BSA - Catalina Council

If you know Jared well, you know that he never completed the requirements for Eagle Scout, mostly because he hates camping (go figure he is a Marine now). When we lived in Okinawa, he was asked to help with the scouting program, and he humored the church calling (that someone thought was a good idea). We were both relieved when they picked up on the fact that he wasn't following through on things and released him.

Recently we both had the opportunity to volunteer as BSA merit badge counselors (and Jared had the opportunity to redeem himself). I am a counselor for Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the Community, Law, and Crime Prevention. Jared is a counselor for Citizenship in the World, Shotgun Shooting, Rifle Shooting, and Radio (he is a communications officer, after all).

On Saturday, we participated in our first ever Merit Badge Advancement Fair. I was so proud of Jared's good attitude and willingness to volunteer despite having to get up early and be there at 8 AM. He helped 4 scouts complete the Radio merit badge!

Below are two pictures of the rooms we taught in--if you look closely, you may even notice Jared's decorative chalk board! Way to go Jerry!!

Arizona, the Grand Canyon State

Jared's mom Judy joined us in Arizona last week. During her 10-day visit, we traveled up to the Grand Canyon. It was a 6(ish) hour drive from our home in Sierra Vista, but well worth the trip! The views were spectacular.

Happy New Year!

Food, friends, fun (and puzzles)!

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