Monday, January 31, 2011

New and Exciting

Well here it is, my first blog.... this new and unknown world that I am very excited to jump right into.

My life has transitioned in so many ways over the past year and a half. I remember the day my husband, Dan, came home with the idea of volunteering to go to South Korea for a year. I had mixed emotions. A whole year apart from him, but I knew we were strong enough to make it through to the other side just fine, unscathed. I was scared, but knew that I was strong enough to make it. It broke my heart to think of everything that he would be missing in our lives during that year. The military doesn't take into account the events occurring in our personal lives, and as members of the military, we understand that and accept it. It is the life we signed up for. But to volunteer to be apart for an entire year, I couldn't help but wonder if we were crazy.

The main reason he volunteered to go to South Korea for a year was because of the option of choosing where his next assignment would be. He had been assigned to Hill AFB in Utah for 8 years, and neither one of us joined the military to stay in one place. As career military, Dan, at that point, had about 6 years before he could/would retire after 20 years of active duty, and we quickly realized that if he didn't apply for an overseas tour then, we would never get there. We put down the top choices of where we'd like to live overseas, did some compromising between the two of us, and ended up with the first choice on our list. A year and some change later, in more ways than one, a few hiccups with the military along the way, and a whole lot of support from family and great friends, we are now residing in Italy!

Some may think we're selfish for making the choices we have, and others may think we're running, from what I have no idea, but we made the decision as a couple, for our family to experience some things that most never get to experience. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for us, and I am thrilled beyond words that we get to do this as a family.

This blog will be my medium for recounting the favorable, and sometimes unfavorable, combination of circumstances life throws our way. We'll be submerging ourselves into the food, drink, language, and culture, and hope to absorb all there is to possibly absorb. Won't you join us?