One step closer.........

So, I have news.

Some big news.  Some wonderful, happy news.  Some scary news.  Some *kick start* a new Chapter of our lives news.

I'm on this roller coaster of emotions right now, but I have to tell you that the foremost feeling above all is one of extreme joy.  And I'm sure by now you're thinking "shut up and tell me the news".

Well......

In about 8 months, my husband will be retiring. 

After 21 years in the Air Force, it's time to hang it up and go home.  And you know what I mean when I say go home, I think I've made it pretty clear what we consider home and where we want to go when he gets out.

That is where the extreme happiness kicks in. 

Idaho!

Finally, after 5 years of being in this place, we get to go home.  We get to buy our first house, we get to start another Chapter of our lives and we get to lay down some roots for our children and for ourselves.

But it's scary people.  I'm terrified.  When you've been in this long, you become accustomed to a certain way of life, to a routine, to a set of rules and do's and don'ts.  That is all going to go out the window.

It's almost like we will be regressing to being toddlers who are just learning to walk. 

I feel like there's so much to do in preparation for this and so many decisions to make. 

Biggest one being that even though my husband has dropped the paperwork, he still has the option open of testing again for Master Sergeant in February, and if he makes it we could extend again for another two years.

But this military life is hard.  It's hard on the active duty member, it's hard on the spouse and it's hard on the children and after so many years, it starts becoming too much, I think that we're at the point where we are just ready to start our lives, to carve out a future, to find a permanent home and to not have to deal with the deployments and the TDY's, because truth be told when you get to this point of the military career, the separations feel THAT much harder to take.

Even though the separation date is not for 8 months, technically we would be pretty much out, in 4 months with all the leave and such.  That's SCARY!  hahah

So in the next few months, unless something changes, you will get to go along on this journey with me, as we prepare to retire, as we house hunt, as we juggle and jump and crawl backwards through military paperwork and craziness, which is always so much fun. 

I'm just keeping the main goal in mind.  Idaho!

Beautiful Idaho.  A house that we can call our own.  Land to grow veggies.  Chickens.  Green trees and four seasons....and snow for Christmas.

Yes.   I think in the middle of all that is bound to come our way, I will concentrate on that and thank the Lord that we are that much closer to making our dream come true.