Out with the old, in with the new....

It was sad to leave Hawaii. Understatement. Sure, on the surface we knew that leaving Hawaii was going to be hard but I never imagined it would be this hard. Hawaii was the birth place of our new family. We got married on the rock, had our first married home, bought our first car together, had our precious baby girl. There were many tears in the beginning and I desperately wanted to return to Texas but now I would do anything to return to our little island. There is something to be said about making your home where ever you are together with your love. I am proud to say Hawaii truly became our home. I guess I need to do that here in FL. We have moved on and said good bye to big blue in HI. We went on to prosper with a new family and today we said hello to our new family member. A new bright and shiny black truck.

Letters to Grandma (the first draft)

Dear Grandma, I turned 19 months today (well yesterday by the time this posts)and I am growing up so fast. I love to run and talk all day. I say silly things like, "I go", "pretty", "cool", "foot", "pants", "milk", "aqua", "uno" "hola" I just love getting into cabinets and climbing over furniture. Mama says you'd love me so much. I carry your name and sometimes mama says I do things just like you. For example, I like to say the world "cool" which mama has no idea where that came from. I swing my arms in the air when I hear music like a conductor would and again it's something you would do grandma. I wonder if you see us and smile at our silly dances in the kitchen. It is funny how I think mama has slowly turned into you. Thank you for teaching mama there is no better gift than love for your children. Love, G bear

I'm taking out the pen and paper...

Last week marked the 7th anniversary of my mom's passing. I need to admit I struggle at times in letting out my emotion. I tried so hard to be the rock of our family even though no one asked me to do so. My husband recommended I write my mom on a regular basis to reach out to her and let out my emotions that I easily pin up from the world. I must say, he's right. The more I hide my feelings the more it distances me from my own little family. So today here goes nothing, my first letter to grandma. Lil g's grandma that is.

Hello, is there anybody out there??

When I start to type this post yearS later, I totally hear the Pink Floyd song "Is there anybody out there?" So much has changed here in the DLP casa. 1. We have added a new family member. 2. We moved. (SAD isn't even the word) 3. Daddy made CHIEF. 4. the list is pretty long. The question today is: Do I revive this blog or let it go....? Time to ponder that question. Mommy time over. I hear a little person singing in bed.... She has the cutest voice. I love my mini me. <3 -Jai ♥⚓

One more year...

It's that time of year here at the casa. It's birthday time! My favorite Sailor and I are one year older (well, he still has a few days) and I must proudly say that I am feeling pretty darn accomplished this year. We both have done so many great things and are taking the time to readjust to something we haven't had much of during our married life, TIME TOGETHER! Those pesky deployments cramped our newlywed years and for once we are learning how to live together as a married couple. Yes, I know our relationship is NOT new by any means we have been together now for six years but there have been many adjustments here on the rock. In our short 2 years and 4 months of marriage we have endured the changes of marriage, being a military family, grad school, family separation, career changes to name a few.

It is with great joy for me to type that we are in a good place right now.
We have both taken up running and I am in training for my very first half marathon.

I did achieve my goal, I lost 30 pounds before my birthday, actually during the last deployment I lost 37 pounds. A big shout out to OLU, PATTI, SHANNON for their knowledge and expertise and motivation. Now I will be honest and I have gained back 5 pounds but I am overall happy. I hit my ultimate goal of size 4 but now I with my muscle mass with running and a healthy diet I am a comfortable size 6.

It's been a year of team building for us and none of this would have been possible without our FAMILIES AND FRIENDS.

Here's to another year... well....back to making doughnuts...
I mean homework.
I still have another year of grad school, please start praying now for me that I pass my comprehensive exam this coming Spring 2011.

More to come.... I promise.

I must share my birthday gift with you all, my favorite Sailor literally flew my sister out for my birthday, talk about a great present. Geez, I have no pressure for his birthday in a couple of days.

Until the next time....

p.s.
If you know me then you know that my world stopped for a brief moment this past weekend, Eddie got married. Congrats Eddie and Jill. <3

Time marches on....

Where do I begin? I can't believe it's July 1, 2010. I have yet to post about so many things!

- my brother's wedding
-Christmas & New Year in TX
-HOMECOMING (3 deployments down!!)
-First year of grad school D-O-N-E
-weight loss!!!
-my sister's college graduation from the University of North Texas
-my sister made a perfect 4.0 her ENTIRE last year of college
-I finally made all A's in Grad school
- 2nd Year Anniversary and anniversary trip to Vegas!
-2 years living in HAWAII

and the list could go on.....


I need to get back in the blogging seat and I will soon.....

Aloha <3

Dear Mom and Dad

Since I am writing letters publicly I figured I would do as my husband a.k.a MY Favorite Sailor as suggested me to do MANY times... I am going to write my parents. Tonight as part of my healing and yet still mourning process....

I carry very deep feelings about my parents within myself and never express them publicly until now...

Dear Mom and Dad,

I miss you so much.

I know that my brothers and sisters miss you both so much as well.

There are many times that I turn to pick up the phone to call you both and then realize that I can't.
I know that you hear me in my thoughts and see my tears but I want you to know that you are not forgotten.
Everyday I think of you both and wish that you were here physically to see all of the greatness that all of your children have done and could have shared in it here with us physically here on Earth.
I do think that it is amazing that you have the best seat in watching all of us from heaven and so that you never have to feel that you are not dividing your time amongst all of kids evenly.
It is even more great that I never saw you grow old or gray, I will always remember you as young vibrant parents.
I know that it is because of the holidays that makes these feelings so much more profound but there is NEVER a day that I don't remember you all. I love you mom and dad and thank you for teaching me all that I know today.
When I think of my struggles I remember that it is because of you I have the opportunities that I have today, not once did either of you complain about your struggles in life or did you feel robbed for knowing that your life was to be too short.
You taught us not to worry about the material things and not to worry about what others thought or did and to live life to the fullest because we all know that it can be too short.
I hope to live my life as you have taught me and dedicate everyday to you both.
Miss and love you.

Jai