... what MOMENT would you PAUSE?

DANIELLA & ALEXI

bonded quickly and became such GREAT FRIENDS!  Like sisters!

We miss these smiling faces!!!

Where is the *PAUSE* button?  Seriously... I need it desperately because LIFE is going by so quickly. If only it were as easy as a Pause Button!  This Navy Life is something else... just when you think you've gotten a hold of it - making new friends and saying goodbye... it gets harder & harder.   

In a world of blogs, facebook, mySpace, emails, twitter and so many other applications - it's sometimes just too much to keep up.  So I'm going back to my blog and hopefully filling in the gaps that have taken place. 

This summer (June 13th) we had to say goodbye to another wonderful family... our neighbors - the McMonigles.  Justin & Lexi were like my own kids... in fact, my kids called them their "cousins"... because they wanted to be related.  For our first year on Guam we shared the other side of the duplex with them - all we had to do was bang on the wall to hear each other!  Our kids did a lot together!  When we moved here their dad - was on his 2nd deployment and their mom worked full time!   Having this amazing family live next door helped my kids transition so well here on GUAM. 

On their last weekend on island - we all stayed at the PIC (Pacific Island Club)... swimming, eating, bonding... having sleep overs - going to the SLINGSHOT and being thrown into the air and just making lasting memories together!  We know it's not good-bye... but until we meet again!

McMONIGLES . DARABOS . RAMIREZ families

sharing a fun weekend at the Pacific Island Club

... after a few months of an empty house next door... we welcomed not only NEW NEIGHBORS & NEW FRIENDS... but discovered we're DISTANT RELATIVES... WOW!

Mia's new friend & neighbor is "Jazzie".  She moved in next door and now shares the other side of our duplex.  It has been fun for Mia having someone close to her age next door!  They love each other so much that they always want THE SAME THING!  Both strong-willed girls - they have this Alpha Dog syndrome going on.   I know it's a phase... but these two are just funny to watch.  The stare downs - the "MINES" - the tug-o-wars - the push, pulls & shoves.  Pam (Jazzie's mom) said that we should video tape them in action and show it to them so they can see their behavior!  Hmmm... we'll have to give that a try!

Mia & Daniella loved playing "house" in their new home box made by our new neighbor - "Auntie Pam".  Jazzie's parents - Jason & Pamela Hwang, both went to Loma Linda University - where Dale went to school... only Dale is MUCH older (ha ha!)  Here's the crazy part... I recently found out that we are not only neighbors - but actually related through marriage - Jason's 1st cousin is married to my (Dot's) 2nd cousin.  Small world, isn't it?  God continues to bless us with another wonderful family to share our duplex/our world with... even if it's for this short moment in time on Guam... it's one that will last forever in our hearts and minds!

The weekend we returned from my "40th" Birthday trip to JAPAN - Dale & I, along with our friends & neighbors, Beth|Webb McCanse, Gemma|Mike Mercado & Pamela|Jason Hwang - went to the NAVY BALL & had a fantastic time! 

Mike Mercado - who returned from his 13 month deployment in Afghanistan proudly wore his shiney new medals... and what a GREAT time to be able to celebrate his return home!

Thanks to our neighbor & friend Carmen... she watched ALL of the LEO PALACE kids... Carm even FED them, too!  What a great friend!  All she asked was that we have a GREAT time & not to worry about them!  So we did! 

The fun of dressing up, having adult time and being among friends, while experiencing our Navy Traditions is something we all wanted to take part in... especially for most of our physician friends who are only in the Navy for a short time.   I'm so glad that we did because once we got to the venue (which was up here at Leo Palace Resort)... it was a fantastic time!

FALL TIME means COSTUMES and FUN!

Autumn | Fall is my absolute FAVORITE time of year!  And it's probably one of the seasons I miss the most since living here on Guam.  I miss the cool breezes and the change in colors of the leaves that Fall brings... living on GUAM it's either hot & rainy or very hot & very rainy!  So, we turn our A/C a little cooler, stick on their costumes and get into the fun of the FALL season!

When I put this little outfit on Mia she was so happy and I'm sure felt so special!  She LOVED it!!!  This right here (ladybug photos) is a moment I would've LOVED to PAUSE!!!  Pure Happiness in the eyes of my 2-year old!

OOhh MY... and then there are my 3 little stooges!  Such goofballs!  I love that they still enjoy dressing up and having fun!!!  Watching my kids laugh so hard that they fall on the floor - constantly reminds me to LIVE IN THE MOMENT!!!  To embrace the TIME given!  It's always a party here in our little house!!! 

Thanks to our friends - Christina & her hubby- we were invited to "trick or treat" in their beautiful neighborhood and enjoy a little play time and an excellent & most delicious Teppenyaki dinner/buffet.  

Good Food!  Good Friends!  Good Fun! 

Christina is Ryan's "sissy" (that's what he calls her)  We've known her since our time in South Carolina.  She & her hubby are both active duty Navy.  He recently returned from a deployment and now Christina is soon to go on her own 6 month deployment to Afgahnistan right before the New Year.  They have 2 beautiful little girls and I just take my hat off to them & many others for going bravely and confidently - while leaving the ones they love behind.

I'm blown away by the courage and the honor that surround me every single day!  How life goes on DURING deployments, AFTER deployments and BEFORE deployments - LIFE JUST NEVER STOPS... but continues on!   If only we could hit the PAUSE button... what MOMENTS would you PAUSE?