New Home Package

When I was doing research for our move, I found a wonderful idea. Sending a package to your new place before you move. For a few weeks before our move, I started collecting little items I thought I might want once we were in Okinawa. When we got our mailbox assignment, I sent us a package filled with these goodies. A week after we got here, I checked our box and there it was. It was so exciting to have a little piece of home! Some of the things I chose I thought I might not find here on the Island. 

• Quinoa
• Favorite Almond butter
• candle
• dog toy
• hair accessories
• Burts bees chapstick
• razors
• nail kit
• toothpaste
• dog treats
• dog bones
• new tervis tumbler with lid and extra straws

All of the stuff was very random, but it was all stuff I wouldn't neccessarily need in my suitcase. It was so fun to get this package and have some of my favorite things. The best thing, it only cost $14 to send it all the way here!

So here is an update on our Okinawa To-do list:

When you put it on paper, it really seems like we have gotten so much done! Now that we have a home and cars, we are starting to feel like this is where we belong. We are definitely ready for a routine and a fairly "normal" life. We still have a few things left to do before we are completely settled. I am working on finding a job. It is way easier said than done. Jobs for spouses here are few and far between. Wish me luck on my search! I have also not found a bikram studio. I may have to find a new fitness obsession.

Our Okinawa Home

We are so happy to have found a beautiful home on the island of Okinawa. We are hoping this house will feel like home for the next few years. We can't wait to get all settled in and making it feel like ours. It was quite the process, which I will share later, but we were actually surprised at how fast we found a place we liked. Overall, we only had to look at about 7 houses over 1 1/2 days before we fell in love with one. 

PROS:

• Close to Jake's work
• 3 bedrooms
• 2 baths
• American Appliances
• Lots of storage space
• Large living area
• Open floor plan
• Large yard with deck
• Fabulous view
• Close to a few good restaurants
• Large kitchen with tons of counter space and storage

CONS

• On a busy road
• Slightly outdated
• Far away from main populated area
• Not close to the best beaches

We had our stuff moved in on Monday (which was a few days ago around these parts). It actually was a pretty easy move-in, which we were thankful for after our 11 hour move out! I will give your more information and tips later on about the move in! We are still settling in. Boxes are everywhere we look. But, now that we have some of our stuff, we are starting to feel like this is home. It is overwhelming, but also fun to be able to organize and start fresh. I am already head over heels in love with this place (Okinawa and OUR HOUSE). It has shown me that a place does not have to be shiny, new, and fancy to feel homey and wonderful. I am so excited to be a in my own place! I am no longer living out of a suitcase after 4 months. I have keys to put on my key chain! I finally feel like a housewife again! I am no living with my parents (as much as I absolutely loved it mom and dad!). I can grocery shop for my little family. I can make my husband dinner and do his laundry. I can set things up and decorate how I want. I am a bit overwhelmed with all the decorating I want to do! I am so impatient and want to get it all done right now. I

We have lived here for about 12 hours and I can already tell I'm going to be very happy. I have more space than I know what to do with. We have so much space, we don't own enough furniture to fill it. We even had to borrow furniture from the government to fill up the space. I have my very own walk in closet and Jake has his own closet! I feel like I live in a mansion. I have the most kitchen cabinets and counter space I have ever had. Ok, this isn't saying much since I used to live in 460 square feet. I guess it doesn't take that much to impress us. 

Life here really gets better and better. I know there will be hard times. There will be times that we miss America. There will be times that we will be lonely as can be. But today, I am glad we have a little piece of this island that we can make home.