Happy Birthday

Doug and Presents

I just found this picture of Doug on his birthday last year and figured it is perfect to share today :).

Happy Birthday Doug!

Happy 27th birthday to my handsome husband!  Sadly I didn't get to spend the day pampering Doug, baking him his favorite cake, or taking him out to dinner.  However, I did get to email with him a little bit and found out that he really appreciated the cards and gifts that I sent on deployment with him to open for his birthday.  So, thank you to all of the family who sent gifts/cards along for him.  The one real surprise of the day was opening my door to find the florist with a bouquet of birthday flowers - for me?  My mom always says how Doug spoils me and I guess she must be right because I don't many people who get flowers on their husband's birthday.  Thank you to my loving husband!

Mail

One of my favorite things is to get mail.  I love opening up the box and even if I just find advertisements or magazines I get a little happy inside.  When I open the box and find this

I get really excited! Oh, what movie came today?! I guess I am pretty easy to please when it comes to mail.

So, you can online imagine my excitment level when I opened up my mail box this afternoon and found all this!  Oooh cards!  Closer look at the return label and they are cards and postcards from Doug!  I think I hit the proverbial jackpot this afternoon!  I have learned that the little things in life can mean so much and when I go weeks without hearing from my husband this means everything to me!

and... In with the New! Happy New Year!

   As I said in my last blog post, 2011 brought Doug and I so many blessings.  We spent much of the year apart but the time we had together we cherished.  God has really moved in our lives and blessed us over and over.  We are enjoying a wonderful home on the water in Hawaii, we have gotten to explore Oahu through hikes, snorkeling, and swimming adventures, we had a great visit together in San Diego, CA complete with a trip up to Disneyland, became a first time aunt and uncle to our adorable niece Eloine Marie Jaspers, became members at First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu, we took a weekend get-away to Kauai, we celebrated our holidays together early, and we have grown together as a couple.  Although spending time apart is not optimal, I am so proud to say that Doug and I are embracing the adventure life is taking us on.
   I believe that 2012 has so many great things in store for us.  The one I am most excited for is Doug's return from deployment.  Although that is still a ways off I can't wait for the day we are together again.  Also to come in 2012: Doug's promotion to LT, our third wedding anniversary, my graduation from HPU with a master's degree in education, and Doug's rotation from sea duty on to shore duty which will likely move us across the country (again). 
    Along with all of the knowns there are so many unknowns.  I am excited to see what adventures we have in store for us over the year to come.  For now,  I want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year!

Out with the Old....

I can hardly believe that 2011 has come to a close.  Or, that I haven't updated my blog the last two months of the year.  So much has happened since I last posted.  I'll do my best to fill in what has happened over the past two months.
   On October 14th Doug and I got the keys to our house on Ford Island.  We are living in Luke Field Historic Housing.  Our home was built in 1918 and was recently renovated.  Which means two things: 1) we get to enjoy the charms of a historic home including built in shelves scattered around the house, breakfast nook with built in benches in the kitchen, and old plumbing which equals a washing machine in the kitchen AND 2) since our house was recently renovated we get to enjoy really nice new appliances (read: fancy washing machine!).  Anyhow, we moved into a great little house (half of a duplex) at the end of the street.  We have gorgeous, large trees on either side of the house, lots of flowering trees and bushes that smell wonderful, and our living room window faces out over Pearl Harbor.  I feel so blessed and lucky to get to live on the water in Hawaii.
   Shortly after moving to our new house Doug left for three weeks at sea.  He made it back just in time to spend Thanksgiving at home with his parents as company.  Kent and Kathryn visited us for 5 days and during that time we celebrated Thanksgiving, Christmas, Doug's birthday and our anniversary.  It was a whirlwind visit and great to see them and get to show off our new home.  Just two days after K&K headed home to California, Doug headed off to sea on deployment.  We were both sad to say goodbye to each other for so long but are so excited to have this deployment over with and to look towards our future together (more of that in my next blog post).  So, Doug headed off on December 1st and I wrapped up my last week of classes.  Then, it was off to the mainland for me! 
   I just spent 20 days on the mainland and here are some highlights: visited with old friends and celebrated Mike Moran's wedding to wife Becky, spent a long weekend at a time share in Seaside, OR with my mom, Luke, Jenny, Levi, and baby Eloine, traveled to Oroville, CA to spend a weekend with Kent, Kathryn, Mema and Papa (also got to visit Brian & Ashley's gorgeous new home), celebrated Christmas three more times (my dad's house, mom's house, and extended Hurley Family Christmas), skyped with Doug over Christmas as he visited Yokosuka, Japan on port call, and overall had an amazing visit with family.
   Although I was apart from my best friend and love of my life, I have to say that 2011 ended really nicely and I am thankful for all of the blessings I have received over the past year.  I am positive and hopeful as I greet the new year!