Warning: this blog post was intended to be informative, but turned into more of a platform to vent.
Shawn finally received his orders for service in the Air Force. We’d been waiting so long! Really, it was getting ridiculous.
We got a list of 15 available bases and we ranked them in order of our preference.
We got our #1 choice, which was,
Drumroll…………….
Pope AFB, North Carolina
Hip Hip Hooray! We’re thrilled. This new adventure is going to be awesome, I can’t wait.
But, it is far away from family and friends. And by far I mean clear across the entire continental United States.
This is all exciting for our family. But my mind is completely overloaded with stress. So much so that I am in a comatose state. I literally spend half my day sitting on the couch, (literally just sitting there), thinking.
Let me explain…
Packed in the next few months are some of the most important and/or stressful days of our ENTIRE lives (to date). I highlighted each important day on this calendar so we could visualize the insanity together.
May 19 – Shawn graduates from Graduate school as a Doctor of Optometry. THIS IS HUGE!
May 29 – Shawn begins Commissioned Officer Training in AL. He will be there for 4 1/2 weeks. (I highlighted each day because this will be the longest I will have ever been alone and I can only imagine how awful it will be…. I know, I need to work on my pessimism)
June 16 – Jefferson’s 8th birthday. A Birthday Party year (which takes a lot of planning) And his baptism day (which of course will be postponed because Shawn will be in Alabama.)
June 20 – I am due to deliver our 4th baby. Without my husband. Enough said! (this one can’t be postponed)
June 25 – The day our movers are (tentatively) scheduled to pack our belongings and leave me in an empty house
June 26 – the day I check myself into a psychiatric hospital. Only kidding…. sortof
June 29 – Shawn graduates Officer Training, after enduring a month of abuse.
July 2 – We load our 4 kids into our car and drive 2,908 miles to our new home in NC. This is INSANE, and truly ridiculous… but after exploring all other options, it’s the choice we’ve made (and will live to regret…. if we even live through it that is)
July 13 – Shawn begins his first day of work as the solo Optometrist at the Air Force Base.
July 15 – Shawn’s 30th Birthday.
and August 10 – We celebrate our 10 year anniversary!
Somewhere in there we’ll have to throw in a baby blessing and Jefferson’s rescheduled baptism
Do you think we could we put anymore monumental events in there?
And that folks, is what I sit on my couch and think about day after day after day. There is so much that is out of my control, it could really drive me bonkers. I could think my brain to pieces when it comes to Where, When, and How I should have this baby…… When and How we should get our family to the state of North Carolina…… Which city to live in…… Which school to enroll my kids in….. What we should do for Jefferson’s birthday (I know, in the hierarchy of things I should let this one go, but it’s important to him)….. and on and on.
Does your brain hurt?
Mine too! I was talking with a neighbor and she said, “It’s amazing what you can do when you have to.” That is so simple and true. It boosted my energy and got me permanently off the “thinking couch.” I’ve decided to trust that everything will be okay (it always is) and just do it!
And who knows, it might be a fun journey through it all.
11 comments:
Wow! Yah, I think I'd sit and think a lot too. I hope everything goes well!!!
Holy Craziness!!!! I'm so excited for you guys. It will be such an adventure for your cute family. Good luck with EVERYTHING!
You'll both need to start gathering as much coal as you can, right now, so the "Little Engine that Could" CAN........get you to the top of the hill & take you smoothly down the other side!
"I know you can, I know you can", I step at a time.
Wow Kristina that is a lot, believe me I have been a very similar situation recently and you can survivor even though it may not feel like it. Just pray, a lot! Seth went to china for a couple of weeks while I was pregnant then soon after we moved and had some other significant stuff go on. Just remember, this too shall pass :) good luck In carolina I have heard its beautiful out that way. Wish I could help you somehow.
Oh my, InSANitY! Good luck with everything. You'll make it though because you have fantastic people around you that are willing to help. If anytime there was a time to cash in on your friendships, now's the time ;) And congrats on your #1 pick! What an exciting place to go. I'm looking forward to all of the many adventures you'll have to share.
And I thought that moving to a new house a few days before my due date was crazy (and that was all locally)!!! You are amazing and can do anything! The big drive with a newborn will be easy (coming from someone who did a roadtrip with a 3 week old). I am so happy for you guys, but so sad you are moving so far away!!
What a crazy adventure you have ahead of you! I'm not gonna lie, I'm a little envious of it all! Okay, I know it's overwhelming, but just think of all the stories you'll get to tell through it all. Good luck, Skinner family!
It all sounds frantically insane but, I know that your faith and love will get you through it all. Boy what fond memories you will have to look back on~ Love, Aunt Bobbi
Wow, your post STRESSED me out...I can only imagine how you are feeling! It is also very exciting though- so many life-changing events packed into 3 months! As far as you being ALONE when your baby's due....say the word, and I will come and help you!!!
Holy Moly honey! It sounds incredibly insane but Im sure you guys will do great! Good luck! It will be such a great journey, just DO IT! ;) LOVES!
Man thats more than I ever thought someone could do in just 2 months. Happy safe delivery wish Ian and I could be there to help out. Let us know if you need to ship one of the kids to us just kidding love you
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