Wednesday, July 8, 2009

2 Months Later....

Wow! Time has certainly been flying here lately, and here we are with 2 months worth of updates!! Good grief! I apologize for not getting these up sooner, but I currently have no working computer in my house. (one GIANT pain in the butt!!) Of course, my computer started acting funny THE DAY after Doc deployed. Funny how the electronics work perfectly until the man of the house leaves for 7 months, eh!?! We actually have a 2nd one also, but it's in need of new recovery disks that I just frankly haven't made time to order yet. Hopefully it will be up and running soon!

Well, here we are, 2 months down of deployment #2. These last 2 months have gone by so fast, but SO SLOW at times as well. I pulled an all-nighter the day before Mother's Day to see him off, and it's been crazy busy ever since. Note the word "crazy". This deployment is the exact opposite of the last deployment to Iraq. I was a stay-at-home mom then, to a 1 year old who had no comprehension of what was going on, I had great friends who had mellow, laidback lives, Doc was bored in Iraq with hardly any action whatsoever, we had NO issues come up at all during that 7 months, and I had a beautiful wedding to plan to keep me busy! This deployment I'm a full-time working mother, to a potty-training 2 year-old who knows EXACTLY whats going on and hates the fact that her Daddy is gone, we have a cat, a dog, some fish, and a roommate, my friends have TONS of things going in their lives, Doc's unit is having an extremely bloody deployment already, and I swear the day after he left EVERYTHING just decided to start going wrong here on the homefront!

Just a couple weeks after Doc left, we had Cara come to visit for 2 weeks! It had been over a year since we had seen her, and we were SO happy to have her here!! Unfortunately for her, she came during the craziest couple of weeks we've had so far, so it was very eventful for her! What a blessing it was to have her here to be with us during everything! It was wonderful, and we did find time to have a little fun through it all! :) We went to a luau, did some window shopping, ate some yummy food, and of course, enjoyed watching all of our shows together in person, rather than on the phone the next day! :) We were able to celebrate Cara's 1-Year Anniversary of being cancer free!!!! What an awesome thing to celebrate!!! Please still be in prayer for her kidneys, as they still have not started functioning again from all the treatments!

Just a week after Cara left, Nanny and Poppy (my parents) arrived!! They spent the last two weeks with us, and went home late last night! It has been SO AWESOME to have them here!! We miss them so much when they're at home in Illinois, so it was great to get to wake up to them in our home every day for 2 whole weeks! Jordan didn't go to Miss Jenny's at all during their visit. Nanny and Poppy wanted to keep her at home with them :) We all had a lot of fun together, going to the luau, cooking dinner together, playing Yahtzee, the usual! It was so nice to have the company of my parents during the 4th of July. This is the 3rd year in a row that I have given my husband to Uncle Sam for the 4th, and in lieu of Doc's recent events, it was very emotional for us.

On a random side note, I have been embracing my inner country girl lately! On the 4th, after Jordan went to bed, my parents were tired and went to bed, and Christy and I went to a Country Bar!! Christy and I have been dancing together (clogging, line dancing, 2-stepping, waltzing, cha-cha'ing, you name it!) since we were wee little kids, and I cannot tell you how awesome it was to dance with her again! We will, for sure, have to start doing this more often! We each had 1 beer, and then switched to water, and I have to say, dancing is SO much more enjoyable sober! Those few years that I wasted being wasted in college are such a blur to me, and I have been feeling so much regret about that time here lately. The pure joy that I get from dancing, enjoying my friends, and knowing that I'm still able to hear God if he should want to use me at that time is so much better than anything I ever thought I could get from Jager and Smirnoff. I have been trying to sort through those years in my head for quite some time now, and the only thing I have concluded is that I am incredibly thankful for a God who will give you unlimited amounts of support and help when you decide to make a seemingly impossible change in life. Even more, I am thankful for the Grace that has saved my life! It makes me ill to think about where I would be without it. Thank you Lord!

All in all, things HAVE started getting better, I can feel it! I feel so much more comforted than I did in the beginning of all this. I have had to make some extremely hard decisions regarding taking things out of the picture and realizing that I have to say no if it's more than I can handle. Things are certainly more calm around my house, and though I'm sad to not have visitors anymore, I am anxious to start re-organizing, cleaning, and getting things back in order :) This will surely illeviate some stress all by itself! :) I am fully confident and sure that this "calmness" is NEEDED, and NOT a time to take on anything new until we've had a long enough chance to fully recoop from the last few weeks. Thank you all so much for the prayers, please keep them coming!!! While you're praying, please keep my friend Monique in your prayers as well! Her husband is deployed with Doc, her daughter Kamryn turned 2 last week, and she just gave birth to twins last night! One boy and one girl, Kody and Kelli are their names! Kody has fluid on his lungs and is currently in NICU, and Kelli so far is doing well!! Unfortunately until this work week is over I won't have time to PHYSICALLY see them, but I hope to soon!!! Have a good week everyone, and God Bless you all :)

Friday, April 24, 2009

Sigh of relief for vacation....

I am so happy to report that Doc made it home safe and sound from training :) He was gone for 6 weeks, and as always, we were SO happy to get him home! Right now he is on leave, and so am I :) My husband will have all this week off, and I will be off through next Wednesday as well!! It feels so amazing! It's been a long time since we've had nothing to do, so we're basking in the glow of it all as we speak. As a matter of fact, we didn't even leave the house today! LOL We indulged in hot dogs, french fries, frozen pizza, and my fantastic cupcakes, and just enjoyed each other's company. So far this week we've also spent a nice day in Kailua, bought a surfboard (<--- for sure, the highlight of my husband's week!!!) and read a million books with Jordan. It's been wonderful to say the very least! Tomorrow we head downtown for the weekend to celebrate Doc's 30th birthday in Waikiki! I know I've written about our plans for that before, and we're excited for it to start! We are also being told that Doc will be here a few days longer before he deploys than we orignally were told, so we are praising God heavily for that!!!

Jordan has been SO funny this week! Right before Doc came home, we were playing in the living room one day, when all of a sudden she put on all of her dress-up clothes, her fanciest high heels and all of her accessories, grabbed her baby doll stroller and her purse and said, "Ok mom, I have to go to training!!" I said "What? You're going to training? Where are you going Jordy?" She then replied by telling me that she's going to training in California, but that she'd come back for me, and then we would spend time together, but after that she would have to go to work far away for a very long time. On one hand it broke my heart, but on another hand I was SO thankful to hear her little voice recite to me everything that we have been explaining to her for months now. She's 2 years old, and she completely understands what is about to happen. She understands that her Daddy has to train to get ready to go to work, and she understands that his work will take a long time. I know that she doesn't get the bigger concepts of what Daddy does, and frankly I'm glad for that, but it is so comforting to know that she really is grasping the plan, ya know?

Well I'm so sorry to cut this one so short, but I am totally ready for bed, and ready to wake-up to a wonderful weekend tomorrow! There are so many more things that I can't wait to write about, but right now, my bed is calling my name :) You all have a fabulous weekend, and I'll be sure to let you know all about mine on Monday! Goodnight!! :)

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Centipedes! EWW!!!

There is a centipede in my house! Have I mentioned lately that there are actually things about Hawaii that I hate??? The list is not very long, but here it is:

1. CENTIPEDES!!!

2. Gecko's that come into my house as if they own it (rarely every happens, but for some reason they irritate the crap out of me!)

3. MAJOR increase in prices from the mainland

4. Crappy customer service. The "laid-back" "hang loose" thing isn't so cute when you've been waiting for your food for an hour and a half and the server looks at you like YOU'RE the crazy one for not "hanging loose"

Like I said, the list is short. I don't think this blog site has the memory space to hold all the things I love about living here, so all in all, the cenitpede isn't such a big deal I suppose.

I talked to Doc today, and he sounds terrific!! For those of you who don't know, he's been in Twentynine Palms, California, training for a little over a month now. He'll be home in a couple weeks, but only for a few days, and then he'll be leaving for Afghanistan. We have alot planned for those few days though, and we fully intend on making the most of it! We're having some new family portraits done on the beach, which we are all super excited for! Our last ones are so outdated, it's time for an update! I am taking a week or so off of work to spend with him before he goes. For 2 nights, Doc and I are staying downtown in Waikiki at the Hale Koa resort, just for a little mini-get-away! We're both VERY much so looking forward to it! Of course we have TONS of family stuff planned, and Jordan is super excited to have a little more time with Daddy before he "goes to work far away for a long time" as she says. We're having Doc's 30th birthday party during that time also! We are having a catered party at Dave'N'Buster's, in a private room, so that should be a blast! I'll be sure to post pictures as soon as possible!

My job is going great! I love the work that I do, though I have to say that it certainly comes with challenges. The actual work couldn't be easier. There's a lot to learn, but I've caught on to it rather quickly! There are things that I feel challenge me morally though, and for that I ask that you please keep my job and myself in your prayers! I have complete trust in God's plan, and I know He will guide me in the right direction.

Jordan is my absolute saving-grace most days. I cannot express enough how rewarding it is to be her mother. I plan to write much more about that next time, but for now it's off to bed for me! We are busy busy busy in this house, as always, and I'll update you all again soon! Love and prayers to you all! :)

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Sorry for the delay...I was busy WORKING!!!!!

THAT'S RIGHT!!!! This is Tammy Henebry, Marketing Assistant for Marine Corps Community Services writing you today!!! I applied for this job in NOVEMBER, and interviewed for it just a couple weeks after that. (Right before Thanksgiving) Well, I had COMPLETELY put it out of my mind and figured that I hadn't got the job since they hadn't called me in the last 2 months! Apparently it's just a Marine Corps thing to make you wait and wait and wait before they reach a decision, because last week I got a phone call wanting me to start the next day!!! I, of course, accepted the job....and then told them they were crazy because I could not possibly go from "Stay-at-home mom" to "Working 9-5" with just a 21 hour notice!! They told me just to let them know when I had everything figured out for Jordan, and etc. I pretty much went into Super-woman mode, and got Jordan's physical record, TB test, registration for CYTP, interviewed babysitters, found a fill-in for the next week, and signed a contract with another permanent sitter to start on the 26th!! <---All within 2 days! It was aboslutley KILLING ME that Doc was at training and I couldn't call him and tell him, as I knew he would be SO SO excited for me!!

I had prayed before this interview back in November, and God was so faithful in bringing me this job! I didn't see it then, but his timing, as always was perfect! I was able to go to Oregon for Christmas, come home and unpack, and spend time with my husband before he left for training. I got the phone call about the job just 2 days later!!! My first day was Tuesday (with Monday being MLK day, the office was closed!). I absolutely LOVE my job so far! It is only a temporary position, and I am filling in for a girl when she takes her maternity leave. That being said, the office has already said that they want to keep me on through September to help with Bayfest this summer, even after Aylisha comes back in May! So that is fantastic!! Also, with jobs like this, you usually tend to get into other internal positions once you have a foot in the door, so yay for that!!!

Doc is doing well in his training! He isn't able to call very often at all, which stinks! His phone doesn't get reception there, so he calls me about once every 3 or 4 days from a buddy's phone. He has been so sweet during our calls though, so I really can't complain! He keeps telling me how proud of me he is, and how much he misses us. I got a voicemail from him 2 days ago apologizing over and over again for not being able to call to wish me good luck on my first day. What a thoughtful husband I have!!!! I would never expect something like that from him when he's at training! Given the fact that the guys have NO control over when they're going to be able to call home, I don't know how anyone could expect that! My husband always tries his hardest though, and I appreciate it VERY much!!!

Jordan is doing really well!!! She had a blast hanging out with Aunt Victoria (Aunt Victoa, as Jord calls her) this week! I paid Victoria a good amount of money to watch Jord, and I'm pretty sure she spent half of it buying Jordan new toys and taking her out while she was there! LOL :) And we all wonder why she's spoiled!!! Jordan will be starting a new home daycare on Monday, Miss Jenny's Angels. Jenny is the absolutely sweetest woman I have ever met, and she has re-done her entire garage into a daycare room! She has professional level things in there, and it is all neat as a pin and absolutely adorable!! Another lady in my office takes her daughter there, and RAVES about her. Also, another friend of mine works as the trainer for all the homecare providers on base, and she said that Jenny is by far the best! So that's great! She's expensive, but SO SO SO SO SO worth it! She does field trips with the kids, walks them to the park, does picnics, etc. She's awesome! I'll keep you all posted!

Well, now that I'm a working woman these weekends are more and more valuable, so it's time for me to get productive!!! I'm taking Jordan to Chinatown today for the Chinese New Year celebration!!! I'm very excited! They're having a parade, complete with a 150 ft. dragon!!! I can't wait to see this culturaly event, and I'll update you all on it soon! Love and prayers to you all, talk to you soon!!

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Welcome Home! Ok, See ya later!!

Aloha all!!! I have been slacking SO SO badly at this blog, and I am very very sorry! I will try to get back into the swing of things here!!

Doc and Jordan and I got back from our trip to Oregon just a little over a week ago!! We had SO SO SO much fun!!! Grandma Jan flew out to Oregon to see us while we were there (and with any luck get a job and an apartment so she can move there, but that's a whole other story! lol) and Papa Tim also drove down from Washington to see us!! We had such a great visit with everyone! Oregon had the biggest snowstorm in 40 years 2 days before we got there, so we had a white-out Christmas! :) It was great though, it forced us to stay in for a couple days, and do nothing but eat cookies and muffins and enjoy each other! Brenda made the most delicious turkey I have ever tasted for Christmas (I'm pretty sure I ate 7 pieces of it!!! and I HATE turkey!!!) and we had a great meal and time with family! Jordan made out like a bandit with her presents!! She is a very very lucky little girl to have all these people in the world that care about her so much, and she was so appreciative of all of it! She was just soaking it all in, and loving every moment!

While we were there, we had a chance to do a little date night with John and Brenda while Grandma Jan watched Jordy, so that was nice! It's been a long time since we've had a date! Jordan also got to go tubing down the mountain with Uncle John, Daddy, and Papa Tim, and she loved that. Brenda and I went shopping and hit some major deals!! We had a blast!! John and Brenda remind me so much of Doc and I, the way the pick on each other and compliment each other!

We didn't get to drive to Washington though :( Once we got there, and SAW the snow and the weather forecast, we all collectively realized that it wasn't a good idea. Pam, my sister-in-law in Washington and one of the people we were going up there to see, ended up getting very very sick, and they weren't sure if she was contagious or not, so we wouldn't have been able to take Jordan to her house. It was very dissappointing to say the least to not get to see everyone, but the trip was definitely better off not being taken. God was speaking to us loud and clear when we went to Him in prayer, and we heard Him and obeyed. I'm glad we did, but we still would love to see our family in Washington sometime soon!

So here we are, just a little over a week later, and Doc is already gone to training. This one is only three weeks, which isn't a big deal at all. It's just long enough for me to get the house cleaned the way I want it without his gear strung everywhere, but just short enough for him to come home and mess it all up again! LOL So TRUE!!! Jordy and I are very excited for American Idol to start tonight!!! Primetime TV has, once again, become my only entertainment in the evenings! Other than Jordy, of course!!

Speaking of Jordy, this kid is amazing!!! We've been working on her letters and numbers and colors some more, and she is now counting backwards from 10 and knows all of her ABC's. She sings the song almost perfectly, and is doing a great job recognizing the letters in her books. She's actually singing every song in the world right now! If you're having a bad day, call me and I will have Jordan sing you Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. She knows every word, gets the tune right, and I guarantee you it is the cutest thing you will ever hear!! Absolutely precious! She has about 10 other songs that she sings too, including a few off the radio!! She LOVES "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz :) She has also started "wanting a turn" at prayer. Usually Mommy prays one night, and Daddy prays the next night when we're putting her to bed. Now she says, "No! It's my turn to pray!" We let her do it, and it's adorable she says "Dear Jesus!! Thank you for.....Dora!! and Thank you for....Care Bears!" And if I'm lucky, she thanks Him for Daddy and I, but usually Dora comes first! LOL

Well, speaking of that little girl, I need to get some good playing in before lunch!!! I'll post some pictures of our trip a little later!!! We love you all, and we're always thinking of you! You guys have a great week!!