Miyajima Festival n Fireworks show

Over 3,000 people, 2 train rides, 2 ferry boat rides, more smells than I care to share, drunk people, fireworks, and frustration out the roof..... we made it to and from the Miyajima festival. It was one of those "check in the box" festivals, nothing that I would ever fight that crowd for again, but glad I got to say I went. The horrid smell of body odor, sweat, bad breath, and urine was overwhelming. Japanese, NOT ALL, but MOST, smell TERRIBLE. Grant it they work LONG hours and are away from home more than they are at home but DAMN!!!! LOL Anyhow, the kids enjoyed the fireworks and all the yummy food plus they were able to get snow cones which in a child's eyes, MAKES IT ALL BETTER!!! LOL The crowds were terrible, Japanese people are really aggressive when they are trying to get from point a to point b, and it's exhausting trying to fight a crowd like that. Overall though it was a great day for the Jones' at Miyajima. <3

Today did mark a very sad but sweet day though, Bricen went up another size in diapers/pull-ups, and we are debating on potty training with him. He's ears are still doing great, and his last 4 baby teeth are breaking the skin and should be through within the week. Lots going on in our lives, as usual, and lots of growing up and time passing to quickly to keep up with, but we are taking each moment as God gives them to us and just cherishing them! Goodnight <3

I mean NO DISRESPECT but DANG!!!

Ok so while up north, I saw a sign that said something to the effect of "Officer's Country no trespassing unless authorized or an official visitor, no pedestrians, or motorists allowed." All I could think of was, "hmm now if we aren't allowed to even drive through (as it's a short cut!!) I wonder what "illegal" or "not allowed" things are going on inside the "officer's country." I'm sure nothing, but still. Ok so they worked hard in school and got a degree. I'm proud! But they are HUMANS and in my opinion, NO BETTER THAN A PFC STRAIGHT OUTTA BOOT CAMP. They ALL put their lives on the line, they ALL signed that SAME contract. Why should they get "off limits" areas but yet any Tom Dick n Harry can drive through the enlisted members housing sections? Why are the enlisted member's families any less important that they don't deserve the same protection and privacy? This sign REALLY bothers me. Makes me want to become an officer and REFUSE to live in "Officer's Country" and DEMAND to live amongst the enlisted to prove a point... Degree or no degree, military members are all the same at the end of the day! An individual who made a choice to serve their country, to die for their country. God created us all equal, so who do these people think they are and what right do they think their degrees have given them to be able to "ban" people from "their" area??????" I respect officers for their hard work and dedication all through their school years and military careers. I think they deserve respect just as all military members do. But I don't agree with the "OFFICER'S COUNTRY, DO NOT ENTER" crap. Sorry, but I don't.

LOL oh how stupidity humors me!

Ever witnessed something or something that was just beyond dumb? I have, and I'm sure some of you reading this are thinking, "yea I have ever since I met you Heather." LOL Well you know, I'm not the smartest person in the world, but I do have common sense. I sit back and watch and listen when people think I'm just out in no man's land. I witness some of the dumbest crap ever! I can't believe my own eyes sometimes! The things that happen in this world and the things people do anymore are just humorous and amazing to me. They belittle others, when they themselves are lower than the person they belittle, they judge things without even having a clue as to what that "thing" even is. Over the past few months I've been listening and watching in the shades and I have had some of the best laughs... LOL... I know this seems sad or pathetic to some, but I know I'm not the only one who finds things and people humorous. <3

Bricen's surgery

Waking up at 5am to arrive at the hospital at 6am. Was taken downstairs around 645am and he went back for surgery at 744am.  He was such a champ! He drank 1 little sip of the "drunk juice" and that's it but it was enough to make him loopy so he didn't freak out when they took him away from me. We played with cars as we waited. The surgery didn't take long at all, he was back in my arms at 8am. He woke up in a panic, screaming, kicking, swinging, but eyes still shut. He wasn't sure how to respond to the sleepy meds but that only lasted around 30 minutes. He soon went into a comatose sleep mode LOL. We snuggled in the hospital bed together for a little over an hour til he woke up. He said first thing, "momma, I wanna eat eat!" LOL We were discharged and headed to dunkin donuts and starbucks. Yes he LOVED coffee. I got him a small caramel frappe and a blueberry cake donut. <3 Pure simplicity and it melted this momma's heart! We did the last of our shopping then headed for the hotel where we got hot cocoa and cereal for a snack. We played and watched tv then he napped for about 5 hours as I packed and did our laundry. Pizza was our YUMMY dinner (delivery) which he ate 4 BIG slices!!! Holy crap I was in shock! He was really hungry!! We snuggled more the night before, the day of and the night of his surgery than we have since he was a newbie! I was soaking it all up and cherishing each snuggle! His surgery went perfectly and the dr said he will make a great recovery!

Just a catch up.....

Wow its been FOREVER since I took the time to seriously blog!!! I miss it! Anywho, so the day of fear and has n went, and I still won't go into detail on that one, sorry ya'll but if you know me, then you remember what that was all about! So glad that is over even though we are not 100% outta the water yet!! But we have heads above water and we're treadin n not drowning so life is great! :)

Bric's surgery and our mini getaway for 2 in Yokosuka. Overall the trip (traveling part) SUCKED MAJOR BIG BALLS!!! However, I am so very blessed that his surgery went perfectly, God was right there to see us both through it, and brought my baby out of it just fine! We went and had dunkin donuts n starbucks 2 hrs after the surgery!!! PRAISE GOD!! I have never in my life realized just how precious the small moments are until this week. Having one on one time with my baby who isn't such a baby anymore meant so much to me! Xavier n I had everyday together for almost 4 solid years and I think I forgot how precious those one on one moments are!! I am so grateful Bric n I had this opportunity! It was a blast for the both of us and I know I sure enjoyed it!!

To tell you a little about my terrible traveling experiences though.... On the way up there, a Japanese man told me to move out of my seat because he didn't want to sit beside me n Bric. (His seat was the window seat) Y'all know me well enough to know that I bucked and was like.... UM NO I PAID FOR THIS SEAT, HERE'S MY TICKET, YOU MOVE IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SIT HERE. So he did, as he I'm sure cussed me in Japanese. Then another lady came to sit in that seat, she sat there for about 30 minutes then moved cause we "crowded" her. (She was a big lady and having the arm rest down between her seat and Bric's cut into her sides which I'm sure was not comfortable but still, next time, buy 2 seat tickets!! Then on the way back, today, I was told that there were 0 reserved seats due to it being a Japanese holiday. NEVER AGAIN WILL I TRAVEL VIA TRAIN ON A JAPANESE HOLIDAY!!!! So I took a non reserved seat ticket WHICH I'LL NEVER AGAIN DO IN MY LIFE!!! I stood for a little over an hour due to there being 0 seats open in the non reserved section. As I stand struggling to change, feed Bric lunch, keep him happy, and get out of everyone's way the best I could as I was crunched up against the door, not one person offered me their seat. They just stared and whispered as I struggled and Bricen screamed with tears rolling. Finally 3 elder Japanese men stood up for me against the train crew and demanded they do their jobs and find me a seat. They refused. :-/ Finally a young girl in her early 20's I'm sure offered me hers, I rejected it, but she insisted, so I sat. Bricen and I was able to sleep for a little over an hour, then we played n had a snack over another hour or so's period of time. I couldn't get to a bathroom or changing area, had no floor space to change him nor seat space. He ended up peeing out of his diaper onto me 4 different times. As I struggled to change him standing up, he pees in the floor :-/ By this time we are both soaked in pee, embarrassed, hungry, tired, sweaty, smelly, and exhausted! We FINALLY reach Hiroshima where I strip him naked on the platform while waiting on our last train and change him AGAIN! We almost miss that train due to it stopping 1/4 way up the track instead of coming on down where it should've came. UGH!!!!!

End of story, we made it home!! Safely, exhausted and smelly, but safely!!

Thursday, the day of fear

I'm not going into details in this blog, I just want to simply to put my thoughts n feelings on paper to hopefully clear my head some. Today is a HUGE day in our military lives. At the end of the day, life for us could change completely or it could go on as we know it but it with a higher appreciation level. Lately I have been so super depressed and feeling disconnected from life in general along with my spiritual side. I've been trying to reconnect but it's so hard to do alone. I am hoping that I can witness and show my changes enough that my husband will want to join in. Stress is taking over me lately, I need to do Yoga or meditate or something to help fine my inner peace. (if I have any left.) I just seem to be a worry wort again and I thought I had out grown that. :-/ It just seems that lately it's been more bad news than good. Maybe that's a sign that I'm a bad person??? I'm trying to be better, I'm trying to do more giving and 0 taking. I try to never ask for help, always offering help, and it seems that in the end, all I get out of it is bad news.

Tina beana ballerina

WOW! My first true and best friend in the military life as a spouse!!! Girl we have been through SOME TIMES together! Ups n downs, hard and easy, tough and good, amazing and terrible! Most importantly, I picked you to hold my hand, guide me and Brian, into bringing our first born child into this world! I could not have been more blessed to have had you in the room, seeing him be born right there with us! You will NEVER again be listed a friend, you are my family. God placed us in each others lives for a reason and that reason was to give us both the sister we've never had and never will have. Words are simply not enough and will never give you the justice you deserve for being the amazing woman that you are! I love you and I can not wait to see you again! You are one of the few and by few I mean you are one of the 5 girls from Cherry Point that I can not wait to see again! xoxo

My guardian angel

Gary Lynn Ridley, DOB 4-6-1056, DOD 1-16-2008, RIP daddy.  I will never in my life find another man who loved me as much as you did. I was a daddy's lil girl and a momma's lil angel without a doubt. I'll forever keep you alive through stories, pictures, conversations, and memories! As long as I'm alive you will never be truly dead. Xavier knows you and misses you and loves you so much. He doesn't understand that you will never be physically back yet, but he will, and when he does, he'll be grateful that he knows so much about you already. Same goes for Bricen. There's not a day that goes by that I dont shed at least a few tears over you daddy. I just simply do not know how to move on without you. I don't want to, I don't know how to, and I don't want to learn. I just want you to come back. I know that you were far from perfect but we all are. God didn't create perfect humans. I would love to have a good fuss with you right now, cause at least that would mean that I was in your physical presence just one more time. I know you are probably so upset that its been over 3 years and I'm still grieving. I can't help it. You are my daddy, my father, my friend. I miss you!!!! I miss calling you just to hear you say how hot it was under whatever car or tractor that you were rebuilding the motor on that day. I miss my mechanic. I miss my Mr. Fix-it-all. I miss my if I can't fix it the right way, I'll rig it somehow. HAHAHAHAAHA I just simply miss you more than words will EVER be able to express!! Rest in Peace daddy, I'll see you again one day! It's my ultimate goal!!!!

I love knowing that I make her laugh so much!

Amanda Palfreyman, wow! This girl was my next door neighbor for 2 years here in Iwakuni, Japan. We became the best of friends, more like sisters, and as our tours here in Japan come to an end, the tears begin to roll. We have less than a year left here together, our husbands have been deployed SO MANY TIMES together, we've spent more nights together than apart, Amanda and I. Her hubby is now deployed to war :( and every time she is alone, its like I can feel her pain, emptiness, loneliness, and sadness. This girl means the world to me, let me just be frank about it, I love her to pieces! We've shared some great memories together, and I plan to see to it that this last year here together is spent making many many more! Brian will deploy during this last year as well, so there will be many more nights spent together with her, being lonely and sad together. It's wives/friends like her that make the life we lead so much easier though! She has the patience of 30 people, the heart of gold, she's so smart, way smarter than she will ever give herself credit for!! she has an amazing husband, 3 wonderful children, whom I adore! This family is not just friends we made along the way, they are now family members that I will see to it that we see and stay in touch with over the rest of our lives! I love ya girl, and I'm always gonna be here!

Wow what a week!

Well where do I start? It's been a TERRIBLE week but I still trying to find some good that has came from it. My kids and I as well as Brian are all feeling much better, healthy, and living! First off, Bricen has his daddy's temper... Takes A LOT to get him mad but once he's that mad, someone will get hurt and fast! We were at a friend's house, who lives out in town in a Japanese house, and Bricen n her youngest son got into a pushing fight. Bricen is 19 months and her son is 26 months old. Mind you, Japanese doors are all made of either paper or glass, but luckily their glass don't shatter n go everywhere like American glass. Bricen ended up shoving this 26 month old boy into a door and shattering the bottom half of the glass completely out!!!! THE BOY WAS FINE, NOT EVEN A SCRATCH ON HIM. We ended up having to pay for the glass needless to say, and we were more than happy to pay for it since our son broke it. Then, I missed 2 dr's appointments for my follow up to make sure all the cervical cancer cells are gone in order to get my clear medical check ride. Today, I show up at 1030am for Bricen's 18 month well child check up appointment that I was told was at 1045am, only to learn that it was at 1015am and now they can't see him til 1400 (200pm). We go back home for lunch and naptime. Head back to the clinic at 1330 (130pm) and get pulled over for speeding.. 40 km in a 30 km..... UGH! Now I am LATE AGAIN! Ok so we go in and get checked in and everything is golden til the corpsman decides to be rude and a jerk to not only me but my kids. Bricen gets a great report, he is off the charts on everything, super advanced and intelligent. We get his shots and such, get to the car, roll the windows down as it is around 90 degrees or more. Once we get to my friend Jessie's house, I go to roll the windows back up only to find that when I rolled them down, the drivers door window came off the track!!! I call the shop and they are not only booked but also short staffed til SATURDAY!! Now I have to tape a trash bag (HOW GHETTO!!!!!) over my window at night and if it rains until Saturday when they can get to fixing it. MAN what a long day today was and it only made my week even longer!!!! It's now 2223 (1023pm) and my kids have been in bed for a couple hours. I am thinking this mommy deserves an extra long hot shower tonight.    :(

It's not just about the rank or money

April 1, 2011 my amazing husband pinned on Ssgt. He was deployed up in the Northern part of Japan helping with the humanitarian relief from the aftermath of the 9.0 earthquake that rocked northern Japan in March 2011. Most people automatically think "woot woot more money" but to us, it was more like "shew ok that's 1 major step in his career that he has accomplished, now on to the next one." The extra pay, which isn't as much as you think it would be, is nice and appreciated, but it all goes into a savings account for our kids college fund so it's not like we benefit from it on a daily basis. Others would think "woot woot higher rank means less work cause you can pass it down to the junior marines, get out of work early, deploy less, be home more, etc..." Well let me tell you, those that think like that are just simply ignorant! Sorry but it's true. The more rank your husband/wife gets, the responsibility, duties, work load, and stress they receive. Yes there are perks to it, but Brian has worked longer hours and put in more "at home work" time since he picked up than he has in his entire career it seems. We never really see him, he's either at work, teaching a class, attending a class, or at pt. He also plays basketball, football, softball and baseball for extra curricular activities. He plays a guitar with a group of guys whenever they get a chance to do a show. He deploys a lot here in Japan as well. So for those of you that think, more rank, more play... you are SADLY mistaken. I would give anything to have more time with him but I know that he is a Marine and he has duties. Him picking up another rank just started a new chapter in our lives, so far it's been a fun journey. 9 years in the Marine Corps and counting, 11 more til retirement. I love my devil dog and am very proud to be called a Marine Wife. Rah <3

Childhood best friends, life long lovers

Grown up together as kids, lost touch, rekindled our friendship in high school, lost touch when he went to the Marine Corps, found each other again right before he went to Iraq, and again when he got home. He was home for 8 months from Iraq before we ended up FINALLY dating after a LIFETIME of wanting to be together and just never made a move on either of our parts. We got together in October 2005 and was married February 3, 2006. Our life together has been far from smooth sailing but it has been a roller coaster that I would gladly go on again! I love him with everything in me. Without him, I would honestly be dead or in jail. He came into my life at the perfect time and showed me that there was so much more out there than the life I was leading. He has helped me get back into school, together we have created 2 amazing little boys that are my everything, and every time I look at him, my heart skips a beat. Hearing him play his guitar literally takes my breath away. He is so talented, sweet, caring, and loving... He can be not so sweet and loving but hey we all have those days so who am I to judge him for having flaws and bad days? There are times I would love nothing more than to knock him out but there are sooooo many more days that I just sit back and look at him and say to myself "How in the HELL did I get soooo lucky??" BABY I LOVE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR COMING INTO MY LIFE AND HELPING GET ME BACK ON TRACK! WITHOUT YOU I'D BE NOTHING AND I'D HAVE NOTHING. I OWE YOU MY LIFE! 5 years and going strong, I can't wait to grow old with you! <3

Our friendship in a "nut" shell

Jessie, let me tell you about a girl named Jessie. She is the funniest, coolest, most awesome girl ever. If you want to have a great time, lots of laughs, and amazing memories then you need to have Jessie in your life! Since I met her we have shared some amazing times together! This girl can make me laugh so hard that I feel as if I'm going to explode! LOL She is a "nut" and I love her to pieces! Her son, Cam, is one of Xavier's best friends here in Japan. He cries when we talk about leaving Japan because he is terrified he'll never see Cameron again. :-( I promised him that we will take vacations to see that he sees him again. I'm sadden at the thought of leaving and the possibility of never finding another person to make me laugh the way she does. She is so super creative, smart, driven, and a great person. The biggest thing that drew me to her is her attitude and her out-spokenness. We are so much alike that it's actually scary. LOL So to sum up our friendship in a "nut" shell, she's AWESOME!

Japan... Land of Peace and Purity

One of the many many things that I will miss about Japan is the sunrises and sunsets. They are just absolutely breath-taking! I've never in my life seen such beauty in the skies. It seems as if the Heavens open up and let their light shine through twice a day here. Maybe I'm just older now and have learned to slow down and cherish the more simple things in life, or maybe I'm just corny. HAHA Either way, I am beyond thankful for this AMAZING experience! We are planning on doing a tour in the states then requesting Japan again for another 3 years. We love it here so much. I really do not want to leave, I just want to go home to visit then return to my new "home." I have met some pretty amazing ppl here and I've met some pretty shady ppl here. Such is life right? Their are good and bad things in life no matter where in the world we go. I just roll with the punches and make the best of it all. I have never been one to let negativity stop me from having fun, and I'm too old to start now. Japan has so many beauties and over a period of time I will blog about each of them.

Mary Nason or Mary from the bible?

If you were to ask me if I thought this picture was Mary Nason or Mary from the Bible, I'd answer like this. BOTH! I truly believe that when Mary Young Nason was born, Mary from the Bible was reborn. I have NEVER IN MY LIFE met a young woman of her youth be so compassionate in her faith, family, friendships, and above all else, herself. This girl, can love like you have never been loved before. She forgives, she loves, she cherishes, honors, respects, acknowledges, and most of all, she's just there. What do I mean by that? I mean that when there is nothing in this world that you feel that can make your life better, turn to her, just being in her presence will make you feel a little more at ease. Everytime I would go to her house, I would feel my heart rate LITERALLY slow down, my breathing relax, my muscles let go, and my spirit felt more alive than it's ever felt. If she were a man, I'd marry her if I wasn't married and neither was she. :) xoxo I love this girl so much! We have had both hard times and amazing blessed times together. I am a firm believer that its not how little 2 friends have trials that makes a great friendship, but yet its how strong they come out of those trials together! I don't know how she feels honestly, but to me, I love her more today than I did when we first became friends and I never thought that'd be possible! She inspires me daily by the way she lives her life, raises her kids, views the world, loves her husband, honors her mother n father, and most importantly, the way she worships our Heavenly Father. She's not perfect but in my eyes she's the closest person to Mary from the Bible that I'll ever meet on this Earth! 

LOVE it's unconditional

Don't give up on us, don't give up on love... don't you walk away in silence......

A sister, not by blood but by God

Let me just say that my life as you know it would be nothing like it is and I would not be 1/2 the friend I am today without this girl! Her name is Danielle Goodwin, I met her at Cherry Point, NC. She came into my life through a mutual friend whom I will also blog about later. I can not stop thanking the good Lord above for Dani. She is truly the best friend I could have ever been blessed with. She is one amazing mother, wife, friend, sister, daughter, you name it, she's IT! You are gonna get sick of hearing how much I truly love her. Not a day goes by that I dont think about her. We may not talk daily now like we used to due to being 1/2 a world apart, but if you ask either of us, I'm sure the answer will be the same when it comes to whether or not we are still best friends. I will die saying she's my best friend. Her family is apart of mine and vice verses. Dani is a wonderful Christian girl, beautiful inside and out. As I sit here writing this, the tears are rolling. I would honestly give a kidney to see her again. It's been 2 long painful and joyful years since I saw her last. Saying goodbye was hell but saying hey again will be a taste of Heaven. I can't wait to hug her up and take some much needed girl time to catch up. Girl I LOVE YOU AND I CAN'T WAIT TO GET HOME! I MISS YOU TO PIECES!!

friend or angel?

Have you ever met a person or someone come into your life and you find yourself asking, is this person meant to be my friend or my angel/blessing? I have! Alex Hignett is her name and let me tell you, she became like a sister to me at a time in my life that I honestly could have gave up and been ok with that decision. I love this girl to pieces. She helped me recover from so much in such a short period of time. i don't think I've met a person like her in Japan yet. She's crazy n wild n fun but yet sweet, caring, loving, and sexy at the same time.   ;-) hehe Her n her family have left Japan now and are in Cali =( I miss her so much! We may not have hung out everday or even talked everyday for that matter, but she was the type of friend that I knew if I needed/wanted to talk to her at anytime, all I had to do was call. Her door was always open to those she cared about, and she was always willing to listen no matter what you needed to talk about. Grant it, she's gonna voice her opinion and thought about it, whether you like it or not LOL but that's just one more thing that made me love our friendship that much more. I honestly can not wait to get to the states to see her and her family again! In this crazy military lifestyle I lead, its very hard to find true and lasting friendships. I've been blessed to had her to my few. <3

My birthday wishes to knight in camo ;)

27 years ago, a lil boy was born in a small town of Greene County, TN. He was named Brian Jones and throughout his childhood he met this lil girl named Heather Ridley. They grew up together, went to high school together, but he graduated before her. He went off to the Marines at a young age of 18, but before he left he came to see Heather to say "I'm off, I'll miss you girl." Time went on and Brian deployed to Iraq, but not without saying goodbye to his best friend, Heather. He went and served his country, and served it well. He came home, and they celebrated his safe return at a 4th of July party. Days turned into months that Heather hadn't heard from Brian. Finally, on Oct 3, she heard his voice for the first time in 3 months. They started talking and one thing led to the other, and before they knew it, it was Christmas and Brian was proposing with the perfect ring. By February they were married and living in NC together. 5 years later, they are living in Japan with their 2 sons. Their lives and marriage aint perfect but their love is strong and pure. I LOVE YOU BABY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, 27 YEARS AGO THE LORD BLESSED YOUR FAMILY WITH YOU, AND THAT LED TO THEM BLESSING ME WITH YOU!!!! 5-11-11

My Japanese Birth Experience

So my overall experience with the Japanese doctors and delivery was.... AMAZING! Who care that the epidural didnt take? He got it in without causing me nerve damage, and he helped me bring a big healthy bundle of joy into this world. The nurses were absolutely awesome, minus the fact that the language was a little trying from time to time but even with that being said, they took wonderful care of me and my baby boy. I wouldn't have had it any other way! I would definitely recommend ppl having their babies with Dr. Shoji vs ANY American hospital. Dr. Shoji is over 70 years old, been delivering babies for over 45 years, delivering American babies for over 30 years.... That's longer than most American doctors have had their freakin PH.D's.... So what he dont talk that much during the appt's? He talks during labor and he's very encouraging and he roots ya on like a coach at a ballgame. I just cant say enough good things about my experience! I really hope n pray that everyone can find a way to have a great experience out there in the future too. Just dont have expectations, otherthan expecting your dr to do his job (whether it be done the way you think it should be or not is not the case) and things will go great~ I'm soooo glad that I experienced this and its definitely a story I'll share with ANYONE that wishes to know in more detail about it... My son, Bricen, was born Dec 28, 2009 and weighed 10 lbs 8 oz and 22 1/2 inches long.  He was born all natural, a traditional Japanese birthing experience.