Thankful and blessed

After seven months of strictly regimented training and eight years in the making, my husband graduated last Friday and is now officially a firefighter for the City and County of Honolulu!

It's tradition that a loved one be the one to pin their badge on them. With tear-filled eyes, I got to pin my husband's badge. It's a moment I will never forget and cherish always.

We are so thankful that we got to share this moment with our friends from FL, Jose and Tracy. Jose also happens to be Chuck's old lieutenant from his FD back home. 

Our Hawaii ohana got to share with us as well. They've been and continue to be a wonderful support system and amazing stewards of aloha.

Congratulations to the 98th Recruit Class! I know all of us out there are grateful for each and every one of you!

And from the Weas, Happy and blessed Thanksgiving to all of you! 

Small Things

I lived out one of my favorite quotes this weekend to celebrate my 33rd birthday. As I posted before, I decided to take part in the Birthday Project movement. I highly recommend it! This was definitely one of my most memorable birthdays to date!

My goal of 33 random acts of kindness was pretty lofty--especially since I live on an island where traffic is a mess! I decided to break it up into two days, starting with the day before my birthday. So here goes my list.

1. I made my own "Take What You Need" posters
I placed them in random bathroom walls, like at Barnes & Noble and Walmart.

(I went back a couple of hours after I placed this one at B&N, pleasantly surprised.)

2. Sent off care packages to loved ones on the mainland.

3. Baked cupcakes for my coworkers, even though I was off for two days.

4. Gave cupcakes to neighbors (This one wasn't on my list, but I'm so happy it happened this way!) 
I had extra cupcakes and I knew that neither my husband or I would want them in the house, so I decided I would give them away to the ladies in the resident services office in our neighborhood; I was going there to pay rent anyway. When I got to office, I found that it was closed for the next 2 hours (a half hour earlier than what the sign said on the door, btw). These lovely neighbors were there in the parking lot to pay rent as well and I asked them if they wanted cupcakes. They accepted and I gave them one of my cards and told them what I was doing this for. The daughter actually took pics of the cupcakes when they got home and Instagrammed it with the hashtags that I had on my card!

5. Paid for the car behind me at the drive-thru
On my way to drop off the cupcakes at my job, I decided to take a pit stop at the drive-thru to get a drink. I finished my order and a car came in behind me as I was waiting to pay. I got up to the window and told the cashier that I wanted to pay for the car behind me. He was a bit confused but was a trooper when I asked if he would pose for this pic.

6. Taped quarters to vending machines
This one was right outside my job. I came in to work a couple of days later and found that the card was still taped, but the quarters were gone. I really hope I made some little kid's day.

7. Left encouraging notes in random books at B&N.

(Intermission... as I was running around Ala Moana Center, I saw Mufi Hanneman, former mayor of the City and County of Honolulu. Super nice guy!)

8. Left nice messages in dressing rooms.
This one was at Old Navy.

9. Bought a gift card while I was paying for my drink. I gave it to my new buddy here, Gavin, and I told him to give it to someone that needs it.

10. Bought some well-deserved beers for my hubs and his fellow recruits. I didn't get to take a pic, though.

(Start of day 2--my actual birthday)
11. Left a thank you treat for the mail carrier.

12. Left a generous tip for our server at breakfast
I hope she had a better day after seeing that bill. I think she was having a late start to her morning.

13. Helped with HFD's "Fill the Boot" for MDA
My husband is a recruit for the Honolulu Fire Department. It was fate that the "Fill the Boot" drive was this weekend, I just know it! It was great to just say hello and thank people for their donations, or just simply wish them a great day. And what better place to be than Waikiki Beach?!

14. Gave change to a family that needed to feed their meter. (Another one that wasn't on my original list!)
We were walking back to the fire station, and a family had just parked. The mother asked if any of us had change and I remembered I still had some quarters that I hadn't had a chance to tape onto vending machines yet. The dad was going to give me a $5 bill in exchange for the $2 dollars I had in quarters. I told him no need, so instead he placed it in the boot I was still carrying. ♥ (I didn't even think to take a picture until later. Sad face.)

15. Donated blood.
Again, this was fate. I gave blood earlier this year and I got a call the day before from the blood bank, letting me know that I was eligible to give blood again. I told them to sign me up!

16. Left more messages for people to find. Everyone needs affirmation!

17. Bought another gift card.
This time at Old Navy. Made another new friend, Miriam, and I told her to give it away for me. It's back to school time again, so I hope it helps someone out.

18. Donated to a friend's father's cancer treatment fund.
Every little bit helps.

(I didn't get a chance to picture document these next two)
19. Gave candy to a little kid (with the parent's permission, of course)
20. Donating old clothes to Goodwill

21. Paid for someone behind me in line at Walmart.
As you can see, I'm 12 shy of 33, but this one was worth the 33 and much more. It was my favorite experience of my weekend. This is Alicia and her absolutely sweet daughter, Ilima. This one wasn't on my original list either, but it is the one that I will always remember.

This one actually happened after breakfast and before "Fill the Boot." On our way to Waikiki, I got a headache and asked my husband if we could stop and get some headache medicine. We decided to stop at the Walmart in Pearl City. Hubby ran to the bathroom real quick and I went and got a travel sized pack of Advil. 

It was still early on, so there were no lines at the checkout. Alicia and Ilima came up behind me as I handed the medicine to the cashier. I looked behind me to see Ilima placing their items from the cart to the belt, just as I was about to swipe my debit card. They didn't have that many items, so I looked at the cashier and quietly told her to just keep ringing their stuff up with mine. I finished paying and Alicia still hadn't realized what I did. I walked up to her, gave her one of my cards, and l wished her a wonderful day. I don't think she still knew what I did as I walked away.

I waited for my husband outside, and Alicia came outside to find me. She was almost teary-eyed as she saw me. She thanked me and told me that she would never forget what I had done. She introduced herself and her daughter. I could tell that Ilima was a special needs child, and as Alicia and I were chatting, she told me that Ilima was actually their foster daughter and that she was with them to stay. I immediately lit up and told her that if my husband and I weren't able to have kids of our own, that we would like to adopt. Alicia and I traded information and she told me to call her if I ever had any questions about fostering or adoption. I seriously still get misty-eyed when I recount this story. I think I always will.

The Birthday Project has been SUCH a profound experience for me. I am forever changed and I know that I'll be doing this every year from now on.

Another year.

Dance and jam THIS today!

Cheers to September and to another year!

Thank you, Lord for giving me the privilege of this life you gave me. I'm eternally grateful. It's the best birthday present anyone can give me. 

Have a blessed day, everyone! ♥

The Birthday Project

My 33rd birthday is coming up in a couple of days. Yes, you read that right--I'm going to be 33, and it's gearing up to be the birthday that I'm most excited about to date. For one, it'll be my first birthday that I'm celebrating here in Hawaii. And two, it's going to be the first birthday in which I celebrate in the spirit of The Birthday Project! So on Saturday, the hubby and I are going to run around this island doing random acts of kindness. Hopefully at least 33 random acts--I'm going to try to come close to it! I will also be passing out these cards:

Feel free to grab some for yourself! You can download the free printable HERE! I'm also going to be placing these around:

You can grab one of these, too, if you want... HERE.

I'm pretty stoked about all of this! And I don't think it's ever too early to begin, so I think I'm going to try and get a head start tomorrow (aka later on today). I'll be sure to document and recap!

Stay tuned!

They say it's your birthday...

Happy birthday to my wonderful hubby and my beautiful momma. I wouldn't be me without you. I'm so lucky to have you two. ♥

Year Three.

(Photo by Jana Morgan)

In just three years, we've already had some pretty big adventures. I can't wait to see what God has planned for the rest of our lives. I love you, hubs. Happy anniversary!

Slackerdom has officially taken over my blogging.

So here's another recap post!


Has it really been April since I last posted? No posts in May or June...whoa! Life gets in the way so easily. And in the last few months, much has happened at our pod and in the lives of our loved ones.


Here are the highlights:

My littlest brother and my mom came to visit us in May. It was only for 5 short days, but it was amazing to spend time with them and show them why we love it here so much. It made me appreciate my family that much more.


June was pretty quiet. Hubby is still in it to win it with HFD. He's been working his butt off and come November, we'll be celebrating like it's 1999... oh, wait... haha.

July is only halfway through and it's already shaped up to be a great month. It marks a year since the left side of this picture was taken. I called this pic, "Same shorts, more room." The hubs has been keeping me accountable with my health and fitness and I'm so glad he does. I know I hate going to workout, but I do feel better and more accomplished afterwards. I haven't really weighed myself, but I love the fact that my clothes fit better and are getting looser. I just want to be healthier and I'm on my way.

This little guy made his world premier on Monday, July, 9. Meet our adorable nephew! I just want to love up on this little buddy, but he's all the way in Pittsburgh. [sad face] I don't know when we'll be able to meet him in person, but it's going to be a love and happy crying fest when it comes.

July--actually in the next few days!--is going to be filled with important milestones. I've felt God working in my heart for a while now and I know I've already chosen to live my life as He leads me. So tomorrow I'm getting baptized. Not just water sprinkled on my head and blessings, but full on getting dunked and coming out anew. I'm so excited and I'm thankful that He has given the hubs and I a small community of loved ones here in Hawaii to come out and support me. So. Stoked.


Then on Tuesday. Well, Tuesday marks the third anniversary of the greatest day ever. I'm just sayin'. =)

Into the Fire [Academy]

It's finally here! The hubs finished his first week of training. He will be the first to tell you that It's not going to be an easy seven (yes, SEVEN) months. It's a grueling 28 weeks broken up into EMT and then Fire training. The class is large enough that they have to split, one half does EMT first, the other Fire and they switch midway through.

The hubs knew that this would be different from the Central Florida Fire Academy that he attended years ago, but neither one of us was prepared for just how drastically different HFD conducts their training. 

HFD definitely runs a tight ship. There's only one rule: Do what you're told to do. It's like my husband signed up for the Army. He's got to come in every day clean shaven, his head shaved, boots shiny, and address his recruit training officers (RTOs) properly. They have to do physical trainig (PT) three times a week which is on top of the drills they do during the Fire side of the training. PT consists of doing as many sit ups you can in one minute, followed by as many pull ups in one minute, push-ups in one minute, a mile and a half run, and Crossfit. All under the midday sun. Oh. My. God.

HFD doesn't play. But it's definitely a good way of weeding out those that don't really want it.

Here's my hubs, ready for his first day. It's going be an interesting and eventful seven months. November 16, here Wea come!

Mission Accomplished.

It all started with an email. 


The hubs got an email in November from Human Resources at HFD. They asked if he could resubmit his information to them. We thought that the hire list that he got on had expired, so this was a HUGE break. So hubs went off to HFD Headquarters the very next day with his papers. A couple of weeks later, he gets another email with a date to come in for an interview. 


We both ended up taking the day off from our jobs that day, both on pins and needles since this was the furthest he'd ever gotten in the hiring process. We got to headquarters SUPER early. I dropped him off and then went to a nearby Jamba Juice to wait it out.

About 20 minutes after I sat down to read The Hunger Games, he called and said the interview was done. He wasn't sure what to think, but they did tell him that nobody would hear anything until mid January--which was at least another month away.


The holidays came and went, which kept our minds off of the whole waiting game. Mid January came and went and still no word.


Then in early February, while I was at work, I got a text message from the hubs: "Call me when you get this." I ran to the break room and called him. He answered and said he got the official call. 


So after almost 8 years of test taking, traveling back and forth from FL to Hawaii and back again, and waiting and waiting... the hubs has finally been hired by the City and County of Honolulu Fire Department! He officially starts training on April 23. We feel so blessed. The congrats have been pouring in and everyone is so excited!

Especially The Moosh.

Zipping by...

Man. I really am the ultimate slacker. I haven't updated since CHRISTMAS?! And it's MARCH! I guess the island life is really rubbing off on me. I stay on island time!


Here's a what I you've missed in my absence from the blog:

Our first Hawaiian Christmas was spent with family, which really helped since it was our first holiday away from all our loved ones. I got to experience a beautiful Christmas sunrise and we were gifted with a rainbow.

For New Year's Eve, we didn't even go very far--just to the beach that is in our neighborhood. We celebrated with the hubs' cousin and her bf. From our beach, we saw fireworks from Hickam AFB, and downtown Honolulu across from Pearl Harbor.

In January, we went with our friends to go see Sir Elton John at the Blaisdell Center. I don't care who you are... Elton John is THE MAN! He played for 2 hours straight. Amazeballs.


You're all almost caught up. I have one more update, but that requires its own post.