We've Arrived!

Aloha!
Well we've done it... we've finally arrived... it's crazy!
After a long and honestly quite stressful plane ride due to worrying about the babies (Cleo and Caesar) everyone is now healthy and happy living in paradise. We picked up the animals this morning at the holding quarantine facility which felt crazy considering it was a 5 month long process. We had a heck of a week with so many amazing family and friends giving us such a great send-off, but we have finally arrived in paradise (a breezy 82 and sunny)! My mom has been awesome helping, and driving through Honolulu traffic (not really as bad as people make it out to be). If we didn't have her as a support system for the first few weeks of this transition I don't know how we'd manage! 

Our whole life packed up and ready to move to Hawaii!

For me, and I'm sure Mark it feels surreal to be starting this journey. I would be lying to say I'm not scared out of my mind, and even started questioning our decision this morning at 5a.m. sitting on my phone looking at apartments as I laid sleepless in our dark hotel room. I would like to think that any drastic change gives feelings of anxiety and doubt, especially since we're taking what's left of our comfort zone and throwing it out the window! Those negative feelings soon faded when we walked to Waikiki Beach this afternoon. It was a absolutely beautiful sight with the sun shining reflecting on the ocean with diamond head sitting in the background! What a cool feeling digging our toes into one of the worlds most famous beaches!

There is something that brings out the passion with us when we're surrounded by the ocean and marine life. We really do hope to make a difference during this journey by dedicating time to volunteering at one or many of the dozens of marine wildlife habitats. Oahu is SO different than the big island, polar opposite actually. It's loud, busy, constant chaos, but at the same time it's still the same Hawaii we felt on the Big Island. It is beyond beautiful. The people are the nicest out of anyone I've ever met. The way the mountains cover the horizon and the amazing beaches that stretch as far as you can see. It's everything we ever thought it would be and more. 

 

Waikiki

Doing the shaka!

Waikiki Beach

Our View <3

We are staying at the Waikiki Pearl Hotel through next week Tuesday until we make a final decision on our apartment. Today we viewed two of the apartments we narrowed down from the internet, and it's safe to say we think we made a decision. It's a cute little studio a few blocks from Waikiki Beach, very small, but cozy and homey at the same time. It's right near a lot of the shopping, the beach, nature and one of the best beaches to swim with the honu! Sounds quite amazing to me!

What a ride it's been. I like to think that Mark and I when were together really can do the impossible. So far we've had a marriage full of life, risks, and following our dreams together! We really are best friends and I think this will be such an awesome journey making our marriage and faith even stronger! (The Catholic Church we plan to attend is 1 block from the beach...how cool is that?!)
We will be updating very soon! 
As the Hawaiians like to say...
'A hui hou'     
Until we meet again! 

  
 
Aloha!
Jen and Mark