Ahhh we lived, we lived! Haha :) It has been a tense week here with the soldiers. You can feel the nervousness in the air. As Christmas is drawing nearer, you can tell things are getting a bit better. They have officially let the soldiers start drinking again. As we all can assume, most are very happy about this! Haha
I am so glad all this is calming down. It has definitely made the days long and stressful.
I am getting very excited about getting to see my little brother soon! Bradley is coming to stay with us on Christmas Eve morning. Joshua is working an all day/overnight shift on Christmas Eve so Bradley is going to keep me entertained! He is going to stay with us through Christmas Day. We bought presents for some of Joshua's closest friends so we will be delivering those to them on Christmas Eve and then opening presents on Christmas Day with Bradley. I am so glad to have some of my family with us for the holidays!
Other than that, after Monday's live-fire drills, our life has slowed down a bit! We went shopping today and got some knock-off ugg boots which are very cute! Woo Hoo :)
Until the next time,
Hannah
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Thirty Four
So these past few days in Korea have been very tension filled. South Korea has live-fire drills they are practicing and North Korea is threatening that if they go through with them, they will fire at them. The drills for the South won't be pointed towards North Korea in any form or fashion, but of course, North Korea always has to make a fuss. So almost 2 hours ago, the firing started. I am refreshing the CNN webpage hoping they will give me an update, but alas, they have not. S Korea started their Live Fire drills at 10am Korean time (currently it is 1150am). Joshua is in their motorpool working and I am sitting in his room awaiting further information. I am praying and ask anyone who prays to pray with me. This is not only a place of peace for Americans, but also for the South Koreans. They are peaceful by nature and have never retaliated when N Korea does absurd things. I have been trying to figure out what I will do if War breaks out. Obviously North Korea will lose, but it will be a tough few days/weeks/months/years until it is all resolved. I am happy to say that I am far away from the N and S Borders, but my little 19 year old brother is right there. I am praying for his safety as he is so young. He is my baby brother. I just don't know what I'd do if I lost him in this. I don't know what I'd do about Joshua either but at least he is farther away that the eminent danger is with Bradley. *Sigh* Pray for them. If you don't pray, send them your good thoughts and wishes! But please be with us in thought, if nothing else.
With love,
Hannah
With love,
Hannah
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Thirty Three
I finally made it to Korea! *Whew*
It was definitely hard to say goodbye to my family but I know it isn't "goodbye"- it's "see you later, alligator!". I called my niece, Emily, just before my flight to LA and told her I was nervous and asked her if she had any words of wisdom for me. She told me that the last time she flew to Virginia (to see her dad's side of the family) that it was a good flight so she was sure my flights to Korea would be good, too! She also gave me travel tips like to chew gum as the plane is taking off so my ears don't pop! Ha! Travel tips from my 5 year old niece... she's precious!
The plane ride from L.A to Seoul was 12 hours 45 minutes. It wasn't nearly as bad as the last time I flew. I flew with Korean Air which is a fairly nice airline. They had little slip-on house shoes, bottled water, headphones, toothbrush and toothpaste, and a blanket waiting for us on our seats when we sat down which definitely made me feel better on the flight! They didn't serve very good food but ehh... I didn't expect much. Although, I will say this- American Airlines served great food on my flights last year. It was delicious and I ate every bite when they fed us! On my most recent Korea flight, I slept over half the flight. I was getting pretty tired, so I went ahead and took a NyQuil pill. I put in my ear plugs, put on my eye mask and cuddled up with my pillow and my stuffed animal "Little Joshua" and slept for over five hours straight! It's the most I've slept in probably 4 days! I then woke up for about 30 minutes while they handed out meals (which looked pretty gross and I didn't eat any of it) and then passed out for another 2 hours. When I woke up, we had an hour and a half left of the flight. I watched half of Eat, Pray, Love and then it was time to go find Joshua!
Joshua, one of his friends, and my little brother Bradley all picked me up at the airport. It's always surreal when I walk into an airport and see Joshua. There isn't words to describe it. It's odd because I've been spending so much time talking with him and just seeing his head on the webcam, then all of a sudden there he is! It never feels real until we make it home and we've been together for a day or two and it has a chance to "sink in". Also, it was so nice to see Bradley! I hadn't seen him since Joshua and mines wedding day...or maybe two days after, but either way- it had been a while! He left Austin while Joshua and I were on our honeymoon so it was nice to see his smiling face! It amazes me how much more grown up he is versus when he first joined. He hasn't changed too much, but just enough that it reminds me that my little brother is growing up! He's a whole 19 years old! Eeek! It sounds weird just typing it! Haha :)
Either way, we grabbed a donut at Dunkin Donuts in the airport and hoped on the USO bus back to Bradley's base which was only 30 minutes away. Brad helped us unload and then load back into a cab to take us to the train station. We stopped and ate a bit at the McDonalds at the train station and sat down to relax/warm up our arms, legs and shoulders- it was tough carrying all those bags and suitcases! We hoped on a train at 9pm and then voila-3 and 1/2 hours later, we were home at Joshua's barracks!
I had so much baggage to take with me because I figured I've got to plan for the next 9 months of my life so I packed a lot of my clothes that I wear often (my closet is still 2/3rd full even after taking all these things out!) and packing shoes and towels and not to mention Christmas presents! These bags were nice and heavy and I made sure to let the boys carry them :P Even my backpack carry on left my collar bone bruised! :(
All in all, it was a good flight and a nice trip back to Joshua's barracks. Joshua's unit is leaving for the field today (its 750am here in Korea on 12/17/2010). He left this morning at 5am. It stinks that he is leaving this early into my long-term visit, but he should be home within the next few days which I will be glad for. I am keeping my fingers crossed that they don't send him out again in between now and New Years. After this week is over, he should be getting half days until Christmas so I am happy for that :)
We bought gifts for some of Joshua's friends who won't be going home for the holidays. We also got them all stockings and some little "stuffers" to go in them! I am excited for them to open them all and see what we've got for them! I have also mailed so many gifts over to him for the stockings and for him in general, so I am excited to finally get to wrapping them!
Ahh.. I am jetlagged majorly, so I will say goodbye for now. I will try and write again in a week at the latest!
With love,
Hannah
It was definitely hard to say goodbye to my family but I know it isn't "goodbye"- it's "see you later, alligator!". I called my niece, Emily, just before my flight to LA and told her I was nervous and asked her if she had any words of wisdom for me. She told me that the last time she flew to Virginia (to see her dad's side of the family) that it was a good flight so she was sure my flights to Korea would be good, too! She also gave me travel tips like to chew gum as the plane is taking off so my ears don't pop! Ha! Travel tips from my 5 year old niece... she's precious!
The plane ride from L.A to Seoul was 12 hours 45 minutes. It wasn't nearly as bad as the last time I flew. I flew with Korean Air which is a fairly nice airline. They had little slip-on house shoes, bottled water, headphones, toothbrush and toothpaste, and a blanket waiting for us on our seats when we sat down which definitely made me feel better on the flight! They didn't serve very good food but ehh... I didn't expect much. Although, I will say this- American Airlines served great food on my flights last year. It was delicious and I ate every bite when they fed us! On my most recent Korea flight, I slept over half the flight. I was getting pretty tired, so I went ahead and took a NyQuil pill. I put in my ear plugs, put on my eye mask and cuddled up with my pillow and my stuffed animal "Little Joshua" and slept for over five hours straight! It's the most I've slept in probably 4 days! I then woke up for about 30 minutes while they handed out meals (which looked pretty gross and I didn't eat any of it) and then passed out for another 2 hours. When I woke up, we had an hour and a half left of the flight. I watched half of Eat, Pray, Love and then it was time to go find Joshua!
Joshua, one of his friends, and my little brother Bradley all picked me up at the airport. It's always surreal when I walk into an airport and see Joshua. There isn't words to describe it. It's odd because I've been spending so much time talking with him and just seeing his head on the webcam, then all of a sudden there he is! It never feels real until we make it home and we've been together for a day or two and it has a chance to "sink in". Also, it was so nice to see Bradley! I hadn't seen him since Joshua and mines wedding day...or maybe two days after, but either way- it had been a while! He left Austin while Joshua and I were on our honeymoon so it was nice to see his smiling face! It amazes me how much more grown up he is versus when he first joined. He hasn't changed too much, but just enough that it reminds me that my little brother is growing up! He's a whole 19 years old! Eeek! It sounds weird just typing it! Haha :)
Either way, we grabbed a donut at Dunkin Donuts in the airport and hoped on the USO bus back to Bradley's base which was only 30 minutes away. Brad helped us unload and then load back into a cab to take us to the train station. We stopped and ate a bit at the McDonalds at the train station and sat down to relax/warm up our arms, legs and shoulders- it was tough carrying all those bags and suitcases! We hoped on a train at 9pm and then voila-3 and 1/2 hours later, we were home at Joshua's barracks!
I had so much baggage to take with me because I figured I've got to plan for the next 9 months of my life so I packed a lot of my clothes that I wear often (my closet is still 2/3rd full even after taking all these things out!) and packing shoes and towels and not to mention Christmas presents! These bags were nice and heavy and I made sure to let the boys carry them :P Even my backpack carry on left my collar bone bruised! :(
All in all, it was a good flight and a nice trip back to Joshua's barracks. Joshua's unit is leaving for the field today (its 750am here in Korea on 12/17/2010). He left this morning at 5am. It stinks that he is leaving this early into my long-term visit, but he should be home within the next few days which I will be glad for. I am keeping my fingers crossed that they don't send him out again in between now and New Years. After this week is over, he should be getting half days until Christmas so I am happy for that :)
We bought gifts for some of Joshua's friends who won't be going home for the holidays. We also got them all stockings and some little "stuffers" to go in them! I am excited for them to open them all and see what we've got for them! I have also mailed so many gifts over to him for the stockings and for him in general, so I am excited to finally get to wrapping them!
Ahh.. I am jetlagged majorly, so I will say goodbye for now. I will try and write again in a week at the latest!
With love,
Hannah
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Thirty-Two
Geeze Louise! Time is flying fast. I can't believe we have been married for over two months! Eek!
My big flight over to Korea is on Wednesday. I'm a bit nervous to leave here, but excited to start our grand married-life adventure! I'm so excited to just go and get a chance to hold his hand and hug his neck! It's always odd to see him after we have been away for so long. Usually the first couple hours feel pretty surreal. It's like you are walking next to this face that you've only seen on webcam for so long! It's definitely a good feeling though :)
With our move getting closer and closer, I've only got a day left to spend with people and man have I tried to pack it full! I'm running to my granny's house (my connie), then over to visit with my friend Chelsi who came in town early just to see me (!!!), then I've got to head to Amanda H's mom's house to drop off presents for my "God-kitties" (Yes I am the GodMother to two cute little cats....hey, cats need love too!) and then to the movies to see the new Narnia movie with my best friend's sister Amanda G and one of my Korean counterparts Insook. I know it doesn't sound like much, but with all the visiting and chit chatting, I hope I don't wear myself out before the movie starts. I would hate to sleep through it! Ha!
A couple weeks ago, we recieved our wedding pictures back from our photographer. She did such an awesome job. She has great skill for being fairly brand new (only been shooting weddings for a little over a year, I think) and she is such a sweet person. When we met up at Starbucks for me to pick up the pictures, we sat and discussed how nerdy we were for Harry Potter and Twilight. *Sigh* The nerd in me loves meeting people who read my two favorite series! Haha :) She also was married at a young age, 19 to be exact. Her and her husband have been married for 6 years now! It's nice to find someone so young but so experienced with marriage. It's inspirational to say the least!
Well I am off. It is about 4am here and I am going to try and get some extra sleep in before I start my fun filled day! Woohoo!
The Mrs.o more "future" here!) :)
My big flight over to Korea is on Wednesday. I'm a bit nervous to leave here, but excited to start our grand married-life adventure! I'm so excited to just go and get a chance to hold his hand and hug his neck! It's always odd to see him after we have been away for so long. Usually the first couple hours feel pretty surreal. It's like you are walking next to this face that you've only seen on webcam for so long! It's definitely a good feeling though :)
With our move getting closer and closer, I've only got a day left to spend with people and man have I tried to pack it full! I'm running to my granny's house (my connie), then over to visit with my friend Chelsi who came in town early just to see me (!!!), then I've got to head to Amanda H's mom's house to drop off presents for my "God-kitties" (Yes I am the GodMother to two cute little cats....hey, cats need love too!) and then to the movies to see the new Narnia movie with my best friend's sister Amanda G and one of my Korean counterparts Insook. I know it doesn't sound like much, but with all the visiting and chit chatting, I hope I don't wear myself out before the movie starts. I would hate to sleep through it! Ha!
A couple weeks ago, we recieved our wedding pictures back from our photographer. She did such an awesome job. She has great skill for being fairly brand new (only been shooting weddings for a little over a year, I think) and she is such a sweet person. When we met up at Starbucks for me to pick up the pictures, we sat and discussed how nerdy we were for Harry Potter and Twilight. *Sigh* The nerd in me loves meeting people who read my two favorite series! Haha :) She also was married at a young age, 19 to be exact. Her and her husband have been married for 6 years now! It's nice to find someone so young but so experienced with marriage. It's inspirational to say the least!
Well I am off. It is about 4am here and I am going to try and get some extra sleep in before I start my fun filled day! Woohoo!
The Mrs.o more "future" here!) :)
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