Retiring from blogging

I will be retiring from blogging for a year. So check Back next Fall.

TV

Since being here in Germany we have had only one channel on our TV that covered the shows that I really cared to watch anyways which was Oprah, Wheel of fortune and survivor. Of course there were many other shows I would have loved to have watched but these were the only ones that AFN offered us on this one channel. So, I just watched what was given.

Since moving into our new bright highlighter home we get no reception and so we have had no TV since April. Even when Dustin and I were first stationed in Montana we decided to not have TV. It's a different lifestyle and you definitely come to find out how much time you really do have! I actually don't remember what it was like to have TV until Dustin paid someone to find a signal the other day on an extra satellite dish that our Landlord had. We NOW have 5 channels that come through. Dustin was ecstatic because the movie and sports channel came through! I on the other hand was not thrilled about the whole deal and liked how things were before because I am finding that TV is really just a BIG distraction in my life. I have found that I CAN live without Oprah, Wheel of fortune and survivor and so forth. I feel it's good to take a break from things that can consume your everyday life like TV.

Antiques

I have always been intrigued with antiques and the story behind the history of such fine pieces of craftmanship. I love interior designing and it's still a dream of mine to go to school for such fun art. Having been here in Germany has really opened my eyes to collecting antiques as an expensive but quality hobby.My goal is to slowly start my collection here and decorate my home of such interesting and fascinating history and arts.

You tube

Found this on you tube sung by some guys named Adam Ashby and Ben. I can't seem to get this song out of my head. I love the ukelele!

Lyrics to "How Can I Be"

How can I be like my brother Nephi?
My father Lehi of old?
How can I be like Captain Moroni
In the wars that were told?

How can I see forever
Like the promise to the three Nephites?
I wanna be Samuel the Lamanite
I wanna be Benjamin the Wise
I wanna be like Abinidi
Oh tell me how can I be like them?

How can I be like Alma the Younger,
Strong servant of the Lord?
How can I be like Mighty Ammon,
Whose heart was his sword?

How can I be a stripling warrior,
And learn to fight by faith?
I wanna be Samuel the Lamanite
I wanna be Benjamin the Wise
I wanna be like Abinidi
Oh tell me how I can be like them?

How can I be like my brother Joseph,
when he prayed in the grove of trees?
How can I have, the strength that
he had , the love that he had for God?
How can I be courageous and strive
to choose the right?

I wanna be Samuel the Lamanite
I wanna be Benjamin the Wise
I wanna be like Abinidi
I wanna be like Jesus Christ
Oh tell me how can I be like him?
Oh tell me how can I be like him?

Written and composed by Nela Otuafi

5th Year Anniversary!

August 30th 2003
AUGUST 30th 20085 years down and an eternity to go! 5 years is definitely not long enough to be married to the best man in the world! Dustin is truly an amazing, righteous, loyal, funny, hard working, responsible, driven, strong, loving, serving, thoughtful, balanced, protecting, providing, husband, best friend and father. He has molded to become the most wonderful man in my life. I feel so honored and blessed to be sharing our lives together here on earth and beyond. Life only gets better from here and everyday knowing I am married to the greatest man in the world!!! Today was a really romantic and thoughtful day.

Family Reunion

Jet Lagged

We have been home for a week now and the girls and I are still jet lagged. I have never experienced it this bad before. Going towards the sun was easy but coming against the sun and time is like going against nature. It hurts! The crazy thing is that I am just always tired. That is one reason why I have not posted any pictures of our trip yet. I have not had the energy or time and I am still am not unpacked. So, That is what I am focused on doing right after this post is getting my house clean and organized. I always feel invigorated after doing such a project.

Real deployment!

Okay, So we went to the States and had an Awesome time with family and friends . Dustin and I decided the closer to them the better. We really want the girls to grow up near family who love them. So any State closer to them would be fantastic but ideally Hill Airforce base in Utah. (I hope)

We have 2 1/2 more years here in Germany and will do our best to enjoy every minute of it by traveling and learning more about the people and the culture and the great ward that we are in.

So listen to this! We have 5 hours until we have to get on the plane heading back to Germany when Dustin called his shoppe at work to find out that he is getting deployed after all. I got very teary eyed thinking that I had only 5 hours to say good bye to the man I love! But much to our surprise he is actually going on a different deployment than all the other troops in his shoppe.
This deployment he will be going to Baghdad instead and he leaves in November instead of next month. So I was relieved for the fact that I was able to have a little more time with him. He will be leaving for 7 months. So Back to the States , Here I come.

My sister can hook me up through Delta to help fly me back to the good ol' USA. Time there with family support will help time go by extremely fast for those 7 months. I will miss my Dusty very much!

Deployment

Dustin was suppose to be deploying in August to Kurgystan for 6 months but last Friday they told him that he has been taken off the list because they had too many guys going and needed to bump someone off. They chose Dustin to stay. There is still a chance that he may still have to go between now and December.

Until then, Tomorrow we are off to America! We are looking forward to being with family and enjoying the conveniences and familiarity in the States. Can't WAIT! God bless the USA!

Baseball Game

Dustin is a huge Sports and baseball fan. Since we have been married he has toned it down alot, but to keep his morale up he volunteers his time as the head coach for his LRS Squadron team.

Maleha and Kasiah always look forward to his games so that they can play outside and make new friends but they really are just his best cheerleaders!





Maleha the TOM BOY
Her sister following her foot steps
Making New friends
Maleha chasing the boys!
Kasiah Loves making friends with the dogs!

And with boys too!(She just ran up to this little boy and gave him a BIG hug) I got my hands full with this 2 girls. They are boy crazy!

New Neighbors

With a New house you get new neighbors and we have got the best neighbors yet! Maleha likes to visit them often and this morning she couldn't wait and almost ran outside naked. I told her to put some clothes on and so she grabbed her pink velvet leotard and red ruby shoes and ran to visit her little lambs. She is so funny!



The lambs had all their wool buzzed off. They look like an acrylic painting.

Kasiah rather be naked inside and be a peeping TOM.

More of London

Gavrila, Lindsay,Me, Emily. Gotta have the close up!
Em,Lin,G, and Me London bridges baby!
The queen was home in the palace!
I want this stroller! TOO COOL! A kid can sit in the bottom!
A typical European bra. jk

Monopoly money!

The guards can not hear you talking about them. I feel sorry that they have to wear those silly looking hats!
I had zoom in for this pic. They stand there for four hours or more at a time. They have thick soles to keep their feet cool.
The Tower bridge also known as "London bridges falling down".
A Statue at the Buckingham palace
More naked biker pictures! Only in Europe!!
A stroll in Hyde Park


The Golden moving Statue
Dedicated to the world war two fallen soilders.
A dog purse
The silver moving queen statue
Biking in London is the only way to go. But you may not want to go near those bike seats after watching all those naked bikers. lol. I think this is where they parked for lunch.lol

Please do not touch the chocolate palace.YUM

Our Cozy HOTEL!
The new style of wearing your Shoes. Try fitting your foot in that!
Italian Ice cream. Yumooo!
Translation: Speed bump
London ground!
London train!
Planning the day!
The streets were filled with these beautiful old aged trees.
Gavrila and Lindsay already having a blast.
Train station
London streets are full of double decker buses and Taxis.

I took so many pictures and videos on the trip so here are some more of London.

Our 1St stop was Oxford street. The famous shopping strip. The prices were outrageous!

2nd stop was for some italian ice cream. WOW sooo delicious!

3rd stop Buckingham palace. Incredible statues and the queen was there (The flag was up).

4th A stroll through Hyde park. Simply Beautiful!!

5th The memorial building dedicated to the lost soilders in World war two.

6th The unexpected naked biker parade!! We seriously were innocently just crossing the street when we saw police starting to block off the road and we were all like "Yaaa, a parade! Lets see if they throw us some candy!"lol-Yeah right! they threw us alot more than just candy it was more like the shock of our lives! Talk about pure chance and a beginners Luck! Here is some more info that we later discovered once returning home. It's actually for a good cause.London Naked Bike Ride (official site)World Naked Bike Ride (official site)

7th The world's largest four-faced, chiming clock. The structure is situated at the north-eastern end of the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London. It is often colloquially referred to as Big Ben, which is actually the nickname of the main bell housed within the tower (formally known as the Great Bell).The Clock Tower has also been referred to as The Tower of Big Ben and, incorrectly, St Stephen's Tower, which is actually the spired tower towards the middle of the Palace and is also the main point of entry for attendees of debates and committees.

8th The London eye. It took seven years and the skills of hundreds of people from five countries to make the London Eye a reality. Each of the 32 capsules weighs 10 tonnes. Each rotation takes about 30 minutes, meaning a capsule travels at a stately 26cm per second, or 0.9km (0.6 miles) per hour - allowing passengers to step on and off without the wheel having to stop.

9th the moving statues. Definitely the highlight of the trip. So funny!

10th The Tower bridge mistakenly known as the London Bridge is an impressive bridge that has existed near the present site over the period from the Roman occupation of the area, nearly 2,000 years. The first bridge across the Thames in the London area was built of wood by the Romans on the present site around 50 AD. This bridge was probably a military pontoon bridge. Around 55 AD, a piled bridge was built. The local Britons built a small trading settlement next to it, the town of Londinium. The settlement and the bridge were destroyed in a revolt led by Queen Boudicca in 60 AD. The victory was short lived, and soon afterwards, the Romans defeated the rebels, and set about building a new walled town. Some of the old Roman wall still exists in the area today. The new town and bridge was built around the position of the present bridge, providing access to the south coast ports via 'Stane Street' (the A3 route) and 'Watling Street' (the A2). The bridge fell into disrepair after the Romans left. As Londinium was also abandoned there was litle need for a bridge at this point and in the Saxon period the river was a political boundary between hostile kingdoms of Mercia and Wessex. With the impact of the Viking invasions and the reconquest by the kings of Wessex and re-occupation by Alfred the Great of the Roman city the political conditions for a Saxon bridge crossing to be placed here arose. However, there is no archaeological evidence for a bridge before Aethelred's reign and his attempts to stem the Sweinian invasions of the 990s. In 1014, according to a much later skaldic tradition, the bridge was pulled down by the Norwegian prince Olaf, as he was aiding king Aethelred in what, if true, was a successful bid to divide the defending forces of the Danes who held the walled City of London plus Southwark, thereby regaining London for the Anglo-Saxon king. This episode might have inspired the well-known nursery rhyme "London Bridge is Falling Down".