Welcome to Vicenza, Italy

What can I say... I've been having mixed emotions lately regarding this move. Lets begin by explaining my whole experience in regards to the flight.  HORRIBLE!!!  First they canceled my flight then they delayed all my  flights so instead of arriving Monday I arrived Tuesday.  It was a very exhausting experience for me and Knela.  She was stuck in that kennel for so long I felt so sorry for her.  But once I arrived and saw my husband everything was just forgotten.   At this moment I can say that I don't think I'll be driving here.  Speed limits are jokes, everybody seems to be in a rush and it's literally scary.  The language is just beautiful I hope I get to learn it quick.  I haven't been able to explore much because I've been doing paperworks and trying to settle down and of course rest and enjoy my hubbie.   I haven't post for a while but promise once I settle in everything will come back to place and I'll have plenty of time in my hands. Have a great weekend ya'll!!! Chao

Hasta La Vista Fort Bragg, NC

Saying goodbye AGAIN, but this time from what I called home for 2 years is not as easy as I thought it would be. 

Who would ever think that I would actually miss this place?  I don’t know if it’s the place or the people I have met throughout this time but there is definitely a part of me that doesn’t want to leave.  We’ve enjoyed our “stay” and met some amazing people in this small town.   

Looking back to our journey, I’ll always remember having family visit our home, family living half our away, our coworkers, and the people that you get to call friends.   

 The Millan Family (Josean's Brother & his family)

  Allen

  Jules & Blaklee

She's just one of a kind (Jules)

Juju & Allen

 Ayler

My sister and Nephew  

 
 Barbara 

 Ana

 Danielle

 Desiree

Although I’m a little nervous to what Italy will have for us, we are also excited for this new journey and adventure that the Army has given us.  It is not every day you get the opportunity to travel for free and experience different cultures. But for now it's time to visit my familia in Puerto Rico.

To all of our friends and family here in Fort Bragg a huge thank you for your love, respect and kindness and for making this place feel like home.

What A Week!!!

This week has been a nutshell for me.  My house looked as if I've never cleaned (boxes clothes and papers everywhere).  But finally movers came yesterday and picked up all of our furniture and canned goods.  One word can truly described me right now and that is EXHAUSTED.  Moving in my opinion is the most exhausting, daunting task.  I had to separate from what I’m taking on my suitcase to Puerto Rico and Italy (clothe, shoes and important papers) and things the movers were going to ship overseas.  I never knew I had so much crap.

I was ready to just burn everything; everyone would tell me not to worry because the movers come in wrap everything up and take it away.  I didn't have to do much.  But for starters I’m not that abusive of a person I like to help and I wanted to get rid of the things we didn't need and didn’t want to take with us.  By the end of all of it, the movers came and in 3.5 hours everything was gone.  An empty apartment with just 5 suitcase and an air mattress.  

 

Once they left I ended up getting my medical records and buying dinner since I don't have anything to cook with (I didn't think on that one to good).  It was an exhausting night with no tv just my computer, iphone and netflix.  

And one tired toy poodle
My thoughts on moving:

Have a great weekend.

Before The Big Move

January has been a busy month for us especially with this big leap to Italy.  These are my January goals and basically what my schedule looks like before we leave Fort Bragg, NC

~ Last dinner date with J
My boss was so kind enough to give me a gift card for Outback Steakhouse for Christmas.  And I decided to hold on to it so that hubs and I can have our last dinner together here in Fort Bragg.  J leaves this week to Italy and we won’t see each other til March so I want everything to be special.

~ Ship our Car Overseas
J has been doing the maintenance on our Highlander and it is also scheduled be taken to the port in South Carolina.

~ Movers
Movers are scheduled to pick up our shit furniture next week.  So I have been busy doing laundry, donating things we do not want, organizing what goes and what stays, taking down our picture frames and wall art; and basically cleaning out the apartment.

~ Buy clothes
I’m trying to bring a whole new set of wardrobe to Italy for the hubs and I.  This is not a priority but it sure does makes my stress levels go down lol.

~ Organize my Suitcases

Since the movers will be taking the furniture and some of my clothing I set aside the basics which I will be using for the remaining of the days I have left here in NC, for Puerto Rico and for our new home. 

~ Visit my Family & Friends in Puerto Rico
I’ve repeatedly said how much of a family person I am and there is no way I will move so far without seeing my loves.  So I’ll be flying to Puerto Rico and spending a whole month with my family and visiting some of my friends.  It’s going to be so hard to say goodbye and it’s definitely going to be a hell of a challenge to keep in contact with the time zone difference that we will be having. 

My Unforgettable Weekend

As you all know J was suppose to come this past weekend. His story was that he was driving with one of his friends from Arizona and he would let me know three hours ahead so that I can start driving and pick him up in Virginia.  But he sure did fool me!!!
On Friday after work I spent it cleaning and doing laundry. On Saturday I spent the morning at the dealership charging his battery (that I killed because I didn't warm his car... yes lesson learned).  Then I began to dye my hair and blow dry it.  I would text hubs "where you at" and after 3 hours he answered "we are in Arkansas".  So here I am taking things slow, bathed Knela and then I decided to get ready because I knew at some point he was going to let me know when to leave the house.  

Top: Express | Watch: Michael Kors | Iphone 6 Cover: Kate Spade
So after being ready for almost an hour and no calls what so ever all of a sudden the door bell rings; and there he was.  My man crush everyday, my husband, my best friend and my partner in crime.  

Knela's red "cheek" is my lip
I know this was no deployments and that a deployment is way harder than just four simple months of school, but I sure did miss him.  
I just want to thank you for following our journey, and for your messages.  

5 on Fri-Yay

Yes!!! It's finally FriYay!!! And I am more than excited. Here are my five things making me happy!!!

[ONE] Hubby is graduating today from his new MOS.  His new position now will be Intelligence Analyst (35F) and I’m beyond proud for him and his new journey. 

[TWO] I get my hubs back in less than 30 hours.  What more exciting than this.  Almost 5 months wasn’t easy at all.

 [THREE] I’m spending Christmas with one of my favorite cousins “Cat” yes I call her “Cat”.  Unfortunately hubs will spend Christmas in Puerto Rico with his mother since he won’t see her for three years and since I’m going to Puerto Rico towards the end of January to be with my family I decided to spend it in Georgia with my cousin so that he can have mother/son time. 

[FOUR] As I’ve said before I have been truly blessed at my actual job and I’m so sad that I have to resign.  But that’s military life.  But I’m so happy that they gave me an opportunity to refer someone and they gave her the job. 

[FIVE] I got my flight ticket and my visa and passport so Italy here we come!!!

Have a wonderful weekend!!!

We Are Moving Too...

On May we had found out where we would be stationed for three years once my husband graduated from his new MOS.  We decided not to say anything publicly 1. because we had to wait for him to graduate and 2. because the military can change our orders at any time.  

I've never seen the hubs so excited; he'l like a kid with a new toy.  On the other hand I have mixed feelings.  Of course I'm excited for the fact that I have never been overseas and it has been on my bucket list for quite some time; but just knowing I will be even more farther from my family and for 3 years, it is killing me.  I have repeatedly said that I am a family person and let’s face it mom & dad aren't growing any younger.  If my hubs would not have changed his MOS he could have decided where (if available) to be stationed.  But since he’s changing it’s the Army who decides for us.  And so I have seen the positive side of all this since it’s not every day that I will get to have an adventure like this.  

I see this trip as an opportunity to see new cultures and new things; so when I found out I jumped online and searched Vicenza and its surroundings.  

I mean look at these amazing pictures

I also found out that IVF is actually less expensive overseas than in the United States.  So this is very comforting and hopeful for us.  

I can now say that I cannot be more excited!  We will have so many places to discover such as Germany, France, Spain, Greece, and who knows even Egypt.  And who ever knew… learning Italian is not as bad as I thought 
(it’s almost similar to Spanish which is my main language).  

My moving to do list is huge especially because this is my first time as a military spouse organizing and doing everything while he is still in school. But I’m having fun and I am grateful that I have friends helping me through all of this.  

Veterans Day

I just wanted to take a moment to wish some of my family members, all those soldiers out there including my amazing husband a Happy Veterans Day.  For all those that have risked their life for the United States of America and beyond.  Not only do they deploy to go to war but they also deploy to help others. 

His first deployment he had such a baby face
  

Helping out after 2010 Haiti Earthquake 

I would have never thought that being married to my hubs was going to be a hard job.  It’s not easy when he has to be away from our home for months, praying every day that each of them return back safe, crying your heart out when he’s on a mission and you don’t know if he’s okay or not.  

 At the end I’m so happy that I get to call this man my husband, I’m glad that I get to tell him everyday how much I love him, he’s my sunshine, he’s my husband, he’s my soldier.  And I’m extremely happy of all that he has done.  I admire how much he loves his career and how hard he tries to continue to grow in what he does.

 Happy Veterans Day !!!