Find Your Happiness

Eight states, 2,300+ miles, two hotel stays and one night with family later and we finally made it to Indiana last night! Each day had its own memorable incident(s) and I may or may not had been driving 70+ miles per hour when I took most of these pictures :P Day 1: May 25th We were one mile away from our stop for the evening and my husband's truck completely ran out of gas. It also took several hotel stops to find a hotel that isn't full and accepts dogs; all while we had a tried, hungry toddler in the truck. Day 2: May 26th I was issued my first speeding ticket (ever!) in Arizona. I was driving 10 miles over the speed limit and I totally deserved it :( You bet I drove the speed limit the rest of the trip. Day 3: May 27th My husband's clutch wouldn't shift while driving 70 miles per hour. Thankfully, he was able to safely take the exit and park while we figure out the problem, which we still do not really know. Day 4: May 28th I accidentally shut m...

For Today (May 24, 2011) Outside my window... Sunny but chilly 50 degrees and my last daybook in Seaside, CA I am thinking... about the "family," friends, and life we have created here. It has been a good two years. I am thankful for... opportunities and new beginnings From the kitchen... sooooo much food. For the last couple days, I've been cooking and baking everything that is perishable in our fridge and pantry. I am wearing... jeans, blouse, cardigan I We are going... to dinner one last time with friends tonight. I am reading... nothing :( I am hoping... our cross-country trip goes smoothly. This is Nathaniel's first long road trip and we're armed with a newly gifted portable DVD player from his Lola (grandmother [my mom]). I am hearing... the dryer. Trying to wash everything so we don't have to bring/pack dirty laundry. Around the house... mess-ish. Our packed stuff on one side of the house, wires unplugged, soooo much food ...

Week 20: May 14th to May 20th 134  Finally used my birthday present from last year and went kayaking with Hubby; we saw so many sea creatures and birds up close. 135  When did he become a toddler and stopped being a baby? 136  Third year wedding anniversary dinner date at Monterey's Fish House : Oak-grilled baby octopus for appetizer. All of the food were soooo delicious! 137  Stopping at Jollibee for lunch after picking up my mom and Hubby's best friend at the airport in San Jose. Jollibee is a very well known Filipino fast food restaurant. 138  Fruit from the Farmer's Market the day before. We weren't able to hang out and walk around due to the rain. So we quickly bought food and brought the goodies at home. 139  Hubby's DLI graduation (with honors and Associate's Degree in Arabic) 140  Last trip to Asilomar Beach with my mom and Hubby's best friend Linking up to: Inspire Happiness Daily NapTimeMomTog: Project 365 BlueEyedGirl ...

After sixty-four grueling weeks of Arabic learning, my husband graduated with honors this past Thursday from the Defense Language Institute . He also received his Associate's Degree in Arabic and we could not be more proud of him! Receiving his Associate's Degree Receiving his diploma for completing the Arabic language course My mom and his best friend came to town for the graduation. I was so happy and thankful that they were here for this joyous occasion. On to the next thing. We're moving in a few days!

Welcome to our 365 Project! Everyone joining us from last week... Welcome back! And if you're here for the first time, we hope you join in the fun! We'd like to challenge you to take a photo a day and every week link up and share your project with us and with each other. It's quite a task but a lot of fun! And at the end of the day, we're all learning so much from each other. Don't have a 365? Don't worry! If you've had a great day or great week and you want to share with us, please join in the fun. Although many of us are doing our own 365, our goal here is to INSPIRE HAPPINESS DAILY. If that means you join us sporadically, we're okay with that. We're all here to encourage each other and learn, too. Each week, Audrey ( The Daily Wyatt ), Tracey ( Inspire Me Photography ) and Diana ( Find Your Happiness ) will be picking our Top 5 Photos to highlight on our blogs. In order to be a winner, you must add your photo(s) from the week (...

For Today (May 17, 2011) Outside my window... Rainy 52 degrees I am thinking... about how nice to have family and friends visiting us! I am thankful for... My husband passing his DLPT, graduating with honors, and also receiving his AA in World Studies. From the kitchen... leftover from Fish House for our anniversary dinner date last night. The food was sooooo delicious! I am wearing... jeans, long sleeves I We are going... to pick my mom and Hubby's best friend at the airport soon! I am reading... nothing :( I am hoping... It stops raining this afternoon/early evening so we could all go to the Farmer's Market. I am hearing... The dishwasher because I forgot to run last night. Ooopss. Around the house... it's clean and neat right now since the Monster is still asleep :) One of my favorite things... seafood. Yum! Inspired by the church song scripture... Matthew 19:5-6 "...A man will leave his father and mother and be united to his ...

Today is our wedding anniversary. It has been three years since that gorgeous sunset at a beautiful garden where I vowed my life to be eternally intertwined to the man God has created just for me . This man---my partner in crime, my best friend, my happiness ---allowed me to become what God had intended and designed me to be: a wife and a mother. He is by no means perfect but he is perfect for me . He is strong when I am weak. He is rational when I'm emotional. He is silly when I'm serious. And he is forgiving when I have wronged. And everyday, life with him is so much more enjoyable and interesting. It is so much more challenging but bearable at the same. There is just so much more love and happiness. Life with him is perfect. My heaven on earth. My happiness. And for that? I am forever grateful. 2010 Today is our second year wedding anniversary. This past year opened many new chapters for us: life as a military family, a new home 2000+ miles away from our ...

Welcome to our 365 Project! Everyone joining us from last week... Welcome back! And if you're here for the first time, we hope you join in the fun! We'd like to challenge you to take a photo a day and every week link up and share your project with us and with each other. It's quite a task but a lot of fun! And at the end of the day, we're all learning so much from each other. Don't have a 365? Don't worry! If you've had a great day or great week and you want to share with us, please join in the fun. Although many of us are doing our own 365, our goal here is to INSPIRE HAPPINESS DAILY. If that means you join us sporadically, we're okay with that. We're all here to encourage each other and learn, too. Each week, Audrey ( The Daily Wyatt ), Tracey ( Inspire Me Photography ) and Diana ( Find Your Happiness ) will be picking our Top 5 Photos to highlight on our blogs. In order to be a winner, you must add your photo(s) from the week (not a collage...

Week 19: May 7th to May 13th 127  A photoshoot; How adorable looking is this baby boy? I am madly in love with his perfect little curls :) 128  Mother's Day ; Nathaniel is still sick but we were able to go out for lunch after church and do other Mommy-approved activities 129  Creamy Lemon Shrimp in whole wheat linguine 130  I love Nathaniel's surprised look. And that catch light in his eyes? Totally natural! 131  Moussaka: a Greek dish---layers of potatoes, eggplant, meat and cheese and top with Bechamel sauce. It is sooo delicious. Recipe found here . 132  Little fingers drawing on the pavement with an egg-shaped chalk 133  Delicious Middle Eastern food from DLI for the Language Day event: Baklava, Curry Chicken Kabob and grilled Kufta. This is actually cooked by Hubby's teachers since we bought from their food stand instead of from local restaurants. (I had wrapped Shawarma.) Linking up to: Inspire Happiness Daily NapTimeMomTo...

  March 2011 (It's upside down because I took this photo while he was still working on it) My husband passed his DLPT and OPI with flying colors. I am so proud of him! I still find it so difficult to believe but my husband is fluent in the Arabic language: reading, writing, and listening. How crazy, right? It has definitely been one intense a year and half. Graduation is next Thursday and my mom and his best friend will be here in Monterey for that. Dean will also receive an Associate's Degree in World Studies since he has a few college credits prior to joining the Marine Corps.

For Today (May 10, 2011) Outside my window...  Cloudy 55 degrees I am thinking... about all the things we need to do before we move (in less 15 days!) and how so little time we have left :( I am thankful for... being a mother. The most difficult role yet but definitely one of the most rewarding job. Ever. From the kitchen... halfway done Moussaka for dinner this evening. I am wearing... purple blouse, jeans I We are going... to buy paint tonight so we could repaint Nathaniel's nursery. There may be a ton few sheds of tears. I am (sporadically) reading... Mission of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson I am hoping/praying... Hubby is doing well on his 2nd day of DLPT . I am hearing... Nathaniel playing with my house slippers. And yes, I am currently wearing. Around the house... toys One of my favorite things... new adventures. Change is scary but it is also a great opportunity for growth. Inspired by the church song scripture... Romans 8:31 "...if...

Nathaniel was sick as a dog this past week. It started with a fever Sunday evening and his temperature just proceeded to go up over the next few days. By Wednesday afternoon, his fever was as high as 105.5F and it took a lot for me as a mother and a former nurse to not just rush and go straight to the hospital. We went to see his pediatrician that same afternoon and she told us that Nathaniel is just fighting a really, really nasty virus. At that point, all we could do is monitor him and treat it symptomatically. He was also tested for strep throat (even though he is really too young to get it) because his throat were red and swollen. Fortunately, the result was negative. So on Thursday, I spent the whole day deep cleaning and disinfecting the house, in hopes that we could get rid of this virus. These first few photos were taken that Wednesday and I should have known something was not right. Nathaniel doesn't nap on his own (he needs someone to lay down with him) and af...

Welcome to our 365 Project! Everyone joining us from last week... Welcome back! And if you're here for the first time, we hope you join in the fun! We'd like to challenge you to take a photo a day and every week link up and share your project with us and with each other. It's quite a task but a lot of fun! And at the end of the day, we're all learning so much from each other. Don't have a 365? Don't worry! If you've had a great day or great week and you want to share with us, please join in the fun. Although many of us are doing our own 365, our goal here is to INSPIRE HAPPINESS DAILY. If that means you join us sporadically, we're okay with that. We're all here to encourage each other and learn, too. Each week, Audrey ( The Daily Wyatt ), Tracey ( Inspire Me Photography ) and Diana ( Find Your Happiness ) will be picking our Top 5 Photos to highlight on our blogs. In order to be a winner, you must add your photo(s) from the week (not a collage...