Happy #4

Happy four year anniversary to us!!!!

Marrying you was the best decision I ever made, Brian.  I love you with all my heart and can't wait for our date tonight!

 Us on our anniversary date last year- Micro Beach, Saipan

Sunset Dinner Cruise!

I love these friends of mine and I feel so blessed to have the in Saipan.  They are so wonderful, caring, and FUN!! :)  I'm going to miss them more than I can say!  

A few weeks ago was my friend Kara's birthday and we spent a whole day doing fun things to celebrate.  In the evening, we went on a Sunset Dinner Cruise.  It was my first time to go on one, although by the time you've been in Saipan for two years, most people have gone on multiple dinner cruises!  I thought it was SO much fun- here are some pictures of the night.

 Below: On the dock, getting ready to go out to sea

 The dinner cruise is on a large sailboat (ours was called the Jade Lady) that makes a big loop inside the reef to Managaha island and back.  It lasts two hours and includes drinks, dinner, and dancing!  

Here's where you go.  And there's our 2nd favorite island- Managaha!

pic via

The live music by our musician, Jerry, was so good.

Laura and I

All the girls on the boat and birthday girl Kara with her bday shells and lei.

The dinner was also so yummy- steak, rice, and veggies.

When the boat starting making it's way back to Saipan, we were sitting in the front of the boat with our feet over the edge and the wind in our hair.  As Saipan came closer into view, I thought about how much I love this little island that has been our home for the past two years.  That moment is one of my favorite memories from Saipan.

Last but not least, a little video from the night.  Thanks so much Kara for the pictures and video- love them!

Love day date

On Valentine's night, I didn't get off of work until 7:00, so Brian and I decided to order take-out from our favorite restaurant, Wild Bill's, and go have a little relaxing picnic together.

Tropical Valentine's flowers

We set up some blankets, Brian brought a candle, and we enjoyed the best little dinner together.  Here's the view of Saipan's night sky that we saw as we chatted and stargazed.

And...

Guess what else happened Valentine's day?  

Brian's brother and his wife had their little baby girl, Cambria!  We got to skype with them this morning and she is so beautiful.  Congratulations, Kristy and Eric!

Rachel's Birthday

October 29th was my wife's birthday and has been her third birthday spent out of the country. To make this day special we spent the day doing some of her favorite things. We started off the day with a trip to her favorite coffee shop then dropped her off with her friends for a day at the spa. 

  

Meanwhile...

 While Rachel spent the day at the spa, Sam and I stayed home to do some cleaning at the house.   While I worked, Sam's job was to open this coconut.

My dog after a long days work.  Good work Sam!

Me and Rach at the revolving 360 restaurant for her birthday dinner.

Happy birthday my darling!

husband and I

A few pictures I forgot to post from our anniversary night back in May

Ahh how I miss this pool, now that we've moved out of this apt. complex. Luckily, our friends Laura and Joe still live here, so we can still go visit and swim!

Here comes the sun

Here's a plethora of spring time pictures. My wonderful Flametree Apt. neighbors and SNU friends, Liz and Laura. I love this pic of the three of us

Dying Easter Eggs at the Bucher's house on Easter Sunday

Grilling out at Grant and Kara's house- their back porch is the perfect place for this

Love this guy with all my heart

Brian at his awards ceremony for XTerra, receiving his medal

Liz and I at the beginning of the XTerra race- watching Brian do the swim portion

Amy and I at a Twilight watching party- love this pretty girl!

Us a few minutes ago at breakfast- right now we're sitting at Wild Bill's enjoying the super fast internet and eating omelettes, toast, and hashbrowns. Notice my super squinty eye??

A truth that God is helping me to understand and put into action this week: When I fix my eyes on Him, he will take care of all the details of my life. I don't need to worry. When you seek Him first, everything else falls into place and He gives you His peace.

some old pics from college :)

cheering on my little bro's band performance with some wicked Hulk fists we found at a garage sale on the way there

from a road trip to Tulsa my sophomore year

A snow day sophomore year

In Kansas City, on the top floor of the Westin Hotel at Crown Center. 2 years later, we had the first two nights of our honey moon at this hotel!

One of many roadtrips to KC- jr year

Visiting our good friends Matt and Kim in Colorado- i just got to see them and their adorable baby girl a couple weeks ago when I visited home.

Saipan T-Giving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner this Thursday. There were about 20 people gathered for the meal at our friend Laura's parents house, so there was also a ton of delicious food. We all made traditional American Thanksgiving dishes, and Brian and I made his mom's recipe of Sweet Potato Cassarole.... it was aaamazing.

It was great to combine some of our friends' Thanksgiving traditions into our own this year. We all sang the doxology before prayer (my friend Amy's tradition in her family), and went around the group to say what we are all thankful for (Laura's family tradition). It's always tough for everyone to be away from their families for Thanksgiving, but everyone had a great time and enjoyed great friends this Thanksgiving!

Happy week of Thanksgiving!

My girls Kara and Amy above Forbidden Island

Hello everyone,

Guess what we're excited about.....

THANKSGIVING FOOD!!

We have two Thanksgiving dinners this week- we feel very lucky! On Monday night, our small group Bible Study is having a big Thanksgiving dinner and we're bringing stuffing (yum!). On Thursday, we will have another wonderful Thanksgiving dinner at our friend's parents' house, and we're making Brian's favorite T-Giving food: sweet potato casserole (from his mom's awesome recipe).

It's always tough to spend the holidays away from our families that we love and miss so much, but we are thankful to be in Saipan. We feel like our friends here are truly our family away from home, and I'm so glad to spend this holiday with them.

The steep hike down to the island- at some points you need to use a rope.

Hey hey it's my birthday

On my birthday a couple of weeks ago, Brian planned a dinner with our friends at Oleai Beach Bar and Grill, my favorite restaurant here. We sat out on the patio overlooking the ocean to eat, then we all went over to my friend Kara's house- SUCH a great birthday night all planned by Brian.

On our way to dinner

Brian made chocolate chunk cupcakes with cream cheese icing- the best birthday cake ever!