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