Honestly, it's been one helluva rollercoaster ride being stationed away from my husband. Spending our first year of marriage apart was probably the most challenging thing that we've done. There were a lot of milestones that we haven't been able to hit due to our current circumstance, but we've always found a way to make it work. With that being said, we've tried knocking on this door before, and it was blatantly closed in our face with no explanation. I nearly gave up all hope to be stationed together or even slightly closer to him, but my husband gave me the will to try one more time. So this time, I pushed harder, and they answered.
  I will be moving to South Korea to join my husband in hopes of kind of starting a normal married life. All of the thousand dollar flights and layovers in different countries, and backwards planning for vacations will somewhat be put to rest. We'll no longer be on opposite sides of the world chasing each other on Skype as one wakes up and the other goes to sleep. I won't be here preferring the night shift life just so I can spend a few more hours talking to him on the phone.
  Same time zone, same hemisphere, same country. My hopes in this "married couples program" was diminishing because of mine and my husband's career field differences, but I'm so glad that our leadership somehow made it happen.
  So be ready y'all. You thought our adventures in Europe were fire. Just wait until you see us rollin' down the streets playin' Mario Kart - the game that started this whole relationship. #blessed

Right before I made the biggest decision of my life, you were there.

    I have had to do a lot of growing up in the past three years, more so in the past year since I've officially been given the honor of becoming my husband's Mrs. The more I grow into being a young adult, and a new wife, the more I realize that I'm more and more like you. It's only taken 25 years and constant reminder from my husband to realize that I am a budding version of you. Loving, passionate, and absolutely crazy (as said by both of our husbands).

  You've made it to your Golden Age, and I'm sure if people didn't know that I was only 25, they definitely wouldn't think of you being fifty. Your desire to explore the world and learn and try new things just shows how youthful you really are. I'm happy that we have both come to a point through all of our temper tantrums to find one another and really grow together through His plan. Thank you for helping guide me, and thank you for letting me make my own mistakes, and then being there to help piece me back together.

  I am thankful that you are stationed here with me overseas. Even though I'm making my own living now, I've got the luxury of having my mom still be just one call away, or in our case, a fifteen minute drive from home and a three minute drive from work. I think this was His way of giving us a chance to build up each other without the interruptions of our boys.

  Love you, Nay. Happy Golden Birthday.

Daddy,

  I would be lying to say that you aren't the reason I work so hard. I know that I always write about mom, and that's because there's so much that mom and I have in common, just because we're both girls, duh. But when I think about it, there's a lot that I get from you too. The fact that I look more like you than I do mom says a lot. We both have the same hot headed temper, that's preceded by a calm front. We both make fun of mom, a lot. And there are some things about you that I still hope to be in life.

  Like the fact that you're so incredibly kind to all those you call your friends. Just by observation through the years, you have always been such a giving person. You go out of your way to help your friends in need, when it comes to cars, parties, homes, work, and life in general. You're not selfish at all. You don't mind giving to those you care for. It took me a long time to notice that, because you are good about putting up this "mean, tough guy" front, that maybe not a lot of people see that you're just a giant teddy bear.

  Or the fact that you're the realest person that I know. You don't play any games. You speak your mind. Sometimes you don't do it in the most tactful ways, but you always say what we need to hear. This comes especially handy when mom's blabber doesn't get to us. You come in with the cavalry and scare the living daylights out of us with the truth.

  You're so funny! I think the thing I missed about you the most when you were in Korea, and I'd be at home visiting parties or even just at the house, is the humor you had. Whether it came to making fun of mom, or you dancing and singing with everyone. Everyone you interact with loves you because you're so funny and so easy to get along with.

  Papa bear, I love you. I love that you are the way you are, and even though you don't speak that much, the things that you do speak volumes. Like when we find our old stuffed toys still tucked away in a box, like my torn up Winnie the Pooh still in the garage. Or our little stuffed sheep that's survived multiple PCS's. Or just the times when you say that you're proud of us. It all means the most because it's coming from you.

  I'm not there this Father's day, and I wish I could be. I wish you were coming here with mom, just so we could all be together in Europe again. But I guess we'll have to settle for the holidays... Unless you're coming with mom to help. Until then, Happy Papa's Day, I love you.

   I remember when mommy & daddy told us that we were going to have a baby brother. We were living in Hawaii at the time, and I don't think I quite grasped the concept of a little guy like you growing inside of mommy, but I do know that I was excited. I remember being in the car and I think your Kuya and I were watching Dennis the Menace that day, and we thought it would be funny to call you that. I feel like that kind of got lost in translation along the way with how you actually came to have your name, but I'm almost 100% certain that we came up with it (regardless of what mom thinks) in the car. I also remember thinking that mom was like a kangaroo, because she held you in her belly, and that's how we came up with calling you Joey instead. (Also, pretty sure this is how that came to be.)
  You were a fat baby. You came out as a toddler for sure. I remember having to stay at our auntie's house, and we were watching Veggie Tales when they got the call that you had been born. When I first met you, you were almost as big as my entire upper body. You were so chunky, and so cute with your little conehead. That was a pretty popular movie at that time, so we had the most fun calling you conehead. Growing up with you was the most fun I'd ever had. I think the relationship we had as kids is something that I want my future kids to have with each other.
  When you started walking, there was never a time that you weren't with us at the playground with Lola. Back in Hawaii, I just remember dragging you around outside because you were too heavy for me to pick up. It didn't help that you drank almost a gallon of milk each night... In the afternoons, Lola would put you in your duyan (a bassinet) that hung in our patio, and we'd sit there and watch you sleep. Then when you'd wake up, we would play in our own little octagon, and laugh when you couldn't get out. It was our way of running away from you when you got too annoying to play with. I guess as we grew up, we finally found our own little groups of friends, and we both started dating so our worlds kind of separated.
  I think my biggest regret is not being able to spend more time with you while I was at home. I know we're both in our little spheres of life with our special ones, but know that you were my very first best friend. The relationship that you and I have had as brother and sister was much stronger than the relationship I had with your Kuya. And I know that there's a lot of stuff that plays into why you and I are so close, but even before everything, I know that I was inside playing with you more than I was outside playing with other kids my age.


  When I sit on my couch, there are times that I find myself thinking of how many blanket forts we'd made with it. The times where we would take our papasan chair and make a giant "kingdom" where you were my little puppy, and I'd feed you fruit snacks in a bowl. I wish I knew where those home videos were, because if I could show everyone you wagging your little diaper around, it'd be perfect. Or the video where you were singing Jealous by Nina or Roses by Outkast! Oh, you really loved those songs when you were younger...

  Now you're all grown up... I feel like it was just yesterday when you were telling me that you liked a girl for the very first time. I feel like it was just yesterday that you walked to school by yourself for the very time. When I look back at everything that you've accomplished in your first 18 years of life... I just have to say that I'm so proud of you. You have remained resilient, and you've grown into a young man that still has a lot to learn! If there are any pointers that I could give you as you transition from childhood to adulthood, it would this:

• Don't let anything keep you from achieving your goals - You're young and you've got a mind that's curious. Don't let your curiosity stop at the front door. You're well-traveled as a young adult, and you know that there's much more to the world than what you've been living in while going to high school. Don't be afraid to explore things that interest you. Don't let the comfort of living in Washington keep you there. You've got so much to learn, and so much to share.
• You deserve everything you work hard for, so don't take for granted putting in blood, sweat, and tears into a goal - Don't get lazy, stay hungry for knowledge. Life isn't going to sit there and give you opportunities. You have to go out and make them for yourself. Do the best you can for what you want in life. 
• Your family will always be there for you, no matter what - No matter how dumb your mistakes are, no matter how much of an asshole you can be, no matter what you do - we're always going to be here for you. I know this from first-hand experience. And even though my last name is Sison now, you know that the Ferrer clan sticks together no matter what.

  I have no doubt that you are going to be great at whatever field you decide to take on, whether it be the medical field or the engineering field. I know you'll make a great Enlisted or Commissioned Service Member if that's the route you decide to take. Just know that no matter how many pounds you can lift, or how big you think you really are... you are always going to be my baby brother, and that's how I'll see you. I'll still look past all of those muscles and beard, and see the little boy with no teeth and a bowl hair cut. Because if there is anything that I know in life, it's to guide, love, heal, and protect you.


I love you so much Joey, and congratulations on making your first big step into the adult world. I'll always be here if you need me.

Love,
ATEH