Happy Anniversary!

Hello from Chiang Mai, Thailand! Just wanted to wish a Happy Anniversary to my man... wish we were together today, but even more grateful for the 6 years... 10 years... of having you in my life. Can't wait until we are both back home together!

And happy anniversary to my parents who celebrate their 35th anniversary (wow!!) today (in Thailand) or tomorrow (USA).

Looking forward to sharing all of my stories and pictures with everyone from Hong Kong and Thailand once I get home... on our way to Bankok tonight, then Guam via Japan tomorrow.

So much to celebrate!

They Paved Paradise

.... and put up a parking lot! Okay, so normally a parking lot would not make my list of noteworthy mentionables, however, I have had an unsurprisingly related role in putting this one together. For the last five years, our church has been in growth and transition and one of the major projects has been to purchase and demolish a retail building in front of the church and turn the area into a parking lot for our growing membership base. More recently, after lots of capital campaigning, we have finally been able to pay to pave the parking lot, which is a huge improvement both aesthetically and functionally. Given that it's raining 50% of the Sundays we head to church, it makes a huge difference not having to trudge through red clay mud to get to the sanctuary. Not to mention, the finished look is just more welcoming in general.

Before landscaping

A month ago the parking lot was paved but still nowhere near finished. Our pastor was leaving on his annual 4-week trip to the States (one of the ways he is compensated for having a congregation so far off the mainland), and the night before his trip, I got a three-page long email from him (I printed it... literally 3 pages), basically asking if I would take over the landscaping project that needed to be done to finish it. The existing plants we had were overrun with weeds, needed to be pruned, watered, and fertilized, etc. Basically some TLC was needed all around. In addition, grass and new plants needed to be planted in order to finish the project by the dedication on Aug. 21st. I took a deep breath and replied that I'd agree to do it. I mean, I had the time this summer, and even though I thought I was in way over my head, figured they must be in pretty big need of help if they're asking their youth director to play head gardener.

So yes, we can now add landscaping project manager to the list of random jobs on my military wife resume. Over the last four weeks I have led weeding parties with the youth (followed by YogurtLand, of course), made stepping stones out of mortar, sea shells, and sea glass as a girls group project, and on Saturday I led the final work party to get our palms and crotons in the ground, fertilized, watered and mulched. Well, watered was the easy part, since rainy season is in full force and we actually worked in the rain. And in fact, it has been raining so much they weren't able to cultivate the grass so we could plug the last remaining areas and finish the project.

Weird everyone is working hard but me... kinda nice being boss...

Pastor Jeff is the one in the gray with the yellow hat. Just call me el jefe

That may not sound like a big deal, and in the big scheme of things it's not, but as the leader of the project, I was definitely disappointed leaving there Saturday with three ungrassed and unfinished beds. The way things had gone down with decision making, personnel availability, and torrential rain in that last week, there was just no way to finish the project properly by the due date. And those of you who are goal oriented like me, know that there's nothing more frustrating than coming up short. I wrote my boss (Pastor Jeff) an email basically apologizing for and taking responsibility for the lack of completion, and he wrote me the most beautiful and gracious reply:

"You know, one of the Hasidic Jewish proverbs says that nothing, but God, is perfect.  Therefore they would intentionally make a flaw in some item they were crafting so as to remind themselves that they are creatures and not the Creator.  Look at this landscaping project like that.  Your inability to complete it 100% on time is simply a remind that you are not God, simply one of His beloved creatures."

So yesterday at church was a wonderful celebration of our finished parking lot. Well, almost finished. Much like each of us, there is still work to be done, imperfections here and there. But what a great reminder of what it's really all about in the first place.

And yes, I might just have the best boss ever. (And no, he doesn't read this so I'm not just sucking up).

:)

Back At It

 

The last few weeks I have been enjoying the randomness of activities that Guam has to offer, and I've had a really great time in the process. I've been staying busy, but not too busy. I've started working out again regularly, which has been energizing and challenging. I have been reading quite a bit as well. Since I returned from the Philippines I knocked out Harry Potter books 5, 6, and 7 (over 2,200 pages of wizard adventures right there). Finally done with the series after a four-year hiatus. This time here on island has been refreshing. Here are some pictures of what I've been up to.

 

 

Gearing up to do some rappelling on the cliff behind me

View from the top of the cliff of the northeast coastline

 

The white dot is the person who came down the cliff after me... tall cliff

 

Our youth group did a summer lock-in - A great group of girls, as always

And a goofy looking bunch of guys, as always :) Ready for our favorite game - beep bop, which is basically freeze tag in the dark. If you get bopped you have to beep until you are untagged. In youth group speak, it is the most epic game ever.

 

No lock-in is complete without a midnight ice cream sundae bar 

 ... or a terrible night sleep (what sleep?)

 Day after the lock-in - My friend Stephanie organized a Thai cooking class. She moved back to the States last week and this was on her Guam bucket list. We learned how to make Pad Thai, fresh lumpia (left), and a delish veggie noodle salad. I will post the recipes at the end, although good luck. They asked sleep-deprived me to take notes on ingredients & procedures.

 

Enjoying our delicious dishes - yum!

Just another day in paradise :) 

Pad Thai
Soak pad thai noodles (rice stick) overnight (or 5 mins. like the package says)
Heat veggie oil in large skillet until bubbling, just enough to saute garlic
add 6 cloves minced garlic
add chicken strips & saute until cooked through
add 2 eggs to chicken and scramble
Once egg is cooked add 2 tbsp vinegar, 2 tbsp fish sauce (or soy sauce) 2 tbsp smoked paprika & noodles
(optional - tamarind - soaked & squeezed - for more flavor instead of paprika)
Toss for several minutes over low/med heat
Add sugar as desired (1 tbsp)
Add chives (1" strips)
Add 1-2 c. bean sprouts
Toss everything together lightly and remove from heat and serve


Peanut Sauce:
1 can coconut milk - let it boil lightly
stir occasionally
2 tbsp Red curry paste - mix in
add 4 heaping tbsp sugar
add 1 tbsp salt
let boil on low/med, stir occaionally for 10-15 mins. until thick.
Add 8 tbsp chopped peanuts (peanuts = roast unsalted peanuts plain on plan on low heat for "a while", cool & crush in blender)
Continue to stir & simmer until thickened & well mixed. (a couple more mins). Serve w/lumpia

Lumpia
Shred large carrot, slice cucumber into thin strips
Rince rice paper under running water
lay carrots, cucumber, bean sprouts, romaine hearts (tear off stem) & chicken, shrimp (butterflied) or tofu on one side of rice paper
roll like a burrito - press and roll sides in halfway through
Slice in half diagonally and serve with peanut sauce
Other version would be pineapple mint salad (?).

Stef's favorite noodle salad
Soak vermicelli (beans thread) 20 minutes in cold water until soft
blanch green beans, cabbage & carrots
Arrange cherry tomatoes, chopped celery leaf, chopped green onions, chopped cilantro, chopped red onion and blanched (and chopped) green beans, cabbage & carrots on top of vermicelli
Dressing: mix together juice of a lemon, tsp sugar, tsp umami seasoning, 2-3 tbsp soy sauce & boonie pepper minced (if desired). Pour on top of salad. Drool like you are Stephanie.

To Love a Warrior

Why, hello, boyfriend in uniform

Ten years ago today, Aug. 10, 2001, was one of the best days of my entire life. After 6 weeks of emotional solitude, 42 days of writing letters, and over 1,000 hours since I'd last heard his voice, I was reunited with the man who captured my heart.

Aug. 10, 2001, 8:56 a.m.:
"I need to write! This very moment my mind is racing with elation. I am on the 921 MTA bus to Annapolis, MD to see my Mid who's been at Plebe Summer for 6 weeks. I cannot put into words this feeling of my heart leaping out of my chest, floating in front of the bus, with me anxiously trying to keep up with it. My insides are screaming from the soles of my feet on up. I am going to see the boy I'm in love with, and this overcast gray sky couldn't be more beautiful! I praise God that the next time I step on solid earth outside this bus, I will be in the same town as my heart for the first time in 42 days."

I remember that morning so well. Waking up at my Uncle Bill & Aunt Pat's house in Virginia well before my alarm clock, so excited today was the day I would get to see Nick. I remember making the trek across the tri-state area on the Metro, then the bus, so I could get there in time, each hour that passed a true test of patience. Meeting up with Nick's family on the parade field, together trying to somehow spot his gorgeous eyes in the sea of uniforms marching in before us. And then, finally, at 12:15p.m., when formation was over, finding him and getting that kiss I had so patiently waited for. (Photo taken at that fabulous moment!)

At this point in our relationship, we had already been apart (6 weeks) for longer than we had been together (5 weeks). Perhaps I should have taken that as a sign of things to come. Looking at the bigger picture, I knew that seeing Nick this weekend, the weekend before his classes started, the weekend before I made the trek from Texas to Florida to start school myself... seeing him this weekend meant we might actually be able to make it. The alternative, of waiting a whole six months, from June to November was simply unbearable for my 18 year-old heart. Getting to see Nick at Plebe Parents Weekend meant hope for us, hope for our future.

And somehow, even at 18, having only been "together" for five weeks, I somehow knew Nick would be part of my future. I had never met anyone like him, such a hard worker, such dedication, such sacrifice in order to meet his goals, such athletic perfection, such strong faith. After spending so much time with him finding myself in love with so many things that make him who he is, the separation was unbearable. It took a strength inside me to realize that the same qualities leading him toward his goal to serve his country, doing one of the most difficult jobs possible, were the same qualities that made me love and respect him so impulsively, so freely, even in spite of knowing how hard it was going to be to be apart for several years.

I love our story. How we started as friends. Fell in love. Overpowered time, distance, and military commitments so we could be together in the end. It's our story... and yet, it's the story of so many women like me who have found themselves unmistakably in love with one of the bravest, strongest, humblest men in our country, those serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

No question it isn't an easy road we've traveled. There isn't a whole lot of glory in the day-to-day reality of having no control over your time together, worrying about him when he's gone, or always putting your career second. And there's no way to avoid feeling like you're constantly missing someone, whether it's him while he's away, or your family back home, or the best friends you left behind at your last duty station.

But the alternative, to live life without this warrior's heart alongside your own, is somehow even harder. There is a dream in each of us who love someone in the military, a dream that after each separation we will somehow find ourselves together again. A dream that, when it doesn't come true, shatters the hearts of us all, whether we knew your warrior or not. For on any given day, we know it could have been us and though we seldom admit it, know it could someday still be. And yet we know that the love we have is a precious gift, only made stronger when we recognize it can be taken away.

All along I had planned to write something to celebrate our 10-year milestone of hope. Of course what we didn't know 10 years ago today is what would happen in just one month's time that would change the course of our country's history forever. And what I didn't know when I planned to write about this is what would happen this very week to shatter the dreams of so many families. But in light of the tragedies we now know of, I think it's even more appropriate to celebrate what it means to love a warrior. There's a risk in loving and losing that is unbearable to think about. And yet, it's a heart so strong and powerful, it's worth the leap of faith for the hope of another day together.

Aug. 11, 2001, 12:37 a.m.:
"I never knew that dreams had glowing green eyes. I never knew that dreams could hold your hand. I definitely never knew that dreams could come true. But apparently, with the right bit of luck and some serious prayer, God sometimes blesses us with dreams. I definitely didn't know how great dreams look in uniform!!! But now I do, and I get to see my dream again tomorrow! Lucky me - a whole weekend full of dreams!"

Dedicated to anyone who has ever loved a man in uniform.

Remembering in Silence

Times like this, I just want to write. So naturally I wrote a post about what's really on my mind. But out of respect for the quiet professionals who do not advertise the nature of their work, I won't be advertising the nature of my thoughts. So instead, I'm leaving this as an uncharacteristically silent post...

For those quiet heroes who operate day in and day out in silence. For those who grieve in silence. We grieve silently with you. And though the world moves on all too quickly, we will never forget.


If you feel so moved, please consider donating.

You've got to TRI

This Tuesday I did my very first triathalon! It was a super sprint, which means short distances on all three of the exercises. It was a fantastic first race for me both because of the distances and because it was informally organized by a group of fitness enthusiasts here on base, so there was no pressure to try to beat a certain time... because no one was timing you. In fact, their main goal was to get people out there to try it. They cut out all possible excuses by allowing people to swim with a snorkel & fins, borrow bikes from other racers, and walk instead of run. The point was just to do it. July was the first month since April that I was finally able to start working out again. It was a painful, slow start, not because my body hadn't healed, but because I was officially out of shape (ugh). Having the tri to look forward to was great motivation to ease my way into cardio again. My new friend and neighbor Shea went in on the adventure with me. We stuck together for most of the race. Ready for some pictures? Okay, on your mark, get set, go!

TRI-ers lined up before the race. They had a separate course for kids :)

Our swim was in Apra Harbor off San Luis Beach. Can you spot me? I am in the center of the picture with the white swim cap and my arm in the air (you can't miss that great form!). Actually, generally speaking I am a terrible, inexperienced stroke swimmer, so the originally posted 400m distance was a bit intimidating. There's no way this was 400m, though, because it only took me about 5 minutes to finish (when an actual 400m takes me 15+).

 Transition time! Out of the water, quick towel off, and hop on the bike for the 10k (6-mile) ride around base on my glunky mountain bike. So far so good!

Transition #2: Still going strong as Shea and I left for the 1.5-mile run. 

Not gonna lie, about 40 minutes into cardio, I was huffing and puffing at this point.

After powering through a 15-minute run, I rounded the corner to the finish line. Turns out Shea is a sneaky good runner, so I insisted she zip along in front of ol huffy puffy me. But I finished strong and didn't stop to walk, which was my goal. And hey, meeting goals is the whole point.

After being so out of shape, I have to say this was a great jump start back into feeling strong again. I went to the gym the day after the race for a workout class that I'd been trudging through or making up excuses to miss. Suddenly the class was completely doable again. I felt a lot lighter, faster, and stronger. Definitely hope to do another race soon, potentially as one of my regular workouts out here.

 Coincidentally, Nick also did a triathalon this week... a real one... one with race bibs, finish lines, and road bikes that cost as much as small cars. He signed up kind of on a whim since he happened to be going to Hawaii for work this week, the same weekend as the race. So he didn't specifically train for it, and he certainly didn't have the 20-hour time change or fancy pants road bike helping him out. And yet my beast of a husband finished 65th out of 700 participants and 14th in his age bracket! Way to go Nick!

Herb Jungle

As long as I can remember, I have always wanted an herb garden. In San Diego Nick and I joked that we weren't having kids yet because we couldn't even keep plants alive. In fact, I used to buy potted plants, enjoy them for a few weeks, then watch them turn brown and wither away. Sad! Moving to Guam marks the first time I've lived somewhere (in the last 10 years) that actually has real garden space and good growing conditions. There's ample sunshine, abundant rain, and only two seasons to worry about (rainy season and less rainy season).

I started our herb garden by picking up starter plants as I'd find them. A few weeks after planting the first bunch of oregano, basil, rosemary and dill, we started catching on that keeping the garden going wasn't going to be a problem. And a few weeks after that, when the dill plant (which started at 12" high) was taller than I am, Nick appropriately renamed the space to Herb Jungle. We have to prune every other week!

Right now we have oregano, parsley, a dill tree, rosemary, sage, mint, and three kinds of basil (Thai, Caesar & sweet). The only things that have failed miserably are cilantro (which died) and tomatoes (which grew like crazy but never dished out any tomatoes... lame). We also have a habanero pepper plant that keeps Mexican night crazy spicy. So yeah, I am pretty much in herb heaven here.

Fresh coconut from our tree out back

A lot of people complain about the food here on Guam, and with good reason. Most of our food is shipped in from the States or Mexico... 9,000+ miles away. Meats are mostly frozen and produce has traveled a ridiculously long way, often losing much of its flavor and nutrients. And despite the fact that things grow so well here, there isn't a big farming or local growing community. You can get local produce from farmers markets, but honestly, I don't want or know how to use half the stuff they sell (bitter melon anyone?), though I've been trying more and more of it recently in an attempt to buy fresh and local. And there's only so many dishes you can put coconut, mango & banana in before it all starts to taste the same.

So that's where our herb garden has given me the upper hand here in making good food. The best meal in Guam (besides meat on a stick!) is when you make a trip to the Fish Co-Op for fresh caught ahi tuna, mahi mahi, marlin and snapper. The fish is so unbelievably fresh, all of it sashimi grade, and paired with a variety of herbs from the jungle, and there's just no reason to go out to eat. Here we have a fresh wahoo fillet baked with parsley, lemon & onion, with a side of mango salsa rice simmered in fresh coconut water from a coconut I tripped over while mowing the lawn. Nick hacked into it and bam, fresh coconut juice. Not bad for a 20-minute Tuesday night meal!

Since there isn't a lot of farming, there aren't a lot of places to buy fresh flowers either (one of the things I miss about Trader Joe's that no one can ship me here). So instead, I have started making bouquets with the herbs and flowers from around our house. The flowers certainly bright up my 1970s era kitchen, and the herbs make the kitchen smell fresh.

 

Hibiscus, dill, oregano, basil bouquet 

Nick can eat a whole one of these in one sitting

 Before I go (to the grocery store actually... this post has made me hungry), I'm going to leave you with one of our all-time favorite dinner recipes I discovered out here in Food Network Magazine. It's a winner every time... and it only takes 20 minutes start to finish. Enjoy!








Prosciutto & Goat Cheese Pizza

Ingredients

• 1 (10-ounce) fully baked, thick pizza crust
• 1/2 cup marinara sauce
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 (3-ounce) package thinly sliced prosciutto (deli section)
• 1 ounce soft fresh goat cheese, coarsely crumbled
• 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Lay pizza crust on a foil-covered pizza pan or cookie sheet. Spread sauce evenly over pizza crust. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over crust, leaving a 1-inch border around the edge. Arrange prosciutto on top of cheese. Sprinkle goat cheese over prosciutto. Bake until prosciutto is crisp and cheese is melted, about 12 minutes. Sprinkle basil over pizza. Cut pizza into 6 slices and serve.