Homecoming

On Thursday night Charles flew in to GSP and we were there to meet him. It was exciting to see him walk towards us in his Class A's. I am so happy to have him home! Now the next adventure, Moving!

Step 6!

Last time I posted on the status of our Command Sponsor I was feeling quite down. I wasn't sure what the next few months would bring, and while I still have no idea, God showed me (again) that He is in control. The last week I had asked many of you to pray for our situation, we were stuck at Step 2 in the 8 step process and it could be in limbo for 4-12 weeks and we weren't positive that Charles wasn't going to PVOC. Well, Charles was told he would not be going to PVOC the morning after I posted, so that was huge praise! And yesterday we moved from Step 2 to Step 5 and today we are at Step 6. The final answer should be coming in the next two days. Whether or not it is a Go or No-Go is still technically undecided. But there is great peace in knowing that we will get our answer in enough time to get things settled before Charles leaves. Thank you everyone who prayed and continue to pray for us.

Ladies First, Gentlemen Second

This past August when my sister came to visit she was handing out food and said the phrase "Ladies first, gentlemen second." Even though we try to teach our kids manners, it wasn't until then did I realize that we needed to teach Hunter and Eli how to be chivalrous. (Duh?!) So from then on, at meal time I say that phrase to Hunter, along with other examples on how to treat a lady. Well, yesterday my little 4-year old became a true gentleman! It is his job to open his car door to allow Alethea and himself to get in their car seat while I get Eli in his. And it has been a HUGE help to me whether we are at home or running errands. Yesterday, we went to WalMart, after our shopping trip Hunter opened his door, walked around the car and opened Eli's door and my door! Of course I was overjoyed and let him know what a gentleman he was. Today he did the same thing! I am so proud of my little guy! I cannot believe how quickly they grow up!

Uncertainty...

Well I felt pretty good after I did all the paperwork for our passports, but as I sit here tonight I am a little stressed about the upcoming month. Charles graduates next Thursday and we are still waiting on his orders. With his MOS he could be (randomly) chosen for PVOC, which is 5 extra weeks of truck driving training in Missouri. Being that his report date for Camp Casey was in the first week of March, I figured that he wouldn't be chosen to go. Well, I guess that option is still (and always has been) open. If he does go, his report date will be pushed back and it will be another five weeks until I see him. Plus I would have to go through the moving process alone. I am trying not to worry about it and being as positive as I can be, especially with Charles. I know it is difficult for him, he is ready to be with his family and five additional weeks will be tough on him. I understand that whatever will happen, will happen and there is nothing I can do. But just trying to make a plan for each scenario. Please keep us in prayer.

Snow!

Greenville gets about one snowfall per year, so when anything that resembles snow falls, we get pretty excited! Yesterday they called for snow all afternoon, but when we woke up this morning it was more like sleet than snow. But I got the kids dressed early so they enjoy it before it turned into slush!

Remember when...

Marriage is a wonderful thing, but if you ask anyone who has made it, (You know the older couple who is left standing after "Remember when" is played at a wedding?) they say it takes work. After being separated for about 5 months, (I know, it's not super long) but after spending 5 1/2 years of marriage never spending a night apart, honestly it's hard to get stuck in a rut. Plus, being apart gets old, real quick! The first 80 days were spent writing letters to each other. Charles wasn't able to call me very often (it didn't help that his platoon lost phone privileges for most of the cycle!) and if I did get a call it was anywhere between 1-5 minutes. It would be pushing it if I said we talked for a combined total of 40 minutes while he was in training at Fort Jackson. I was so excited when he got to AIT, he can call me everyday! Plus we text whenever we can. It makes a huge difference! But even so, we get about an hour each day to talk (that hour is broken up into three or more calls throughout the day and never guaranteed!) With everything that is going on in our life that hour seems shorter than normal. We end up talking about to-do lists more than spending quality couple time on the phone.

So the other night we talked about the beginning of our relationship. <3 It has been about 9 years since we have been friends, 8 1/2 since we started dating and 6 years of marriage. Nothing makes my heart flutter more than thinking about the first time he asked to sit at my lunch table (Yes, I can still remember what he was wearing!), or when we walked down the middle of the hallway to chorus. It was the small stupid things that make 'the beginning' so exciting! A lot has happened in the last nine years, we are definitely not 16/19 anymore. But if it always fun to look back at the 'firsts' in your life, and reminisce about becoming a couple, your first kiss, your honeymoon, or your first apartment. Awww.....Warm Fuzzies!

Passports

So it has been three weeks since we found out that Charles is going to Korea! All of our Command Sponsor paperwork is in (Step 2 out of a 8 step process) and today I was able to go apply for our passports and our visas. Of course I had to travel to Fort Jackson to apply, but the process was pretty easy. (Well, it would have been a little easier if I didn't have to bring the kidos!) One thing that I continue to be thankful for throughout this whole process is the Internet. Everything that both Charles and I were told was that we had to receive the Command Sponsor and be on Charles' orders before we could apply for our passports. (Even the One Stop Office at Fort Lee told him that.) But thankfully, I belong to a network of Army Wives going or in Korea on Facebook. One of them told me about a loophole, so I was able to save a lot of time (and stress) and apply for them now. At this point in time, I am pretty sure we will get the CS, but most likely will leave 2-8 weeks after Charles leaves. But now I am just trying to concentrate on getting my house ready to move, Unaccompanied, Household Goods, and Storage. Our stuff will be packed by the end of February.
It is an odd process. I know we are moving, but I have no concrete details. Plus, it is going to take place in about a month! It is difficult to give details to people because honestly I don't know for myself. Plus the things I am told can (and do) change in a day. I am a planner, I like to know what's going on and try to set our family up for success. But I know that God is showing me that I am not in control, He is. So I have been trying to stop 'borrowing trouble' and let the small stuff go. I will be as prepared as I can be, but continue to be super flexible. A year down the road all the little things won't matter so much!