Okuma...Day One and Two

Okuma is a beach resort for military families at the northern end of Okinawa. I'm not sure how long it's been around. By looking at the accommodations, I'd guess since the occupation...but swanky decor is not why you go to Okuma. You go to Okuma because it has gorgeous water and sand, and TONS of activities so there is something for everyone.

We managed to get two rooms next to each other...a two-room bungalow for the kids, and a single room, kitty-corner from theirs:



Right on the golf course:



Perfect.

It was no small feat getting out of town (making sure the pets were taken care of, the house was ready for Tomikosan {Yea for coming home to a clean house!} and all the last minute stuff that gets in the way...like having to turn around because you forgot your swimsuit) but it was SO worth the trouble.

Day One:

We arrived about 1600 hours.
Got all of our gear unpacked (including snorkeling equipment x 6 and golf bags x 2). Jake took off to explore right away while the other kids vegged in the room.

1700 hours: Rain started, Jake returned, hermit crab in hand...soaked and bummed out.

1800: Gave up on the theory, "It's just a passing cloudburst" and drove the 0.1 km to the restaurant for dinner.

1900: Picked up some movies from the little store. Stopped raining, but it's getting dark. Retired for the evening.

2000: Changed our minds. Went back to the kids' room and asked if anyone wanted to walk on the beach. No one even looked up from the movie (Batman?). Jake replied, "How about you two just go ahead." {Thanks, Jake...I think we will.} No one else is on the beach. We walk out on one of those floating, Rubbermaid docks. It felt like we would fall in. Tried not to scream as I bolted back to dry land. Despite the crabs scurrying every few feet, I bravely continue {holding Cliff's hand} to the end of the beach and then ask if we can go back to the room.

Day Two:

We slept in LATE. There was no sign of rain when we woke up (woohoo!) so we signed up for the snorkeling excursion in the afternoon. The kids opted to eat processed food in the room, leaving the opportunity for Cliff and I to enjoy lunch in the restaurant alone. {I promised my 28 year old self this day would come!}

Even though the rain was gone, the water was still a bit choppy. I knew this would not be good for visibility, but the snorkeling was still decent. Here's proof:




















Once back in the room, we got a tiny nap before Jake was pounding on the door, looking for an escort to play on the beach. I volunteered and took my book along (Laura Bush's autobiography...loving it!). Jake made new friends (like always) and had a great time with his boogie board and snorkel mask:






For dinner, we decided to take advantage of the weather and use the grill provided for BBQ chicken:


And Scottish S'mores:


(Trivia: Scottish S'mores are a Stuart creation. They came about back in 1999 {on a beach camping trip in Oceanside because the shopette had no graham crackers...but did have generic chocolate chip cookies} and they became a tradition because (A) store-brand chocolate chip cookies are cheaper than graham crackers & Hershey bars and (B) the chocolate is built -in and spread out, so you don't bite into a disproportionate chunk of non-melted chocolate. Try it sometime. You're welcome.)





We watched another movie (National Treasure 2) and finished just in time (2055) to turn it in without a late fee. Then, Cliff and I headed to bed and planned to golf in the AM before jet-skiing, bike-riding, parasailing, etc.

To be continued....

Summer (So Far)...

Last Monday night, we had some of our favorite peeps (The Jonsies) over for FHE. It was the first full day of summer, and we wanted to celebrate right...especially since they would not be fleeing the island like they did LAST year around this time, leaving us stranded to fend for ourselves in the fun department.

It was a hectic day for sure, and I wasn't entirely positive I'd have enough time to finish the laundry, errands, etc...AND prepare brownies for the sundaes AND prepare a lesson to make our FHE legit. So, I was surfing the net for some quick ideas...and found my new favorite FHE site. I love it because it is so simply arranged by category. One click on Music Appreciation and my plan of teaching everyone the Cupid Shuffle, followed by an evening of karaoke is TOTALLY justified.


Truthfully, I chickened out and went with a "goal setting" theme (How Mormon is that?!) and centered it around summertime and the opportunity we have to do things we might not otherwise. (But we did still manage to squeeze in some karaoke. Hey...I may be righteous...but I'm not dead inside!)

Anyway, back to the lesson. Each of us made a list of our summer top five and shared (if we chose) with the group. I LOVED that Ma Jones' list included have the children watch less TV...while her daughter's list included watch as much TV as possible. I love kids.

I was already feeling totally pumped as our first week came and went. Then, over at Bebeloo, I read Damaris' summer list, and it inspired me to do one of my own. Because in reality, I have waaay more than a top five. More like a top 500. We're going to need another tour here to do it all. (Not to mention, there's a bunch of stuff I want to catch up on while this ride has slowed down a bit.) The challege: Come up with something for every day of summer. I chose 73...one for each non-school day of our summer vacation. It's just symbolic, really...not like I have to do just one a day. Some will take more than one day...some days we can do many.

But in reality, the biggest reason to celebrate? Cliff being home. We could just stay home and watch Netflix all summer and it would beat ANYTHING we did last year because we were without the best thing this family has going.

Bring on the sticky, steamy, sweaty days, Okinawa...we will see your humidity...and raise you one family determined to make this the most. epic. summer. ever!

Carrie's Scintillating Summer 2010:
(in no particular order)
(Those already completed are in bold)

1. Get in 10,000 steps a day.
2. Make sure kids are up by 9 AM.
   
3. Visit a beach at least once a week.
4. Finally go to Peace Prayer Park.
5. Family vacation to Okuma, baby!
6. Try to Space A to California, end of July.
7. Facilitate kids' summer plans.
   
8. Finish painting the house (either myself or handyman Greg).
9. Do strength training 3 times a week.
10. Make homemade pizza whenever Cliff wants it.
    
11. Prune, weed and hedge all the plants.
12. Help Troy finish his Eagle project.
13. Enroll in UMUC for the Fall.
14. Finish my friendship quilt squares.
15. Take at least 3 walks a week...1 a week to someplace new.
16. Keep walk blog up to date with above.
    
17. Update the Chaplain Spouses' Roster
18. Make welcome basket for Cliff's replacement.
19. Be great sponsors to Cliff's replacement's family.
    
20. Eat as many fresh tomatoes, avocados and pineapples as possible.
21. Try a new vegan recipe each week.
22. Finally. Organize. All. The. Closets.
23. Get all the shredding done and finally go paperless.
24. Visit Pineapple Park.
25. Find the Glass Factory in the Forest.
26. Drive to the very northern tip of the island.
27. Eat pizza with corn on it at Pizza in the Sky.
28. Ride my beautiful beach cruiser at least once a week.
29. Make it so my front porch makes me smile.
30. Take Cliff on a beach picnic.
31. Get my photos their own hard drive. Put them on it.
    
32. Go to Japanese Toys R Us.
33. Watch all the good Summer movies in the theater.
34. Hike Hiji Falls.
35. Take a trip to Tokyo!
    
36. Finish SCUBA certification with Cliff and Patrick.
37. Golf at the new golf course.
38. Read 5 books (not just start...actually finish them).
39. Snorkel at Maeda Point with kids, Susan and Sarah at least 3 times.
40. Take kids to 3 different rollerslide parks.
41. Have a family sushi making party.
42. Correspond with at least 3 people every Sunday.
43. Make overdue dental appointments for everyone. (Ugh!)
44. Teach Troy to cook useful missionary meals.
45. Organize and catalog entire karaoke collection in binders.
46. Take family to Bios on the Hill.
47. Take family to that other nature park Jill told me about (first, find out the name from Jill).
48. Plan a Botanical Garden date with Cliff.
49. Return excess government furniture.
50. Make at least 3 recipes from Hello Cupcake (to justify the purchase).
    
51. Finish decorating master bedroom.
52. Shop at my favorite farmers market every week.
53. Find and explore more castle ruins.
54. Explore Yomitan Village.
55. Find desks for Coree and Jake.
56. Make an apron with awesome Japanese fabric.
    
57. Try yoga for awkward people.
58. Drink enough water. Every day.
    
59. Organize jewelry...again...and polish the silver stuff.
60. Use the ice shaver enough to justify bringing it here.
61. Teach Jake how to make bread.
62. Update and USE birthday list on Send Out Cards.
63. Send out baby and wedding gifts.
    
64. Have someone over for dinner every week.
65. Find parts to fix Troy's bike pedal.
    
66. Toilet paper or otherwise prank someone we love.
67. Send Lisa a postcard I've made from a photograph.
68. Have culture group ladies over to celebrate Pioneer Day.
69. Use my cheery, Indian table cloths. (Reminded why I don't use them when, within hours, it looked like someone {who shall remain nameless} wiped his face with it.)
    
70. Clean patio furniture on back porch.
71. Eat dinner on the patio often.
72. Make a beautiful salad (almost) every day.
73. Send Amie a deployment care package. (And...some bonus ones):
    
74. Go to the Southern most part of the island.
75. Find a man walking a bull.
76. Travel to one of the neighboring islands for a bike ride.
77. Tour Shuri Castle.
78. Find the Chinese garden in Naha.
79. Tour the other cave that's outside of Okinawa World.
80. Eat at 5 different Coco's Curry House Ichibanya. (3 down).
    

Do I dare dream I can accomplish them all?! Well, unless I try I won't. What's that famous Les Brown quote?

"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it, you will land among the stars."

Anyone else have big plans this summer? Share them with us!

Flashback Friday...National Park Tour

Don't you just love a good road trip? This was June 2003. Cliff had just barely returned from his first tour in Iraq (as in, we didn't know if he'd even make the trip) and we went to my brother's wedding in Wyoming. We decided that while we were in that neck of the woods we'd better take advantage and see some sites. Cliff loves nature and national parks, so it was a perfect opportunity.

This also happened to be Cliff's "Golden Week" of birthday, Father's Day and our anniversary. As a matter of fact, Cliff's birthday fell on Father's Day (as it does from time to time). It was the day after the wedding, and we were trying to make it to Mt. Rushmore that night. Turns out, we were trying a little too hard and Cliff got pulled over for speeding just as we got into South Dakota.

Remember, we went right from Cliff's homecoming to packing and leaving for this trip. The van was still painted with red, white and blue window-chalked messages of "We love you, Daddy" and "Welcome Home...Our Daddy Our Hero", etc. If you look closely at the picture above, you can see some of it. (Trivia: That stuff STICKS. I kid you not, 5 1/2 years later, when our van was going to a new home, we were STILL finding little streaks of red or blue chalk.)

So back to the cop. He sees all this writing and asks what it's all about. Cliff told him he'd returned from Iraq less than a week ago and we had just been to a wedding and were headed to Mt. Rushmore. He took Cliff's license back to his car and came back a few minutes later and said, "In light of your service to our country, AND the fact that it's Father's Day AND your birthday, ("How did he know that? Oh yeah...duh! The license.") I'm going to let you go. Slow down.



We took SO many pictures...and these were not digital, either. (We didn't join the digital age until after Cliff returned from his second tour in Iraq the following year.) Rather than include a bunch of bad pictures, I just chose a few of my favorites and/or ones that tell a story. I have no idea where we were in the above picture of Troy. Could have been Mt. Rushmore, Devil's Tower, Yellowstone or Grand Teton. I just love the picture. He had just finished 5th grade and life was pretty uncomplicated.



OK, I know you can barely see us...but there are only like 3 pictures of me the whole trip...and this is the clearest one. At least proof that I was there.



Probably the thing the kids remember most about every stop we made...the dreaded "Jr. Ranger" program! We had just made the decision to start homeschooling...so I was a little hyper-vigilant in the education department and insisted they participate in the Jr. Ranger program at every stop. Each time they did, they earned a sweet little badge or patch. I would have LOVED this as a kid. I don't know what their problem was. (I think it's so funny that Patrick is seen chatting up the lady ranger in this picture. He's always been...Patrick.)



This was taken at a night time, patriotic program and flag ceremony. It was beautiful. Before they went into the closing song, they asked for any military members to stay after and come forward to help retire the colors. The program ended with the National Anthem, for which we stood (of course). As soon as it ended, the large crowd started to pour up the aisles and out of the amphitheater, but we remained standing, waiting for a clear path to head down and help with the flag (without having to swim up stream). Only...this little boy in the red jacket didn't get the memo. He saw a crowd, and just followed. It only took moments for him to disappear and us to realize he was gone. Talk about panic! A 4-1/2 year old boy lost at Mt. Rushmore in June! We pushed through the crowds, yelling, attracting as much attention as possible...accosting rangers as we went, who went into action with their radios, alerting everyone to be on the look-out for a blonde boy in a red jacket. I don't know how long it took, but we got word he had been found upstairs (he had even followed the crowd into an elevator!) by a lovely snowbird couple. To this day, Jake insists we are the ones who left him...not the other way around.



This is definitely Yellowstone. If you've been there, you'll recognize the geo-thermal activity going on in the background. You'll also remember the lovely, sulpher smell! (Trivia: A few months later, we were watching some of the videos from this trip. As SOON as these steam/boiling mud shots came on the screen...Jake reached up and plugged his nose. Like it was smell-o-vision or something!)

The entire trip was awesome (even though we tent-camped through the whole thing) and I would recommend it to anyone...but you'll need longer than you think, especially at Mt. Rushmore. It is incredible! It was especially timely and our feelings were especially tender, given what Cliff had just been through. (I would have even gone sans air mattress if that's what I needed to do for him to have this trip...and that's saying something!)



The End.

Absolutely Spent

Jake looks like I feel. The pillow represents life...and the cat represents my calendar. See the look of superiority on her face? My calendar looks at me just like that!

Unfortunately, the blog has just been one more thing for me to feel guilty about not doing well these past couple of weeks. Graduation really threw me for a loop. Really. I think I'd been running on adrenaline and denial for a long time...and the let down was huge.

Now we are dealing with farewell after farewell...whether it's friends leaving the island for good or just for the Summer...it's all depressing.

I am still marking my place here, so I will catch up...and eventually, no one will know I was behind. In the mean time, we are getting ready to take a little vacation. A much needed vacation...to regroup, recharge and not waste another day feeling blah.

And then...you can read all about it here!

Unexpectedly Japanesey

Before moving to Okinawa, Japan...I had my ideas about what things I would encounter. Most of those ideas came from the movies...a few from people who had lived here before. But mostly those people talk about how much you'll love it, or sites to see, etc. Nobody really talks about the little things that are part of the picture.

The idea for this post came as I was standing waiting for a woman to arrange this bouquet of lilies:


I bought at my favorite flower place:


When you buy unarranged flowers from a florist, you can specify whether you'd just like them wrapped in newspaper (to take home for yourself) or wrapped more attractively (for a gift) for a tiny extra charge. I was bringing them to a friend for her birthday, so I opted for the wrapping. I was watching her tape, tape and re-tape the bouquet with each twist of the cellophane or addition of a ribbon, and I thought, "Man they use a lot of tape here." Really, a lot of wrapping in general.

While it's traditional to bring your own shopping bags to the grocery store (some will charge you for their flimsy plastic bags if you don't bring your own) almost every single item I purchase gets it's own plastic wrapping from the cashier...and each of those she securely tapes shut. If I've opted for one of their bags to carry it in...that gets taped shut, too...whether you are at the grocery store, a bakery, a hardware store or the 100 Yen store...there's a whole lotta tape! I don't think I remember standing at even one register equipped with its own dispenser of tape in the USA. Here, every employee has her own roll, I'm certain of it.



Running. Short distances or long...in heels or sneaks...whether you really need to hurry, or just want to appear to be earnest...there is running involved. It's like boot camp all over the place. (Trivia: In boot camp you are not allowed to walk anywhere. You must "double time" between points A and B. You are also not allowed to sit on any furniture...but I digress.)



Mayonnaise. I am serious. These people LOVE them some mayonnaise! (Maybe THAT'S why they run everywhere.) It's on sushi, burgers, sandwiches, slathered on deep-fried chicken cutlets...you name it...and LOTS of it. (Ugh!) When we were fairly new to the island, we ate at McDonald's just for the experience. It goes without saying, I was NOT expecting my teriyaki burger to be oozing mayo all over the place. (And yes, I bought this one just for the picture. Jake would only eat it after I wiped all the mayo off.)


Cellphone charms. These are mine. My collection is modest. I started with the Shisa-riding teddybear, then I won the beaded Hello Kitty, purchased a can of Pringles just for the Pringle charm...and a friend gave me Anpanman for my birthday. It's not uncommon to see an Okinawan with a softball-sized bulge in his/her pocket or purse from a collection of charms.

Since I'm already thinking of several others (but want to be done for now) I think this might be another recurring post...Stay tuned!

Stuart Shenanigans

Can you tell what is happening here?



These are pictures of my children cleaning up...and doing it cooperatively!
(Wow, this Summer is some magic stuff!)



They don't even know I'm photographing them (teehee).



It turns out, they are determined to do something epic every day this Summer. They are doing pretty well so far. Last night, they bought some junk food at the shopette, hauled Coree's laptop to the roof (along with an extension cord and surge strip) and watched a movie...then slept up there. (At least that was the plan. Coree chickened out on the sleeping part, though. That's OK.) Then this morning, they cleaned it all up!



Later that morning, I found Jake listening to some newly purchased grunge on his iTunes. Wearing a grungesque beanie. What is happening to my baby?! Blame it on Guitar Hero...I tell ya!

Father's Day Fun

(The third in a series of Cliff posts, in what we have come to know as "Golden Week" in the Stuart household...the week which contains Cliff's birthday, our anniversary and Father's Day each year.)


Any day we get to honor this man is a great day...but this year Father's Day kind of snuck up on me. To tell you the truth, I was absolutely spent after graduation and the end of the school year. Completely. Done. So much so that I thought we had another week. I didn't mail out any cards, and found myself shopping on Saturday night, in between commitments.



Lucky for us, our District Conference was scheduled for today's church, at 1 PM instead of our usual 9 AM...which meant we had plenty of time for breakfast...



But we waited until afterward to shower him with the gifts and cards.



He really wanted very little...car seat covers (that would match O'Malley's green) and a car CD holder. That was it. Could I find those things on this island? Not easily. Every set of covers I came across was totally, completely lame. I was getting very frustrated (on top of only having 2.5 hours to shop) and almost gave up. I was at the gas station on Kadena AFB (which two people told me would have what I was looking for) and they had the same stupid stuff everyone else did. Then, I lifted up a plastic package of lameness, and underneath...I saw them:


Can you believe it? It's like they were made for O'Malley...and the Imperial Stuarts.



I never did find the kind of CD holder he wanted...but I did find a bunch of other car stuff (an emergency kit, an organizer, etc.) and this really cute golf shirt...and notice the bonus Godiva? Godiva makes up for everything.

For dinner, we had grilled tenderloin steak, corn on the cob and a fabulous salad (if I do say so myself) with cherry cobbler for dessert...followed by a few raging rounds of Apples to Apples. Neighbor Dave was our guest, as his family is in the States for the Summer.

A fabulous, relaxing, drama-free day...just the way it should be.

Good things come in small packages...

(To put this in perspective...Coree is 5'2")


Having Tomikosan in our home every two weeks is one of my favorite parts of living on Okinawa. I can't explain it entirely...it just feels so wonderful to have her there...and not just because she irons like none other. She speaks very little English...I speak even less Japanese...but we manage to communicate somehow. We don't need to say much. Mostly we share a little small talk (very small) over lunch. I know she loves salmon or tuna sushi, tuna or turkey sandwiches on wheat bread, any kind of vegetables (especially salad)...and she can't eat noodles. I won't forget this again. Serving her soup with noodles for the SECOND time cemented that one in my mind. (I hate serving people stuff they don't like or can't eat. Almost as much as I hate forgetting things.)

I am so intimidated to speak to people in Japanese. I manage with the stuff we have to use every day (good morning, thank you, excuse me, I'm sorry) but past that...I'm a total chicken. Maybe it's because we all hear the horror stories of Japanese words with such subtle differences that how long you hold the "o" or the "i" completely changes the meaning in embarrassing ways. One slip and you are telling someone their baby is scary when you meant cute.

Being able to learn more about Tomikosan's life would be a huge motivator to put myself out there, though. And she just might be able to provide the practice I'm needing. By the way, she is in her 70s. Can you feature that? At first I was uncomfortable with the situation...how lazy am I to be making a 70 year old woman clean my bathrooms?! But to keep it in perspective, she's like my age in Okinawan years...and I have to remember...she found me, and she needs the work. At the same time, I do make sure we get everything picked up so she's not having to bend over too much. Anyone else out there clean before their housekeeper comes?

Flashback Friday...The Black Pearl

Hawaiian Honeymoon, 1991

Get a load of those BABIES! Oh my goodness, do we look like we're going to prom (if even that) or what?

That was 19 years ago. Nineteen. It's hard to believe we've been doing this for 19 years. I still feel like the luckiest girl on the planet. As much as I loved him then, I can honestly say I love him a million times more now.

We have some good friends in Carlsbad, CA. He's our dentist actually...but first he was our Bishop at church.

(Trivia: For those of you who don't know how a Bishop could be a dentist or vice versa...that's because we don't have professional/paid clergy in our church...everyone does their part to make the Church run...and everyone also has a day job. For those of you who read "he was our Bishop and now he's our dentist" and think "DUH! Aren't all Bishops dentists?"...you must be Mormon, too!)

Anyhoo, I remember having a conversation one night with this friend and she was recounting how her student-husband (then boyfriend) worked at a carwash and had to borrow the money from his parents for her engagement ring when he wanted to ask her to marry him. Her parents were none too thrilled with this prospect. She was reflecting back that no wonder they were devastated, no wonder they had their doubts...he worked at a carwash, for crying out loud! But he was finishing up college and applying for dental school. She was almost done with nursing school. They had their future mapped out...but to the outside world, it seemed like a huge gamble. I only had the benefit of meeting them more than a dozen years and four kids later...with lots of years of successful business and Church service behind them. I could look back and say, "Well, duh! Everyone should have been able to see their bright future!"

But so it was with Cliff and I. He was just finishing college...I was just starting. I had two years of military service, he was only in the reserves while attending college. Each of us had roommates to make ends meet. Cliff sold guns and fishing poles when he wasn't on campus. I was an E-4 in the Navy. I had just come back to the Church, Cliff didn't have any church affiliation. He was so skinny, a weight loss from illness was liable to put him in the hospital. I was...well...MUCH skinnier, anyway. What the heck did we know about life?

I'll tell you what I knew. I knew he was unlike any other man I had ever dated. Ever. I dated a LOT...both members of my Church and not. Military and civilian. I knew I did not want to marry the Mormon "resume." I had seen enough of that in my life to know it wasn't a guarantee of anything. I knew that if I got married, it would be to someone good and genuine, inside and out. How would I know what that looked like? Easy. I knew what it didn't look like.

I'm just being flippant, actually...I didn't know what that would look like. But I knew enough that when I dated yet another superficial, self-centered guy I met at a Southern California "singles" Church activity, I could cross him off the list. Or when I met yet another Marine whose idea of the perfect day was four hours at the gym followed by a night of drinking with the guys...he didn't get another look.

(Trivia: While this was happening...Cliff was contemplating moving to Texas to find a wife. Yes, Texas. I've never been to Texas before, but he had this theory that all the women in So Cal were too shallow and self absorbed to make a good companion...but that Texas seemed like it would have more down-to-earth women. I am just grateful he went with plan "B"...which was to date as many women as possible in his own area...which is how he came to ask me out. And yes, we are both from Southern California, and I realize I'm stereotyping...but stereotypes become that way for a reason. Just sayin'.)

Maybe I'll share the full story for our 20th...but for now, this is already getting too long. I'll just sum it up by saying, the first date we went on, I was absolutely spell-bound. It was the best (and cheapest) date I had ever been on...and I knew that he was something special. Because of the car he drove or the wads of cash he was pulling in? Because of his advanced degrees or his family connections? Because of his smokin' hot, "pumped up" body? (Did I mention how skinny he was?) None of that.

It was because Clifford Stuart is THE MOST GOOD man I have ever met. The GOODest. The most selfless, genuine, overcomer-of-adversity I have ever known. It still blows my mind to see him in action every day as a father, a husband, a friend, or a chaplain. I don't know what I ever did to deserve to be his wife, but I am just grateful. Is he perfect? No. He struggles with patience and balancing priorities (just like me). But he constantly re-evaluates and continually tries harder to do better for his family...and is such an example to me to keep trying.

This was not the direction I intended to go with this post, but it just sort of developed (as did the tears streaming down my face as I type this). The story I was going to tell was about our honeymoon. We were nearly broke after paying for our wedding. We weren't even going to have a honeymoon. But Cliff's best friend's parents (Hi Bob and Gretchen...we love you!) decided we HAD to have a honeymoon. They bought us plane tickets to Hawaii, and we made hotel reservations at the Hale Koa (the military resort, which shares a beach with the Hilton Hawaiian Village) at a rate of $54 a night (based on my E-4 rank) for a week of pure bliss. We arrived with our mismatched luggage and no itinerary, except to sleep in every morning as late as possible. This we did, just ducking into the cafe in time for a macadamia nut waffle before they stopped serving breakfast.

I don't remember much of what we did and saw, but I know we did go shopping at the International Market Place. We stopped at one of those stands where you can buy an oyster to open (which has a pearl inside, you just don't know what kind). Ours contained a lovely, rare black pearl. While we considered our good fortune, we didn't bother to think about "the catch". They get you, by counting on the fact that you will pay for the setting. And pay, we did. Did we buy just a pendant? No. They made sure to show the honeymoooners the gold ring with maile leaves (leaves made into leis for the traditional royal Hawaiian wedding ceremony) with small diamonds which would perfectly caress our black pearl. Hook. Line. And sinker.

As we got back to our normal lives with the rest of the working people, I still had my ring as a daily reminder of the amazing, care-free week we had together. As we added four babies to the mix, on particularly rough days...when we'd have a moment to connect in all the chaos, Cliff would often say, "Remember the macadamia nut waffles?" And that was all it took to bring me back to the days.

Well, I had no idea how to care for pearls properly. Actually, I probably heard they were delicate and needed to be treated accordingly, but I would be darned if I wasn't going to bring my little piece of honeymoon everywhere I went. Always. About ten years ago, that caught up with me. The pearl's sheen started to disintegrate...probably from contact with vinegar. Or cleaning products. This is what happens where honeymoon meets real life. I was so remorseful. I put it away, hoping it could be fixed somehow...and forgot about it.

Until we got to Okinawa, that is. I suggested that we might replace the pearl while we are here, and handed the ring over to Cliff. Yesterday, while on our anniversary lunch date (over Hawaiian food, no less) Cliff gave me back my new and improved honeymoon ring, accompanied by a very sweet speech that I will not share here, but hold close to my heart. (I barely squeezed it onto my finger, and it may not come off again.)



The hands aren't nearly as youthful, but oh, they could tell you some stories! Were we crazy to think we could pull this off? Looking around at the odds, probably. We didn't have two nickles to rub together...and on the way home from that honeymoon, we literally spent our last $40 on the shuttle ride home from the airport. But what we lacked in material security...we have since made up for in a wealth of shared adversity, experience and small victories...which have become the mortar to the bricks of our relationship.

And for our twentieth? Cliff also surprised me with reservations for the Hale Koa next year. The price has more than quadrupled in twenty years (having something to do with the O-4 vs. E-4 rate, too, I'm sure) but I think after twenty years, it will be worth every penny. Bring on the macadamia nut waffles!

Last Day of School (of Rock!)

My kids are crazy. I forgot to mention last night, I came home and this is what I found on the dining room table.


Yes, Jake has several Kritter Keepers at his disposal...but they are intended for beetles and lizards. Maybe an occasional praying mantis. But a full-size crab? Really?! In case the scale of this thing doesn't register...that is the largest size cage. This guy is big! There are 4 or 5 smaller ones in here, too. (Mental note: Keep Jake away from those inlet canals. Seriously!)



Speaking of crazy...Jake decided he wanted to go all Angus Young for the last day of school. My children are nothing if not individuals.



Speaking of individuals...Patrick wore spandex pants. All. day. long. No, they are not pictured here. I made him put some real pants on. LOVE this picture, though. Can you guess how he did this? No, he did not jump off the roof (he wanted to, but I stopped him). He ran toward the wall, jumped with his feet toward it, hitting the wall and bouncing off while turning around to strike this pose. Pretty cool, no?

Happy Summer, everyone!

Molly's Farewell or "Ladies Who Rock!"

This is my favorite kind of farewell. The kind where you say goodbye to someone because her husband is leaving your unit...but they are still staying on the island because his new job is here.

Molly's husband will no longer be our commanding officer (his two years are up), which is sad...but I'm so grateful she'll be sticking around for awhile. We spent this lovely evening to celebrate her and her graciousness and generosity. Kelly did a great job organizing it all, and even found the perfect gift for us to give. As an added bonus, we now have another awesome sushi place to add to our list. I must drive by this place several times a week but never noticed it. It's set back off the road a little...but it has a big metal horse statue out front. How did I miss that?


This is an amazing group of women. We are so blessed that we all get along, all enjoy each other's company.



I had to get this one in, too...Megan was the photographer and I didn't want to leave her out.

After we ate as much sushi as we could hold (those of us who like sushi...can you believe not everyone likes sushi?!) we said our goodbyes. Pretty soon, there were just four of us left in front of the restaurant. I don't remember how it started, but someone had the idea for me to climb the horse. (I don't remember, it might have been me.) Then it became evident they were serious. I said, "I can't do that, I'd get arrested!" to which someone replied that there were a group of Chinese tourists doing it earlier. Who can argue with that? So, with a boost from some friends, I climbed the giant metal horse. I even handed my camera over so that my conquest could be immortalized.

You might be wondering why there is no picture in this post, then? Well, I couldn't wait to get home and upload the pics. When I opened the horse pic, I knew it would have to just forever remain in my personal collection. It looks like I really like the horse. I mean a LOT. That wasn't the look I was going for. People might get the wrong idea.

Soooo...I guess you'll just have to use your imaginations. But whatever you do, don't imagine me laying down on it, stroking his mane...with bare feet...or making a pouty face. That would turn out all wrong.