Marshalls Abroad

Life Okinawa

2 Years on Okinawa!

{Last July 2012}: Cam gave our friends a sailing lesson and bought me a turquoise bike named Chardonnay! We biked a ton together, spent most weekends together or with friends at the beach or scuba diving… hiked Hiji Falls and explored Okinawa’s castles. Our sweet neighbor gave us a huge basket of fresh okra and I went to an amazing Japanese tea ceremony.

{August}: Lots of scuba diving and dinners on our back patio with friends. I made focaccia bread and we had a picnic on the beach.  I made molasses cookies and dragonfruit sorbet. Cam left for a few weeks for training so Ash, Brittany and I flew up to Iwakuni and explored southern mainland Japan. Such an amazing trip!! We got to see the wild sacred deer and floating torii gate on Miya-jima Island & ate the famous regional chicken on a stick in a lantern-lit forest. 

{September}: We hosted a special {and hilarious!} dinner for our Okinawan friends who we met in Hong Kong and snorkeled into Cape Maeda’s blue grotto.. I fell more in love with cooking and a new aspect of photography: food! We had Pumpkin Ravioli with Brown Butter, Rosemary & Thyme and Off the Vine Tomato Soup with Gouda & Brie Grilled Cheese Sammies. We made a video of summertime on Oki.




{October}: We spent an awesome weekend with good friends at the Oura Wan cabins in Northern Okinawa before Cam left for training at Camp Fuji on mainland Japan for two months. I came up with new, yummy Fall dishes ~ Creamy Butternut Squash Risotto with fresh Rosemary, Cinnamon & Spice Pumpkin Pancakes and Gold Leaf Molasses Cookies.

{November}: I flew up to Mount Fuji to visit my love in the beginning of the month! We trekked through a forest lit up in the gorgeous Fall colors to an onsen, and took a short trip to Tokyo! Cam spent Thanksgiving with his marines in the field and I spent it with single marines on Oki with Ash and Veronica and made the boys Pumpkin Molasses Cookie Trifle, and us girls my Seasonal White Sangria.

… I also had the privilege of being part of my friend Anna’s beautiful Holiday Gift Guide and gifted an early Christmas Dinner on the Beach for girlfriends, which ended how every girl night should ~ blasting music from our cars and dancing in the headlights. It was such a memorable and fun night with them. I got to dance as the fifth wheel to the Grundens and Perezs at the Marine Corps Birthday Ball while my own Marine was still gone.

{December}: Right after Cam got home we left for New Zealand! We had one of the most incredible days of our life together biking from winery to winery and sleeping in our RV in a vineyard… strolled through the lavender fields, hiked Mt. John, loved Queenstown & drank so much more wine and went to Christchurch. Ahhh so good. We spent Christmas Eve and New Years with the Perezs.

{January}: We found out we’re pregnant!! Cam took me on a very sweet weekend trip for my birthday. Went to flower festivals with Ashy & Stella and was pregnant in a sunflower field. We hiked Mt. Omoto on New Years Day.

{February}: The cherry blossoms bloomed! I spent the February days sick, curled up on the cool bathroom floor… and barely blogged… 
{March}: Still very sick and we shared our amazing news! Springtime hit Yomitan. Cam deployed for a few months whilst I kept myself incredibly busy and began crazy nesting… and had the wonderful privilege of being in the spring issue of Souvenir Magazine.

{April}: The Perezs moved in with me before moving back to the States and we made the best gluten-free banana pancakes. Baby grew and so began my baby bump documentation each week. Ash, Linds and I went to the gorgeous Iris Festival up north. Celebrated Merebear’s birthday with citrus salmon tacos on our back deck. Dragon Boat Races began!

{May/June}: Cam got home !! When he’d left, I didn’t have a belly yet… and when he got home, I looked like this! It was surreal… and so exciting. He was also awarded a highly honorable medal for his leadership while deployed, and though he’d never share that, I’m so proud of him I can’t help it. (: We opened the sealed envelope to find we’re having a son! and celebrated our third wedding anniversary // babymoon getaway on Ishigaki Island!

Even though so very little of our life makes it on this blog and this is such a quick recap of the past year, it is absolutely amazing to look back at God’s provisions and undeserved blessings upon us. His Grace is irresistible. We are so thankful for the past two years we’ve gotten to live on this beautiful little island, which has been so good to our marriage. All we know to say looking back and praying forward is God is so good!! Thank you, Father! And thank you for reading and for sticking it out this long with us through the blog.
{First Year on Okinawa here}


Comments

  5. Rachel says

    Looks like it has been a wonderful 2nd {and 1st} year! All these photos are stunning! I know you have probably answered this a million times but what do you use for photo editing?

    • Marshall says

      I keep all of my photos organized in Lightroom but have been doing minimal editing, mostly in Photoshop — just upping the brightness and contrast.

  6. Denise Lopatka says

    love this sweet post. what a special time in yalls life and in yalls marriage!!! you will forever look back and be reminded of this time and you can tell your sweet babe about it! love love love

  7. Daina Ankrum says

    I recently discovered your blog and love following along! All of your photos are beautiful and your travel adventures look amazing! Congrats on a wonderful two years!

  9. Betsy says

    Congrats! What a wonderful year. I look forward to seeing what's in store for you guys and the gorgeous island this next year!

  10. Maureen @SheisMoments says

    I love this. I am so very happy for you and so blessed to watch your beautiful life unfold. Thank you for sharing. I can only hope God showers me with as wonderful of a marriage. 🙂

  12. Teresa says

    One of the sweetest most loving posts I have ever read! You are so fully blessed by God's Grace and it shows in every aspect of your life. Congratulations on all the joys and memories that you are experiencing. With the little one coming soon, there will be much, much more and I am looking forward to getting a peak through your blog.

  13. From Foothills to Fog says

    I loved reading this post! What an amazing year it was. You've taken such beautiful photos to document it too. How exciting as you get closer to the new chapter in your life with the bambino!

  14. Caravan Sonnet says

    I loved reading your blog sweet friend as you constantly speak to HIS love and grace in daily life! 🙂 One of the other things that I have loved about this post is the links to the older posts!! I love that and just have spent a long lovely time sipping tea reading older posts! Thank you so much for giving me a "new book" to read today. SUCH a blessing to my life on this day! The Lord has truly spoken HIS love for me through your writing (present and older posts!) :):)
    Have a lovely day friend!
    🙂 Rebecca

  15. Emily grapes says

    I loved everything about this. This is such a wonderful look back to your past year there. I agree with Teresa above, this is so well written with so much love and sweetness!

  18. Caroline says

    It has been such an amazing treat getting to tag along with you guys on this beautiful journey! I love reading about your adventures, and am excited to read more!

  19. Elle Alice says

    What a great way to chronicle God's faithfulness! So many fun adventures He has brought you to and through!

    Elena
    elle-alice.blogspot.com

  20. Katie Cook says

    This is seriously such a beautiful tribute to God's goodness lovey!!! I loved reading every bit! love you, and praying for you:) Katie

  22. Tim and Lanna Britt says

    what an amazing life changing year!! Just imagine where God will put you three next July!
    praying for you each and every day – all the way from across the world.
    love you! lanneybear

  24. Emily @ Emmy June says

    What an incredible year! I'm impressed at your detailed documentation–I suspect this blog will be a gift for years to come, so full of treasured memories.

    Cheers,
    Em

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