I can't even begin to count how many texts, messages, and face to face questions we have had about what is going on in our life right now. I love you all and your kindness and concern for us . I'm here to publicly answer a bit
" WHAT is that Baby in your belly?" ... we are hoping a human but who knows? It is 2016 maybe it's a tiny ewok in there. But really, no, we don't know the gender yet. Boy or Girl it's going to be a lot of fun and we are super excited just haven't found out yet.
" WHEN are you moving"
This one is a little more personal. For everyone not in our day to day lives here is a little summary of our year...
For over 6 years, really since forever, we have known that the ultimate goal for my husband's career is to step out from the Arizona National Guard and onto the active duty side of the Army. He has put in a solid 10 years in the guard. Not one weekend a month type National Guard but almost entirely working full time for the Army on top of his part time commitment ( besides the two years of flight school and a short semester of ROTC , ya know when he came back to Flagstaff to win me over. That story is for another post ) Last year we both agreed that summer it was going to happen. Summer of 2015 he would begin working on his packet to transfer to full time Army. For all my civilian friends that basically means we move and will continue moving and being a part of wherever the Army needs him, not staying stabilized here in Arizona working for the state. We want our kids to live in different cultures and cities, experience this beautiful country we reside in, and ultimately give ourselves over to something we both fully support and believe in . We know all that comes with it. There may or may not be more training, quicker deployments, and maybe even PT < if you know my husband you know waking up at 5 to run is probably his biggest fear of this whole adventure, which is completely ironic since 5 am running is my hobby of choice . I so love that man our complete opposite brain function > but the pros outweigh the cons for us and the adventure ahead has been calling us for far too long.
Late October we finally are notified that his packet has been submitted and that our first choice of Ft. Carson Colorado is a possibility but it will require an immediate deployment. Done. Leaving the country is inevitable in the foreseeable future and if a quick 9 months means spending years at our dream duty station... not a question. We are told to be ready to PCS early December. PERFECT.
November comes around. We had been open to the idea of a third kiddo for a while, but I had completely left it in God's hands. His will be done in all things truthfully. Once we realized all that was ahead we decided OK not now. Let's wait until after this next deployment... anyone that knows the glory and grace of the almighty father would KNOW what would happen next. SURPRISE! THE ONE TIME WE SAID NO he of course told us YES. The week of Thanksgiving we were surprised but also excited for the new little one that was going to bless our family, whether it was 'perfect' timing or not it was now perfect. STILL no word from the Army but expecting a December move.
December . I debate decorating for Christmas but decided it was best, worse case we throw the tree in the uhaul and set it up in colorado pre decorated . About 1/4 of the house is packed at this point ... because any sane person in this situation plans a DITY move ( Do It Yourself Move , for civilian friends, is when you opt out of the military moving you. This is our preference as it is often worth the extra money you earn and can hire people to load up the truck easily and inexpensively. For a control freak like myself that wants her stuff in one piece and on time, it's the only way) I have officially closed my happy little photography business that just started up in the summer, because at this point it's impossible to commit to anything. The holidays begin and we realize this is not going to happen, as the last step was for congress approval and congress is NOT in session. So we hold off hope for January.
January. No word. No word. We get back into our normal routine but slightly on edge not knowing if we will be leaving in a week or a month or ever really. Mid January we officially got word that he was recognized federally onto ACTIVE DUTY! Hallelujah! From what we understood the last step was simply having orders cut and off we go. Panic sets in. This is happening. The weekend is spent basically taking everything off the walls, packing every closet, purging the unnecessary, getting things really underway here. Monday comes and no word on orders. We wait a few days and still hear nothing. Of course, in typical fashion, the person in charge of submitting those orders is out of the country at the time. So we wait two more weeks. Go to school, work, celebrate birthdays, try to enjoy this time we are given here while we have it. And suddenly here we are...
FEBRUARY. WHAT?! How is this happening. Today we find out that the entire branch is working on something that keeps them away from paperwork such as our orders. It will be a few more weeks. few.. more.. weeks. If you know the Army you know that is not civilian language 'few more weeks' it's Army language few more weeks. We have no idea at all when this is going to happen.
SO ALL THAT READING AND THERE IS STILL NO NEWS! RIGHT?! I know I feel you. It's painful. God is playing tricks on us and laughing the entire time I know it. He has plans for us as always but it's just not our plans, as ALWAYS.
How can you help? Prayer. It is all I can ask for at the moment. The hardest thing the past few months has been living in a very civilian world to be completely honest. Our military family just laughs and can say "YEP sounds right. " However going to the store, to school, to church has almost caused anxiety knowing the questions that are going to be asked immediately in conversation . When you ask me how I don't know yet or why I am not attending some social event... my brain immediately goes to all the stresses ahead- housing wait list, renting our home here, school disenrollment/enrollement, medical records, movers, cleaners, mail forwarding... just to name a few ;) Y'all have my WORD that as soon as we know anything I will mass text, FB post, email, call everybody in my contacts. We love you all too much to keep you out of the loop.
Today I ask for prayer. I know this is all in his hands and our path ahead is laid out, but please pray for peace in this chaotic time. Please pray for movement when movement is necessary. Please pray that we can enjoy this time together before we are separated again. AND please pray for all the other much more important things going on in this world right now than when the Trumbull Family leaves Arizona.. joking.. but not really.
You all are the best, thank you for your concerns and love !
No comments:
Post a Comment