Since it all began in October!

Within the past year so much has changed for Pat and I so I decided I would try to keep up with a blog to keep everyone filled in since I was struggling to email everyone frequently! So, I am hoping to use this blog to keep all of you updated on our experiences in Hawaii!

I am going to recap from the beginning, so bare with me if you've heard all of this! :)

One of the first things we did when we got to Hawaii was get a puppy! Hawaii has a limited selection of places to get puppies on Oahu so we finally ended up at a place that ships only pure bread puppies in from Australia. Pat immediately fell in love with a red & white Siberian Husky! So shockingly enough, we took her home with us the next day. Her name is Meka which means "eyes" in Hawaiian because Huskies have such intense colored eyes. She's real sweet and real hyper, like most pups! She has already shed her puppy coat: the red-ish color has turned to a lighter brown and the rest is coming in light gray/white! She is growing daily and we're so glad we found her. On February 4, 2009, Meka had her sixth month birthday and weighed in at 34 pounds! I swear, as soon as she hit that sixth month mark she became a different pup - still challenging, but she listens so much more and has gotten so good at all of her commands!

As far as the hubby goes, well, Pat is almost always busy with his job! He is in 2nd Battalion/ 3rd Marines, Echo Company. He knows quite a few people from his TBS (The Basic School) & IOC (Infantry Officer's Course) training that were assigned Hawaii, as well. Everyone is really nice and I have hit it off with one of the wives very well! It worked out perfectly since her and her husband live about 6 houses down on our same street. Her name is Amanda and it is so nice to have someone to do things with since the guys are gone most of the time. She also has a pup named Kai (named after the town we live in, Kailua) that is a little over 3 months old that Meka has become great pals with, as well! We try to get the pups together as much as possible so they can help tire each other out. Meanwhile, Pat seems to love what he is doing and has really learned the ins & outs of his job. When we actually get free time we usually just go to the beach on the weekends if it's not raining and relax at home with Meks. Pat just got back from the big island not too long ago doing training events. It was really interesting for him because the training took place in the center of the island and he said it was weird to experience that sort of terrain and environment in here in Hawaii. He said it was fun though because it was the first time he got to train with his platoon as a whole. Aside from that, he is just getting ready for deployment. He will be in Mojave Viper in California from now (6th of March)to mid-late April and then deploying to Afghanistan early May. He will get one week block leave in April before they deploy. We're hoping he is home in time for Christmas this year!

We were lucky to have had a wonderful Valentines Day together! We didn't know if we would get to go to the dinner that Pat had made reservations for, but we lucked out and they didn't make him work! We went to a nice place in Waikiki called "Longhi's"... We had an amazing four course dinner! It was also a great 8 month anniversry to celebrate since we won't be able to celebrate our one year together!

As for me, I have been applying to jobs on base for months however, Hawaii sure runs on its own relaxed time! I finally got a call this week and they offered me the position for the Program Lead at the Youth Activites Office on base. It is the perfect job for me - They have had many complaints about the after school programs here on Oahu so they decided to create one of their own on our base. I will be in charge of taking the curriculum and implementing each standard, themes, activities, and protocols, etc. for the entire program! I get to start from scratch bascially because the only thing that has been created is the name! I couldn't be more excited! I truly feel like God answered my prayers by giving me all this time with Pat and now getting me started with a great job right before he left for 6 weeks!

Pat got the chance to call today and it was so nice to talk with him! He sounded in a fantastic mood! :) He was having a blast with all the training he had completed and the speakers that they have brought in. He only gets service on the main side of the base which they don't get to much so I think that's been the only hard part for him- not having much outside communication. He says they are all really ready to be deployed and feel they have gotten the best training- As a wife I couldn't ask for more than that.... That way he can come home safe and happy to us all! He sends his love to everyone!

I must get ready for bed!

Good night to all. :)