The End

I've taken quite a long break from this blog. I was starting to feel like it was the same old post again and again. Our lives were pretty much at a standstill and I didn't know what else to write about.

Since then, there have been several new developments.
In September I officially started my own photography business. This is something that I have wanted to do for several years but I didn't have the right equipment or resources. I am so glad things fell into place at just the right time for me to get things off the ground. God is good!
Check out my website or visit my photo blog!

We also have wonderful news to report! We are finally moving!! We've decided to go in another direction and not go with the recruiting. It was likely going to be another 3-6 months before an assignment came our way (nearly a year after the class) so we've gone the civilian route.
I am so happy that we'll be able to "start over" with our lives again very soon! I feel like everything has been on hold since we've been here. Living here has had its challenges for sure but I'm sure I'll think of all the great memories we've made here for a long time.
It has been a blessing to have our son spend a little over a year surrounded by his grandparents (both sets) and his great grandmother. Those are the kinds of things you take for granted when you live close, but miss like crazy when you live far away.

Our move will take us about six hours from "home". I'm hoping that this lends itself to some good, quality family time for the three (maybe four someday?) of us and the opportunity for visitors from time to time.

We're so excited about his new chapter in our lives! The end has definitely come here but, I think, it's just the beginning. I'll be sure to update during our transition.

Greener Grass

So here's something I never thought I'd hear myself say: I miss Alaska.

For the nearly three years we were there, I couldn't wait to leave. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed living in the Land of the Midnight Sun. I'm what most would call a homebody and Alaska was just a bit too far from home for my tastes. Add to that the fact that, after a while, you start to feel like you're stranded on an island because you can drive for days and never leave the state and I was ready for my ticket home.

Having said that, I am really grateful for the experience. The scenery is something I've never seen in my life. I honestly couldn't stop staring at the mountains for weeks (And yes, they really do look purple sometimes.) While we were in TLF I would literally sit on the corner of the spare bed and stare out at the simple beauty of the sun hitting the side of the bare mountain. I would stare at all of that beauty out of just one window and wonder how someone could say God doesn't exist.

Moose and their calves, Dall sheep, grizzlies, otters... Honey, we're not in Pennsylvania anymore! In PA the biggest thing to wonder out in front of your car is a white tail deer (Or, in some cases, a random farmer's cow.) and road kill usually looks something like a rabbit, skunk, "possum" (as we say it around these parts) or squirrel.

As with living in any other part of the country, I slowly started to take my scenery for granted. "Yep, there's another mountain." "Oh, another moose in the backyard." "There's a black bear running around the neighborhood again? I was just going to go get the mail!."

It wasn't until we were a few days away from leaving that the thought of never seeing such things again really hit home. Happy to be heading back to Pennsylvania but sad to leave this adventure behind. That was me
.
I find myself checking up on all of my friends still living in Alaska. What's the temperature today? Any more snow? Any animals wondering about? What's new on base? How's that construction mess on the Glenn looking?

I suppose I'm just feeling a bit misplaced. Yep, we're home. Literally. Moving yourself, husband, toddler, dog and cat (and all of the necessary items for each) in with your parents isn't all it's cracked up to be. While I'm eternally grateful for the roof over our heads and the food in our bellies, I'm ready to move on. It's wonderful to be back "home" among family and friends but somehow I just don't know where I belong anymore.