One Year Ago

A year ago today I woke up in our room at post lodging, opened the curtains and took my first daytime look at our first duty station. It seems like forever ago & just yesterday all at the same time. So much has changed since then. This place is starting to feel more like home, even though I still don't totally know my way around - I can now find both scrapbook stores! I think I'm pretty settled into this area as well as Army life - it's more than just my husband's career, it really is a lifestyle. I'm not an expert and still have a lot to learn I'm sure but have gotten used to his inconsistent work schedule, uniforms & pt clothes in the laundry, boots by the door and last minute changes to just about everything. Shopping at the PX & commissary is second nature & even when I'm at Wal*Mart I reach for my ID out of habit. More importantly I have met other wives, made friends and have a few people who I think would be there for me if I needed something. I'm so glad that now I do have a few people I can call to meet up for coffee or take our kids to the park. I remember feeling so lonely in that hotel room all month and feeling like I would never make any friends. While I still get homesick and miss my family & friends back in Cali {along with knowing where pretty much everything is} I don't get sad about it as often anymore. Home is where my husband's boots are and so this is it for us, until we get stationed somewhere else. One thing I'm not quite used to is the unpredictable weather. Do you know that we've had just about all four seasons in the last weekish?? Seriously. It snowed one day, felt like spring the next, we had rain, sun, wind, icy cold temps and it's supposed to snow again tonight & tomorrow {90% chance of 3-5 inches}. We've had everything minus the humidity which I am SO not looking forward to. While it was cold outside I was thinking how great it will be when summer is here, I was thinking California summer - so NOT the same as Kennessee summer. But like everything else I'll adjust to that too.

I still remember thinking that military life was so NOT for me. I had planned to stay in California as long as we could afford to live there, continue going to the church I had gone to since I was 17 and be content in my circle of friends & activities. I never imagined raising my kids far away from family because I had grown up with family close by. Funny how we make all of these plans and just know how things will go and then God says something like "well that's a nice idea but this is what I have in store for you". The good thing is He doesn't just turn our lives upside down and leave us hanging. He really has provided me comfort, support, friendship, a new sense of confidence and a new outlook on my life. So be careful about what you say "you will never do" because you just may find yourself right in that place - and it just may be a good thing.