Arrivederci Italia!

It has been an incredible three years in Italy and we could not be more thankful for the experiences we have had and the people that have shared them with us. God has blessed us immensely with our F16 family, and through the Buzzards, we have met and been reunited with lifelong best friends. It was a such a sad goodbye, and I, Jordan, in particular, have a hard time believing I will not see these women each and everyday...until we are all stationed together again!

When thinking about some of our favorite memories from Aviano, it goes without saying that the relationships were number one, with travel close behind. Our squadron was incredible, complete with fun, fellowship, and a true sense of family. It amazes me that we were able to travel to 20 different European countries, over 80 different cities, and see some of the most important and influential historical sites in the world. We leave with a greater appreciation for Europe and the many different cultures and peoples that make up the continent, as well as a deeper loyalty and love for our home country. We are so thankful for the chance to live over seas and broaden our perspective, and hope that we only continue to grow more as Christians and individuals as Korean inhabitants. 

We loved our little town, Sacile.

So blessed to have visits from friends...

...and family.

Thankful for vacations with people we love,

incredible Buzzard bashes,

and of course, the wine!

Ciao for now, Italy. We cannot wait to come back for a vacation in the future!

16 Weeks

How far along? When this picture was taken, I was 16 weeks, 4 days (taken on March 5)

Maternity clothes? Still no. I've been praying to hold out until reaching 'Merica where the options are plentiful. So far, so good!

Best moment so far? I finally stopped puking!! Hooray!! Also getting back to the gym. My runs are not like they used to be, but I am happy to be moving again!

Food cravings: Same as before. Still no eggs, and liking the salt. I have been wanting a lot of steamed spinach lately.

Other symptoms:I am breaking out like an adolescent, but I'm not sure if that is attributed to the stress of the move, other emotional situations the past few months, or the pregnancy. I am also having a hard time sleeping more than a few hours a night. Again, not sure if that is pregnancy or just life related.

Looking forward to: Finding out the sex. Radiology is going to fit us in before we leave, even though it is earlier than they like doing that particular ultrasound. 

What else is going on in life:Still in the process of a PCS, but now at the packing stage. The first round of packers/movers came Monday (Feb 25) and we are waiting for round 2 as I write. It has been a headache of a process, but God has definitely blessed us with it being more smooth than we thought possible! Last night was our last night in the apartment, and it was definitely a bittersweet moment. Here's to many other adventures that await us...as a family of three...

Week 13

How far along? When this picture was taken, I was 13 weeks, 3 days (taken on February 8)

Maternity clothes? Not yet. I'm thankful to still be wearing all of my normal clothes. Not sure when that bump start to show...

Best moment so far? Seeing the heartbeat at week 10 was pretty amazing. Caleb and I were blown away by God's miracle...and I was still shocked that there is actually a baby growing inside of me.

Food cravings: Anything salty, as long as I can keep it down. NO EGGS. Gross.

Other symptoms: Just still dealing with nausea. I have been sick to my stomach (throwing up sometimes, but not constantly) since week 5. I thought it had gone away, but now it hits at night and periodically throughout the day when I least expect it. Other than that and being pretty tired, no other major symptoms.

Looking forward to: Being able to work out again. I can get to the gym about two times a week, but the smells are tough. With the nausea hitting at random times, it makes it difficult to have a productive workout!

What else is going on in life: We are still working on getting stuff in order for the move. All our military friends understand the pain of trying to PCS, and for some reason Aviano AB makes it especially difficult. We are praying that things won't be too stressful the next few weeks as we schedule packers/movers, check-outs, etc.

In Memory of Luc Gruenther

On January 28 during a training mission off the coast of Italy, Major Luc “Gaza” Gruenther’s F-16 fighter went down in bad weather.  His body was found several days later after a massive search by Italian and US personnel and assets. Luc leaves behind a wonderful wife, Cassy, who is expecting the birth of their first daughter, Serene, in the next couple of weeks. 

This has been a tragic and heart breaking event for our community here at Aviano. Cassy is a personal friend and incredible woman, and each one of us here has been truly touched by her and Luc. We have seen incredible support from the F16 community from every base, the Air Force and military communities in general, and family and friends located around the world. 

On Wednesday, February 6, Aviano hosted a memorial service on base to commemorate the life of Gaza. An avid outdoors man, dedicated husband and soon-to-be father, amazing pilot, and cherished friend, Gaza inspired all those that were blessed to meet him. Caleb and I are thankful to have known Gaza and will continue to pray for Cassy and baby Serene. We also praise God for such a loyal and strong community. The F16 community is small and spread across multiple continents, but it is a group of men and women dedicated to country and one another. We are truly blessed to call these people our military family.

Praise be to God, as Cassy went into labor on Thursday morning, February 7. Beautiful baby Serene entered the world early that morning, and as Cassy phrased it, "Luc's glorious light began to shine again." Both Mom and baby are doing great in this bittersweet time.

Please continue to pray for Cassy, Serene, the Gruenther family, and the men and women who knew and loved Gaza. This will continue to be difficult for all as we continue life with heavy hearts. If you are interested in donating to Serene's college fund or the Lucas Gruenther Memorial fund, please use the following site: http://www.lucasgruenther.com/node/1

"Praise You In This Storm"

By Casting Crowns

I was sure by now
God You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

[Chorus:]
And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to you
And you raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You

But as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

[Chorus]
And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

The number 1 moment of 2012...

1. Realizing we are going to be parents!!
   Wow! We're expecting! This news came as quite a shock, seeing as we weren't trying to conceive or planning for a family in the near future. But after the news was confirmed on December 6, our heads were spinning as plans and ideas were already changing. Things are still a little foggy regarding living arrangements in Korea and how and when I will finish my practicum hours for my masters, but we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God will continue to provide. It is kind of a scary blessing, but a wonderful blessing nonetheless! So be prepared to meet baby Cienski in August of 2013!

When we told our family, we decided it was important to capture the moment. We asked to do some family pictures, and get a few of just the parents. First, Caleb told everyone to say cheese...

"This time, everyone say Jordan's pregnant!"

They were confused at first and thought it was a joke. But here is the moment we reassured them we were serious...

 Those are some happy grandparents!!

Top 10 of 2012 (# 5-2)

5. The Balzhiser-Catuncan Nuptials
    In May, we were blessed to take a trip through Germany and Switzerland with my parents, ending with the beautiful wedding of our dear friends Greg and Monessa. We were so thankful they decided to have a destination wedding a stone's throw from our backyard! It was event not to be missed.
     When Lee and Linda arrived in Italy, we wasted no time and jumped on a train for the rail-trip of a lifetime! From Sacile to Munich, Munich to Berlin, an overnight train from Berlin to Interlaken, Interlaken to Zermatt, and then back home, we saw and met some of Europe's finest! The beer in Munich was incredible, the history in Berlin unrivaled, and watching Linda "rough-it" in our overnight train cabin was priceless.
     The trip concluded with Greg and Monessa's wedding. Held in Interlaken, this couple definitely wed in style! We were so honored and proud to be a part of their special day, and look forward to a time when the Air Force puts us back together (or at least on the same continent!).

A view from the dome in the Reichstag building, where the German Parliament meets

Brandenburg Gate

Inside the Pergamon Museum

Our little cabin in the overnight train!

The hotel and reception cite in Interlaken

Thun, a near by town to the hotel and Interlaken

With the beautiful couple

At the wedding

With the Matterhorn behind us

4. Holidays with Family
    Having Caleb's Aunt Beth and Uncle David living a hop, skip, and a jump from us, we were blessed to travel to Spain to be with them for both Easter and Thanksgiving in 2012. While our military family is an incredible group of people who we love dearly, spending time with family is something we cherish. Especially when that family is Beth and David. Their hospitality, kindness, and Beth's cooking are unrivaled! every moment we get to spend with these amazing people is a blessing! For Thanksgiving, we even had the best of both worlds as our sweet friends the Otts and Zimmermans traveled to Madrid with us. What a great year of family memories!

With Beth and David in Madrid at Thanksgiving (Beth and I in our matching coats that we bought one day apart without knowing!)

3. I am finished with my Master's Degree! Well...almost....
    This fall I completed the entirety of classroom work required for my Masters in Professional Counseling. It has been a looooong journey (more hours required in this masters than most postgraduate degrees), but I have loved each step of the way. Ok maybe not statistics... In order to finish this 60 hour program, however, I must complete around 1000 hours of practicum work in a clinical setting. So while I still need to find an intern/practicum position in order to fulfill all the degree requirements, the bulk of the work is complete. For anyone who as completed any type of demanding degree program, you know it's the small victories that count :)
     The next step is finding employment and completing the practicum hours. It is difficult to gain cooperation from agencies on overseas Air Forces bases to complete these hours, so a job in the US looks like the best option.

2. Our next assignment!
     In October we were informed that Caleb has received another Operational assignment to Osan Air Base in South Korea. The base, located about an hour from Seoul, houses F16's and A10's, keeping most pilots for either a 2-year remote assignment (meaning spouses, children, etc. do not accompany the active duty member), or a 3-year normal overseas tour. We are still in the process of deciding what "type" of assignment this will be and whether I will accompany Caleb to Korea or live back in the US in order to complete my practicum hours.

And the number 1 moment of 2012...

Top 10 or 2012 (# 6)

6. Paris
    One of the cities we were most excited about seeing while living in Europe was Paris. Caleb had traveled to France with his family when he was a kid, and I had yet to experience this romantic place, so needless to say we were thrilled when our sweet friends Kris and Tiffany Holstege proposed a week-long adventure. Along with Matt and Corrie Ott, the six of us stayed in a condo/time-share a little outside the city, rented a van to hold us all, and set out to have our own Parisian experience. 
     Because we had some flexibility with schedule and transportation, we spent several days touring neighboring towns, including Orleans- a city liberated and made famous by Joan of Arc, Rheims- the capital of champagne production, and Versailles- seat of the palace and former capital of political power before and during the French Revolution. Inside Paris, we toured the Lourve, the Musee d'Orsay, the tomb of Napoleon, and Notre Dame, captured to views of the Arc de Triomphe and Champs Elysees, and of course watched the Eiffel Tower sparkle.
     One highlight of our trip, however, would have to be our day spent at Euro-Disney. Much to the dismay of certain travelers (my husband), the six of us bundled up to experience Disney, Paris style! A little silly sure, but all in all it was such a fun day. While Paris wasn't one of my favorite cities in Europe, I was amazed to see some of these places in person, and our company was unbeatable!

Church in Orleans

Champagne Cellars in Rheims

Corrie, Me and Tiff in front of the Louvre (pyramid entrance)

Notre Dame

So beautiful at night!

I love these girls!

RULE! (Napoleon's tomb in the domed building in the background)

Get excited!!!

This just about sums it up :)

Top 10 of 2012 (# 7)

7. Western Med Cruise
    After such a successful cruise in 2011, we decided to get the crew back together for round 2. This time, add in Tom and Liz Dowd and a new side of the map!
    Our 7 night cruise started in Rome, and made stops in Genoa Italy, Cannes France (where we also took a train to see Nice), Barcelona Spain, Valencia Spain, and Mallorca (of the coast of Spain). Each city held it's own charm and pizazz, and we loved exploring this part of the Mediterranean. Our last day was to be a day at sea, complete with laying by the pool and relaxing on deck. Unfortunately the 15ft swells and 20mph winds closed the pool and kept us all in doors. Good thing we had great company (and a lot of food!) to keep us entertained!

Tom and Liz cannot believe how big this boat is!

Champagne with the Captain (or Captains, when our guys took this a little more literally)

Aquarium in Valencia

Gaudi's Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. The church was started in 1883 and is still being worked on today.

Gaudi wanted the church to feel organic, like it was growing from the ground up toward the heavens.

Las Ramblas in Barcelona

The birthplace and childhood home of Christopher Columbus in Genoa, Italy

The coastline in Nice

The view from the water taxi into Cannes

formal night

us and the Otts on the water taxi

Beautiful church in Mallorca

last dinner on board with our awesome wait staff, Sherman and Yasir

 

Top 10 of 2012

2012 was an amazing year, packed with traveling, visitors, laughter and tears. We were thankful to have both sides of the family out to visit as well as dear friends, separate trips to the US for work/school purposes for Caleb and I, rounding out with a wonderful visit to Texas for Christmas. Sadly, we lost Caleb's grandfather, Walter Cienski in August of 2012 and were unable to make it to New York for the services. He is dearly loved and missed and we cannot wait to reunite with him in heaven.

So the best of the best this past year? Where do I begin...

10.  Leadership in the Squadron
       Caleb and I were blessed this year to take an active role in the 510th Fighter Squadron. Caleb officially took over as the Mayor of the Buzzards and, only because of him, I was named the Mayorette for the spouses. For Caleb, this mean coordinating, overseeing, and mastering the social aspect of the squadron. He was the official MC for squadron events, the go-to-guy for planning and executing purposes, and the leader for things that us wives have no idea about! I, simply, was in charge of small spouse gathering and promoting unity amongst our group. For me, this was more a position by default, as I happen to be married to one funny guy, but Caleb has shown such poise and class as the Mayor. I am so proud of all the work he has done and how he has been able to make a lasting impression on the squadron.
        At the turn of the new year, Caleb was able to hand off this job to another incredible guy in the Buzzards, Patrick "Merc" Arnn. While it was bittersweet to turn over the reins (ok mostly just sweet as it was A LOT of work throughout the year), we are so excited for Merc and his sweet girlfriend Jess to pick up right where we left off!

9. Spouse Taxi
    It is always fun for me to understand Caleb's job a little better (albeit I grasp only a small part....those acronyms!). The squadron arranged for a spouse taxi in the spring of 2012, where I was allowed to suit up, get "trained" and ride in the back seat of an F16 as it went in afterburner down the runway. While we obviously weren't cleared to go airborne, it was still a great experience! The icing on the cake was my handsome pilot showing me around. During the b-course at Luke I did a spouse taxi with another pilot, because Caleb was still a student and could not yet taxi anyone down the runway in his backseat. This time around I got to ride with him and it was such a fun, special experience!

I'm in the back seat, ready to go! RULE!

8. A Week In Western Germany
    Caleb is working diligently to finish his master's degree through OU, as they offer an incredible opportunity for military students to take classes "in residence" at different bases overseas. A professor was traveling to Stuttgart, Germany for a particular class Caleb needed for his program, so we loaded up with our good friends Tom and Liz Dowd and took a road trip to spend a week in Germany.
    Before reaching Stuttgart, the four of us decided to participate in a Rhine River cruise and castle exploring. It was absolutely breathtaking! After arriving at the Army Post in Stuttgart, we spent our days touring the nearby cities of Rothenburg and Baden Baden, explored to area of Stuttgart itself, and had the added surprise of a visit from our close friends Dave and Lynn Gertiser! We all bunked up in our suite-hotel room (slumber-party style) and enjoyed quality time with precious friends. It was truly a wonderful week!

On the boat

Tom and Caleb taking in the sites

One of the many cute towns and castles you see from the river

Cute town of Rothenburg

Dave, Tom and Caleb. Love these three!