more Japan

Hi!  I hope everyones Christmas was as special and wonderful as ours was!  The past week as FLOWN by for us and we have been enjoying every minute of it :)  Here are some of the things that we've been up to.  (p.s. I have about a thousand pictures of all this stuff which I will upload once I get home :)

Ziplining!  This past Monday we went down to the bottom of the island to a place called Forest Adventure Park.  We hopped on a shuttle where they took us to literally a giant jungle up a mountain.  They strapped us into some very tight harnesses (poor boys...) and we were given a mini-tutorial (mostly spoken in Japanese... so not safe...) on hooking yourself up to the zipline and etc.  Then, you were on your own!  (Note: Japanese are very laidback. Unlike America, for sure.  Literally, they showed us for about 10 minutes how to hook yourself up to these ziplines and then they just let you go through the entire course without another guide in sight throughout the whole thing.  SHOCKED that no one has fell off or died yet honestly.)  Anyway, the first zipline took a bit of coaxing from Eric for me to actually step off and let go (he has some awesome pictures of me almost in tears).  When I finally lept off the ledge, the adrenaline rush was INSANE and I couldnt wait to go on the next one and the next one.  We were literally ziplining over 200feet above the ground which was a beautiful green jungle.  After a series of about 7 ziplines, there is an obstacle course to do that is also about 200 FEET UP in the air.  It consisted of: a 100 foot free-fall drop hanging onto a Tarzan swing that threw you into this massive net, you then climbed UP the net to a ledge where you walked across swinging planks of wood to the next ledge. Then, you balanced yourself and walked across another wobbly net, to another ledge of skinny little swinging planks to walk across, which brought you to another ledge that you climbed up a wiggly rope ladder to an even HIGHER ledge, where you ziplined yourself back down to the ground into a pile of woodchips. The ONLY thing that got me through THAT was the sign "FINISH". Just get me to that sign! 
All in all though, it was an incredible experience. Something that I will always be able to say that I did all by myself.  It was absolutely crazy and I cant even explain the rush you get from it. 
Worst part of this experience:  The Japanese speaking guide giving a tutorial in Japanese on how to not die. Then in broken English saying: "you not do right, you die."  uhhh.........

Bases!  Tuesday we went to Camp Hansen (the Marine Corps base that Eric is stationed at) and Kadena Air Force base (the BIG base with the mall and restaurants and all the planes and jets).  I loved walking around Erics base and being able to piece together in my head where Eric spends his days, eats lunch, where he works, where he is when we skype, and all that.  It was fun to see his little temporary home.  His base in all reality is sort of a crap hole. haha  Its just a bunch of concrete buildings that look like little prisons.  But in a way it's sort of home-y and makes you feel really proud when you see all the Marines in their camoflauge work outfits walking around with a sense of pride.  It was really neat to be on base. However, you must also remember that these guys havent seen a girl in like 4 months so Eric did a great job of holding my hand and making it known that I was NOT available after all the stares I was getting. haha! Poor guys! Kadena was awesome too.  Its just HUGE and as soon as you get on base you just hear this roar of jets over you and there are planes flying everywhere.  Its a really nice base and we actually got to eat at the Chili's there that they have on base which Eric was SO excited about because, honestly, Japanese food has proved to be quite a problem.

The food! sweet baby Jesus, feeding ourselves has been the hardest thing about this whole trip! (and the most amusing). I'm already a litttttle bit of a picky eater so going into restaurants and seeing Sea Urchin and Slop on the menu has been ROUGH. Not to mention even the McDonalds tastes weird and Japanese-y!  The rootbeer has soy sauce in it! haha! it's just been quite an adventure finding places to eat that have a more normal palette. I've tried some new things though and I'm getting used to it little by little!  One night we went to this super authentic Japanese place and that was SUCH a cool experience.  It was a hole in the wall, and we walked in and they made you take your shoes off at the door.  Then they brought you to a little table where you sat on the ground.  Luckily they had menus that were in English (as most places do, so thats nice) and we ended up eating SO GOOD!  They had steak, and fried rice, and shrimp, and chicken... it was fantastic.  They did not have forks however, so our chopsticks skills have improved greatly as well!  Monday night we went to a Steak and Lobster house and that was awesome too. It was right on the water and we watched the sun go down while we ate like Kings. :)  The only thing that I havent gotten since being here is sushi! Which is so ironic!  but everywhere that we have found sushi doesn't quite have california rolls on the menu and looks like a slab of raw fish on a plate. Weird and unappetizing.

Aquarium!  We went to the Aquarium last week which was SO cool.  Its not ANYTHING like an aquarium in the states.  They had CRAZY different creatures that I have never seen before. and... they had WHALES. We walked down a flight of stairs after seeing some of the most odd looking tropical fish Ive ever seen and in this massive tank were these HUGE stingrays, and manta rays, and then 2 massive, massive whales. just WAIT until you see the pictures of these things.  Just you wait. 

gah! There is SO much more stuff to blog about but it will have to wait because I'm hungry and need to find some food. haha Love you all and Im SO excited to fill you in on everything else we've been doing!  Literally every single day is an adventure and its been a once in a lifetime experience.  As expected, though, being with Eric has been the best part of everyday.  He is truly just such an incredible husband and I can't even handle how blessed I am to have him and be near him right now. 

Christmas Eve

I just woke up (14 hours ahead of everyone in the US) and it's Christmas Eve!  I woke up and rolled over to see Eric sleeping still, unaware yet that it was Christmas Eve and our first Christmas together was upon us.
Waking up next to Eric the past 3 nights has been surreal.  Everything about this trip has been sort of surreal so far. Seeing Eric in the airport was insane.  Ashley and I walked down the escalator, both of us literally sweating because of the butterflies in our tummies.  We got to baggage claim and saw that behind a big glass wall with glass sliding doors were an abundance of families and people waiting to see their loved ones.  There were surprisingly a lot of military men waiting to see their wives and even kids that had also come to visit them for Christmas.  I now LOVE knowing that on that last long flight to Okinawa there were so many other military wives waiting and getting just as excited and anxious and nervous as I was to see their husbands again.  As our baggage started coming along the conveyor belt, I was just staring out those glass windows hoping and praying to see a glimpse of Eric standing there waiting for me.  At first, Ashley and I didnt see them and figured they were late (we wouldnt have been toooo surprised ;).  But then, after getting our luggage, I looked out and saw the most handsome Marine in the world waiting at the sliding doors with an arm full of flowers.  I could not get through the doors fast enough before dropping my luggage and jumping into his arms.  It was the craziest feeling and rush of excited, anxious emotion that I've ever had.  We didn't say anything for a long time and we just knew.  It felt like we were just meeting again sort of. It has only been a little over 3 months since Eric left and I dont think I ever realized how much I missed him until I was back with him. It may have only been 3.5 months since he left but its felt so much longer. So meeting him again felt that much better.  There is really no way to describe it. 
But here I am. In Japan with my husband on Christmas Eve, finally.  The last 3 days have been so incredible. Eric won't let go of my hand and I've gotten more forehead kisses and hugs and 'I love you's than I ever have.  We are constantly just feeling so unbelievably blessed to be able to be close to eachother again. The idea of having to leave him again terrifies me but I'm not going to even think about that just yet.  I still have 13 days left with my man.
I will update soon about all the fun we've been having and everything we've been doing! Its 9am here and I'm ready to start my day! Love you guys and have the MERRIEST CHRISTMAS! <3

leaving on a jetplane

ahhhh its here!!!! Right now I am sitting in the airport getting ready to board the plane to Tokyo. I cannot believe that this is all happening now and that after this long flight, I will see my husband and be able to relax in his arms again. I have waited for this for so long! this will be the most memorable and amazing Christmas that we will ever have. I am sitting here just picturing myself getting off that plane, seeing Eric, and sprinting ahead and jumping into his arms. It will be such a special moment. Thank you all SO much for your prayers and love for us. I can truly feel how excited everyone is for us and that really helps us get through the harder moments. I will miss my mommy and family this Christmas but I will start my new year with a kiss from my husband and nothing beats that! ah this is SO surreal. we love you all and we will be missing our families and thinking of you all! everyone have a safe holiday!! Will update the blog when I can so stay tuned! merrrrryyyy Christmas!!!!!!!!

updates and more

So sorry about the lack of posts lately.  There is just so much going on with our little family lately! Christmas, making everyones gifts for Advent Conspiracy, church things, work, spending time with my family, Kobe... and most excitingly--- JAPAN!!!! I am SO excited to go to Japan that I can hardly stand myself. It's only 10 days away!!!!  Ya know when you're a senior and you get "senioritis" and all you can think about is graduation and you just stop caring about school.... Well I have Japanitis.  I've been such a slacker lately and I dont feel bad. haha! ALL I care about is getting to Japan to see my husband! Oh my goodness... Japan, America, or wherever else in the world, as long as I'm with Eric I don't even care! I just want my man and in 10 days I get to snag him back!  Thank you EVERYONE for your constant prayers and support with my upcoming reunion.

Eric is great too! His crazy fevers and shakes are gone and he seems healthy!  His abscess is still gross but it's healing the way it should so thank God! He is now back from the field and back to normal life over there.  I talk to him everyday and sometimes twice a day so I'm blessed too.  God sure does have his hand on this deployment! and on Eric over there serving our country!

I can honestly say that I've been handling things preeeeetty well lately!  The crying has pretty much completely stopped, and the sadness and bitterness is subdued as well.  I've just been happy and very hopeful about my marriage and this obstacle that the Lord has put in front of me.  Jesus knew all along that I could handle this and with his love and grace I've been able to use this whole experience to better myself and grow.  It feels so good. Now, who knows how I'll feel coming HOME from Japan.  Saying goodbye again might be even harder than the first time but atleast I'm coming back in 2012, a whole new year, and Eric will be home in just 5 more short-ish months. :)

Something that stinks:
The worst kind of good dream is one that he is home and we're together.  I took a nap earlier this morning and I swear he was home.  The storyline wasn't very exciting but there was dialogue, and eye contact, and laughing.  It was literally the first warm feeling I've had since he left.  It was so vivid.  I woke up to the sound of the TV and tried SO hard to go back to sleep! I didnt want it to end.  It sounds silly but it really felt so real and it felt so good.  I woke up, realized I was laying on my couch alone, Kobe asleep on the other couch, and my husband 14 hours ahead of me asleep in his bed on the other side of the world. And then I felt reeeeally alone. :-/

Something that doesn't stink:
Tomorrow I'm having lunch with my wonderful mother-in-law and then I get to spend time with my sister and brother-on-law and my nephews and niece! Although Eric isn't here and it was all just a dream, I still feel closer to him everytime I'm with his family.  So I do get to feel a little bit of him again tomorrow :)

Something else that doesn't stink:
To any other military girlfriend, wife, or whoever-- just know that I pray for you every single night.  Not just saying that-- I really do.  This Christmas season is hard and I am blessed that I'll get to see my husband. So for those of you who will be missing your Soldiers this Christmas, I can't even tell you how much my heart goes out to you.  You are stronger than you know and I truly hope that being with family and friends you will have the peace at heart and joy that this season is supposed to bring. I will continue to pray for you.  I think we military wives are some of the strongest women that God makes. :)  “God, who foresaw your tribulation, has specially armed you to go through it, not without pain but without stain."  - C.S. Lewis  

:)

haha so cute

This music video makes me laugh a little but it really is EXACTLY how days feel for me sometimes.  Like everything is going wrong or everything is a little harder (especially with my job)... and then I remember that soon Ill get to see Eric and soon he'll be home to me and I love him and he'll hold me and everything will just be perfect again. :)

makes me tear up everytime.

praying for all the soldiers who won't be with their families this Christmas.  

our Marine is falling apart!

what a week for poor, sweet Eric!

First, the boy finds out that he has an abscess on his back. and by abscess I mean he has a hole that is about 2 inches deep on his back. Literally, like, a HOLE.  He must have had a cut or something that got infected and after being rushed to the hospital, they dug out his infection with a scalpel, stuffed his gaping hole with gauze, put him on an antibiotic and sent him off!  Well he has to go back to the hospital every other day to get his gauze changed and its just quite a hassle!
WELL, yesterday morning he wakes up and his legs are covered in a rash! And he keeps having hot flashes and cold flashes and all these problems. So now he's back at the hospital AGAIN!

Please pray for my handsome husband... I just want him healthy and happy for when I get there and then I'll take care of him and everything he needs :)