We're moving. Wait! No we're not. Oh! We are! Just kidding, we're not?!?!?

Married to the military, specifically the Marine Corps. It actually has legitimate job qualifications, description, hire date, benefits package, and salary. It looks something like this:

JOB QUALIFICATIONS & DESCRIPTION
- Capable and willing to not commit to finalize any life plans.
- Responsible for the sanity and upkeep of morale and MOTO (i.e motivation/eagerness) when relocating your family.
- Responsible for ensuring you have adequate tools and supplies to keep at least 63 copies of all important documents the Marine Corps may need at any given time.
- Demonstrated ability to make friends quickly in new places as they are only home for a short period of time.
- Demonstrated ability to use the same living room decor in 7 different ways in 7 different living rooms over the course of 7 years.
- Reasonable aptitude for the art of packing boxes.
- Understanding that 48 hours notice to move across the country is reasonable notice.
- Fervent desire to learn a new language and learn to drive on the opposite side of the road.
- Possess a resilient ability to be patient.
- Understand the art of waiting...and waiting...and waiting...and waiting.
- Possess a deep unyielding love of men in green silkies also know as "skivis."
- Understand the art of rolling sleeves so that they almost restrict blood flow.
- Willing and able to conceptualize and create "high and tights" when required.
- Understand that a head has nothing to do with a hat.
- Understand that to tell time, you must do math.


HIRE DATE: Upon signing oath with USMC or signing legally binding marital paperwork.

BENEFITS PACKAGE:
- Free travel on a space available basis.
- Free movers and shipping.
- Ability to see (and often, live in) various parts of the world.
- Guaranteed time apart from your spouse to ensure "absence makes the heart grow fonder."
- Sense of pride knowing your spouse serves his country.
- Competitive retirement options.
- Free healthy insurance for you and your family.
- Competitive interest rates.
- Incredibly in-shape and ultra-motivated spouse.

SALARY: None. Well, your husbands, unless you have a "mobile-career."


Well needless to say I took the job! Who wouldn't?!?!?!?! Yes folks, The Basic School is coming to a close. Only July 1, Michael will be done with his 6-month leadership school. On to flight school, or so we thought! There are so many pilots in the USMC system, that the wait list to start is up to about a year. So, it looks like we'll be hanging out here in the DC/Virginia area for at least another 6 months to soak up some of that wait time. Who knows where we will be in 6 months...wherever it is, we'll at least be together.

Semper Fi

I'm sitting on my couch under a cozy plush blue blanket. The house is filled with the crackling sound of hot grease on the stove. French toast is in the works! High-pitch voices are giggling to my right. My little sisters find Styrofoam plates so entertaining. A lady of about 5'9" stature is near breaking a sweat in the kitchen area. She's tirelessly labored around these quarters since her arrival late Tuesday night. Though she's well above 40, her clear smooth caramel skin, green eyes, and go-go-go attitude speak of such youthful energy. Her nose resembles mine a bit, though mine is much wider. Her hair, curly like mine, but so much more fine. Her eyes though similar in shape, much lighter than mine. She's my mom.

She's in town visiting for 8-days to spend time with her daughter and son-in-law. She brought my two little sisters, Paige and Naomi, ages 4 and 3, for some much desired bonding time with big sister Jessica. Since she's arrived, she's dedicated every second to ensuring her girls are taken care of. It's actually quite strange. I mean how am I supposed to let her go back home after all of this special treatment!?!?! We've compiled quite the agenda of things to see and places to go. Despite our lengthy list of DC attractions, nothing is nearly as appealing as curling up on the couch, tickling each other's toes, watching Finding Nemo, Cars, and The Incredibles until we all pass out from exhaustion. They are quite the blessing and my biggest prayer is that I can serve as a light in their lives to motivate them to live their lives loving God as they grow older. Their smiles warm my heart in a way I didn't realize was possible. Their laughter makes me smile, even when I missed the joke. Observing their peaceful slumber brings to me my knees thanking God for my big sister role.

I'm so grateful. So very grateful. I look forward to our 3 p.m. pedicures and family photos this weekend. I look forward to taking them to the IMAX for the first time next week, and reading them tonight's bedtime story.