He's FINALLY coming home!!!

This is going to be an extremely short post but I just wanted to let everyone know that Mark is finally coming home! I've been waiting 7 long months to write that!! I fly there on Saturday, his "graduation" is Monday (it's just a small ceremony for the Spanish portion, he already had the "big" graduation in July) and then we drive home on Monday night. So, he will be home on Tuesday and then we start moving into our new apartment on Thursday! Poor guy! He's going to be so worn out. He will be off of work for the next two weeks and then he starts reporting to his station on the 28th. I can't believe that we finally made it to this point though! I never thought this day would come!! I really can't wait to see him and know that he is home for good!

It's Almost Over!!

Sorry that I haven't posted anything in a while! Mark is better at all of this than I am...it's his fault! So, as most of you know, Mark is still in the academy!! It's already been 5 1/2 months and we still have 6 more weeks to go! This has been really tough for both of us but I know our marriage has just gotten stronger. We fortunately are able to talk every night and we've also seen each other 3 times. He was able to come here once for a 3 day weekend and then I've been there twice. I just recently went for his graduation. It was so cool to see him in his uniform and to receive his credentials and his badge! It's official now....Mark is finally a Federal Agent! He looked so incredibly handsome! Now he is just going through the Spanish training. Mark is already fluent in Spanish due to his mission so this is all pretty easy for him. He says that he is still learning new vocabulary and it's helping him to freshen up since he hasn't really used Spanish since getting back from his mission. He has 8 hrs. of Spanish classes each day but at least he is done with the Physical Training. I was really scared that he was having to do the PT stuff in the middle of summer. It gets to about 115 degrees there during the day! He had a guy in his class die due to the heat! He was about Mark's age, in great health, very muscular and he collapsed during PT and died. It was really hard on Mark to lose him. Mark said he was a great guy. He's got two little girls and a wife that he left behind. I've texted and talked to his wife a few time on Facebook. She's really sweet and I can't imagine what she's going through! I'm just so happy that Mark is done with the PT and now he will be able to come home to me! I can't imagine losing him during all of this!! My husband is such a wonderful man! I truly admire him and love him for enduring this for me and our future family! No one has ever done anything so selfless for me! I definitely got one of the best!

Thank you all for your prayers and support through this long journey! It's almost over and I can't wait to put it behind us! I hope you are all doing well!!

Love, Lani and Mark

Mark is heading to the Academy!

Well, we had a wonderful Valentine's weekend. We did our tradition of mexican food and a scary movie. Mark took me to Las Campanas at the Mission Inn on Friday night (We didn't want to fight the crowds Saturday night) and then we went and saw Friday the 13th on Saturday. It was great getting to spend that time together. Then we drove down to Chula Vista on Sunday morning and rented him a car and checked into his hotel. We had our last dinner together at a cute little pizzeria and then I left Monday morning. I cried all the way home. It was raining hard but Mark thinks it was just my crying and not rain. He loves to make fun of me :) He flies from Chula Vista to New Mexico tomorrow morning at 4:30 am to start the academy. He's really nervous but I know that he will do great! He's stronger and smarter than he gives himself credit for! So, the next 5 months will be very hard for both of us. But, in the end, it will be well worth it! We are still trying to decide if we will be moving to Lake Elsinore or San Clemente. I would LOVE to move to San Clemente just so that we can be close to the beach. I love the beach! But it depends on if I can find a job with Kaiser out there. So, we'll see where God wants us to be. Thanks for all of your prayers thus far but please continue to include us in them...especially Mark! We will definitely keep you all in our prayers! I will try to keep this updated as much as I can...it was Mark's job but I guess now it will be mine! :) Love you all! ~ Lani

San Clemente Here we come!!!

Well yesterday morning it was hard for me to get up and start my day. Lani was a bed hog, so I got up and went to the couch around four in the morning. Our cat tried to cuddle with me, which she never has done...Ever!!! Lani left for work, then the phone rings and I thought “Why are you calling me, you know I am trying to sleep?” I answer the phone and it was a lady’s voice asking “Is Mark there?”, very friendly as if she knew me. I said “yes, speaking.” Then her voice changed as she identified herself as a Federal Agent. We talked about a few things, and then she informed me of where I was being stationed...San Clemente, California! I report on February 16th and report to the Academy in New Mexico on Feb. 19th until July. I am so excited about where we will be and that it this is finally starting! It is going to be very hard not being able to be with my wonderful wife. She is truly the best thing that has ever happened to me. I hope that the five months will go by fast. I am very thankful to so many of you for helping me get to where I am with my conditioning. Fire-house fitness, you guys rock!!! The kettle bell class kicks my butt every time. I have seen great improvements in my weight loss, strength and even in my cardio. I owe you all so much, thank you!!! Due to this career and what is involved with it we are going to be setting this blog to private. I’m not sure on how to do that yet so I could definitely use some help. We love you all and thank you for keeping us in your prayers. Mark