You Belong with Me

Thank you Taylor Swift for the inspiration for this blog post…..”After aaaall this time, how could you not know babyeeee you belong with me?”

Despite all the recent happenings in Japan, I have been able to get some "R and R" (as the military puts it) in the good ol' US of A with my hubby. I have gotten to spend more time with my husband since returning to the States (even with him working every day) than we have been able to since his first deployment in August! A couple of weeks in San Diego and now a couple more in Hawaii! I am feeling tremendously blessed! (A special thanks to my very generous Aunt Sharon and Uncle Pat who graciously sent me to Hawaii, just so I could spend some extra time with my hubby! This makes my heart happy beyond words....time with Nick is so rare and my family is too kind!)

Beautiful day in Coronado (the area where the Naval base is located, just on the outskirts of SD)

Even though I wanted to “wait it out” in Japan, Nick insisted I be with him in the States…thank goodness I followed his advice, “You belong with me” he said.

And though it was a long trek back to the States, Beretta too is here and happy! (Thank you everyone for your concerns for her! I have one of the BEST friends ever, who faithfully held strong to her word to, "not leave Japan without Beretta." She deserves a medal...Nick and I are forever grateful to her!) Nick might have wanted me by his side, but it has been B who has been there by mine all those months Nick was deployed, and again during all the earth shakes! So despite the fact that she is, "just a dog" to some, she is my buddy and quite honestly Nick and my first "child!" "You belong with me"...

Beretta sitting on my clothes while I was trying to pack…making me feel guilty by giving me those sad eyes...if I could, I would have put her in my suitcase and taken her with me!

While in California we were able to see several friends…military friends who we've met along the way, college friends who we were able to catch up with and even one of Nick's best friends from high school! We were so thankful for the time to visit with old friends!

Mexican food with several of our “Navy friends”… (Rebekah’s baby did not like being held by Nick…he wanted the food!) The restaurant was called Ponce’s, I especially liked this place because they were doing a fundraiser for Japan! My kind of place! The following Sunday (a day they are normally closed) they were doing a special opening and all proceeds were going to the Tsunami Relief (even the employees were working for free!).

Nick's family lives in California too, so a couple drives up to Tustin and Thousand Oaks during our stay in SD, allowed for good quality time with the fam!

And oh the food....Nick and I were in a food coma the entire time we were in Cali! We love Asian food, but boy had we missed our American fav's!

Eating at In and Out Burger….so delicious! A must try – “animal style” they aren’t on the menu, and might clog your arteries, but sooooo worth it!

Nothing says America like warm apple pie and coffee (Coffee Shop on Orange Avenue in Coronado…a cute little diner where the waitresses wear uniquely handmade aprons and there’s music playing from an old fashioned juke box)

A place recommended to us by many….the suggestions were correct, it was fantastic food and beer!

BBQ! There are 2 kinds of food, this Texas girl craves most – Tex Mex and BBQ! Nick knew I was in need of a BBQ fix, so he researched the best BBQ in the area… the result = Phil’s BBQ! They are known for their “award winning ribs” which is exactly what Nick and I ordered! OH MY! Delicious! The line was wrapped around the building, that’s how good this stuff was!

Who needs a shopping cart when you have a baby stroller? Better yet, who needs a crib when you can snuggle in a large pile of clothes?

The best thing I did while in San Diego (besides eat amazing food) was to shop shop shop with my friend Rebekah Butterfield! We had fun catching up - with each other and with what the boutiques had to offer! I left Japan in such a frantic state, packing was the last thing on my mind. I simply threw a few things into 2 carry-on’s…when come to find out, those few items were supposed to last me for a couple of months or longer…needless to say, retail therapy was calling my name! And SD is the perfect place to shop! The store selections are endless. I was in shopping heaven! The best part – American sizes!!!

An added bonus, my time in California fell on a very important date for Nick and I. We were able to be together on the anniversary of our very first date…Nick and I have been together for 7 years! Dinner in Huntington Beach with Nick’s parents seemed celebratory enough. On our last night in Cali, before we were to head off to Hawaii, Nick and I toasted to the 7 years together and to the many more to come.

(First date, 7 years ago...Naval Ball)

Though I hated leaving, I am glad to be home, if not for a little while. But Japan is always on my mind and the people there are constantly in my prayers.

US loves Japan…good thing, cause so do I!

You belong with me…