Settling in...

I can not believe that 2 weeks have passed since I have written. It has been a busy 14+ days. So, let's re-cap the time that I have left out. 

Our household goods arrived on the 2nd - and a beautiful rainbow was visible just beyond our lanai! Zac was able to be here with me to accept and inspect our 11 crates full of belongings. Our house was completely full of boxes. We worked for the next week to unpack and organize everything. Now our home is in order, and everything has a spot. We made several trips to Goodwill - thankfully there are drive-through drop-off centers downtown (close to our house) and over in Pearl City (next to a friend's house). Now that everything is set up, I will soon post pictures of our new home! 

On February 6th, Mason Glenn Hagenbuch was born. Parents Doug and Melissa welcomed their 8lb 12oz baby boy in to the world at Tripler Army Medical Center. He is PRECIOUS! After a short battle with jaundice, he is now home and doing well. I went over to visit the Hagenbuchs the other day, and got to hold the little one for a while. I know I am one of the many that is extremely excited that baby Mason is 

finally here! I hope to be spending lots of time with him, and watching him grow. It definitely shouldn't take him long to catch up with me and my 5'1". ;)

That night Zac and I went with the Rittermann family to the Punahou School (the private school that Barack Obama attended here in HI) Carnival. It was such a scene. Food booths, carnival rides, thousands of people and beautiful weather made this an exceptional event. Steve and Marisol's daughter, Natalia (who is almost 1 year old) was such a joy to watch as we walked all over. The bright lights, happy people and loud noises caught her attention and you could tell she was amazed by so many things that she saw.  This is a picture of Steve and Natalia on the carousel. Click HERE for more carnival pics.

The submarine world has constant turn over. It is sad to see Zac's co-workers and their families move on to other jobs, especially after you get to know them. Soon one of our friends will be rotating off of the boat, and a new officer will take his place. I just met one of the new families that has recently joined our ward room. They are so much fun! The wife, Audra, and her two children and I went to the Bishop Museum the other day to check out the exhibit on volcanoes. We had a great time, and I am very excited for them to join our boat "family". This is Anya and Noah playing at the museum.

We had our first visitors this weekend! Cameron and Michelle Clark flew in Friday morning from Kauai - they were there on their "babymoon" - Michelle's last big trip before their first baby is born in late May/early June. We had such a great weekend hanging out with them. Friday we had lunch downtown and walked along Ala Moana area. Later that evening we went to dinner at Duke's in Waikiki. Sat. morning, after a home made breakfast, we headed up to the North Shore. We rented a paddle board and surf board and spent the afternoon with sea turtles (literally) near Haliewa. Zac and Cameron tried the paddle and surf boards while Michelle and I watched, laughed and soaked up some sun. It was a great way to spend Valentine's Day. Later I got on the surf board, paddled out to the area where the surfers were all catching waves, and waited for Cameron to tell me to paddle until I could catch a wave. I finally did catch one, and rode it on my stomach a long way. Haha - I am no where NEAR even standing up on a board yet! Zac and Cameron did have fun playing on the boards, and we all had a great afternoon at the beach. Later, in an effort to avoid Valentine's Day crowds, we stayed in and ordered pizza for dinner and watched a movie and SNL. This morning we had breakfast on the lanai, and went to the USS Arizona Memorial. I feel like we all learned a lot about "the day that will live in infamy". Later we had a late lunch in Kailua, grabbed some malasadas (Portuguese doughnuts) from Leonard's in Pearl City, and it was already time for us to take Cameron and Michelle to the airport. I was sad to see them go - we had such a fun time while they were here, and it was so nice to see friends from Texas. More pics are HERE!

I hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day, and now, Happy Presidents' Day!

More soon,

RAWE

Zac is here!

Wednesday Zac arrived in Honolulu! He starts PNEO (Prospective Nuclear Engineering Officer) on Tues. This is a school-type program where he will study for almost 2 months, then take an exam, and finally fly to DC for an interview. He is ready to get going so that it will be over. I have no doubt that he will do great! 

Since he arrived we have been running around the island trying to have our cars registered, pick up cleaning supplies for the house, find new uniform pants for Z, and he has been checking in with all of the appropriate Navy offices. We have been really busy, but having a blast 

finally being back together! Here is a shot of Zac with his new license plates on the Wrangler.

Friday, after running around trying to gather all of the documents to register the cars, we picked up the Downs family from the airport. We are so glad that they are here. After taking the Downs to their hotel in Waikiki, Zac and I drove up to our house to sign the lease! We got 

the keys and did our walk-through with the realtor. Hooray! 

Following the house visit, we grabbed dinner and went with Steve and Marisol to a wine bar in

 Honolulu - Amuse. This bar was soooo fun. The concept: you purchase a "debit card" that you insert into wine dispensers. They have about 100 wines for you to try - at various prices. Just insert the card in to the machine, press the button for the wine you would like to try, and out comes the wine! It was a neat concept, and a fun Friday night. Here are a few pictures from the night.

Sat. Zac and I spent the day at the Polynesian Cultural Center! This is sort of like Epcot/Disney - without the rides. All of the Polynesian island nations have their own "village" that you visit to learn more about

 their culture, traditions and lifestyles. We learned a lot, and by the end of the day, I was definitely at the BRAIN OVERLOAD point. 70% of the workers of the PCC are students at BYU Hawaii - they work for the PCC and get scholarships to attend the campus here. What a neat opportunity for students from these countries - they get to share their nations' culture and go to school in the US.  Later that evening we met Doug and Melissa for dinner in Kaneohe at Haleiva Joe's. 

Today we went up to the North Shore with Melissa to find a sea turtle for a "Flat Stanley"

 project for Melissa's cousin (in elementary school). There was

 only one turtle there today, and she was stuck in the rocks (until high tide). Zac and I climbed over a lot of lava rocks to get to

 the turtle and take "Flat Emma's" picture with the turtle. On the way back to Pearl City to watch the Superbowl at Melissa's house, we stopped at the Dole Plantation for some pineapple ice cream. Mmmmmm. We spent the rest of the afternoon eating pizza, 7-layer dip and watching the game. 

Tomorrow is (finally) move-in day!! We will be up early, and working hard, but we are so excited to have our stuff in our own space again!

So long - until our internet is connected at the house, which should be Thurs.!

-RAWE

In Memory of Dan S. Barker

This morning one of my best friends, Amy Barker, lost her father to brain cancer. While we remember that he is no longer in pain and suffering here on earth, it is the family that will have an extremely hard journey ahead. Please keep Amy and her mother, Debbie, in your prayers, along with the rest of the Barker family.

Dan was a beloved husband, father, brother, son, grandfather, uncle, cousin and friend to so many. An exceptional Aggie who was a mentor, and leader by nature. The passage I am about to end with has been read at all of my grandparents' funerals, and brings me peace - and I hope it does the same for the Barkers, as well as anyone else who may need the uplifting words.

"Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened. Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by the old familiar name. Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference in your tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was. There is absolute and unbroken continuity. What is death but a negligible accident? Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner. All is well." - From the book September, by Rosamunde Pilcher

Gig 'em Dan! We will be missing, thinking and praying for you and your family.

Sad tonight,

RAWE

WE GOT THE HOUSE!!!

I got the good news today from the realtor. She had not been in contact with us - she was in the hospital and hadn't been at work. I was SO relieved! Tomorrow I will be going in to JPPSO (Joint Personal Property Shipping Office) to see when our household goods can be delivered. I will also talk to the realtor to see when we can pick up the keys! :) WHOOP! Finally I can relax. We will have the second floor of this house (and the garage). For more pics, click here!

NOW, I can finally stop staring at my phone! 

And t minus two days until Zac is here! I can't wait!!

Love to all, and thanks for the prayers!!

-Rebekah

The weekend wrap-up

Where did the weekend go? It was a busy one! I finally got to see a sub moving through the water when the USS Santa Fe pulled in. On Friday Melissa and I went to Hickam to watch the boat pull through the channel, then drove over to the pier and saw them pull in to their spot. Saturday I saw another home in the Pacific Heights area - that I think will be our back up plan - just in case we do not get the first. CLICK HERE to see it. It is a lot smaller, but has 2 full baths, which is nice. I think that we would have to get rid of a few pieces of furniture, or find a place to store some stuff, which I don't want to do. After seeing the home I met Steve, Marisol and Natalia at Lanikai beach, where we spent the afternoon. It was nice - I felt like I hadn't been to the beach in forever, even though it had only been 4 days.

Zac has arrived in Florida! He is flying out to Hawaii this Wednesday, and I can NOT wait! The guys did a great job on the transit, and everyone has been saying such good things about them. I know they are all so relieved to be out of the ship yard.

Today I had my first Homecoming meeting here in HI. We had such an amazing turn out - I was so excited that so many came. We didn't get a lot of details nailed down, but Feb. 11th we have a meeting with the MWR here and that will answer so many of the questions we all have. I am so lucky to have such an awesome co-chair, Kristina, as well as a committee that knows what they are doing, and are so eager to help. 

Today I made my first trip down to the Waikiki area. Doug, Melissa and I went down for dinner at Duke's on the beach. We went tonight thinking that there would be fewer people than Fri. or Sat., but there was still a huge crowd! There was a beautiful sunset. 

This was my first picture of Diamond Head, and a couple of the sunset pics I took from Duke's. These pictures really don't do justice to the scene. I think it was the prettiest sunset I have seen since I've been here, but I expect that that will not be the last! 

I am sooooo hoping that we FINALLY hear about the house this week. I am going to start calling first thing tomorrow so that I have an answer, that is way over due. I know that once Zac is here this will really start to feel more like home.

Goodnight! 

-RAWE

Hawaiian Squirrels

Good news: There are not any raccoons in Hawaii! (Minus any that *may* be in a zoo.)

Bad news: There are MONGOOSES in Hawaii! 

Picture, if you will, a ferret with coyote or fox fur. GROSS! I know. Mongooses (yes, that is the correct plural) were brought to Hawaii in order to control the snake population. Funny, because there isn't a snake population here. So really, they were brought here to fill the void for the rest of the human population that needed a squirrel fix, I think. 

Click here to read further on the mongoose species. 

The other day I almost ran over one, they have come up to us at Ko'Olina, and they would totally be Aidan's nemeses if he was here. They still catch me off-guard and make me shriek. They are weird!

Today I went to see two more homes (on the same property) in Kailua (the side of the island where "LOST" is filmed). They were fine - but still, nothing is comparing to the first home I saw, and still haven't heard ANYTHING from the realtor. I left a message for her again today, as well as e-mailing her this morning, to no avail. :( I am SICK OF WAITING! And, as most of you know, I am NOT a patient person. Tomorrow morning I am going to see another home in the Pacific Heights area (same area as the one I am STILL waiting to hear about). Maybe this one could be better? I hate that I seem to be comparing everything I see to that first triplex, but I just want it so badly! So...I will keep you posted.

Hopefully Zac will be here soon. I have received a couple of e-mails from him. He seems to be in good spirits. He is so glad to be out of the ship yard - operating the sub as it should be. Hooray for that! They have an amazing team of sailors on the sub, and I am confident that they are doing great work. I am chair of the Homecoming committee for the sub's return to Pearl Harbor. I scheduled our first meeting in HI for this Sunday, so I am hoping for a good turn out. 

Until tomorrow,

RAWE

The picture I promised...

Cynthia McFadden of ABC News covering one of the inaugural balls...

Yes folks, this pic is from 2009 - I don't know who her wardrobe stylist is, but that person should be F-I-R-E-D! At least we all got a good laugh out of it, though.

I didn't get a phone call today about the house, so I am hoping that I will tomorrow! Say a few more prayers for us, please.

I did go see another house today in the same area. It was kind of gross - a tenant was moving out - and we would have only had one parking spot, which wouldn't work. So, it's a no-go.

I am excited that I found a car charger for my Garmin! I am learning my way around the island, however, it is always nice to have it with me just in case. 

I miss my family and friends.

Love to all,

RAWE