick up a few essentials. We stopped by our friends' place who made the jump a couple of weeks ago. The husband, Tom, went through the same specialty school with Wade. I hung out with them while Wade checked in, and then we jetted over to the Housing Office to try and get the process started.

After paperwork and setting an appointment to look at some houses the next morning, we decided to call it a night. Nicholas was way too tired to go to a sit-down restaurant, but we managed to find a Wendy's....
Now, my husband and I are sitting patiently in the line waiting for the car in front of us to pull forward to the next window so we can order, and I glance up at the menu board because Wade is telling me how they have brought back a sandwich that he really liked...'New blah blah blah'.... Well, right next to this sign is another with bright red letters proudly advertising 'NEW BACON'. Yes, it's much better than that old crap bacon. I point this out to Wade, who chuckles, and it snowballs from there, as you can imagine. Well, we place our order, and as we are pulling around to the window I notice an outlet mall across the street. I start reading the names of the shops aloud, and then I stop...because their are two shops at the end that make me smile... 'Burger King' and 'Subway'. I start giggling telling Wade that I've never heard of a Burger King Outlet before....without missing a beat, he mumbles, "That must be where they ship the old bacon." I laughed SO hard, and even if you don't get our childish humor...I don't care. Life's little things like that are normally what makes me laugh the hardest.

Yesterday, we went snorkeling!! And it was amazing. The water wasn't very deep where we were so you could get really close to all the fishies. I flashed to Finding Nemo and got excited when I saw Gil's and Dori's ( no, I don't know the real names of the fish) and bright blue starfish. It was amazing. We plan on going as much as we can while we are here.

We have our house picked out, and my car picked up, and now we are relaxing at the hotel. Tomorrow we have to go and pick up our new tags for the car and my new Driver's license. Errands are so much better with a view :)

Until next time...

Home Sweet Hotel Room

Well, we made it. We are safely in Guam. Trying to adjust to the 15 hour time difference. But, the view is beautiful, the air smells like tropical flowers, and my hair is, surprisingly, not as poofy as I would expect in the humidity.

We left Houston at 9:35am, local time, and had a really great 8+ hour flight to Honolulu. The squirt did AMAZINGLY well. He slept well, he ate well, and he made friends with all of the surrounding passengers. Having personal televisions on the flight was a great perk. I watched a couple of movies and 3 House episodes while trying to nap...not a good combination.

We landed in Honolulu at 12:30pm, local time, and stretched our legs for all of 30 minutes before trudging back onto the plane for the 7+ hour flight to Guam. ( I was very upset that I couldn't connect to the internet and update.) This flight was not quite as easy. Nicholas was squirmier, Wade and I were more tired. I started getting fidgety at one point, really very ready to get off the plane...and we still had 5 more hours.

We finally made it to our little island paradise, and as we circled the island waiting for our clearance to land...I laughed when I realized I really could see from one side of the island to the other. It was incredible. There was literally a rainbow over the bay when we flew along the coast.

We landed 6:02pm, local time....3:02am Houston time. We got our bags, went through customs, and met up with Wade's sponsor from the ship...just in time for a downpour. 'Welcome to Guam', a cheerful greeting from the sponsor, and a rush out to the car.

We checked in at the Hilton, and tried to stay up until it was a reasonable bedtime (we wanted to pass out at 7:30). I think we crashed at about 8:45. Nicholas was really congested and was up and down all night, but actually didn't fight sleep. I slept fairly well, minus the times when I woke up with the urge to get up and be awake even thought my body was screaming for the rest. And, poor Wade, it was his turn with the booger, and he didn't get the good night's sleep he'd been hoping for.

We woke up at about 5:30am, and couldn't sleep anymore. We've been lazily getting ready for the busy day ahead of us. I'm hoping that I won't mysteriously want to go back to bed in a couple of hours when Texas is headed to bed....I will have to find a coffee shop, as the espresso bar downstairs has the worst 'espresso' I've ever had. No amount of cream or sugar could fix it. A wasted $4.

Well, we are off to start the process of new residents. Trying to get my car and check in with the housing office...maybe get our new cellphones.

Missing everybody back home. We love you.

Hafa Adai!! Welcome to Guam!!

The End of a Chapter

I am sitting in my in-laws living room, in my pajamas, listening to family pour in the door to say their last goodbyes. My husband is fighting his urge to pack all day because, currently, half of our stuff is scattered around the house. My son is being passed around for kisses and cheek-pinches. And, I'm sure that none of us have any real idea about what to expect tomorrow.

I know that I will cry. I know that Wade will probably not, trying to suck it up to make it easier on his mom. Squirt will happily sit in his car seat and giggle and play as we drive off into the sunrise on our way to our new life.

My last day in the states. My last day in Texas. My last day surrounded by family.

As we close this chapter, I just want to say thank you to everyone that has helped us along the way. I know that I wouldn't have the strength or the courage (or the the excitement) to face this new world without the influence of the people in my life. Thank you for everything. Truly everything.

Happy Trails.

Independence Day

A couple of days ago, we packed up the car, said our goodbyes, and tearfully drove away. I had such an incredible time in Dallas with my family, and I was so thankful for the time and the memories. Getting in that car, however, was one of the hardest things I've had to do. I never realized how much I had taken advantage of the fact that I could always just drive home...even if I was across the country. A week from today I will be on the opposite side of the world, and I could drive circles around the island, and not be any closer to my family.

I am very excited about the experience, but I am letting myself experience the grief. I have purposefully kept myself in a foggy haze, trying not to really look at what is about to happen. So, it was time. I cried. A lot. And now I have been able to thoroughly enjoy Wade's family in Houston...despite the hours that it took to take family pictures yesterday. If you have never had to take portraits with three children under a year old...you should consider yourself VERY lucky.

My Independence Day has started off with some homemade pancakes (which Squirt loved), a quick update, and watching my husband and his sister battle it out on Pacman. We've got fireworks to look forward to tonight, and I cannot wait to see how my little man reacts.

Today is such a special day. It gets brushed over as just another reason to barbecue (which I have heard people rant over),but really, what a great way to celebrate! Taking time to sit with family, have a good meal, and relax. Men and women have died so that we can celebrate this day with relaxation. Without fear. Without anxiety. With freedom. Freedom to just be. To live.

Enjoy your life today. And, your freedom to live it.