Our Vacation

She loves sparkles!
Kara and her Aunt Desiree


Kaleb doing his Zoolander face! LOL

Daddy's baby girl, always!

4 generations, their expressions are so funny!

My adopted family: April, Caitlyn, Gloria, and Nanny! Notice Kara is holding on to my hair, she always does that to me for some reason, a security I assume.

Me, April, Caitlyn, and Gloria before a day of shopping!

Caitlyn and Kara in the bath together, aren't they so cute?

Me and the girls at Build a bear. They had a blast. Making their "pup-pups".

Us and our girls. Aren't their matching dresses so cute?

We had such a wonderful vacation to the states (Florida, Texas, and Oklahoma). I realized just how much I miss living there and all of the people. We did so many fun things and shopped so much that we had to ship 8 boxes home (well some of that was Christmas presents!) It was truly the best time I have had in a long time. We went to Chucky Cheese, Build a Bear Workshop, Toby Keith's Restaurant, to see Santa twice, the movies to watch Four Christmases, the graveyard to see Conner, Scrapbook stores, the Outlet Mall, the Thomas Kinkade Gallery, plus several restaurants and places to shop. It was GLORIOUS!! I am so thankful for my family and friends. They really made us feel welcome and showed us a wonderful time. If only every vacation could be that great. Right? I was so sad to be leaving to come back here. At first I felt my depression kicking in, but then I decided to enjoy being back here. We only have a little over a year left here and I still have things I want to do here. So I am embracing this time. Enjoying Kara being a baby. She is growing up so fast. Too fast if you ask me. I can't wish away the next year because I am homesick. I have to enjoy this time with her. Her birthday is coming up and I am so excited to celebrate that time. There was a time where I didn't think I would ever get to enjoy having a child to raise of my own. I had almost given up on the idea that I could have a healthy child. God gave me the greatest gift when I got Kara. I felt blessed to have Conner, but my heart ached to have a child that I could hold in my arms. I now try to enjoy these moments and cherish them as much as I can. Family and friends are precious. Let's never forget their importance in our lives. Be THANKFUL!! I know I sure am. :)

PS More pics coming soon. I have ones from my mom's house that are coming in the mail so I will scan them in soon. Plus tons of others!

Friends and being a step-mother

As always I am a day behind on my thankful post!! Oh well. So anyway. For yesterday I will say I am thankful for friends. Real, true friends. Ones that are there for you no matter what. I only have a handful of these type of friends, but they are the BEST!! They are so great! My trip home is going to be awesome. I am staying the first week with my BESTEST friend in the whole world, April. She has been so sweet in trying to make us feel at home when we arrive. She has offered to stock up on baby food for Kara and anything else I ask for. Last year she had all my favorite foods (including a welcome home cake) waiting on me. What a comfort to have a friend that in tune with me. My other group of friends are arranging a baby shower for one of them while I am there so I will be able to attend and see everyone in one place. How cool? I am so excited. I can't wait to see everyone and to show off my baby girl!!!

Today in the states is Maddy's birthday. She turned 9!! Wow. She was only 2 when Nick and I started dating. Crazy how quickly time goes by. I am thankful that she and I have a good relationship. You know several step-parents have trouble with their step-children. I have been fortunate in that Maddy and I haven't had any problems out of the ordinary. Sure there have been times I have frustrated her or vice versa, but overall we get along great. Therefore I am thankful for my relationship with Maddy, my step-daughter. Happy Birthday silly girl!

Sad news.....

Just recently a couple that we knew here on Okinawa split. They were high school sweethearts, married for about 11 years, with a two year old son. I had to write this blog because the news both saddened me and made me so thankful for my life. Sure it hasn't effected me nearly as much as it has them or their close family and friends, but it has made me think a lot. This time last year we were all hanging out. They were at our house for both Christmas Eve and Christmas day. Everything seemed so good between them. Sure I know the details of why the split somewhat, but that's not for me to be spreading all over the Internet. Nor am I going to mention their names. I am writing this for another reason. I am writing it because I feel sad for them. Maybe they are happier now, I am not sure, but I do know that it has to be terrible losing the person you have shared your life with so long. Another thing that upsets me is how hard it is on their son. He was at my house just a few weeks ago playing with Maddy. My neighbor asked him to go find Maddy (like they were playing hide and seek) but he misunderstood her and thought she said daddy. He began looking all over my house saying, "Daddy, daddy, where's daddy?" She told him that his daddy was at grandma's house that she was saying Maddy. It was so sad because he went over to my Christmas tree, bowed his little head, and started sniffling saying, "Daddy", it broke my heart. I know that sometimes couples don't work out but it stinks that the kids have to suffer because of it. I know first hand how it feel for your daddy to not be around anymore. Not that I believe you should stay with someone only for your kids, because that makes for more problems. The whole thing just broke my heart. I can't tell you the countless times I have lost sleep over it. I don't know why I let it get me so down. I guess it's because I have never known a couple to split that I was good friends with, after high school anyway. But overall it has made me so thankful for my life. Things with my husband and me are at an all time high and I couldn't be happier about that. I hope and pray that he and I will be one of the couples that make it. That our children will grow up in a home with two loving parents. Both Nick and I are children of divorce so it would be nice for our children to not have to deal with that. God willing.