Let me clear my throat

I've heard it said from some people that they actually read my blog and I should go back to typing into it more than once a month and switch to more like once a week. SO, here I am. It's not that I don't love journaling so loud that other people can hear, it's just remembering to do it.
And so what, pray tell have I been doing these last two weeks. The word is travel my friends, travel.
We left sunny 85 degree California on our anniversary (the 12th) and arrived in Baltimore the same day after paying 27.00 to fly across the ocean. NO that is not a typo. We love the Air Force.
Then we hung out in Baltimore for two days to celebrate our three years of bliss and on to Iowa City via Chicago and Moline while Eric flew to Wisconsion for his 6 weeks of training before his next deployment. I only stayed in I.C. one night and then Mom and I drove 12 hours to Denver so that I could fly into California for half the price of flying out of Iowa. It was so nice of Melissa to drive down and make hotel reservations in Denver so that I could see her for a night!
California was so wonderful. Nicki picked me up from the airport and clued me into all the Starbucks gossip until we got to Chipotle where I devoured a carnitas taco. Then Irene and I did a little bit of crying until Roxanne and Val came over and we made an awesome candle. Off to dinner at Red Robin with Irene that night. Monday was Valerie Turbush and her baby Rebecca that refused to be born until after I had flown to Turkey. Valerie is such a great mom...all of my Cali friends are great mom's, but Valerie has really good babies! I saw Roxanne for a while that afternoon and she made amazing cake...which I can't find where I put that recipie? Did I take it with me Roxanne? Roxanne asks such great pointed questions and I'm glad that she is bold enough to penetrate to what I need to talk about. Also-we used her rice cooker which takes up residence in the garage because of lack of use. Unexceptable! That night I went to Fran Fran and Dieter's for a salad dinner. These people have more salad toppings than any salad bar. We read the same books so we caught up on books and since Dieter is ret. Air Force we talked about what's been going on at Incirlik Air Base. Fran and I always have great conversations and this was no less than usual.
Tuesday Morning was Titus 2, my California ladies bible study that I went to while I lived there. It was a treat to sing with the worship team and share a tiny bit about what we need prayer for. After the study Fran Fran and I had the most amazing salmon at a restraunt and then mailed a package to Eric. She showed me the, "Happiest Baby in the World" dvd as well as "Lottie Bern's" workouts. Missy picked me up with Tess and we got Anna from school and watched Tess in ballet class. Then at Missy's house it was time for baths and we all got in P.J's and went through the I-Hop drive through. Back to Missy's house for I-Hop picnic on the living room floor while we watched "Kit-An American Girl" and after the girls went to bed, "The Biggest Loser". Missy and I stayed up till all hours talking about everything under the sun.
Wednesday was, hmmm, what did I do first? Oh I went to Starbucks and talked with Tim-my old manager for about two hours. Then I HAD to take a nap. My first one since the time zone changes. Missy made yummy lunch and then we had nail and toe nail polish fun and I am very pink sparkly. Then we picked up Anna and played a game while we waited for her piano lesson and then she did my hair before Gina and Chirsty picked me up for Sushi!!!!!
We had a great time talking about Christy's upcoming marriage, Gina's new job, and Turkey. Then back home for sleeping. Roxanne and Val met me the next morning for breakfast at a cute little shop. We chatted about family and Titus 2 ideas. By the time I got back it was time to go to the library with Missy, Tessa and Mallory (Tessa's cousin and the daughter of a gal I got to know in bible study-Becca). OK, this is becoming a little to facty so I'm going to shorten it.
Thursday night Sigan picked me up for an Air Force traditional dinner and Grey's Anatomy-my sinful indulgance. Sigan and I are basically hilarious when we're together and I am so glad she's flying out to Turkey for a visit while Eric's gone.
Friday went by really fast, Sigan dropped me off so that I could go with Heidi and Julaine to learn how to can BBQ sauce. I LOVED learning all the different things I can can. Pun intended.
That afternoon I went to Valerie's house to play with kids and eat her yummy food before she dropped me off at the airport where Melissa, Mom and Zachypoo picked me up!
So that's what you're gonna get for now! Pictures to come when the internet decides to work on my computer.

The Feeling of Being Settled

This feeling just isn't going to be a natural state of being for me for long periods of time. Eric and I have finally felt like we are building community, getting closer with friends on and off base, having such a great time with language learning, and setting patterns of life and it's time to mix it all up again.

Eric and I leave next Wednesday to fly into Baltimore and then seperate for about a month while he has training in Wisconsion to prepare him to go back to Iraq, and I head back to Iowa and visit California while waiting for his training to end. Then we will spend about three weeks with family before we fly back to Turkey and have a week together before he deploys for six months.

The most wearing part of all this is the emotional front and back end of the changes. The knowing about the deployment SO far in advance is always in our thoughts, and the travel stresses, and the being apart stresses. Even though NOTHING has happened yet we are emotionally far into this journey.

Eric would agree that this deployment already feels different and not really for the better. I would agree with him. Last time I was so busy at Starbucks, with friends who made me eat, watched Grey's with me, and let me sleep at their houses when I was really sad so time flew by. This time I don't have a sixty hour work week to take up the majority of my day. I am looking for structure but I'm not sure if that is what God would have for me this time. I am VERY aware that finding rest and satisfaction in Him alone are part of my present growth opportunities. So He may very well be uninterested in me finding "distractions" from a very opportune time to grow while Eric is away. I do want to go hard after language while he's gone and be a light to the American non-christians that I support through the key spouse position.

So, pray that my heart would be settled even when my feet and my mind are running around the world.