This post is dedicated to my mother and Chris' future mother-in-law.
After her round of chemo, she is doing great! The second and third day after she receives chemo are always the worse, so we always make sure to see how she is doing then, as well as every day. Every time we talk to her, she is always in high-spirits and a great mood!
I think that has a lot to do with my dad, Bill Dreyer. He always takes her to her appointments, sits right beside her, cooks her dinner when she doesn't feel like it and buys her little things along the way to make her feel better. They are soul mates and the perfect example of a great marriage and support system. I can only hope Chris and I have a marriage like that.
My mother is the most amazing and strongest woman I know. All the strength I have to overcome anything difficult in life, I think of my mother and the wonderful support system she has. She is overcoming cancer and will be stronger than ever! Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers! Keep them coming!
CHRIS AND SABRINA LOVE YOU MOM!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
The weekend of the February 6 we went Whale Watching!! Finally! We have been here 6/7 months and we hadn’t gone to see whales yet. We finally got around to it. And let me tell you, it was definitely worth the wait.
We got tickets through the Pacific Whale Foundation. They were about $30/person, not too bad. That’s the Ka’amaina price (the price we pay for being “locals”). So, another plus for living here. We choose to do the 8 a.m. boat tour. We have to be up by like 7 to go to work everyday, so we were kind of use to it. This time, we had to get up at like 6:15, to be there by 7:30. For those that know me, I am a big breakfast person. So when we got there, we had breakfast at this little café that was open. Surprisingly, they had GREAT breakfast and good coffee!
Come eight on the dot, it’s time to get on the boat!! YAY!! We get a seat at the top of the boat, and that by far was the best seat! Ten minutes into being on the water, we saw a pod (that’s what you call a group of whales). Since then, we only saw them breaching out of the water. To see them this close, was amazing. You could really see how big they were. For those who don’t know, they are the size of a bus. Yea, that’s kind of huge!! Another amazing thing we saw, was a mom and a baby whale being escorted (by a male whale). The male would always stay behind them “escorting them.” Just really cool to see them in their environment. We continued to see a lot more pods; saw a fight going on between several male whales; and saw a lot of whales breaching out of the water.
Seeing them in their environment, can’t really be explained and put into words. It has to be experienced and seen in person. That’s an invitation, for those who haven’t come to visit!! It is just something that was amazing to see in person, and I can’t wait for us to go back and see them again. We took a lot of pictures: Chris took the good shots and I took some really good video. He has already uploaded his, I have to upload mine, so be on the lookout!
You might ask what we did with the rest of our day. It was still only 10 a.m. and we had the rest of the day in front of us. We have really got into hiking here. What’s not to like: it’s free, good exercise, beautiful and there are SO many places to go! We ended up driving into town to Wailuku to go to the “Swinging Bridges Trail.” It was great! It was about 1 ½ hour each way, but it was worth it. A lot of things that you would see and do if you weren’t here: flowers, views of waterfalls, boulder hopping, hiking amazing trails and of course the swinging bridges that have been there forever! It was great exercise, amazing experience and so worth the trip! Definitely a recommended site WHEN you come, if you’re up to it!
To wind up our day we drove back to the Kihei area, where we live, went to Kamo’ale Beach to relax and watch the sunset. It was just a great way to end our day. There are so many things to do and see here, that I feel like we need to do everything in one weekend, LOL! But luckily enough, we live here and we do take advantage of it.
I definitely miss my family and friends a lot. But I am super lucky to have them so supportive and get to talk to them everyday.
I thank God everyday for the opportunity that Chris and I are experiencing right now. Like always, I can’t wait to see what he has in store for us next.
Monday, February 1, 2010
The Dreyer-Skiles Wedding
OMG WE'RE GETTING MARRIED!!!
The first thought after he proposed! One year later, while we're planning the wedding, I still can't believe I found my soul mate, the person I am meant to spend the rest of my life with.
Fairy-tale come true! But wait, we're moving to Hawaii, how in the hell are we going to plan our Houston wedding??? The thought I had when I got that text message from Chris:
MONDAY, JULY, 20, 2009 7:11:11 PM
It's official! We're going to Hawaii! :)
I was floored, ecstatic and honestly, a little scared. We made it here, and we'll make it through the wonderful (sometimes stressful) experience of planning a wedding.
One year after being engaged. Six months after living here in Maui. We are well on our way:
1. Ceremony site - check
2. Reception site (including food, plates, glasses, cake, fruit table, DJ, Videographer, Photographer if we wanted, but didn't end up using) - check
3. Wedding Dress & Veil - CHECK!
4. Bridesmaids Dresses - check
5. Flowers - check
6. Photographer - check
7. Guest list - near final
8. Invitations - in the process (Chris is designing them, sooooo.... he'll have them ready when it's time :)
Granted, I did get a lot of this done when I went back to Houston over the holidays. Some ask, well since you got so many details done in such little time (I was in Houston for 10 days), why was the wedding pushed back so far?? Good question. 1. Before I went back, I did A LOT of research on everything from reception sites, to DJ's to dresses etc. So I knew what we wanted and knew good deals. 2. Chris and I are still saving as I speak 3. Wedding takes time to plan.
Besides being away from our family and friends, Chris and I are missing out on a lot of things for the wedding while living here. We don't get to go with your wedding party to pick out our dresses and tuxes. We're missing out on registering for our wedding gifts in person (There is no Bed Bath and Beyond here, so we have to register on-line.) Basically, just missing out on some of the things that make preparing for a wedding fun. It's a little hard, but we definitely couldn't be doing it without the support of our friends and family.
Don't get us wrong, we love it here, we love the opportunity and experience we're getting. We just can't wait to get home and have our wedding! See all the hard work that we've been doing, seeing our family and friends, and starting a new chapter of our life.
As if all this wasn't hard enough for us, something else happened, which has made it a lot harder being here. We found out about a month after living here, that my mother Liliana Dreyer, was diagnosed with Uterine Cancer. Ummmm, wow like life wasn't hard enough, we can't even be there to help look after her. As of today, my mother has undergone her second round of intensive chemo and is staying strong and healthy. Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers. My mother has always been the strong one of the family, taking care of everyone. So I know it's hard for her to let everyone else take care of her.
We know she has a strong support system at home: my dad has been such a huge support and in my mom's words "a rock that I don't know where I would be without him." I couldn't say it better than myself. My sister and Dave, my brother and Kimberlee have been there whenever they have need anything. My mom couldn't do it without yall, thank you guys for taking care of her since we can't!
I have always been really close to my parents. So hearing this news and not being able to be there has been one of the hardest things I have had to deal with. Thanks to Christopher, things have been, and always are, easier to deal with. But I tell you what: if you ever met my mother you know she has such a zest for life, cares about everything and everyone and likes to say she is always better than she is. Even through all this, my mother always asks me if there is anything else she can do for the wedding, how can she and my dad help etc. Thanks to them, we really will be able to have the wedding of our dreams. On top of all that: we had to leave our little Yorkie, Buster, who will be two on February 14, with my parents. Buster loves my parents, the big backyard and swimming pool he has and not to mention, my parents LOVE him too.
I honestly have the best parents, an amazing family and now I get to spend the rest of my life with the man of my dreams.
The first thought after he proposed! One year later, while we're planning the wedding, I still can't believe I found my soul mate, the person I am meant to spend the rest of my life with.
Fairy-tale come true! But wait, we're moving to Hawaii, how in the hell are we going to plan our Houston wedding??? The thought I had when I got that text message from Chris:
MONDAY, JULY, 20, 2009 7:11:11 PM
It's official! We're going to Hawaii! :)
I was floored, ecstatic and honestly, a little scared. We made it here, and we'll make it through the wonderful (sometimes stressful) experience of planning a wedding.
One year after being engaged. Six months after living here in Maui. We are well on our way:
1. Ceremony site - check
2. Reception site (including food, plates, glasses, cake, fruit table, DJ, Videographer, Photographer if we wanted, but didn't end up using) - check
3. Wedding Dress & Veil - CHECK!
4. Bridesmaids Dresses - check
5. Flowers - check
6. Photographer - check
7. Guest list - near final
8. Invitations - in the process (Chris is designing them, sooooo.... he'll have them ready when it's time :)
Granted, I did get a lot of this done when I went back to Houston over the holidays. Some ask, well since you got so many details done in such little time (I was in Houston for 10 days), why was the wedding pushed back so far?? Good question. 1. Before I went back, I did A LOT of research on everything from reception sites, to DJ's to dresses etc. So I knew what we wanted and knew good deals. 2. Chris and I are still saving as I speak 3. Wedding takes time to plan.
Besides being away from our family and friends, Chris and I are missing out on a lot of things for the wedding while living here. We don't get to go with your wedding party to pick out our dresses and tuxes. We're missing out on registering for our wedding gifts in person (There is no Bed Bath and Beyond here, so we have to register on-line.) Basically, just missing out on some of the things that make preparing for a wedding fun. It's a little hard, but we definitely couldn't be doing it without the support of our friends and family.
Don't get us wrong, we love it here, we love the opportunity and experience we're getting. We just can't wait to get home and have our wedding! See all the hard work that we've been doing, seeing our family and friends, and starting a new chapter of our life.
As if all this wasn't hard enough for us, something else happened, which has made it a lot harder being here. We found out about a month after living here, that my mother Liliana Dreyer, was diagnosed with Uterine Cancer. Ummmm, wow like life wasn't hard enough, we can't even be there to help look after her. As of today, my mother has undergone her second round of intensive chemo and is staying strong and healthy. Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers. My mother has always been the strong one of the family, taking care of everyone. So I know it's hard for her to let everyone else take care of her.
We know she has a strong support system at home: my dad has been such a huge support and in my mom's words "a rock that I don't know where I would be without him." I couldn't say it better than myself. My sister and Dave, my brother and Kimberlee have been there whenever they have need anything. My mom couldn't do it without yall, thank you guys for taking care of her since we can't!
I have always been really close to my parents. So hearing this news and not being able to be there has been one of the hardest things I have had to deal with. Thanks to Christopher, things have been, and always are, easier to deal with. But I tell you what: if you ever met my mother you know she has such a zest for life, cares about everything and everyone and likes to say she is always better than she is. Even through all this, my mother always asks me if there is anything else she can do for the wedding, how can she and my dad help etc. Thanks to them, we really will be able to have the wedding of our dreams. On top of all that: we had to leave our little Yorkie, Buster, who will be two on February 14, with my parents. Buster loves my parents, the big backyard and swimming pool he has and not to mention, my parents LOVE him too.
I honestly have the best parents, an amazing family and now I get to spend the rest of my life with the man of my dreams.
Fairy-tale Wedding: 8 MONTHS TO GO!!!!!
New Year, New Life
Ok, so it's been a little while since Chris and I have updated this website. I apologize. I didn't remember the log in and all that junk. But I am determined to keep this updated now.
I can only begin this by saying that Chris and I have been extremely lucky to be able to get this opportunity. I'm not going to lie, there have been some tiny bumps along the way: Are we making the right decision? Can we afford this? What if I, Sabrina, don't find a job? What are we going to do about housing? What are we going to do about our wedding?
Needless to say, there were A LOT of questions and doubts in our mind. But when it all came down to it, it only seemed like the right thing to do. No mortgage, no kids, done with the school, why not??
We have been here for about six months now. Half a year. Wow, I still can't believe it's been that long. And we are LOVING every minute, day and experience we have been through.
So far to date we have:
1. Driven the road to Hana, several times, and find new spots every time
2. Jumped off cliffs
3. Seen and swam in some of the most beautiful waterfalls
4. Been to some of the top beaches in the world. Don't think we will ever be able to go back to Galveston now
5. Found a place to live, $850, all bills included and about a 15 min walk to the beach
6. Snorkeled some of the most beautiful (yea, those words will come up a lot) spots here
7. Swam with turtles
8. Been to black and red sand beaches
9. Sabrina found a job working at one of the gorgeous resorts here, The Grand Wailea Resort and Spa as a camp counselor
10. Went to a Luau
11. Had three of Chris' friends visit us and showed them the island (When are my friends going to come?!)
Ok not too bad! I'm sure I've left some stuff off, which will be updated later! Most everyone has seen pictures that we have posted on Facebook. We wanted to start this to keep a detailed blog of what we have been doing here, how our life has changed, and how in the hell we are planning a Houston wedding from here. Stay tune: Wedding planning in another blog.
In the beginning it was getting a little hard because I didn't find a job for 2 1/2 months, we were both getting homesick and getting used to this island lifestyle was a big change. We couldn't be doing any of this with out the help of our family and friends. Thank you for everything, we miss y'all.
I am a big believer that God always has a plan for all of us and I know he had this in his plan for us. Money has been a little tight for us, but we are actually doing OK right now. Still in the process of paying off some of our debt: moving us here, shipping Chris' car here. Those were the big things. But we are taking it one day at a time, and loving every minute.
Come back and follow us as we live the next chapter of our lives here in Maui.
I can only begin this by saying that Chris and I have been extremely lucky to be able to get this opportunity. I'm not going to lie, there have been some tiny bumps along the way: Are we making the right decision? Can we afford this? What if I, Sabrina, don't find a job? What are we going to do about housing? What are we going to do about our wedding?
Needless to say, there were A LOT of questions and doubts in our mind. But when it all came down to it, it only seemed like the right thing to do. No mortgage, no kids, done with the school, why not??
We have been here for about six months now. Half a year. Wow, I still can't believe it's been that long. And we are LOVING every minute, day and experience we have been through.
So far to date we have:
1. Driven the road to Hana, several times, and find new spots every time
2. Jumped off cliffs
3. Seen and swam in some of the most beautiful waterfalls
4. Been to some of the top beaches in the world. Don't think we will ever be able to go back to Galveston now
5. Found a place to live, $850, all bills included and about a 15 min walk to the beach
6. Snorkeled some of the most beautiful (yea, those words will come up a lot) spots here
7. Swam with turtles
8. Been to black and red sand beaches
9. Sabrina found a job working at one of the gorgeous resorts here, The Grand Wailea Resort and Spa as a camp counselor
10. Went to a Luau
11. Had three of Chris' friends visit us and showed them the island (When are my friends going to come?!)
Ok not too bad! I'm sure I've left some stuff off, which will be updated later! Most everyone has seen pictures that we have posted on Facebook. We wanted to start this to keep a detailed blog of what we have been doing here, how our life has changed, and how in the hell we are planning a Houston wedding from here. Stay tune: Wedding planning in another blog.
In the beginning it was getting a little hard because I didn't find a job for 2 1/2 months, we were both getting homesick and getting used to this island lifestyle was a big change. We couldn't be doing any of this with out the help of our family and friends. Thank you for everything, we miss y'all.
I am a big believer that God always has a plan for all of us and I know he had this in his plan for us. Money has been a little tight for us, but we are actually doing OK right now. Still in the process of paying off some of our debt: moving us here, shipping Chris' car here. Those were the big things. But we are taking it one day at a time, and loving every minute.
Come back and follow us as we live the next chapter of our lives here in Maui.
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