Moven on up!!!!!!

Finally after what seemed like forever waiting, we got the news that orders were in and Jared would finally be getting pined.
I was out relaxing enjoying the beautiful sunset over the ocean with a friend @ Waimea Bay when he IMed me and told me the NEWS.



1300 that day for him, late in the middle of the night for me was when the ceremony was going to be taken place. I am so beyond proud of him and can not wait for him to get home so we can celebrate. Sure it will be like 7 months later but better late then never.
He has earned this promotion more than anything, he has earned the ones in the pasted and seems as if he works harder and harder as each one comes. As it should be, with a higher rank becomes MORE responsibility and MORE work. NOTHING of course he cant handle, being a rock star of a soldier that he is.



I am so proud and only wish that the ceremony would have been able to take place before he left for deployment. But everything happens for a reason. I know that SSG Jackson was more than proud to be pinning Gabe with his new rank.
AWH, I want my soldier back from Iraq. I miss him so much and I know that he is doing his job but I only wish it didn't have to be for so long.
I love you baby and can't wait till you are home in my arms again.

My top two right now.....

These two songs replay in my head daily, I miss him like crazy. I'm addicted to him like nothing else. If I truly did only have one wish it would be for him to be home with me now. Oh baby, I love you and want you home with me. Miss you !!!!!!!!!!!

"YOUR LOVE IS MY DRUG"

ReUnItEd & .......

Reunited & it feels so good, Reunited & it feels so good. Oh I can't wait to be reunited with the love of my life. To be able to get all dolled up for his HOMECOMING. To run around stressing making sure I get every last detail of things ready. Making sure the house looks just so, and smells yummier than ever. To have my heart racing a million miles to nothing because I know with in minutes he is going to be wrapping his arms around me again as I jump in his. I can't wait to have his lips pressed up against mine again. Oh I could just go on and on forever, I just can't bare another second away from him it's ripping me apart. :(

I was lucky enough to be apart of a very special night last night as a really close friend Welcomed Home her husband from a 10 month long deployment. To see the excitement in her eyes and the glow about her, along with the other wives there that I have gotten to know was just amazing. They were all so dressed up & had their Lei's & Welcome Home posters in hand. Pacing back and forth waiting and waiting the excitement grew more and more.

I can't wait for the day that I can go down to the hanger and WELCOME HOME the Love of My Life. I have so many idea's going through my head of what I am going to do. I have already started the search for that "Perfect Outfit". It will be by far the best day ever, I'm sitting on pens and needles now awaiting his return. :)
ONE DAY DOWN IS ANOTHER DAY CLOSER TO HIS RETURN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Perfection @ its finest"

I love more than anything watching the sunset over the deep blue sea. There is just something about it that is so breath taking. I don't know if it's the colors changing or the way it fall's the sky but it's heaven looking down on me that's for sure. One of our favorite things to do together if we are ever out late in the evening (which happens allot) is to watch the sunset. It's awesome to watch back on the mainland but here in Hawaii its just taken to a new level.

I only wish that this past week when I went to watch the sunset, my lover was here with me. I know he would have enjoyed it, sitting back on the beach with our feet in the water. UMMMM, life is perfect just missing him here to enjoy it which would turn perfection into SIMPLY AMAZING. Our R&R time together can not come soon enough, I have just got to make it through the rest of this year and then we will be on the down hill slope to a R&R and Homecoming. I can't wait I just want things back to normal. My house is to quiet with him gone & it's always clean. Which don't get me wrong I love a clean house but what I would give to have his crap every were just to have him home. Oh baby I love you more than words can say, your the cherry on top of my sundae and I can't wait till you are home.

The Making of a Military Wife

When the good Lord was creating Wives, he was into his sixth day of overtime.

An angel appeared and said, "You're having a lot of trouble with this one. What's wrong with the standard model?"

And the Lord replied, "Have you seen the specs on this order? She has to be completely independent, but must be sponsored to get on post; have the qualities of both father and mother during deployments; be a perfect hostess to 4 or 40; run on black coffee; handle emergencies without a manual; be able to handle flu, birthdays and moves around the world; have a kiss that can cure anything from a child's torn Valentine to a husband's weary day; have the patience of a saint when waiting for the Unit to return home; and have six pairs of hands."

The angel shook her hand slowly and said, "Six pairs of hands... no way!"

And the Lord answered, "Don't worry, we'll make other military wives to help. Besides it's not the hands that are causing the problem, it's the heart. It must swell with pride in her husband, sustain the ache of separations, beat on soundly when it's too tired to do so and be large enough to say, "I Understand" when she doesn't, and 'I love you' regardless."

"Lord," said the angel, touching his sleeve gently. "Come to bed... finish this tomorrow!"

"I can't," said the Lord. "I'm so close to creating something unique. Already I have one who heals herself when she's sick, can feed three unexpected guests who are stuck in the area due to bad weather, and can wave good-bye to her husband, from a pier, off a runway and understand that it is important to his country that he leaves."

The angel circled the model of the military wife very slowly. "It's too soft," she sighed.

"But tough," said the Lord excitedly. "You cannot imagine what this woman can do or endure."

"Can it think?"

"Can it think? It can convert 1400 to 2 p.m."

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek. "There's a leak," she pronounced. "I told you that you were trying to put too much into this model."

"It's not a leak," said the Lord. "It's a tear."

"What's it for?" asked the angel.

"It's for joy. Sadness. Disappointment... Pain, loneliness and pride!"

"You are a genius," sighed the angel.

The Lord looked somber and replied, "I didn't put it there."

Let the countdown begin!!!!!!!!!

Now that we have gotten this thing on a role, the "Deployment" that is. It is time to start counting down the days. Counting down the days till R&R and counting down the days till Homecoming. During our last deployment both at home and at work I had count downs going on. The people I worked with loved to be involved and make sure I was keeping up with it and it help with the time. So of course this time around is no different. I have two different count downs at our home and one in my classroom at work. Seeing's allot of my kiddo's parents did just deploy with 2ND Brigade I though it was a great way to get the parent back here holding up the fort to be involved.

COUNTING DOWN TO R&R~ Starting on August 1st I will remove one mint from the bowl & when there are no longer any mints left it should be the first day of the month of R&R. I have heard of people doing something similar to this with Chocolate kisses but seeings I'm not a big chocolate person I went with the mints.




COUNTING DOWN TO HOMECOMING @ HOME~ A bright idea from one of my favorite girls was given a twist. 358 sticky notes, four rolls of tapes, 2 hours later & a wonderful evening with my besty ='s the best gift at the end of the count down. The LOVE OF MY LIFE HOME!!!!!!!!!! I take one off the door every evening before bed.




COUNT DOWN @ WORK IN THE CLASSROOM~ I had originally bought the construction paper & was going to make the paper chain and hang it up in our house. However after I got started on it, I was not crazy about having to look at it for a whole year in our house. So the classroom it was, & now it hangs around the back part of my classroom. I take one down every morning when I get into work counting down the 11 1/2 months we have left.

"Army Girl's Stick Together"

For all of us who wake up in the morning, lay there for a few moments, trying to swallow the sick feeling in the pit of our stomach as we wonder where our soldier is, or how he's doing...this is for us.
For all of us who start a countdown the minute he leaves, and continue to until he is back in our arms again...this is for us.
For all of us who tear up everytime "Far Away" comes on the radio, or who press repeat when "Come Home Soon" plays in their car...this one's for us.
This is for you.
I am one of you too. This is for us.
For all the times we sleep with our phones on the loudest possible wolume, just as to not miss the call that just MIGHT come...
For all the times we hear our soldier's name mentioned out loud, and are momentarily frozen...in a trance...in love.
For all the late nights that we spend alone, cuddling with our stuffed animals, wearing our soldiers army sweatshirts and sweatpants, and clutching the precious dog tags around our necks...
This one's for us.
We may feel weak on the inside, but on the outside we're strong.
We may be drowning in tears on the inside, but on the outside, we are a rock.
We may want to crawl in bed and sleep until our man comes home, but instead, we get up and go on with our daily lives with our men in our hearts.
We may feel like we're slowly dying with each day we spend apart from our men, but instead, we put one foot infront of the other, and take each day as it comes.
We are strong, and we are proud.
We have more love in our hearts than we ever thought possible, and for this, we are thankful. We are thankful for our men and also for each other. We are Army girls, and we lean on each other.
Alone we are weak, but together, we are strong. We help each other, and we survive.
To all you Army girls out there, hold your head up and be proud.
We are connected, ALWAYS

Life Lately

Life lately has been busy, in a good way that is. It's helping me pass the time while my lover is away serving the good 'ol US of A. Granite it's only been a day over two weeks now that he has been gone it still seems like it's been a life time. There has been a few changes around here both good, bad and sad. But each day that passes is a day closer to him coming home and a day I wont have to go through alone again.
Gabe is really good about not letting his emotions show during hard times like leaving, which is good for me because he helps me stay strong. The last night we were home together we were laying in bed talking and out of no were tears started to drip down his face and it just broke my heart, I couldn't hold it back any longer. Still being the tough guy he is he gathered him self and off to war he went. It wasn't even 24hrs into it and he was calling wanting to come home. It had finally hit him and hard, he realized what had just happened and that we were doing this again.
We are making it and we will get through this deployment and we will come out even stronger together than we were before he left. It only takes time and patience, love and communication and that we have.
We have been spoiled this first couple weeks with him having Internet in his room, which he didn't get the first go around. I was worried with my job and the time difference we would not be able to communicate as much as we did last time but it's starting off good. Sure it won't always be this good but I'm gonna take it and cherish it while we have it. Most mornings I start my days by video chatting with him as I'm getting ready for my day. I always seem to have a better day and feel so much better about things after I leave the house for work when we get to chat. When I'm getting ready for work and starting my day his is ending and he's off to dream land. In the late evening when I'm home from work and settled in the house we are able to video chat again. He is now up getting ready for work and I'm saying goodbye to another day down. Sure it's not always gonna be peachy but if I just sit around thinking about how horrible our life is right now it's not going to get me any were. Which will make these 11 1/2 months go by so slow.

Here's a bit of the busyness that has been going on at the Gabriel House Hold this last couple weeks. :) Missing him being here to enjoy the island and what if has to offer with me. Love you baby.

~*~*~Shaved Ice in Haleiwa w/ Crystal~*~*~

~*~*~Sandy, Crystal & I @ C's going away dinner ~*~*~

~*~*~Yummy Yummy Crepe's umm good ~*~*~

~*~*~Parked & Cover, were it will stay for now~*~*~

~*~*~Sweet Tara gave me a "Be Happy Gift", she is so sweet I love her.~*~*~

~*~*~Lovely Rainbow as I was driving on to HMR~*~*~

~*~*~Stacey & I @ her place for her daughter's 5th bday~*~*~

~*~*~My Favorite Diane & I having a GREAT day @ the beach w/ our puppies~*~*~

~*~*~The Black Pearl, (we think they might have been filming this day not to sure though)~*~*~

~*~*~A wonderful sunny day @ Ko'olina ~*~*~

From him to me!!

I love baby so much!!!

Come Home Soon

BABY PLEASE LIFE IS NOT THE SAME WITH OUT YOU HERE IN THIS LITTLE SHOE BOX WE CALL HOME. I WISH, HOPE & PRAY THAT THE NEXT FEW MONTHS GO BY FASTER THEN EVER. I JUST WANT MY ARMS AROUND YOU AGAIN. I WANT TO COOK YOU DINNER AND CLEAN UP AFTER YOU. I WANT TO JUST BE LAZY ON THE COUCH WITH YOU ALL DAY LONG WHILE YOU PLAY PS3. OH MAN I LOVE YOU BABY AND MISS YOU MORE THAN WORDS CAN SAY.....PLEASE COME HOME SOON BECAUSE LIFE JUST IS NOT THE SAME WITH YOU GONE. I LOVE YOU ALWAYS AND FOREVER AND THENSOME.

"Our Love Story"

I miss my baby so much and want him home more than words can say :) Words can not describe the love we have for each other. Its something that comes once in a life time and we are truly blessed to have it :) He is my rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4th of July Festivities

Here is just a sneak preview of the 4th of July on Schofield Barracks which happen to include Smash Mouth in concert. It was a alright day. I wouldn't of cared if I would have missed it or not. I did however miss a phone call from my love due to the stupid concert but thankfully he called right back. Still on the downside we weren't really able to talk at all because I was sitting in the VIP seating area with the speaker right in front of me. I was so frustrated and wanted to leave right then and there, But I stuck it out and stayed through the fireworks.

~FRONT~

~BACK~

~These two girls ROCK my World :)~

~Enjoying the Sun but wishing I was home cuddled up w/ my love~

~Steve Harwell, lead singer of the Rock group Smash Mouth~

~Sweet Stacey & I, we were finally able to meet up after chatting on FB for months~

Punchbowl Cemetery

The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl is an incredibly moving place. Not many words can describe the feeling as you drive through to the the main area. In ancient times Hawaiians buried their royalty here and also used it as a place of human sacrifice. The Hawaiian name for this crater is Pu'u-o-wainahillof human sacrifices. (a bit of a history lesson)




A status of Columbia holding large branch is at the top of the memorial. Though out the cemetery and all over there are over 45,000 men and women laid to rest here. There is no large tombstones or even crosses here just simple slabs making the final resting place. In addition to these resting places you will find over 28,000 names carved into the walls from the wars in the mid-20th century.



There a various displays of the battles that claimed many lives at the top of the status area. This in is self is a very touching moment to see were we have come from and just goes to show you what our men and women are willing to do for our country.






Walking through the cemetery you could here someone playing the Bagpipes and as we were leaving he was right there with a couple other people. It looked as if they were getting ready for a ceremony.