What's Important to Us: Each Other

This seems pretty basic right? Of course we're important to each other. But when we really looked at how we were living, it sure wouldn't seem that way. Ask anyone who is/has been married they'll tell you that marriages have their ups and downs, and that has been the case for us too, we'd just like to make sure the ups last a lot longer than the downs!

I'd say the boiling point was right before I came out to North Carolina. We were living apart, both doing our own thing, and not really focused on the other person. We were playing the blame game... both focusing on what the other person was doing wrong, not noticing how we were making the other person feel. At least that was the case for me.

Carrick and I would talk on the phone daily, but I was not really there. I'd be watching tv in the background or working on school, or more often than not on facebook or pinterest. Then he'd ask me a question and I'd have no idea what he was talking about. Busted! Turns out I'm not as good at multi-tasking than I thought.

It was then that we made a promise to each other to do better. To think about how our actions would make to other person feel, to give our undivided attention when it's required, to give up some of ourselves so that together we can be stronger. It has made a huge difference.

We speak kinder to eachother. We have new hobbies that we enjoy together. We've started disc golfing and hiking/biking together at the local National Forest. We share more about our day, and spend more time together when we're both home, instead of us being off in our own corners...

And now I see that being together is more important than ever... Carrick will deploy to Afghanistan in a couple months, and once again we'll face the world together but apart. It hasn't quite hit me yet, that he's leaving. It probably won't until he gets on the plane, but I do know that I will cherish our time together and be in every moment.

To the Future...

I haven't blogged in awhile party because we were transitioning to life in the states, and I was completing my pre-student teaching, but also because I just didn't have much to say.

This blog started as a way for us to fill in our families on what we were doing while living in Japan, and I think I've done an ok job so far keeping it updated and meaningful. Our lives are changing though, and for a while I didn't know what the new purpose of this blog would be, or if it would even have a purpose.

I've decided to keep it going, and to write about our new life. I don't know if anyone will read it or find it interesting, but at least I will have a record of where we are now, and who knows... someday maybe our kids will enjoy reading it and laughing at how nuts their parents were.

As this blog finds a purpose, we hope to also. Coming back to life in the states combined with the end of Carrick's enlistment looming over us (only a year away!), we've had to decide where we go from here and what is truly important to us. We're starting on another journey of sorts because we've felt called by God to be more, do more, for each other and the world.

We're very much still learning and trying to figure it all out, so if you'd like you can come along for the journey on this blog. Cheers!

Korea

I know this is very late, but for documentation's sake I figured I would include a post about my trip to Korea. As I've mentioned before, the trip was to train adults in Girl Scout programming. I had an incrediable time, and it was great to be able to spend time with my friends before I moved. Two days were spent training and meeting other Girl Scouts, and we took two days to see the sights. We went to a shopping/cultural district on one day and to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on the second.

Stephanie, a Korea GS Leader, and I after training.


Seoul Tower

Me outside the GS Korea store.

At the DMZ.

Arwen, GS Director - Okinawa, and I standing in N. Korea.

Where are we going from here?

You may be wondering what is next for us.

I have one week left in Okinawa, followed by one week spent with Girl Scouts in South Korea.

After that I will be moving in with family for about 5-6months to complete observations and tasks in an elementary classroom. These tasks are pre-student teaching. We decided it was best for me to be in one place right now so I can knock out these tasks and get it done... instead of starting and stopping in three different places. Because of this I will be moving back to Iowa sooner, and staying later, than Carrick will.

Carrick will be staying in Okinawa until sometime around the 1st of Nov. He will get to come to Iowa for about 30 days of leave, and then move to North Carolina before Dec. 2nd.

I'm not looking forward to us being apart, but I know it is only temporary and will be worth it in the long run when I finally have my degree! Because I won't be able to move to NC until I get my tasks done in Iowa it will also be great motivation and keep me working hard so I can join my man sooner!

So that's the outlook for the Johnsons. Up next, Korea!!!

International Move Take 2

So it begins the packing up of our life in Okinawa.

Everything is bitter sweet. We're sad to be leaving, but happy to go on to our next adventure.

I will miss the friendships that I have made, which are really beyond words to describe on this blog. I have met people who will forever be a part of my life, and I hope to visit them again on their island in the Pacific! It is a great feeling to know that you have people who care about you all over the world. Thank God for facebook and email.

We'll both miss the food... we've already been searching online for Thai and curry restaurants in the states. We're not to hopeful that we'll find much, and we're pretty sure it will never be as good as it is here.

I will miss perpetual summer (but not typhoons and 100 degrees at 7am).

I will miss having every outing, whether it be going out to dinner, or to the beach, or shopping, be an experience in culture.

This really has become our home. Our marriage has grown, we've added a dog, we've experienced happiness and heartache, and we'll be moving on to our next home eager to continue learning and growing.

Recent Crafties

I recently finished this monstrosity of a quilt. It's made from my old t-shirts from high school, Girl Scouts, and life guarding. I love my old tshirts and couldn't part with them, but was tired of them taking up so much space in my drawers. This is a great way to display them and hold on to those memories!

Our (soon to be) New Home

In between my turns to love up on my new baby niece, I set out on an alternate mission while I was visiting in Iowa, to find us a new home. For the past few months we (really 'I' with Carrick following along reluctantly) hatched a plan for our living arrangement when we move back stateside to allow us to save as much money as possible to eventually buy a house when we choose to settle permanently.

Are you ready to hear our crazy plan?! We will be living in a 31ft travel trailer for the 18 months that Carrick will have left in the Marine Corps once we return stateside.

I have been researching online families who live fulltime in campers and rvs, and it really seemed like a viable and inventive way to live while we work on saving. Many of these families travel the world, which is why they choose a more moble lifestyle. However, we will be parking our trailer, which has been fittingly named "Happy," at our next duty station, most likely North Carolina. I'd love to take some time after Carrick get's out to do some traveling, but that will probably take some more convincing :).

So here are the specs of our new home:

1996 31ft Holiday Rambler travel trailer
Super slide in living room/kitchen

and of course pictures!

I plan to do some redecorating and painting, so these will be the 'before' pictures.

Kitchen

Living Room

Entertainment/Storage in LR

Hallway Closets

Bathroom

Above toilet and little bit of vanity

Shower

Bedroom