One busy lady

Ok so, November I went back to the states for a month for my sisters wedding. It was beautiful and a lot of fun. I enjoyed spending that time with my family. It is always difficult to go back because sometimes you don't feel very welcome and you feel like you are a burden. Its not that your family feels that way its just they have their own lives that they cant just put on hold for you. It took me 3 visits to realize that. So there was some crying and some wanting to go home and thinking why did I even come. But I am glad I did because my family means everything to me. Now that I realize these things, next trip will be even better.

December I spent the month getting ready for Christmas and continuing to try and put together my house. We had my husbands Squadron Christmas party which was nice. I dressed up a little too fancy this time though. You never really know what everyone is going to wear to those because every time you move it is different. My very first Christmas Party my husband said it was semi casual so I wore jeans and a nice shirt, big mistake. Everyone was wearing fancy dresses and suits. So the next year when I went I knew what to wear. Then we moved to the Azores and I thought it would be the same. They say semi formal but everyone wants to dress nice because they don't get very many opportunities to do so. Nope, not here. At lease not in my husbands squadron. That's ok though, I got dirty looks from the women but I could tell the men thought I was hott :). 

Another thing that happened in December is, the base announced they are downsizing :(. I think that is a big mistake. And I feel really bad for the Portuguese people who work on base because many of them will need to find new jobs. And the base is what helps this Island with its economy. Not only the base but the American people who hire nanny's and cleaning ladies, and go get their nails and hair done, and go shopping on the economy. The base will be a tdy/unoccupied base only. No more children and families. Pretty sad. But I am happy that I got to experience this Island before they do that. My husband and I will be one of the last families stationed here because we have no children so we wont need to move for the children to go to school when they shut down the school here. That will be interesting.  

At the beginning of January I was so overwhelmed with how my house looked and it was so overly messy that I didnt want to clean it. Here in the Azores you can hire a cleaning lady, a nanny, or a cooking lady for a lot cheaper than you could in the states. I never wanted to hire one though because I don't have any children and I don't work so it would just make me feel and look super lazy. But my husband told me to. So I found a Portuguese lady that goes to my church and really needed the money. I asked her to come clean my house just one time. So I felt a little better that I was helping someone out and not so lazy because I was only doing it one time. The sad part was that I obviously didn't know how cleaning ladies work because I was cleaning for the cleaning lady to come over. I spent all day, the day before she came, cleaning my house. So sad. Well next time hopefully I wont do that! 

My Grandpa just got out of the hospital about a week ago. Hopefully he gets better and better. We pray for him often and for my grandma too. I don't know what I would do without them. They are two of the most loving and kind people I know. I really wish I could be there for them. I sent papa flowers while he was in the hospital just to make his day a little brighter. I think it worked but its not enough. I want to be there and help them with everything just to make my grandma a little less stressed and make grandpa smile just a little bit more. My mom was there for most of it. Thank goodness for her!

My brother and sister in law just had their second baby together. They named her Jerzee. I just want to hold her. Her pictures just look so cute!! My other sister is about to have her second baby in March. I feel like I am missing out on everything. Oh well, skype will have to do. I spent so much money on my trip out there in November that I can't afford another one right now. 

Now I am trying to get my massage business up off the ground. I have made websites and ordered business cards and gift certificates. I made an add in the local online website last week. It's staring out really slow were I only got one or two people saying I will maybe make an appointment. It has been a week in a half and so far I have only made one appointment :(. The good news is word of mouth spreads like wild fire around here so if she likes her massage, which I know she will, then I will get more business. Plus Valentines Day is coming up and that's a big one in the massage industry. Wishing myself luck!

Weekend Couples Retreat

  This weekend is going to be so awesome. Later today my husband and I have a volleyball tournament against other military members. I have been practicing and working out all week. My arms have bruises on them and I am so sore all over. I hope all of this pain pays off. I haven't played a real game of volleyball since I was on my high school freshman team; so we will see how it goes. But I am so excited about it because I LOVE volleyball! I would play on a team if they had one for people who aren't that good but love the game.
  After the volleyball tournament we get to attend a 3 day/ 2 night couples retreat courtesy of the Air Force. Actually, it is called Marriage Care Retreat but I think couples retreat sounds better. Maybe becuase of the movie. Well it will not be that extravagant but it is a 4 star hotel and is pretty nice from the pictures I have seen. I actually told my husband that we have to stay at this hotel for a romantic get away sometime while we live here because the pool is over looking the ocean. Little did I know we would get it all for free and get to strengthen our marriage at the same time. Yay!
  So I am very excited about this weekend and feel like I need it from all of this moving stress. I have never gotten anything for free before so it's just so weird I kind of don't feel like it's really going to happen. I know it's not like a huge thing but to me it is. Thank you Air Force! 

Back to the states soon

  My sister is getting married next month so I am preparing to leave back to the states for that. I do not have money for a plane ticket so I am going to try to take a hop. I am not excited for the long flights at all! I am so excited to see my family though. I know I just saw them two months ago but I already miss them so much. I am sad to leave my husband. I am worried about him because he doesn't really have any friends out here because we just got here and it takes some time. I am also sad to leave my puppy Ellie. Shes my little baby right now and I am going to miss her. I would love for my husband  to go to this wedding with me. I am always the only one who doesn't have my significant other with me. It gets pretty lonely. But I also don't want to be the only sibling not in the photos and of course I would not miss my sisters wedding! Its not for that long so I don't know what I am whining about. Trips to the states and back just take a toll on you. Its exhausting mentally and physically. I am grateful though to be able to fly and not have to spend a lot of money.

Catch Up

  Last week was a pretty busy week. Tropical Storm Nadine decided to pay us another visit. This time she only got up to 50mph winds so that was good but she did stay longer. It came Wednesday night, stayed until Thursday evening, then I felt like it was going to leave because the sun came out. Friday it didn't rain so much but there was heavy winds. We were lucky not to get any water threw our windows, although this time we did get water between our roof and wall. It went behind our TV and formed a big puddle, which was a  surprise when I found it the next day.
  My husband was stressed all last week because he is trying to get his Bachelors in Education. He wants to be a math teacher and a basketball couch. In order to get an Education degree you have to complete so many consecutive weeks in a class room teaching. He thought he could find a school that would work with him because he is in the military and he can't just take off work to go into a classroom all day. We also assumed that there has been other military members who have done this so the schools would have had to work with them. We were wrong. He talked to a couple of different schools and they all said the same thing; you must be in a classroom for some many full days. I can't remember how many but it is a lot of days especially for those people who already have full time jobs. Anyways, so Jared found a way to be able to make it work. He is going to have to work at night, get off work and sleep for maybe two hours and then get up and go teach at school. Pour baby! Its going to be a long couple of months. I honestly don't want to be here for that because he needs his sleep or he gets really cranky. But I know he is going to need as much help as he can get. So he did find a school that he likes and sent in his application and we are waiting to here back from them.
  On the other hand have still not found a good school for me. Now that I have completed my massage therapy school, which was one of the top schools in the nation, and have been to different places and am one of the top massage therapy people every place I go, I have a bit of a problem with schools; meaning I am a bit picky. Why go to a school that is just okay when you can go to one of the top schools. If I work hard at something I want to be the best at it and get taught from the best. Going online doesn't exactly give me the best education. Also, the top schools in the nation don't have complete online physical therapy degrees.
  Our church asked us if we would accept a calling to be Sunday school teachers for ages 12-18. We graciously accepted and are very excited about the calling. There are so many great things about our church but I will get into that another day. The day we were asked we got set apart and taught that day. The boys and girls are so smart and sweet. I am really nervous because I am not that much older than them and I feel like they have so much more to teach me then I could teach them. But with prayer and studying the lessons I know I will do great. Also, I am so excited that my husband and I get to teach together. I learn a lot from him when he teaches because he is really good at it.
  I know there were more things that happened last week but I cant think of them right now. So Ta ta for now. Have a great week :)

Azores Goals?

  When Jared and I found out we were moving to the Azores there was two things I really wanted to work on, school and braces. So Thursday I went to the education office on base to meet with a counselor and see what my options are. I was disappointed to find out there are no education counselors. There are only counselors representing their own school. So I met with them to see what degrees they offer in what fields. I want to go to school for something along the lines of physical therapy because I already have my anatomy down and I really enjoy it. Neither of the counselors I met have anything around that area besides nursing, which I don't want to do. I can't deal with blood, it grosses me out. So I am trying to figure out what field and school I can get into that is offered online. 

  I also went to the dentist to see about getting braces and was only able to talk to two young ladies that work at the front desk. They said I am not able to get braces and that they only maintain braces for those people who PSC with them on so I can't even go get them in the states because they said they wont help. I am not giving up. I am going to call the insurance company and see what they say. 

  But so far, this sucks :/

  

Temporary Family

  I can't get over how nice everyone is here, American and Portuguese people. There must be something in this Islands water. I am not used to people being so nice. Back at our other duty station everyone was a little more concerned with them selves and the customer service was horrible, on base and off, and back in California, forget it! But people here go out of their way to help others. Our first night in our home our landlord invited us over for dinner to have a traditional Portuguese home cooked meal and him and his wife didn't even know us at all. When we go around the Island the customer service is usually really good. When we are on base the customer service is also really good and people, no matter their rank, actually give you the time of day and are helpful.
  Here on the Island I think everyone is more like a family, especially the military families. We are so far from everything we know and love so we group together forming our temporary families. I have met so many great people here already in this one month I have lived here. If I have to be stuck on this Island for 2 years I am glad I get to form a great temporary family and forever friends.