October 14, 2007

I remember that beautiful day like it was yesterday. Going to church with my family that sunny and crisp Sunday morning; knowing that in just a few short hours, my life would be forever changed. Arriving at the salon, via my newly licensed brother, proudly sporting a simple tank top with the word "Bride" bedazzled across my chest in blue rhinestones. Yes, I was a bride. Sitting in that chair, my hands nervously clenched together, while my cheeks were brightened with soft pink blush and my lips painted red. I was a blushing bride. I can remember like it was yesterday, my mom delicately fastening my shoes and buttoning each button on the white silk dress I had dreamed about wearing since I was a child.I can remember the look in my dad's eyes when he saw his only daughter get ready to walk down the aisle. A look of pride, sadness, love, and hope all in one gaze. I remember seeing my utterly handsome future husband, and knowing that despite the uncertainty of the future that engulfed us, one thing was certain. We were certain that we were soulmates, best friends, a team, and about to be linked until death do us part. In that moment, I didn't care about anything else. Only YOU. Your smile, your heart, your being. I felt like the luckiest girl on the planet and still feel that way today. Two amazing, happy, crazy, and indescribable at times years later.

As you sleep next to me, the sound of your gentle breathing softly fills the quiet room. I fight to stay awake just to hear the whispered "I love you"s that you always say when you are awakened for just a moment, and then you sweetly close your eyes and drift back to sleep. I live for those simple moments. God blessed me more than I can say when he chose me to be your bride. I love you my honey, my slice of heaven, my gift, my book worm, my forever, my husband. Happy Anniversary.

~Your wife

Missing the Seasons

I slowly scan the pages of Anthropologie's amazing and inspiring catalogue; the assortment of ruffly scarves and cozy sweaters make my heart melt. I never thought I would yearn for the changing of seasons like I do now. As most people back home are enjoying the fall season and the cool weather, we spent the day at the beach boiling like peanuts. I push the fact that this is what it feels like year round into the back of my mind; maybe then it won't be true. Many would argue that California has no idea what different seasons feel like but I beg to differ. Move to Guam and it will feel like anywhere but here experiences seasons. Warm weather is nice, and I really do enjoy wearing shorts, sundresses, and flip flops on a daily basis, but I find my heart longing for a chilly rainstorm, a snugly blanket, a peppermint mocha, and a fire in the fireplace. It's funny to realize what I miss the most about home. I never thought I would wish for the blistering winds and soggy pant legs that become a common accessory during winter. In the meantime, I'm just going to turn the air conditioning down real low so I am forced to snuggle in a blanket, drink a cup of hot coffee with cinnamon creamer, and listen to songs that remind me of cold weather. That will do for now.

Augustine

I received an e-mail the other day that broke my heart. I have been sponsoring Augustine since I was 17. Augustine lives in Ghana and is 7 now. The e-mail I received said that Augustine is no longer available for sponsorship and that I would receive a letter in the mail with more details. Well I'm impatient and it takes two weeks for mail to get here, so I called up WorldVision and asked for more details. Fortunately, the reason Augustine is no longer in the program is because he has moved in with relatives that can now provide for him. I am so happy that Augustine is being provided for, but I am sad that I will no longer be able to communicate with him. Even though I have never met Augustine, he was close to my heart. I have sent him birthday cards, Christmas cards, first day of school cards. I have received updates here and there with little pictures he drew for me. My favorite was a picture of a 3d box he drew. So cute. I love Augustine, and though I might not have been the best sponsor, I hope he just might miss me like I am going to miss him. I can't wait to finally meet him one day in heaven. I am in the process of praying for a new child to sponsor. I am leaning towards sponsoring a child from Asia this time around but we will see. I wish I could afford to sponsor more than one, as there are so many children in desperate need of support. This is Augustine. Isn't he so adorable!

Refreshed

I inhale the salty, refreshing, and pure air; the wind gently tousles my hair. I crinkle my toes up and feel the sand seep into the cracks between my toes. The water gently moving towards and then away from the shore like a calm heartbeat. Life seems so simple standing at the edge of the warm, clear ocean water. Home feels like I could almost touch it across the horizon. The thousands of miles in between this shore and the shores of the Central Coast seem to dissolve. Peace and joy rush over me just like the ocean water rushes over the sand beneath my toes. I love how the Lord can renew my spirit with one glance and touch of His magnificent creation.

I asked Jarrett if we could drive down to the beach last night. Thankfully, living on an island means that the beach is never too far away. I wasn't feeling particularly homesick yesterday, yet at the same time, I wanted to feel close to home. I wanted to feel like it was within reach; separate from the reality that I'm so far from home for a few precious moments. The beach does that. (Thank you Robbin for your encouragement and sweet reminder of the power of the ocean).

So last night we went home in our imaginations. Let go of the stresses of work, moving, unusual weather patterns, and such. We felt the water on our fingertips, documented our emotions, and got back into the car feeling renewed.

The storm that is no more!

Can you come pick me up on base? This was the call I received from Jarrett earlier this afternoon. What?!?!? I replied. But the tropical storm is supposed to hit in about an hour!! I hurried and grabbed my keys, and jumped into the car to avoid getting stuck on the streets in the peak of the storm. I turned the radio up and cautiously headed down the rain slicked roads. Ladies and gentlemen the storm is no more. We repeat the storm has fallen apart and all tropical storm warnings are canceled. These are the words I hear. I didn't know whether to feel totally ecstatic or slightly let down. Probably a mixture of both.

How does that happen? How does a tropical storm break up and suddenly shift to the north an hour before it's supposed to hit?? As of 12pm today, the local news stations were still reporting the storm would arrive shortly after 1pm. We had the best weather predictors in the pacific monitoring this storm. My only reasoning behind this sudden change is that this was an act of God. Amazing.

But we aren't wiping our brows and saying Wheewww quite yet. Tropical storm Melor is making its way toward the Marianas and is expected to be upgraded to a category 1 typhoon by then. We will just call this a test run for Melor which might arrive Saturday. But as you can see, things can change at any moment, even an hour before its supposed arrival.

Until then, our normal daily routines will continue until we hear more. This has been a crazy day to say the least. With the expectance of the tropical storm, to the tsunami watch we had this morning. What a mixture of emotions everyone has felt today. Thank you Jesus for your blanket of safety and relief cast over the island of Guam today.

Tropical Storm 18W

We are currently awaiting the arrival of what is currently called tropical storm 18W. We are stocked up on supplies, water, food, and seasons of Gilmore Girls on dvd, so we are ready to spend the next day or two indoors (or at least I am :-) ). Guam in located in typhoon ally, so storms like this are nothing new. We are still required to shut our typhoon shutters, secure our houses, and stock up on supplies no matter the strength of the storm. Right now it is a tropical storm, and signs point to it remaining at that strength. It is expected to hit Wednesday night (currently it is 11:30 pm Tuesday night for me) so until then, Jarrett is going to work tomorrow to finish up securing his jobsite, and I'm going to go to my Bible study and run some errands. Here are some pictures of us closing our typhoon shutters. It was kind of fun, but hopefully we won't have to do it again for awhile.

Home In a 12.5oz Jar

Yessssss!!!! They have it! I squealed. I opened the jar and closed my eyes as I breathed in the sweet aroma. Jarrett knew. He understood. With loving eyes, he grabbed the candle from me and gently placed it in the cart. A little 12.5oz, highly overpriced, halloween edition candle. Seems silly but this pretty baby is so much more than just a candle to me.

This pumpkin spice flavored candle is more like home in a jar to me. The spicy aroma reminds me of Olive cuddling up next to me as I vigorously studied my Chemistry and Biology notes; her little wet nose nuzzling my blanket. This was her signal to me to let her under the blanket. This smell reminds me of me and Jarrett, our noses burried in the pages of the Twilight series (don't tell him I told you that), and the glances we made at each other every few minutes. The I know I'm a nerd but I don't care and I love you for it glance. This scent reminds me of last Thanksgiving when my family drove to Travis and I successfully attempted to make my first Thanksgiving meal. This tiny candle reminds me of the long, honest, and loving conversations I had with my dear friend Natalie. The conversations that helped us grow from Chemistry lab buddies to lifelong friends. This smell reminds me of the home that Jarrett and I created from the tiny space we were given. A home so filled with love, laughter, and friendship, that I would have been content with a space of any size.

As I burn this candle in our new home, I am beginning to feel like no matter how white our walls are, no matter how loud our voices bounce off the white tile that stretches from wall to wall, no matter how much furniture we have (still waiting on half of our stuff), that this place is becoming our home. I can't wait to create more memories and friendships within these walls.