"Time zooms apast when you are having fun!"
Upon realizing it was time to leave after his swim party was ending much sooner than he thought was necessary.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
A recent Javanism
"Time zooms apast when you are having fun!"
Upon realizing it was time to leave after his swim party was ending much sooner than he thought was necessary.
Friday, June 20, 2008
You know you are living on a military base when...
Javan and Marissa have made a few friends to call their own recently, and every now and then I hear little taps on the door and hear the kids go running to see who is on the other side with excitement.
Yesterday I was wondering through the house and felt like I needed to check on Javan as I went by the front door. I could hear little voices as I came closer and as I opened up the door there where four little people on the front porch and patio. Three of them, one being Javan, were laying on the hot concrete that bakes in the Okinawan sun with bamboo stalks laying around each of them in a perfect rectangular pattern. Curiosity got the best of me and I had to ask what they were up to? "Why are you laying on the steamy ground and what do these sticks represent?"
The little girl, Sky (a twin in fact to Summer) went on to explain to me they were playing and she was the nurse taking care of all the hurt soldiers of "THE" war.
"THE" war- lets take a minute and think about that...
Sky at 6 years old didn't say , "We are playing like I am the nurse taking care of soldiers hurt of "A" war." Why? because to her, in her little mind it is MUCH more. It is not "A" war, it is "THE" war, "THE" war that takes her daddy away, "THE" war that makes her family incomplete for months at a time. "THE" war that she hears her mommy and all of her mommies friends talk about and cry on each others shoulders as they miss and need the one they love most, the one who comforts her mommy when she is sad or simply says "I love you" that her mommy no longer hears from her Daddy and wonders if she will ever hear again. "THE" war that causes her Daddy to miss her birthday's and other major events that she will look back on pictures and notice that someone is missing.
I guess as this war has lingered on from year to year I think our patriotism has stood strong but our reality is misconstrued. Our lives go on, we go to work, play with our children,eat dinner at the family table and go to bed feeling safe. All while the smallest creatures of the war, our soldiers children - go to school, wish their mom or dad were there to play ball with them in the front yard or go to the pool. They eat dinner with one less family member unable to share stories of how they found a new bug outside today and caught it or met a new friend. They go to bed thinking about Mommy or Daddy and cry themselves to sleep wishing they could just have a hug and kiss goodnight before they closed their little eyes but also give back "unconditional" love and support despite all the things they are neglected of.
It is a different world in which these children live, one of gated communities that they live in guarded by gunned military police, random vehicle searches, deployments, training exercises and much more. They games they play are different, they have different perspectives on play and life, even at the young age of 6 years old.
You see, to Sky, Summer and the other little children of military members this is not "A" war it is "THE" war, the war they too fight everyday even if the rest of us have forgotten. God bless you little ones and I pray that God shields your little hearts from pain and sorrow.
Yesterday I was wondering through the house and felt like I needed to check on Javan as I went by the front door. I could hear little voices as I came closer and as I opened up the door there where four little people on the front porch and patio. Three of them, one being Javan, were laying on the hot concrete that bakes in the Okinawan sun with bamboo stalks laying around each of them in a perfect rectangular pattern. Curiosity got the best of me and I had to ask what they were up to? "Why are you laying on the steamy ground and what do these sticks represent?"
The little girl, Sky (a twin in fact to Summer) went on to explain to me they were playing and she was the nurse taking care of all the hurt soldiers of "THE" war.
"THE" war- lets take a minute and think about that...
Sky at 6 years old didn't say , "We are playing like I am the nurse taking care of soldiers hurt of "A" war." Why? because to her, in her little mind it is MUCH more. It is not "A" war, it is "THE" war, "THE" war that takes her daddy away, "THE" war that makes her family incomplete for months at a time. "THE" war that she hears her mommy and all of her mommies friends talk about and cry on each others shoulders as they miss and need the one they love most, the one who comforts her mommy when she is sad or simply says "I love you" that her mommy no longer hears from her Daddy and wonders if she will ever hear again. "THE" war that causes her Daddy to miss her birthday's and other major events that she will look back on pictures and notice that someone is missing.
I guess as this war has lingered on from year to year I think our patriotism has stood strong but our reality is misconstrued. Our lives go on, we go to work, play with our children,eat dinner at the family table and go to bed feeling safe. All while the smallest creatures of the war, our soldiers children - go to school, wish their mom or dad were there to play ball with them in the front yard or go to the pool. They eat dinner with one less family member unable to share stories of how they found a new bug outside today and caught it or met a new friend. They go to bed thinking about Mommy or Daddy and cry themselves to sleep wishing they could just have a hug and kiss goodnight before they closed their little eyes but also give back "unconditional" love and support despite all the things they are neglected of.
It is a different world in which these children live, one of gated communities that they live in guarded by gunned military police, random vehicle searches, deployments, training exercises and much more. They games they play are different, they have different perspectives on play and life, even at the young age of 6 years old.
You see, to Sky, Summer and the other little children of military members this is not "A" war it is "THE" war, the war they too fight everyday even if the rest of us have forgotten. God bless you little ones and I pray that God shields your little hearts from pain and sorrow.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
We're a movin' on up!
So we finally moved into the house and things are coming together little by little. Our internet was connected yesterday and they will connect the TV's and I can get the phone thing straightened out this next week. I feel like we have been going non-stop! I really don't feel like myself, it kinda feels like re-inventing. It is a whole new lifestyle and different culture all at once. Maybe soon I will find me again.
We went to Okinawa World with Chris and Cindy last Saturday and had an awesome time! Cindy kept up with everyone like a champ as we walked the whole park with her expecting to deliver on the 21st but to every one's surprise baby Kellen was born the next evening (6Lbs,12Oz.), Happy Father's Day!!
We are still living quite nomadically considering all of our express shipment will not be here until Saturday. We had to go shopping for things that everyone needs to set up a new house. I always hate doing that, it seems like such a waste of money to re-purchase stuff you already had that was perfectly fine. humph...
This house is in much need of some love, real love, real paint, real furniture, real everything. The neighborhood is full of kids so I really do think the kids will do well all in all. I am really looking forward to our stuff making it so I can keep occupied with something.
It is so moist and humid here that mold tends to grow on everything. the first night we were here I guess with the doors open from moving things in and the cool air of the house the bathroom ceilings had thousands of condensated water droplets all over them. Marissa lost it but was easily calmed once we explained what it was.It looked like something you would see on a scary movie. The de-humidifiers are a must to keep things dry and the kids calm.
I posted a few pics on photobucket of our Okinawa World Park adventure, here they are.
Okay... I can't get my link thingy to work so you will have to do it the old fashion cut and paste way. Sorry!
www.photobucket.com/Hedrick
It is under "Okinawa World" on the left hand side of the screen.
We went to Okinawa World with Chris and Cindy last Saturday and had an awesome time! Cindy kept up with everyone like a champ as we walked the whole park with her expecting to deliver on the 21st but to every one's surprise baby Kellen was born the next evening (6Lbs,12Oz.), Happy Father's Day!!
We are still living quite nomadically considering all of our express shipment will not be here until Saturday. We had to go shopping for things that everyone needs to set up a new house. I always hate doing that, it seems like such a waste of money to re-purchase stuff you already had that was perfectly fine. humph...
This house is in much need of some love, real love, real paint, real furniture, real everything. The neighborhood is full of kids so I really do think the kids will do well all in all. I am really looking forward to our stuff making it so I can keep occupied with something.
It is so moist and humid here that mold tends to grow on everything. the first night we were here I guess with the doors open from moving things in and the cool air of the house the bathroom ceilings had thousands of condensated water droplets all over them. Marissa lost it but was easily calmed once we explained what it was.It looked like something you would see on a scary movie. The de-humidifiers are a must to keep things dry and the kids calm.
I posted a few pics on photobucket of our Okinawa World Park adventure, here they are.
Okay... I can't get my link thingy to work so you will have to do it the old fashion cut and paste way. Sorry!
www.photobucket.com/Hedrick
It is under "Okinawa World" on the left hand side of the screen.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Still waiting
We actually had our housing appointment last week and it went as we expected initially with the offer of "The Towers(of terror)", I really didn't think she was going to budge but finally after I looked pitiful enough she said "Oh, I might be able to place you guys in a 4 bedroom multi-plex unit" so she did!!
So it is nothing elaborate but it is not an apartment and really, it isn't all that bad for free and no fee utilities. 4 bedroom/2.5 bath and a large living room and stainless steel kitchen countertops for all the cooking I do (ha!) We do have a large back patio and front patio so all we need now is a grill!! Yum!!
We met up with Chris and Cindy from Oki and had an awesome time! We went on a blind-date and I think it might be the beginning of a wonderful relationship, Ha! They are great people, so nice to finally meet them. They are expecteing their 1st baby on the 21st, I am so excited!
Javan will be going to schol at Bechtal Elementary and Sis's school just opened this summer, she will be the youngest class to enter that school so she WILL repeat WILL be going to middle school, YIKES!! Marissa's school is on Kadena Airforce Base so she will be a little ways from home, it's not like in the states where we have sooooo many schools - here you kinda have to go where the school is no matter where you are stationed. Her school will start at 0720 and get out at 1350 and Jav will start at 0830 and be out by 1450, not so bad really.
I have applied for a school nurse position here at the Department of Defense schools although I prefer emergency care I do feel like this is a good fit for the kids and I- especially if Steve is not here. I will be off all of their holidays and summers so I can be less stressed.
It is funny because life on the island is pretty laid back and we are not really use to that. Everyone just kinda' slowly does their own thing, no rush , no drama. We are looking forward to that. No mortgage, no car payments, no utilities, summer, Steves job is really laid back home by 1600 or so even earlier on Fridays no working weekends, beaches, watersports, resorts, ahhhh....heaven.
Javan will start swimming lessons on the 16th and Sis will start music school for singing lessons soon too. It looks like everyone is falling into place. We can move in to our house on the 16th and I think I will take some time to paint a few walls another color then "government orange" and make it feel a little bit more like home. We will borrow furniture for a bit until we purchase new so that will throw me off a little because I am sure that it is not the most beautiful furniture but in time we can replace it as we go. It is so strange to leave everything and start new.
Sunday we went to a place called "Expo Park" it is where their new aquarium is located on the north end of the island. We had an awesome time! Expo Park is like a Seaworld except very open and quiet. The Japanese are more quiet and calm than Americans and you can even tell at their parks, it is so strange. I found myself yelling for the kids across the park some where they had wandered off to play in the water and realized I was the loudest one there! Imagine that, me? the loudest one? Hard to believe I know. I'm gonna simmer down some.
Here is the link to our pics of our outing with Chis and Cindy and Expo Park.
www.photobucket.com/Hedrick
So it is nothing elaborate but it is not an apartment and really, it isn't all that bad for free and no fee utilities. 4 bedroom/2.5 bath and a large living room and stainless steel kitchen countertops for all the cooking I do (ha!) We do have a large back patio and front patio so all we need now is a grill!! Yum!!
We met up with Chris and Cindy from Oki and had an awesome time! We went on a blind-date and I think it might be the beginning of a wonderful relationship, Ha! They are great people, so nice to finally meet them. They are expecteing their 1st baby on the 21st, I am so excited!
Javan will be going to schol at Bechtal Elementary and Sis's school just opened this summer, she will be the youngest class to enter that school so she WILL repeat WILL be going to middle school, YIKES!! Marissa's school is on Kadena Airforce Base so she will be a little ways from home, it's not like in the states where we have sooooo many schools - here you kinda have to go where the school is no matter where you are stationed. Her school will start at 0720 and get out at 1350 and Jav will start at 0830 and be out by 1450, not so bad really.
I have applied for a school nurse position here at the Department of Defense schools although I prefer emergency care I do feel like this is a good fit for the kids and I- especially if Steve is not here. I will be off all of their holidays and summers so I can be less stressed.
It is funny because life on the island is pretty laid back and we are not really use to that. Everyone just kinda' slowly does their own thing, no rush , no drama. We are looking forward to that. No mortgage, no car payments, no utilities, summer, Steves job is really laid back home by 1600 or so even earlier on Fridays no working weekends, beaches, watersports, resorts, ahhhh....heaven.
Javan will start swimming lessons on the 16th and Sis will start music school for singing lessons soon too. It looks like everyone is falling into place. We can move in to our house on the 16th and I think I will take some time to paint a few walls another color then "government orange" and make it feel a little bit more like home. We will borrow furniture for a bit until we purchase new so that will throw me off a little because I am sure that it is not the most beautiful furniture but in time we can replace it as we go. It is so strange to leave everything and start new.
Sunday we went to a place called "Expo Park" it is where their new aquarium is located on the north end of the island. We had an awesome time! Expo Park is like a Seaworld except very open and quiet. The Japanese are more quiet and calm than Americans and you can even tell at their parks, it is so strange. I found myself yelling for the kids across the park some where they had wandered off to play in the water and realized I was the loudest one there! Imagine that, me? the loudest one? Hard to believe I know. I'm gonna simmer down some.
Here is the link to our pics of our outing with Chis and Cindy and Expo Park.
www.photobucket.com/Hedrick
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
We are not lost.
Just checking in with everyone, things have been sooooo busy with Newcomers orientation and getting everything together that I just have not had time to let everyone know we are doing OK. We have our housing appt. tomorrow morning so keep your fingers crossed and say a little prayer we get a duplex vs. towers. It does not look good for us though. Guess we should just be happy we have someplace to live right? Nothing wrong with dreaming.....
We are going to look for cars today. We both passed our drivers test although I had to help Steve with his (ha! Just kidding) I think I will take my time driving here, it is CRAZY!
Hey, right now, as I sit here this Japanese worker who works here at the lodge where we are staying is in the lobby here with me doing exercises and stretches - Just came in first thing in the morning and started stretching and warming up for her work day. I wish I could video her for you guys, so many things are different here. They all warm-up in the morning alone or in a group to start their work day. So when everyone goes to work in the morning I want you all to stretch-it-out!!
I have posted a few pics on our myspace, we have not really ventured off base too much right now but we will have better pics after the weekend of the actual island. Love yas'
We are going to look for cars today. We both passed our drivers test although I had to help Steve with his (ha! Just kidding) I think I will take my time driving here, it is CRAZY!
Hey, right now, as I sit here this Japanese worker who works here at the lodge where we are staying is in the lobby here with me doing exercises and stretches - Just came in first thing in the morning and started stretching and warming up for her work day. I wish I could video her for you guys, so many things are different here. They all warm-up in the morning alone or in a group to start their work day. So when everyone goes to work in the morning I want you all to stretch-it-out!!
I have posted a few pics on our myspace, we have not really ventured off base too much right now but we will have better pics after the weekend of the actual island. Love yas'
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