the time spent together.

Collin boosting Devin up.

Devin got back about a week and a half after his original date to be home....which left him with just a few days over a month to settle into Oregon before departing to be united with his original station, CGC Steadfast.
We celebrated our second anniversary August 2nd. I got Devin a netbook so he would have a simpler time communicating with the real world while traveling around on boats, and he got me a nook since I read pretty much constantly. We also both made tattoo appointments as part of our festivities, and there was fun all around.
In the middle of August we were visited by the Trerise family as well as Daniel. It was nice to have a little bit of Utah in Oregon as Oregon still does not feel like "home". We went to the beach, bought fish and chips from a boat (it was delicious!), went to the column, and enjoyed a meals together. It was very refreshing. While Daniel was still here, we checked out another church. I had been struggling to find one while Devin was gone, and I had been going to one more than others, but we still didn't feel God leading us that way. Because of Devin's work schedule while he was home, we only were able to go to it twice as a couple, so that was sad. Devin really feels this is where we are led. I just miss house churches a lot. We quickly discovered that churches out here don't really break down and meet in smaller groups, so no one really ever has a chance to get to know anyone else.

Obviously Devin and Daniel in their natural states.

Devin had to spend a lot of time home working as they prepared to go meet their boat on the East Coast. He built softball fields and painted a middle school. Then the time came for him to leave again. It was disappointing to say the least. Devin really does not enjoy boat life, so it was really hard. I think it's an obvious fact that I don't like the time away either. We're both counting down the days to A-school and praying hard that it comes sooner than expected. Once Devin gets through A-school, we won't ever have to have long periods apart. Well, that's all for now.
love, chianne

always overdue...

I'm very sorry for the lack of updates. I was struggling with making the layout of the blog what I wanted it to be and then I just downright got angry and decided I was going to abandon it. Then I decided that's not what I wanted to do at all...so here goes. I revamped the layout and I feel a lot better now, so maybe I'll stick with this for once. That's something I don't like about myself - I have a lot of projects going at once but I never ever really stick to one and finish it. hmm...
Anyways, now that Devin has finished his TAD with CGC Alert, I can tell you more about where he went and what he saw. (Though I can't post pictures since Devin accidentally deleted them as soon as he tried to upload them to the computer...sigh.)
Devin spent from the beginning of May to the end of July sailing the Pacific Ocean. He got to go to B.C., Canada for the first time, as well as countless ports in Alaska. He got to cross over the International Date Line which has earned him the title of "Golden Dragon". He saw Russia from afar as well as Russian boats. He [willingly] jumped into the Bering Sea (28 degrees) and swam to a nearby boat which earned him a "Polar Bear Plunge" certificate. He got his qualifications completed so he doesn't have to stand as many watches.
This was all great, until he found that because of error in communication, he actually wasn't supposed to go underway with that boat at all. Yep...needless to say we were both very discouraged when we heard that. Devin had spent only a few days here...we had not found a church by the time he had left (and I was struggling to find one alone). To have that much more time together and settling in would have been such a blessings and would have made so many things easier that ended up being a lot harder. I'll never understand why God allowed the miscommunication to happen that led to more time apart. I think I've typed enough for now...I'll get to stories about Devin being home in the next post.
love,
chianne

Graduation! and more.

Sorry this is a month overdue! I'm sure you can understand how fast everything happened with coming home and immediately packing up and moving and then getting here and settling in.
Graduation was amazing. It was in Cape May, NJ. This was Dillon's first plane ride, first beach visit, first for a lot of things. Dillon successfully surprised Devin, and Lee and Cindy have the big cow tear pictures to prove it. We enjoyed delicious food, each other's company, and best of all Devin! Devin graduated as a Fireman. We returned home the day after graduation to immediately start the packing and moving process. This was very stressful. The movers came, packed all of our stuff and we were going to depart the day after the following day...so 2 nights without a bed or anything really. Well the next day we got a call saying they didn't want us to come till the following Monday...almost a week later!! Luckily, the Evensons generously housed us for the next few days, and we left one week exactly from the day Devin graduated. We made it to our new hometown in 2 days' drive to stay in motels for the first 4 nights. Devin started working immediately. We moved into our house, and two days later we got a call informing us Devin was getting assigned TAD (temporary additional duty) on another cutter in the area. Better news yet, it was leaving just a few days later!! AH! We panicked a little and through tears bid each other good bye after seeing each other for only a little over 2 weeks. This cutter will be gone for quite a while longer than the norm, though I can't post specifics. Once it returns, Devin will only have a few weeks before returning to sea life again on the boat he was originally assigned to. (They are currently doing repairs and upgrades on that boat, and we're earnestly praying it gets delayed, so he can get a little more time at home and actually learn the area of the place he lives!)
Of course, I'm stressed. I don't like this at all. Devin is discouraged. We knew what we were getting into. It's tough being in a new place, with a new life, with everything new, new NEW. It's nice to remember that God is still the SAME yesterday, today, and forever, despite all the new. I'm holding onto that.
Being next to an air station, we've had the pleasure of watching the helicopters run drills. It's next door to Starbucks and I sit outside on my breaks, stare at the bay and watch the helicopters take off and skim over the water, and circle around and do it all over again. They look like giant birds gracefully flitting around in the air, excited to feel the wind rush around them. Devin, too, has become entranced with these steel wonders, and with that comes his new career choice. (about 99% positive this time...I know, I know, he was changing his mind daily before, but this one he has held onto for quite awhile, and spoke with many that have done it.) The career I speak of is, Avionics Electrical Technician or AET. I will let this video do the talking:




more posts to come.
love, chianne

Week 7 - The Final Countdown

Woo!!! Check out that studly man!!! (I'm referring to the second one in line aka my husband!) A mother of a recruit that graduated the Friday before last snapped this and uploaded it to the coast guard group on Facebook, and lucky for me, Devin was in the shot!
Last Saturday, Devin got his on-base liberty. He got to talk to me for a total of 2 hours. It was great!
Today, Devin had his off-base liberty. He got to go into town with his shipmates and do whatever they want (within military standards, of course). They were in uniforms ("Trops" today. The uniform featured above are his "ODUs") so they had to maintain military bearing. Devin said it wasn't very hard as that's what they are used to anyways. He got a prepaid phone so he could call me all day! He even got to talk to several other people though I was pretty selfish and had a hard time sharing. Every time I made a request (i.e.: "Call me back in 5 minutes.") he would respond, "Aye-aye!" It was so cute!! He told me more funny stories about everything that's gone on. He really has enjoyed his time there and can't stop saying how much he loves being in the Coast Guard. At the end of the day, he was able to send me a picture of himself standing in front of the Atlantic Ocean in his "trops". I asked him if I could post it, but since that is one of the nicer uniforms, he wanted to unveil that for himself with the pictures we will take at graduation. He let me share it with family, but the rest will have to wait! He looks SO good. :) I can't wait to see him on Friday morning!! I cannot believe their is only 5 days until I see my love again!

MOVING! and week 6

 Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia

I received my first call from Devin last Saturday. This was the first time he was permitted to use a phone in 5 weeks. He got 10 minutes to talk to me and let me know where we are moving....which is Astoria, Oregon! We are both so excited and cannot wait to go! Devin was really encouraged on the phone, and said he was really glad he joined the Coast Guard. We're both just counting down the days until we see each other again. Less than 2 weeks! Ah! This is his 6th week in New Jersey. I can't believe how fast it's gone already, and I'm thankful for that. Devin's letter this week was really cheerful. Boot camp is winding down and as he nears graduation, they get more privileges. For example, tomorrow he gets on-base liberty. He can call me, watch movies, eat junk food, and just hang out. Until this time, he really hasn't had any free time at all. I can't wait for his call! This one won't have the 10 minute time limit either. :) He asked me to tell everyone, "Hello!" and "Keep praying!"

My best friend, Erin, has been visiting this week, and that is a blessing! She resides in San Diego, so I don't get to see her very often. We've been staying up late and having fun. It's refreshing.

Wednesday is my last day at the ol' Starbucks. (I'm trying to transfer to the one in Astoria.) After that I'll be a clean-aholic until I go to New Jersey. I just can't wait for all that's happening in the next couple weeks!

Love,
Chianne