Thank you so much for the response!

We would like to leave out of VPS or PNS (VPS Preferbly) Sometime on or after June 20, and return about 30 days later.

Do I just look for normal flights? or do I have to go to a special site and search available seats utilizing miles?

Would I contact AA directly?

Do you agree it would be better to pay for the VPS/PNS to DFW leg for my wife and I and then utilize our miles for 1st on Japan Airlines? That was an option that was mentioned.

Honestly my biggest issue here is how exactly do I "spend" these miles? Who do I talk to (BA? JAL? AA?) Do I book AA via BA? or call AA directly since they are a partner? And how do I go about it getting tickets with them?

My wife and I have separate BA miles accounts, would we still be able to use our miles together or do we have to figure out a way to combine them under a "family" account?

Thanks again for all your help with this!