November and December in a nutshell

The past month has been a whirlwind for Jared and myself--we were away from home more often than not! The week of Thanksgiving, we found ourselves in sunny San Diego visiting our friends from Okinawa, Jim, Ashley and James a.k.a. "J.J." Beeson. Ashley baked an amazing meal while Jim fried up the turkey...yum... We really enjoyed catching up and miss being their next-door neighbors!

James, Adri and Jared
Beeson PilgrimsJ.J.'s homemade turkey place settings

The following day, we met up with Angie, Elaina and Kate Briscoe, also friends from Okinawa (we missed Brian, who is/was deployed overseas). We completed a session in the San Diego temple (beautiful temple!), visited the famous San Diego Zoo (no parking!), and took an evening dinner cruise around San Diego harbor (romantic!).

Temple view

Adri and Jared
Angie and AdriThe week following Thanksgiving, we found ourselves in San Antonio, Texas. Jared was approved for "eye ball" surgery on the government's dime. He qualified for both LASIK and PRK, but per the doctor's recommendation, he opted for LASIK. It made for a fast recovery! Although his eyes were hazy for the first few weeks, he was seeing 20/20 the day after his surgery. He got to wear some really cool protective goggles for a while, too!

Last time wearing glasses EVER

Post-surgery Sweet protective glassesSweet protective goggles (this picture explains why Jared gets all the hot ladies)

While in Texas, we thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Eleanor and Roach Esparza, also friends from Okinawa. They were tremendously hospitable and showed us around town since it was our first extended visit in TX. We wish that we would have had more time to spend with them! I am sorry to say we didn't get a single picture together. :(

The week after his surgery, Jared and I headed for a weekend trip to Virginia Beach to visit my family. We celebrated Em's undergrad graduation from Radford University, my completion of my graduate work at George Washington University, and James' completion of his associate's degree from Tidewater Community College. After having our family photo taken, we enjoyed a meal out at Red Lobster with the entire crew. Throughout the weekend, we played board games, baked, and played the dreidel game with our "guild" after exchanging homemade gifts with each other.

Emily, Adrianne, Jared, Julianne, Nathaniel, James, Amanda, Amy (mom), Jim (dad), Katelyn and baby boy

Julianne, Amanda, Katelyn, Emily, Nathaniel, Adrianne, JamesJared and AdrianneKatelyn, Amanda, Julianne, Adrianne and EmilyNathaniel, Jim (dad), Jared, and JamesEmily, Adrianne, Jared, Julianne, Nathaniel, James, Amanda, Amy (mom), Jim (dad), Katelyn and baby boyWe thought we were getting away from cold holiday weather when we returned to Arizona after our Virginia trip, until we were hit with a fluke snow storm this past week. Despite the cumulation (espeically on-post closer to the mountains), we didn't get a two-hour delay in to work like last year. Bummer!
Finally, after a very festive Christmas week filled with good food, friends, and the holiday Spirit, we find ourselves preparing for the new year. We have been reflecting upon resolutions we would like to make for 2010. Jared and I are going to work on being positive and not gossiping, respectively. This could be difficult--wish us luck!

Attitude of Gratitude

In response to several family member’s complaints about how “hard” life has been of late, I would like to express my gratitude for NOT having to deal with one of the following situations:

1) I am not a child missing any limbs thanks to them being blown off by a landmine in Burma.
2) I have not had any female friends or relatives who have been raped, and/or impregnated by enemy soldiers fighting a civil war in Africa.
3) I do not have to make a living scooping shit out of a community crapper in India.
4) I am not a lonely USMC Lance Corporal, stationed in the Helmand Province, wondering if I am going to get killed in action or struck by an IED today.
5) I am not living in North Korea, afraid that I will be put to death for having a bible in my home.
6) I am not living in Iran, where the government black’s out the internet in order to prevent me from having any knowledge of the outside world.
7) I do not live in fear of being killed in order for someone to sell my body fat to the cosmetic industry in Columbia.
8) I have not been maimed by a machete because I belong to a different tribe than the person wielding the machete.
9) I am not a prisoner in my own home because I live in a housing project on the South side of the “Windy City”.
10) I am not suffering from a mental health condition as a result of PTSD.
11) I have not been abandoned by my parents, who recently left Mexico hoping to find a better life across the border.
12) I don’t have to peddle calendars and trinkets, bare foot, on the streets of Bangkok.
13) I’ve never been sold into child prostitution in Russia because my parents did not have enough money to raise me.
14) I’ve never had to burn garbage and co-axle cable just to stay warm at night.
15) I’ve never had to live on a trash heap in Mumbai because my parents have been killed and I no longer have a home.
16) I am not working 80 hour weeks, knowing that if I don’t, my children will go hungry at night.
17) I do not have to spend the night on a bus stop bench, on a subway bathroom floor that smells like urine or a playground picnic table because I do not have employment.
18) I was not sold as a wife to a 60 year old Middle Eastern man for 20 cows.
19) I have not undergone the pain and suffering of female genital mutilation.
20) I do not choke on car exhaust on a busy street corner because I have to sell oranges, flowers and newspapers for a living.
21) I do not live in South Korea, with over 10,000 artillery weapons pointed in my direction.
22) I’ve never been deaf, blind AND mute.
23) I do not live in Kazakhstan, where fire is always a nightly fear during the winter because of the kerosene lantern I use to heat my wooden shack.
24) I have not been conscripted as a child soldier into the Ugandan Army.
25) I’ve never had the back-breaking task of harvesting sugar cane in Brazil.
26) I am not an elderly shut in without anyone checking up on me.
27) I’ve never had to walk 7 miles one way and back to collect water and carry it back on my head to my mother so she can start cooking breakfast, but not before watching a man water his cattle and a woman wash her family member’s clothes in the very same river water.
28) I’ve never had malaria because my family is too poor to provide me the protection of vaccinations and/or a mosquito net.
29) I’ve never had acid thrown into my face in retaliation for being a young girl, not wearing a Burqa while trying to walk to school and get an education.

Tea Party

Grandma Hamilton gave me a beautiful china set with matching tea settings as a wedding gift. A few Christmas seasons later, Jared purchased the matching tea pot for me. Afterr getting settled in to our new home, I figured it was time to host a tea party and meet some of the neighrbors. First, I made invitations.Next, I cleaned house, set the table, and prepared finger foods.

Finally, we socialized!Thanks for joining me, ladies!

Marine Corps Ball 2009

Fresh-faced and ready-to-go

POW/MIA table - The table is round, signifying everlasting concern for the missing. It is small, representing the helplessness of one person, alone, against his oppressors. The table cloth is white, symbolizing their faithful call to duty; a black napkin reminds us of those who will not be returning home. A single red rose represents the continuing lives of the missing--their family and friends keeping the faith that they will return. A white candle signifies the light of hope, illuminating their way back home to us. Salt represents the tears that have been shed by their loved ones. Lemon represents their bitter fate--if we cannot bring them home. The inverted glass and empty chair represent the fact that they are unable to toast or participate in the evening's celebrations with their colleagues.Jared in his "Adjutant" dutiesJared, Chad and Todd

Table #10

Globe and Anchor ice sculptureMid-night shot

5K Run

No pictures today. Jared and I ran the first official organized 5K run that I have participated in since high school this past Saturday. In Okinawa, I ran a few 5Ks on Kadena Air Force base, but you had to run 6 races to receive a prize water bottle, 12 races to get a prize tee-shirt, etc. Needless to say, I did not ever receive a token of participation...too many Saturday mornings to waste for a cheap gift! However, I was excited when Jared presented me a registration form about a month ago for this weekend's Veteran's Day 5k.

The run itself was not my best run, but my lungs hurt all yesterday and I felt a little sore in my hamstrings this morning, so I know I tried hard! Jared placed 7th in his age group and 15th overall and I placed 6th in my age group and 25th overall. If not anything else, we have great satisfaction in knowing we beat a bunch of active duty Soldiers during the race!

Let the Halloween Festivities Begin!

This picture is from a Ghoul's Night Out (BUNCO) held ealier this month. Unfortunately you can't see the sweet fake skull-n-crossbones tattoo I had on my right forearm!

Youth Conference

Here are some photos from the Sierra Vista Arizona 2009 Stake Youth Conference (Pioneer Trek).

Jared and I represented "Ma and Pa" James & Elizabeth Bleak (pronounced "Blake"), of Surrey, England--one of the very few families from the Willey Handcart Company who did not suffer any family member deaths while traveling along the handcart trail to the Salt Lake Valley.

Through the course of the day, we pushed our metal handcart a total of 8 miles. The youth in our "family" were awesome! We are proud of their positive attitudes and willingness to work.

We were all so grateful to see that sunset--it meant the day was almost over!

Gidi

Our new kitty, Gidi (it means "cat" in Apache) has brought a lot of joy to our lives over the last few weeks. She seems to think she is a dog--she enjoys hopping into my bubble baths, chasing her tail, and snuggling on the couch with us. She eats muffin crumbs, popcorn, and dinner left-overs. The below video is just a taste of some of the silly things she does!

Backyard visitors

"Praying" Mantis



Male Gila Woodpecker

Bonnet/apron Preview

In preparation for the upcoming youth conference which Jared and I have been asked to chaperone, I made a slat-bonnet and matching apron. Here is a preview of the completed projects:

CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS to make your own bonnet

CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS to make your own apron **I did not use this pattern, although I did make a similar three-panel apron with slat-pockets...Plus, I used velcro--is that cheating?

More youth conference Pioneer Trek pictures to follow next weekend...