Homeless

I'm homeless. Again.  But it's a planned homelessness. 

So, far the move has gone well. The last of our things were packed yesterday in the express shipment (this shipment will take 14 days instead of the 60 for the rest of our things). This morning Drew checked out of our military house - very relieved that we didn't have to do any major cleaning or yard work!  Last night we spent our first night in the hotel.

All's going well....

We still have a car to sell. While it'll be nice to sell it and be done, it's also nice to have a car these last few days.  I'm actually borrowing a friends car, so I'm not stuck without one while Drew finishes up things.

And he still have several things to finish up. His replacement comes in tonight and so he'll spend more of the weekend with him briefing him on how the office runs. The kids were disappoint that Dad wouldn't be around to play at the hotel's water park, but they'll get lots of daddy time in the next few weeks.

Me? I feel so less stress right now. Yesterday...lots more stressed.  While Drew was at the house with the movers, I went on field day with Benjamin's class. It was a great day at Tropical Fruit World and Jeff's Pirate's Cove, but in the back of my mind was all the things that needed to be done....our TB test read ( a requirement to leave the island)... meds to be picked up...cleaning the house...getting rid of the food that the movers would not pack.....

But it's all done now.  The kids and I will play for the next few days....three and half days left in Paradise.....then onto our next Air Force Adventure.

Almost there...

Its less than a week now until we leave....my mind is overwhelmed at times with it all.  The house is empty, but yet at the same time a total mess. How can you have so few things scattered everywhere?

Last night was my last evening Bible study and I'm now getting ready to walk out the door to my last morning study. I will miss these ladies. For the last three years they have prayed for me, entertained me, feed me, and up-held me.  As usual while a location maybe easy to leave - the friends never are.

Long Weekend

Drew was to be home Friday night, but ended up not making it in until Saturday night. Melissa was finally fever-free for 24 hours by mid-day Sunday - and the best part? So, far no one else is sick.

Although, William has complained of a headache....which is normal for him....praying it's his normal and not getting her germs.

Sunday we went to the Haputo Beach - one of my favor places in Guam....pure white beach...nice green jungle surrounding it....very much un-touch by people.  Usually, when we go the tide is in and the waves very high - much too high to enjoy the water. One friend almost lost her mother-in-law! She got swept out with a rip-tide.  She was very lucky that she only had broken ribs, but still had her life.  This weekend the tide was so low we could  walk out all the way to the reef.

So incredible beautiful!!

I would have pictures but my camera cord got packed up with the movers and our lap-top is in the process of crashing....Drew is trying to save it....but it's not looking good at all.

Today was a day to get a few things done around here before an office party.

Then I ready the invite again.

The party was on Saturday.

Opps.

This will be a busy short week....we leave the house on Thursday.....fly out a week from tomorrow....still hard to believe it's all coming to an end and we get to move home......yeah for us!

An Ill Little Girl

Whenever you hear a voice at 3:30 in the morning that says in a very sad way, "Mommy", you know it's not going to be a normal day.  My poor little girl had a horrible headache, sore throat, and a temp of 102.7.

Yowza!  Poor thing.

 And even worse was after she got settled into my bed (Drew's gone), she then said the other words we parents hate to hear, "Mom, my stomach hurts...I think I'm going to throw up."

Never does a mom move faster.

So...we spent the day watching TV....those toddlers with tiaras need a good butt spanking...as well as the moms for spending that much money....

But by the end of the day she was able to keep some food and drink down.  She'll be home again from school tomorrow. And I'm praying that  she keeps these nasty germs to her self.

Oh, The Possibilities....

I've been thinking about my next life.

No, I don't have a dreaded disease (other than being human). But Drew, the kids, and I are getting a new life soon thanks to the US Air Force.  While living on an tropical island for three years has been enjoyable, it's time to go.

After all - it hasn't been all suntans and beaches.

I'm thrilled to be closer to family.

Almost equally thrilled to have close access to normal American shopping! And not just a better selection when it comes to clothes. I'm really looking forward to fresh fruits and veggie. And bread.

Yes, bread.  The bread here has been frozen to be transported here and thawed out.  It's not the best. No matter what brand I buy, within a day or two it has this smell....there's no  mold that I can see, but there's this smell that makes me not really want to eat it.

No wonder Melissa refuses to have a sandwich in her daily lunch.

I'm also starting to wonder what our day to day life will be like...will we like our neighbors....will I work as a substitute teacher again....what church will we go to.....who will be our friends...what ministry will be serve in....how many times will I eat at Chick-fil-a without getting tried of it....

Just so many possibilities....

Big Red

I love my coffee mug. I don't like anyone else using it. It's mine. All mine.   It's nice and big and fits perfectly in my hands.  I like the thickness of it. The color. Everything. Its mine...whether it holds hot chocolate....hot tea....coffee....I got it from a friend our first Christmas here in Guam. She used it along with lots of other coffee mugs to decorate the tables. We were celebrating our last Bible study day before Christmas.  She did a wonderful job. Everything looked so festive.  And I came home with a coffee mug to beat all mugs.

Locked In

Drew is always trying to get me to lock the door after I leave the house.  He laughs that I lock the door when I'm home by myself, but seem to forget - or refuse to - lock the door when I leave.  It's just not a priority to me.  I hate having an arm full of grocery and having to set them all down to dig my keys back out. Besides, I live on a military base with armed guards at the gates....sort of like a gated-community, don't ya think?

But Drew reminds me that it's a false sense of security.  There are still bad guys around.

So, I try.

Just the other day as the kids and I were leaving for school, I yell at William who was the last one out the door - "Hey, William - lock the door!! Dad's always getting on to me to lock it , so lock it, okay?"

So, he does - good little boy that he is.

Then Drew comes home from PT (aka"physical training" or better known as "mandatory exercise"), and he finds the door locked.  And he didn't have a house key!!

Since my car is on a boat to our new home, I'm driving Drew's "boonie" car.  He's driving a friend's car....with the friend's key ring...that doesn't have our house key.

Drew had visions of going to the school to track me down....but first...he thought he would try the front door.

Sure enough. Its un-locked!  After all, his wife and kids NEVER lock the doors!

Survivior

So, happy to see the Survivor Finale. Sooo incredibly good! Love the winner!!

But sad to see another season end.

I look forward to the next season Survivor as much the season of college football!

Over and Done

My time as PWOC  president is over.  I feel relief....joy....sadness....expectation....so many things. I have thoroughly enjoyed my year of being a leader for this wonderful ladies group.  It's been a good year. Not perfect. There were a few bumps or "growing times" along the way. But that how the Lord works so many times....we grow stronger in the rough times in life.

I've happy with the new board - I think they will do an excellent job. They all are wonderful ladies that truly love the Lord.  Some of them will be stretching their wings and will be living out of their "comfort zone". But that, too, is how the Lord works.

I'm looking forward to seeing what type of ladies group the Lord leads me to next.

Controlled Clutter Chaos

I hate clutter. I like things nice and neat and in it's place.  Not really possible during a move.  The movers will be here in the morning and the last week has been spent getting things ready...

...all the pictures off the wall....half the kitchen on the  counter-tops.....suitcases open and full of clothes and books.....

It's going to be a long three days... but I'm looking forward to an empty house....not so much to the boonie furniture.

"Boonie" meaning island - it's really loaner furniture.   Just image bad hotel furniture.

Yeah, it's really that bad.  But it's good, because it means we're that much closer to flying home.

A Done Deal

It's a done deal. We now own a house in Louisiana. It's big and it's beautiful and I can't wait until I see it.  But more importantly, Drew is a plane that's in the air returning to island life.

At least for awhile.

What's also a done deal is our canceling our Florida vacation. We were going to spend a seek after leaving here in FL with many of Drew's relatives.  We did this about six years ago and had a great time.  But with the oil spill along the Gulf, we decided to cancel while we could still keep our money.  We're all disappointed...and praying that the Gulf won't be totally destroyed.

What is That Smell??? Oh, yeah. I have kids.

Drew is currently in Louisiana house hunting....yes, without me. I have had several friends totally shocked that I would even consider this, but yes. My husband is picking out a  house with me and I have full faith that he will pick out a beautiful house.  Can't wait to see which one he buys!  After all, anything after this military house will be the real Paradise.

The week has been good. I must admit, I've had to still pray a lot about the lady who gave her end-of-the-year report in  not so flattery terms about me.  Pray for her...pray that I truly would forgive her....pray that I would quit thinking about it.....I'm there...for the most part.

Right now I'm listening to the kids take baths and get ready for bed....hopefully, three little puppy dogs will turn into sweet smelling children....one even had to take two baths...yes. The smell was that bad.

Welcome, puberty....but please - can you leave the smell outside??

Just Life

Already, this has been quite a week. We enjoyed seeing Drew - if only for about ten hours..most of which was in the middle of the night with us all sleeping. But I'll take it. Sharing a bed for a few hours is better than no time at all. He finished one trip, came through Guam to clean his clothes, and is now in the States for a conference and house hunting. When I see him again, we just may be the proud owners of a house in Louisiana.



Sunday I did one of the things I hate most: going to church without Drew. For some reason I feel his absence most at church. Worshipping on Sundays has always been a family event for us as much as it is serving the Almighty. Of course, being an an Air Force base, I wasn't the only one who was without their spouse....it's good to have friends to sit next to.



Sunday afternoon the boys (Melissa was with friends) and I attended a graduation for the son of some friends. He has been home-schooled his whole education. It was a neat ceremony - very personal. He leaves soon for his summer job in the States then on to college. It was a glimpse of where we will be in five shorts years.



Monday I spent most of the day dealing with moving stuff and preparing for my last board meeting as president of the ladies' group at the chapel. One of the traditions of the group is to have a board retreat early in the year to plan and to get to know one another. As much as I like to get away, I didn't feel that a weekend retreat was right for us. I hosted luncheons every few months here at the house. Just a time for us to come together to break bread...to relax....to visit...to share with one another about our lives.



I'm sad to say that I missed the last one. I was to host one in February or March, but life was busy. I knew I wanted to do one last one, but once again - looking at my calendar and everyone else's I knew times were busy. Instead, I hosted this last board meeting here at the house (instead of the chapel) and had a dessert bar for everyone to enjoy.



If was fun to bake desserts that I can't make for my family (due to food allergies) -yes - most were chocolate and peanut butter! Soooo yummy.



Over all the meeting and dessert went well. One small issue. One lady has had issues....problems. with me. I don't do things like others. One example is the lack of that weekend board retreat in exchange of the luncheons. There's been a few other things as well....I just don't think like she does. I know she has tried to hint at how things "should" be.



Hints I have ignored. I feel that is she - or anyone else - feel strongly about something, then she should have laid things on the table instead of saying things like "I have some concerns, but I'm going to pray about them before I talk to Kelley or the rest of the board about them."



Okay - fine with me. But she never came to me.



All this to say that last night she gave her "end of the year report". All her frustration was there. I personally felt like I had been thrown under the bus. In front of many of my friends. In my own home.



But I understand where she is coming from. So many times we think...feel...we know best based on what we have done in the past. But I have learned that tradition for tradition sake is not worth anything. New ideas may not always work out, but it's worth learning the lessons. I am very comfortable with what this group has done and accomplished in this last year under me.



And I think my Lord is pleased as well.

Another Week Down

And so with that, another week closer to the big move!

Yesterday was big day for the kids - more freedom! When I got home from work about 12:30 I could not stand the pain anymore and so, I took my migraine meds.

Then I went to bed. Pretty much for the rest of the day.

I did drive to get the kids from school, but petty quickly decided that I probably shouldn't drive anymore until the meds wore off.

I basically laid on the couch...I didn't even want to sit up. A friend came over to go through Ben's old clothes and I couldn't even stay sitting up while she was here - I just had to lay down.

So. Dinner. Yeah. No way I was going to be able to stand up and cook. I gave the kids a choice: Cook some rice and pull out frozen sweet and sour or ride their bikes to the base Burger King and bring back burgers.

They chose the burgers.

Easy choice.

I think they all got a kick out of the small adventure. They did great - worked together great.

Ben stayed out side to keep an eye on the bikes, Melissa ordered, and William said that he "stood guard".

Melissa has this dream that she's president of the United States and her brothers are her Secret Service.....apparently they were practicing.

(I woke up this morning pain free and no drug haze - yeah!)

Once again, I Hate the Dentist

I may have said this before once...or twice...but I hate going to the dentist. And going to the dentist in Guam is even more of a joy.

Not.

Today was the boys and my bi-yearly check-up and exam. (Melissa will go in a few weeks...for some Guam reason she's few weeks behind us.)

All in all it was much better than other Guam dentist visits...no one yelled at my son (I don't think I posted about that, but yeah....don't yell at my son! That's my job, thank you very much!) or yelled at me. And all three of us were in and our within an hour. Nice.

Very nice.

Of course, it wasn't totally smooth sailing....

As I was checking out, I was told by the receptionist that the insurance company didn't pay for Benjamin's sealant and that I owed $145. Well, of course, they didn't pay! This dentist was re-doing the work another dentist did - and got paid by the insurance company.

So, I had to fork over my credit card and pay. And guess what??!! Just before this the dentist told me that one sealant didn't take and it needed to be re-done.

That'll be $45, please.

Surely, I won't have these kinds of issues with a dentist in the States....I pray...

Orders Have Arrived!

Early Friday morning Drew received his orders for us to move. We rushed to the "TMO" office that handles the movers and were able to schedule that, we went by housing to notify them of the date we're moving out, made tons of copies of Drew's orders because it seems that every office needs ten copies, and we were even able to do the paperwork to request our airline tickets out of here.

Basically, it was a few hours of rushing from one office to another all before driving Drew to the airport to catch a noon flight.

And no - he did not make it two hours before his flight...but hey. This is Guam -it's a small airport. He did make it to his flight and he is currently enjoying his trip.

He's especially glad to be gone this week because the base is in the middle of an exercise - he gets to miss 12 hours night shifts. I think he was giddy with relief.

Today I dropped off my car at the port. Soon it'll be on it's way to the States. Who knows...maybe it'll even make it there before we do.

Still Waiting....

One part of being a military family is waiting. It seems that we're always waiting for something...Drew to leave....Drew to get back home.....the list of possible jobs....notification of a job...deployment list....household goods to be packed up....households to be delivered. Always something.

Right now we are waiting for Drew's orders in writing. He has completed all the paperwork and has signed on the dotted line that extends his commitment to the Air Force, but still no hard orders. With the orders, we can schedule the movers to come, "boonie" furniture to be delivered, ship our car, and even buy a house! It all hinges on written orders.

We really thought they would be in his email box today. But no. Now we're hoping for tomorrow. He starts to travel soon, so if they do not arrive before he leaves, I will need to schedule everything. Today we got a power of attorney just in case.

While we won't have household goods packed up for a few more weeks, we do want to ship our car now. We are to plan for it to be on a boat for 60 days and we want it in the States when we arrive.

In two months.

Waiting.

Just a normal part of the military life.

Spring Break

Spring Break has finally started for our school system. I honestly think we are the last ones on Earth to have it. And it is much needed. Yesterday was a teacher work day, but the kids enjoyed it as the first day - and it was perfect - nice and sunny.

I was able to meet my friends at the base track for our exercise time, then I went home to cook for a lunch meeting I had at the chapel. The meeting went long....much longer than it normally does, but it was productive. I went home and veggied for the rest of the day.

Until date time with my husband. We had Japanese...ooohhh - so yummy!

Today dawns nice and cloudy. With rain. Not sure what we'll do.

We did give serious thought to taking a trip this week - China!! We really wanted to give the kids the experience of standing on the Great Wall. But when we sat down and ran the numbers....and thought about what all we need to buy this summer....we decide to stay home.

We do have a few things planned....orthro check-up for William, asthma check-up for Ben.....hopefully some snorkeling at Spanish Steps or some other fabulous beach here....maybe even one night at a resort here that has a water-park.....sleeping in is also high on the list.

Mainly, just enjoying one another. We have eight and half weeks left here...Drew will be gone for five of that....then we're off!

Dreaming...

Today the kids and I were looking on the Internet at houses in Bossier. Ah......so nice. Of course, since I live in a military house, anything is better than this.

Not that I'm not grateful for this place. It could be so much worse....like some of the houses off base.

Drew maybe able to go house hunting later this month...if we get written orders.

Anyway....it's been nice to dream. And it's still a little unreal that we get to move in a few months. Two to be exact.

We're ready.

Back to Normal

We lost Internet for most of the week....do you know how much I missed it??? And yes, I felt very much out of the loop.

But! The repairman actually came at the appointed time. Yes, that's a big deal on this island where people and businesses have what we call "hafa adai" mentality.

"Hafa adai" is hello in the local language, but when spoken it sounds like "half a day" and that's about how much work some do around here.

If that.

It's really the same island attitude that a lot of islands have - oh, so cute when you're on vacation. Not so much when you live here and need things done.

But not today. Today the repairman showed up and fixed our poor corroded wires and tips.

Yeah!

And it seems one of the biggest things I missed was the possibility of our island capsizing. Yes, I know. Boats capsize not islands, but some congressman from GA seem to think that we could capsize when the Marines move from Okinawa to here in a few years. Amazing to think this man was elected to the United States Congress! (clink here to see the video)

Where there are many concerns about the Marines moving to Guam, capsizing is not one of them...but if it was -at least I won't be here!