Vegan All the Way!

So it's true, I haven't written a blog since March 10. Which means I haven't written since we've been home. Which is awful. Better late than never, I suppose.

There really isn't too much going on in Albuquerque. Cody has been studying Calculus nonstop to prepare for his freshman year at UNM. We're both still unemployed, for me, it's not from lack of trying. It seems half the job postings out there are scams and the other half, you need SOME sort of degree just to get your resume looked at. We went into the library yesterday and they were training someone new, so I immediately went home and looked online. There were a few jobs for the city of Abq and I intend on keeping my eyes peeled for a library position.

The newest thought that's been tossed around is nursing. UNM has a great (yet competitive) nursing program. To get a degree in nursing, it would take 16 months. Which means I could start working, start a career, not have to worry about when a good time to start a family is, and decide what type of masters I want to study. (YES, starting a family is a major concern. It's something both Cody & I discussed even BEFORE we got married, and it's something that is more important to me than any career. We're just going to play it safe and make sure we're set up completely before we start one.) So once I start working, which hopefully I will soon, I'll probably take a science class or two at CNM to get my GPA up to competitive standards.

Our house is fantastic. My apologies to those of you (DAD) who got the facebook link and signed up for it just to see the pictures. I don't know why I didn't just post them on here. :) We're finally settled, with just a few things left to get, and absolutely loving it. There are no bugs here, the weather is dry, and it's almost always sunny. Pretty much the opposite of Okinawa! Cody is in a rock band (www.myspace.com/misterscary1) and they are all pretty awesome guys. Chuck & Deidra aren't just the only family we have here, they're pretty much our best friends, too. Which is nice.

So that's about it for updates. I'm still trying to think of a name for a vegan recipe blog. I got this great vegan cook book at the library yesterday and I can't put it down. I think I might try COMPLETE veganism for a month just to see how it goes. Oh, cheese. How I'll miss you...

Leaving On a Jet Plane

Ladies & gents...
It is officially our last day on Okinawa.
We check our bags in today at the Kadena AMC, then we fly out tomorrow morning for the states.
I sincerely cannot believe that this is it.
We've been living in the WestPac since Friday. Cody has already switched the title over on his Skyline; my car still has yet to be sold.
We've started saying goodbyes.
I have to say a pretty difficult goodbye today (love you, ninnie...).
Cody's unit is having his 'going away' today.
We'll probably get together with Beth & Keith tonight...
...and then that's it.

Weird.

Cody & I will be flying into California in the afternoon on March 12.
From there, we'll get our cell phones (yippeeeee!!!).
Hopefully I'll get the chance to see some of our Hollywood Marine friends before I get back on a plane for Florida.
I'm going to be flying into Tampa on Friday to visit my baby brother.
Tina is in Tampa right now, too, so that's double the awesome.
After I spend the weekend in St Pete and Cody is done checking out, we'll meet in Albuquerque.
I'm really excited about it.

I'm excited to get a new place to call home.
I'm excited to get to know my sister-in-law & broseph-in-law.
I'm excited to live in the desert.
I'm excited to watch Cody excel in something he actually enjoys.
I'm excited for Target.

Tonight will be a sad night...tomorrow will probably be a little hard...
...but it's going to be ok!
The few friends that we've made here have changed our lives completely.
I love each and every one of you and I know that for most, we'll see each other again!

Keep us in your prayers as we travel over the next few days.
I'll make sure to post to let everyone know that we made it ok.

On the Road Again...

...or more like on a plane for an eternity again.

As our time here on Okinawa comes to an end, I'm starting to get a little sad.
This is the first home Cody & I have ever shared.
It's kind of where we started our marriage.
We have been through so much here...some good, some bad...but it's our home.
Onto bigger & better things, I guess.
Most of our friends have come & gone, with the exception of a few, so that makes it a bit easier to leave.
I'll be happy to share the same day with my family.
It'll be nice to have options on shopping for books and clothes and food.
There's just something about this place, though.

The countdown is officially 28 days.
As official as it can get, I suppose.
Cody's orders still don't have everything they need [surprise, surprise], but March 7 is the date that's getting thrown around.

Please keep us in your prayers as our time here on Okinawa comes to an end.
It's going to be a little stressful, a little hectic, and a little sad.
For those of you were are leaving, we love you so much!
And for those of you who we're coming home to, we are SO looking forward to it!

To whom it may concern:

I would just like to sincerely thank you for making my husband's job so miserable, so mundane, and so ridiculous that he has chosen to go to college and live a normal life. He would have made a great career Marine...a great Drill Instructor...he would have continued on with his flawless SRB and great PFT scores...he would have gotten better at playing, not that he needs to because he's already amazing. However, the people over him are so insanely DUMB that he finally saw this was not the road he wanted to head down.

I saw a side of my husband over leave that I haven't seen in over a year. He was fun. He was HAVING fun. He wanted to DO things. It hasn't even been a week back at work and he hates life again.

So again, thank you for making him realize that he never wants to be like any of you or work with any of you ever again. I like my happy husband, not the miserable one you turn him into on a daily basis.

Sincerely,
A supportive Marine wife who can't wait for bigger and better things.

Eclectic Blessings

Last night, Cody & I had the privilege of having our dear friends over. Dawn & Clive adopted a little boy from Ethiopia last year. Dawn has this funny saying on her blog, "A Brit and Jamaican, living in Japan and adopting from Ethiopia". She has been one of the greatest friends I've had on this island, or anywhere else for that matter. I've been able to reflect on their adoption process, and the outcome is just more than I think Cody or I ever imagined.

After tuckering myself out last night playing with Yohannes (aka JoJo), laughing with Dawn, and Cody tiring himself out playing Rock Band with Clive, Cody and I talked about the little boy JoJo is becoming. He's opening up so much. He's laughing all the time. He is very much in love with his parents. He's quite smart...and knows when he's being funny. It's almost hard to think about a time when JoJo wasn't here. It's just so natural for them. I always knew Dawn was going to be the greatest mum, and getting to see it makes me a little teary.

JoJo is a blessing; there's no doubt about that. He's also helped us be thankful. It's been a hard ride for our dear friends, but seeing their determination and faith in God puts a lot of things into perspective, especially given the outcome.

Dawn, Clive & JoJo, we love you very much. I'm so glad we got to be a part of your lives. Here's to a great 2009 and rest of your lives.