11 days!

In 11 days, I will board a plane and head to Hawaii. I will be on my way home for good. I will begin to grow roots and make memories in our forever home! I can't wait!!

Our little house on base is just about empty - only a few of our personal things and some FMO or "boonie" furniture that has been lent to us and well, us. It's loud and bare and echo-y, but it represents leaving Guam and for me, that is good. Bittersweet, but good all the same. I will miss the friends I have made here immensely, nothing fosters a bond between people like being 8000 miles away from home, but I know that we will stay connected and that makes me happy. The packers blew through the packing in three days - I will post the pictures later - it always amazes me to see my whole life packed in 10 crates and carted off. It's surreal every time.

We have made some BIG decisions about our future in the last few weeks; I was already interviewed for a job, we decided to build a house and Brian decided that retirement is on the horizon much sooner than we had thought. The job seems promising and I'd be working for the military in marketing, which just happens to be my field, but I had sort of anticipated being with the kids through the summer break in order to get settled and figure things out. I guess we will see if I get offered the job before I think too far in advance! We also decided to build a house! It's an insane process, but SO exciting! I love being in control of the details and tailoring things to just the way I want them! It's our long term house, so we are being pretty choosy! We decided on Peyton, CO which seems to be a nice little community. It's a crazy thing to do from here, but we feel really peaceful about it all. It has opened some extra challenges to the process, because the house won't be done until September-ish, so it looks like we'll be in housing again which makes me a liar because I said that we would only have one more move, EVER! Touche'! Lastly, my hubs has decided to throw in the towel at 21 years. As of right now. This week anyway! :) I support whatever he chooses to do - he has had a great career and will leave behind a legacy to those that worked along side him. I can't imagine not seeing him in his uniform every day. It'll be weird, but really awesome to start a new chapter!

The last few days here are going to be busy, but FUN! We have a couple of parties and some down time to play and then a quick little jaunt in Hawaii before we get to the mainland! And Target. And Old Navy. And The Olive Garden........ :0)

Happy Easter and movers in the morning!

Ugh. It's 12:28am and I'm wide awake. Not because I want to be though, I'm exhausted, but this is how I am wired. Thinking and tossing and turning, reviewing the day and the days ahead, checking off mental to do lists all while my live sleeps peacefully beside me. That is something that never ceases to amaze me. The world could be melting around him and he sweetly slumbers. I think it comes from 20 years in the Army and learning to cherish every moment of sleep when you can get it! Today was busy, but lovely. Sort of a controlled chaos trying to pack and organize for the movers and celebrate Easter at the same time. We did all the traditions, colored eggs, baskets, home made sweet rolls in the morning. We ended, however, in a less traditional manner with enchiladas! Yummy, but a bit unconventional for us. They came about by opening up the freezer and the pantry and deciding which ingredients came together enough for a meal! Trying to eat up what we have before we go sounds easy but sometimes you end up with meals of frozen waffles, raisins and corn on the cob! In between the cooking, we tore apart rooms and bins and boxes that have yet to be unpacked after 8 months on this island and tried to get a handle on our stuff. It's been a very weird time for me. Normally at this stage of the game I am super stressed, worrying that we will miss something, forget something, not meet a deadline, etc., etc., etc., but right now I'm peaceful. I can't explain it, but it's good. My brain is on overdrive dreaming of Colorado houses and acres and pet chickens and bees! Seeing my sweet nieces and nephew and sisters and brothers-in-law! Finally, finally having roots close to family - it takes me by surprise when I realize how much I want this. It's easy to push the desire way down deep when it seems so far away, but now that it's close, it seems just that much further! Does that make sense? It's as if time is speeding up and slowing down all at once! April 27th can't get here fast enough on one hand, but is coming so sat on the other. As always, I hate goodbyes. Hate them. They will come though and there will be pieces of my heart left here in Guam. Tomorrow the movers come for the first day of packing. I want to take some pictures for those that have not seen a military PCS - its fast and furious! Movers have been known to pack bags of trash, open food items and family pets! We always try to keep them fed and happy in hopes that they'll be a bit nicer to our things. We shall see! Until then, happy, happy Easter!