Her Posse

Actually - it's more like her fan club!

These little guys think Madi is "all that"!

I hear little knocks on the back door all day long asking if Madi can play.

And she does.

I think it's her stunning ensemble that grabs their attention!

All through the night

Grandma Dodee has taught 4 year old Emma how to call Chan in Guam.

Now if she can just teach her about the time difference . . . . .

A 5th grade afternoon

I consider myself a seasoned field tripper.

Yearly field trips growing up alternated between Hogle Zoo and Hansen Planetarium. Bringing a sack lunch (actually contained in a brown paper sack) that included an indulgent Twinkie and a can of Shasta (this was long before the days of the juice box!)

Flash forward to Madison's 5th grade "study trip". I've even chaperoned a few of these study trips while living in DoDEA world: Horseback riding among palm trees, hiking, cultural museums, even a trip to McDonald's in Iceland.

Never has one of these past experiences included dancing the YMCA, Macarena and Cubic Shuffle at Planet Hollywood with Japanese tourists watching in shock and awe (and probably a bit of confusion!)

That field . . . .I mean study trip beats a Hostess packed brown bag any day!

Happy Mother's Day

To all the "mothers" in our life . . . .

We say Thank You!

Military Spouse Appreciation Day.

There are no greeting cards for this day. . . .so let me just say I'm thankful to be a part of a larger family known as "The Military Spouse".

Flags appear more brilliant to you…

Parades draw out more emotion for you…

A patriotic song is a musical message played just for you…

A hand-over-the-heart is as stirring as an embrace for you…

A parting kiss can hold you for months…

A welcome back embrace can fill you up from lonely months…

A grave marker is a stark reminder of the meaning of devotion…

A tear shared is a stark statement on the meaning of sacrifice…

A duffel bag on a baggage claim gives you pause and connection…

An eagle’s soar gives you inspiration.

There you are…The military spouse, the one asked to be strong, the one willing to belong.

The one who is often required to do it all.

The one who is privileged to stand beside a true American - day in and day out.

There are military spouses around the world, beside soldiers, airmen, marines and sailors.

They share a bond, a unity and a duty to be there, always.

There. Said. Done. There are no better…anywhere.

One YW to be proud of.

David called me from work this afternoon.
He wanted to make sure I had seen the athelete highlight in the PDN (Guam's newspaper)
Click here to see why we were so excited.

Biba Inarajan!

The people of Guam love to turn ANYTHING into a party!

(or in local terms - a fiesta!)

Almost every month of the year you can find a different village (neighborhood) celebrating their own patron saint.

We were invited to Inarajan's village fiesta by Ann Flores - one of the ladies at David's work.

Prolific amounts of people, beer and FOOD!

The poor pig had no idea what he was in for when he heard he was coming to the party.

David wears his bestowed title of chamhaole with pride.

He kept asking if he should chenchule’* - in which they would all laugh and pat his arm in response. "You even sound locol!"

*Chenchule' is a contribution. Whether that be in the form of labor, food, drink or other supplies. However, money has become the most favored form of chenchule'.

That's Good. That's Bad.

The bananas are back in at the commissary.

We have a happy household.

That's Good!

I'm sure you've noticed how Survivor Micronesia keeps sending people home because of medical reasons. . . .

. . . only because this part of the world is just one big petri dish!

That's Bad!