He received a lot of compliments on his outfit. Aloha!
4 years ago
2.21.2010
Aloha
Jared and I attended our ward Luau last weekend. He was a sport and dressed up with me. He received a lot of compliments on his outfit. Aloha!
He received a lot of compliments on his outfit. Aloha!Tombstone with Judy
In addition to the Grand Canyon, one of the excursions we made while Judy was visiting Arizona was to Tombstone, AZ. It was a little chilly that day (okay, it snowed on us while we were watching the reenactment of the Earp Brother's famous shootout), but we took our time looking at everything in the O.K. Corral, enjoying the 1960s "historama" theater show, and eating at a yummy saloon.
We did a little shopping, too! 
1.27.2010
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!!
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!!
1.25.2010
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.
1.01.2010
12.28.2009
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 Pilgrims
J.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!).
Adri and Jared
Angie and Adri
The 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!
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 JaredAngie 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 glasses
Sweet 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. :(
Julianne, Amanda, Katelyn, Emily, Nathaniel, Adrianne, James
Jared and Adrianne
Katelyn, Amanda, Julianne, Adrianne and Emily
Nathaniel, Jim (dad), Jared, and James
Emily, Adrianne, Jared, Julianne, Nathaniel, James, Amanda, Amy (mom), Jim (dad), Katelyn and baby boy
We 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!
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!11.26.2009
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.
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.
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