So 13 days from now, we fly off Oahu as we move to our next military assignment. So much has had to be done in preparation. Sorting, purging, organizing, packing, notifying, planning, confirming. Feels like juggling. Fortunately I don't have to do it all myself. After 15 months without my husband home, and now having had him home for 3 months, it's so nice to have someone else to talk through decisions with.
Nearly every corner of our home has been sorted through, looking for things that need to be put elsewhere, things that should be thrown away, given away or sold. I have a closet full of things to consign, and an appointment to do so next week. They told me I could bring a maximum of 45 things. That inspired me, and I have exactly 45 things. We've donated bags of things to the thrift store. We've thrown away lots of old papers, and some old broken or worn items. I've organized the girls' toys into Rubbermaid containers and kept them off-limits so they don't get lost and mixed together again. I've done the same with their craft supplies, games, and books. The books aren't off limits, but they must put them back where they found them, exactly, with the other books that are like them.
We've notified important people of our move, and asked the USPS to forward our mail (starting tomorrow). We've made arrangements with housing, the movers, hotels, rental car places, airlines, and family members and friends. We've made extensive to-do lists and conquered much of them. We've debated how many checked bags we'll have, how many carry-ons, and which ones, and whether or not it will all fit in our car, or in the rental car going to and from the airport. I've made packing lists for myself and the girls, and modified those once we realized how little space we have to work with.
We've said goodbyes and "see you laters" to many great friends and acquaintances made here, and there are more to be said. We've turned over responsibilities and roles to others who will remain here. We've given things we can't move to friends who can use them. (There's more of that to be done too.) We've creatively used up most of the food in our kitchen, though I'm sure I can squeeze a few more meals out for the few days we're still in our house.
We've researched and explored things about our next location, both on post and off. We've gotten pre-approved for a mortgage and have looked extensively at houses on the market through the internet. We've seen several we like in our price range, and anticipate seeing what's on the market when we can actually view them in person. My husband has priced used Honda S2000's in the area, and has determined the price he wants to pay, and what colors he does or doesn't want. We've gotten names and tips about people and places in the area we should find when we get there.
So it's been a busy time. Monday the movers will come and start boxing up our "unaccompanied baggage", necessities that arrive first to Colorado. We're allowed not quite a ton of weight for this group of stuff, so my husband told me to picture a pile the size of our car. Then Wednesday and Thursday the other movers will come and box up the rest of our household goods. We'll start staying at the hotel on post this Thursday, and check out of our house completely on Monday June 8th. We fly early in the morning on Wednesday, June 10th.
We're anxious to go and see family and friends, and to then get to know our new location, but also sad to leave good friends, familiar places, and tropical paradise behind. It's an odd mixture of stress and excitement. Strange, but we've been through it a couple of times before.
We feel truly blessed to be a military family, and we accept the challenges involved in the moving process, because we know that our jobs here are done, and that God will use the jobs that we face ahead of us in the next place will grow us in the way that He desires. It's an adventure, and we are enjoying the ride!
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