Byodo-In Buddhist Temple

The temple is a replica of 900-year-old Byodo-In located in Uji, Japan. It's located in The Valley of the Temples on the Kbay side of the island. Established on June 7, 1968 to commemorate the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii. The Temple is landscaped with traditional Japanese gardens and a 2-acre koi pond. The Byodo-In was built entirely without the use of nails. Beside the temple is a 5-foot, three-ton brass Peace Bell. The deep tone of the bell sounds a message of calm and peace.




The magnificent Byodo-In Temple translates into: "Temple of equality - not to discriminate".




The Bell House known as "kanetsu-ki-do" contains a five foot high, three ton brass bell, called bon-sho (sacred bell), cast in Osaka, Japan from a mixture of bronze and tin. It symbolises the bell hanging in the same Bell House at the Uji Byodo-In. A sof wooden log called the "shu-moku" its used to strike the bell. You are suppose to ring the bell upon your entry to the temple to spread the eternal teachings of Buddha.






It was a true experience to be able to visit the Temple and something that I will remember for ever. Just driving through the Valley up to the Temple gave me chills. As we saw many families paying their respects to their loved ones. I have not been to visit my Papa grave site since he passed away after the funeral and I know one of the first things I plan on doing the next time I go back to Texas. He was a great man and I truly miss him and wish more than ever he could of met my husband.

2009 In A Nut Shell

January ~ I said my last "Goodbyes" to Friends and Family in Texas & My puppy Chloe. Moved out of my parents house for the first time ever & to HAWAII. Picked up my car at the port in Hawaii in pieces & was so frustrated. Got my 2ND tattoo, Our last name on my right ankle.

February ~ Moved into our very first house, unpacked & put together all our furniture. Found out half our HHG's were shipped to Germany in the shipping process. GABE CAME HOME FROM A 15 Month Deployment in Iraq. :) BEST DAY EVER!!!!!!

March ~ Gabe had his scuba accident which messed his eyes up for almost a month. It was a really scary time. Celebrated one month of being home from Iraq by going out on a dinner cruise together. Toured the USS Missouri, Hiked up Koko Crater which is prominent 1,205 foot high. Our Newest addition: Dingo, a Australian Shepherd Mix w/ Terrier, lil. boy 6 weeks old.

April ~ Made our way to the Big Island of Hawaii for a day trip to remember. We were able to see many volcano's and other beautiful sites. Gabe had his last eye oppt. and everything went GREAT & he still has 20/20 vision. Took Dingo on his first walk up Kole Kole, he loved it. Celebrated our first Easter together by going golfing that morning & then dinner w/ some awesome friends :)Toured the Worlds Largest Maze @ the Dole Pineapple Plantation, Hiked Diamond Head. Gabe was in his first wedding here in Hawaii since we have been married. (he had to walk down the aisle w/ someone else. ugh lol) Celebrated my 23rd Birthday at Outback Steak House. The rest of our HHG's were delivered & I got a call for a Job interview which I got and accepted @ the CDC here on post.

May ~ Celebrated Gabe's 26th Birthday w/ dinner at Red Lobster & Cosmic Bowling with our friends Jamie & Anthony. Ended up trading in the Landrover for a 2009 Ford Ranger. It was a great add to Gabe's Birthday lol. Add to our family again Bailey our 8 week old Akita / Ridge back / Terrier Mix just fits right in :) Our friends J & A from above renewed the wedding vowels and Gabe did the ceremony. It really was a special day for everyone. I started work with the chitin's again.
Had to say "Goodbye" to a really close family here in Hawaii, it was heart breaking.

June ~ My FAVORITE cousin Shae Celebrated her 10Th birthday & I wasn't there to celebrate with her which really sucked. The 3rd season of Army wives came back on YAY!!!! Had a visit from someone friends back in TX, Sherie, Mark & Courtney. Said "Goodbye" to another friend & his son who we became close to since the guys had been back. Goy my 3rd tattoo and I just LOVE IT!!!! Took a surprise trip to the Valley to visit the In Loves and our Besties Nichole & Pace.

July ~ Surprised our Friend Nichole for her Birthday, it was the best trip ever to the Valley. I fell in love with Arizona so much more. (at the time I was ok with moving there) Once again, said "Goodbye" to yet another friend. UGH, gotta love the Army. Traded in the CHEVY AVEO for a SWEET RIDE. I got a '07 Mazda RX-8. Jared was WLC bound for two weeks. I received a Legendary Service Award at work.

August ~ Took a trip around the Island all on my own in my new car :) Went & had lunch w/ My Love while he was at WLC. TRYED (hints the word tryed) to clean up the back yard and fancy it up a bit as a suprise welcome back gift to Gabe. Hosted a few dinners at our house and discovered we really want a Great Dane when we get back to the mainland. Took both the pups. to the beach for the first time.

September ~ I had the chance to go to the 2009 Thunderbird Air Show with my sweet friend Crystal & Meko. It was their 56Th season to preform and by far the most amazing thing I have seen. Had a "Girl's" night out (along w/my hubbs) with the the Girls I work with. My little brother turned 21 :) not so little anymore.

October ~ Was all about TEXAS, I made my way back home mid. month. Spent tons of time with my Friends and Family. Went to the TEXAS STATE FAIR w/ one of My Newest Favorite people Kari and just had a BLAST stuffing our face's with loads of food. Had lunch dates with my lil. cousins at school, had a super awesome Halloween Party with My Bestie and her Hubb. Spent lots of time with my cousins who I have missed so much. It was a AWESOME trip and confirmed that I DO want to MOVE BACK TO TEXAS, after Gabe gets outta the Army. :) CANT WAIT.

November ~ While in Texas I ate at all my favorite places which was one of the best parts about the trip. Went to the horse races with Shae. Celebrated my Mamaw & Papa's birthday while I was home. Traded in the '09 Ford Ranger for a '10 Dodge Ram 4x4, which I LOVE LOVE LOVE. Celebrated Our 2 Year Wedding Anniversary with dinner and a day at Kualoa Ranch. Really a neat place to go and learn allot of history about Hawaii. The In Loves came and celebrated Thanksgiving with us along with our friends Crystal and Adam who we have come to love so much. We hosted or first Thanksgiving together in our first home. As well made our 3 year mark on being together :) It was a great month with lots of memories made that we will never forget.

December ~ Made the decision to make a move at work for 6 months starting the first of the year. Got two new Sony camera's from My Gabers :) My Love went to the Solider of the Quarter board and although he didn't make it his SGM told him he did a awesome job and wanted him to come back to the next one (in Feb. 2010). Went to the Honolulu City Lights together along with our friends Crystal & Adam. Finished all my training materials for work to make my next pay raise to a CC3 & finished everything to get my CC4 as well. BIG BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT for me!!! Started a few NEW Christmas Traditions with my love such as making a Ginger Bread House and Baking Cookies. Made a 4 day weekend trip back to TEXAS to celebrate with My Bestie's Birthday with her in San Antonio, GOOD TIMES. MY MOMMA TURNED A YEAR OLDER AS WELL. Celebrated our first Christmas Eve & Christmas together, together since we have been married. One of the best memories of the year. Also got to see "STOMP" live in person Christmas Night, one of my favorite Broadway shows.
Now we are getting ready to RING IN 2010 Wii style. We are going to spend the evening at home together with a couple friends eating our self crazy and playing Wii. My new favorite toy. Hee Hee

There are so many more great things about 2009, these are just a few of the memories that made the year so amazing. There was also hard times were we struggled & I though I was just going to fall apart but it has only made us stronger as a couple now. I can NOT wait to see what 2010 brings for us in our life & marriage together.
HAU'OLI MAKAHIKI HOU ~ Happy New Year :)

MEMORIES

A LOOK BACK ON SOME SWEET TIMES WE HAD BEFORE THE 15 MONTH DEPLOYMENT.......ONLY MORE TO COME NOW THAT OUR TWO HEARTS HAVE BECOME ONE!!!!!


ELEVATOR CRAZYNESS: DALLAS, TX

CHILLAXIN @ THE RIVER HOUSE: CLEBURNE, TX

PROPOSAL DAY JULY 6, 2007 MANSFIELD, TX

SO IN LOVE & READY TO GET MARRIED NOVEMBER 2007, ARLINGTON, TX

GOOD TIMES IN AZ, WITH THE FAMILY

FAMILY GET TOGETHER AT THE GABRIELS :)

SHOPPING IN WAIKIKI

DINNER @ RED LOBSTER: HNL, HI

OUR FIRST HIKE UP KOLE KOLE TOGETHER

HEADED OUT TO DINNER @ HARD ROCK CAFE

MY FIRST TRIP TO PEARL HARBOR

DAYS BEFORE OUR FIRST DEPLOYMENT :(

THE NIGHT GABE LEFT FOR A 15 MONTH DEPLOYMENT UGH!




Just a SMALL, clip of what we have been through :) so so much more to come and I can't wait. :)

What a Fun Filled Day!!!!!!!!

Our first day in Arizona was packed with tons of shopping. We started off at SONIC for breakfast, I had to have my Large Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper w/ easy ice and a Breakfast Toaster Sandwich w/ Bacon, Yummy.

We then made our way to Dick Sporting Store & IKEA. OMG, I just love being back on the mainland. We found a few little things at Ikea to take home with us.

We made our way to Cabela's for a bit of looking around (Gabers is dying for a new gun).
Followed by a stop a Bed Bath & Beyond, another sport store then the Metro Center (the mall) of course. We ended the afternoon at our favorite ghetto Mexican joint for take home lunch. It was so yummy, as always.


After a short nap we headed out for dinner with Gabe's parents and his older brother. Ummmm were else to go but MEXICAN food. So On The Border it was. I LOVE OTB & can't seem to ever get enough of it. It was wonderful just as I remembered. I can't wait to go back in a few days.


♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥
Needless to say our stay here on the mainland is going wonderful, you don't realize the thing's you miss the most until they are not there at your every day reach. I can not wait to move back to the mainland. (don't get me wrong I'm loven our life in Hawaii)
♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥

Good Times

Oh me oh my, this past weekend was great.
I was really looking forward to it so much as Friday slowly came to a end. On the downer side of things Gabe was off work on Friday & I had to work.
We had a long list of To Do's for Saturday and well Gabe said since he was off he would try to take care of most of it while I was at work so we could enjoy our weekend more. (the past two weekends he has been really really sick & then the 3 weeks prior to that we had 4 extra people staying with us so there was never really any US time.)
So 6:00pm came & I headed home to see what was left to do, (I knew we still had to go to the Commissary to pick up a few things because we always do that together.) But much to my surprise when I got home I found that he had done everything and ever managed to get a nap in as well. OH MY GOODNESS, was I so happy that just meant that we could have more time to US with out having to worry about everything else.
Saturday morning we woke up & had a few little things to do around the house to get ready for dinner, (we were having friends over & I of course wanted the house PERFECT as always). After that we headed down to Waipahu to get my new tires put on my car. I really needed them, but it was a battle I had been fighting for about a month now because I didn't want to spend the money. Gosh they are so expensive.
While waiting for the car to get fixed we had planned to have lunch some were. We ended up at a local place called Zippy's. I had seen them every were before but was alittle nervous about trying it because well, I'm not crazy about some of the local stuff here. Being safe I ordered a Turkey Sandwich, you can't mess up a sandwich. It was rather tasty. :)
After quickly picking up my car & stopping off at a dealership to look at the new Toyota that just came out we then headed home to get our pup's. Last weekend we had planned to walk up Kole Kole Pass with both the dogs. However seeing's that Gabe was so sick that didn't happen. We had taken Dingo once before and he just loved it but since we got Bailey we have not been. I just LOVE going up there, it is the first place that we went together the very first time I came out to Hawaii to visit & to us it just hold so many memories.



We had so much fun walking up with both puppies, it just makes me laugh watching them play and run around together. Watching Bailey try and climb up the steps is the best part because she is still trying to figure everything out. It's great because when ever we go there is hardly no one ever there so we can let them run free & go crazy. IT'S GREAT FOR TWO PUPPIES :)
After getting home we were so tired, I don't think it hit us though until we sat down on the couch. With in minutes we were both out and the dogs to. You could tell they were so warn out.
Later that evening we had Rae & Jason over for dinner & a movie. It was great because we had not seen them in almost 3 weeks now. Little Christian had started walking and was all over the place. It was definitely a great way to end such a busy, yet relaxing day.

Sunday came and it was already booked with stuff we had to do as well. We headed over to Joey's house around 10:00am to finish helping him with his house. Clearing it out, cleaning & getting rid of well.....everything. While the guys made a few trips to the dump Gage & I went back to our place to chill out. We watched a couple movies & had some PB & J for lunch. Later that afternoon Joey went to finish up is TAT. & we headed to the PX for a hair cut. (Gabe not me), the line was oh so so long, so while he waited the lil. man got to play in the play ground area. I swear the kid could live in there if we all let him.
Heading back home I was so excited to see some friends that were in town visiting from Texas.
Mark, Sherie & their daughter Courtney. I have known them for so many year, boy since I was way little. They were able to stop by the house in the middle of there super busy vaca. to say Hello and check out our place. It was great to see a familiar face. It did make me so sad though & made me miss Texas just that much more. We had a great visit & they were on their way to North Shore.


The evening ended w/ more house guest. lol Joey & his son are staying with us until next Wednesday when they leave the Island. He is such a great guy & an even better dad. If only we could do more to help him with what he is going through right now.
I love weekends like this, not only was it relaxing to a point but we got allot done & were able to be together just the two of US. (for the most part)
I'm so excited about next weekend & what its going to bring. YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It bit the dust

So my last computer(laptop) Gabe bought me right before we got married on November of 2007. I was so thankful and have used it daily since then. During the deployment I almost never went any were with out my laptop. My laptop along with my cell phone were stuck to my hip. lol.
Over the past couple months since Gabe has been home my computer has been running slower & slower. Allot of times while I'm right in the middle of doing something it will just freeze and well needless to say it frustrates me to no end.
About two months ago I had my laptop sitting on the arm of the couch and well it fell. Which some how broke the part of the power cord that plug's into the computer. Therefor it wouldn't charge, so we went to the PX to get a new power cord. We looked at me a new laptop but I just couldn't bring myself to spend the money on a new one since it was just the cord that was really broke. (even though at the time the one I had was running like crap) So we just settled with the new cord and went about our day.
Yesterday, I was trying to get on line and well my computer was just being a pain in the butt. It wouldn't pull up the Internet for anything. It would load half way and then freeze. I couldn't even save any of my pictures that I was trying to add. After restarting it and shutting it down many times I was DONE.
I told Gabe I wanted a new one. It was running so slow & I couldn't do anything on it that I wanted to.
So he said "OK", just like that. He said let me go up stairs and change and we will go to the PX and get you a new one. So we did, I was alittle hesitant about it at first because once again I didn't want to spend the money. However he had tryed many times in the past couple weeks to fix it and bring it back to normal but it just wasn't working.
The PX had a great deal on a brand spanking New Sliver Sony Laptop. It was just calling my name. I made sure that it had everything I wanted and top on my list was a web cam. I couldn't be happier with my new laptop. I'm so thankful for Gabe he spoils me like crazy. That's because I'm his baby girl!!!!
THANK'S LOVE FOR MY NEW LAPTOP, I LLLLLLOOOOOOOVVVVVVVEEEEEE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



And on another note, after our visit to the acc this morning. (Gabe had been sick since last Friday & things got worse over the last couple days. but after having blood drawn and 2 IVs he is getting better) We both came home and passed out on the couch.

Little Gage came over around noon to spend the day with us again and so once Gabe got up we headed to Firestone here on post to price out new tires for my car. (seems like I just got new ones last year (well i did) but I need new ones again) After that we headed down to Best Buy & Gabe got a New Laptop as well. He got a Dell and it's one of the smaller versions. (a mini laptop) He got one when he was home on R&R but well that's another story. Any how we are both set with new ones and are having a great day!!!!!!

Oh the joys of grandparents

I miss my MaMaw (my grandma)so much. I think beside Shae she was one of the other people that was really affected by me moving so far away. I love her so much. When ever my mom would go out of town I would always go over to her house & stay the night. (just bc I didn't like being home alone in our big house, as well as I love hanging out with my mamaw) she spoiled me like crazy.

I would always raid her pantry as soon as I got to her house to see what goodies she had. One of my favorites was Asparagus. I could eat it right out of the can it was so yummy. She would always jump @ me because its so expensive. Well the other day when I was talking to her on the phone she had asked me if I had any since we had been out here. I said "only when we went to eat at Red Lobster a month ago." But I hadn't bought any at the commissary because it was like $2.00 a can.
She told me she was getting a box together to send our way & that she would send me some. AWH.....I was so excited I couldn't wait.

So Friday evening before we headed out to a beach party I walked down to check the mail with the dogs like I always do & I'll have you know there it was. MY BOX FROM MY MAMAW. 3 day mail is the best, I rushed back to the house & quickly opened it up and found lots off goodies as well as 3 cans of Asparagus. Of course I opened one up right then and there and ate the whole thing. I know, call me crazy but I just love it so much.


I miss my MaMaW, she is the sweetest person ever. I loved just going over to her house and watching old Western tv with her and falling asleep on the couch or having her cook dinner for me. I can't wait to go back to Texas to see her.
~I LOVE YOU MAMAW AND MISS YOU SO MUCH~

My OH My Shae's "10"

Today My Sweet SHAE turns "10" WOW, she is getting so big and growing up so fast. I can not believe that she is already 10 years old. This is the first birthday of hers that I am going to miss & sadly I don't think it will be the last. It was so hard to talk to her earlier today, while she was at the park with all our family having a cook out. It just made me wanna cry, because I can not be there. When ever I tell her "Good Bye" on the phone & "I Miss you so Much" she always comes back with "I MISS YOU MORE" each time, no matter how many times I tell her in one phone call, it's always "I MISS YOU MORE TT" (TT, is what she has called me since she could talk & even being 10 years old she still dose.) Shae & I did everything together when I lived in Texas. We would go to the movies, the mall, the park, swimming, shopping, just driving around (she loved Jared's Land Rover, she called it the Rover). I would go to her school and have lunch with her and she would stay the night at my house over the weekends.


I spoiled that kid like crazy and it just brakes my heart that I can not be there for her today. 10 is a big deal not that we don't make big deals about birthdays because let me tell you we do, but to miss out on something so so close to my heart is so hard. Luckily she is old enough to understand why I had to move and that I did not leave her just because I wanted to.

I remember at our wedding she was so excited and so happy for us, (she loves her Uncle Jared...that's what she calls him so it stuck) but as soon as it came time for her to walk down the aisle she busted out in tears. Come to find out she was afraid of me getting married and then leaving her and having nothing to do with her at all. Thankfully we were all able to calm her down and helped her understand that wasn't the case. She truly is a blessing to every one she meets, and no matter how far apart we live or how old she gets, she will always be My LiL. Shae Shae. I'm really crossing my fingers and hoping that she will be able to come out to Hawaii and visit with us over the next year some time, I know she would just love it and have a blast at the beach.



HERE'S TO MY SHAE SHAE, I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU SO SO SO SO MUCH AND SO MUCH MORE THAN YOU WILL EVER KNOW. HAPPY 10TH BIRTHDAY SISTA, TT LOVES YOU & WISHES I COULD BE THERE WITH YOU.
Shae jamming out while we were waiting for the limo to get to my house the day of our wedding!!!

the picture she made for me before I left TX :(

Yeah!!! Uncle Gabe home for R&R in Nov. 09 & gettin ready for a night out together!



HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHAE LOVE UNCLE JARED & TT.....WE MISS YOU BABE!!!!!