Moving...

I don't even know where to start about our next move... I love being a part of the military and all the opportunities we have been given, but I never realized how hard moving would be. When I moved to LA from the Academy, I was so excited. I picked (sort of) where I wanted to go and I was moving for MY career. As we begin another chapter or another move, I realize how difficult it is to be a military spouse. Although our husbands don't always get a choice on where they want to move, they are moving for their career. When they move they typically have built in friends at every base, because they either work with guys from school or are with guys that share similar interests. As spouses we start from scratch at each new place. We join them on the journey but we leave behind homes, churches, and friendships that only other military spouses can truly understand. It makes me sad thinking about how much time I spent making this house our home...How I came here with just one baby and pregnant with another...How Maximo took his first steps right here...How we celebrated the boys 1st and 3rd birthdays...How Athen helped us pick out everything for his "car" room...How I leave here and will probably never come back to this house or even this town again... What is even harder is leaving the friends that we have made. Military friendships are truly one of a kind. When you meet someone else in the military you don't wait to hang out, you make plans as soon as possible because you know your time is short. Also, noone has family around to help out, so these friends become your family... My friends here have been the biggest blessing to me. They have cooked me countless dinners when Matt has been gone...Have loved my kids like their own, kissing their ouchies, disciplining them, and cuddling them up...Have given me a break when I am not sure I can keep going...Have opened their homes for holidays, Bible studies, and girl's nights...Have cried with me, laughed with me, and vented with me...Have helped me clean my house after a party because I was 33 weeks pregnant and just wanted to help me... I can't even begin to explain how much I will miss these women and their children. I love them like sisters. The saddest part is not knowing when or if you will see them again. You hope and pray that you will but you just aren't sure.
My boys don't understand that we are moving. We have had endless conversations about going to Florida, about our new home (which we don't have yet), about leaving Oklahoma. I don't think the reality of it will set in until we are actually gone and they want to go to a friend's house or have a friend over. This week I had a "Going Away" party for them and their friends. We had a great time! Here are a few pictures from the "beach" party!




So as we spend our last few days here in Altus, I am going to enjoy every minute I can with our friends and just be thankful that I got to meet such wonderful people!