Devil's Tower

Before we left South Dakota, we did finally make it to Devil's Tower (which is actually in Wyoming). We had some extra time on a Sunday, becuase of Stake Conference or something like that, so we went. It's always a kind of dicey decision to make a spontaneous daytrip like this, but it went really well. It was a fun, relaxing afternoon all together. We even got our South Dakota state line picture (only took us 3 years, despite multiple out-of-state road trips)!

about 'starting over' again

I thought a picture of myself would be appropriate for this post, and this was the best I could come up with, since I'm usually the one behind the camera... maybe I should work on that, maybe not  ;)

Perhaps the very best part about our Air Force life is the opportunity it gives us to see/do/experience so many different people, places, things (even though we've stayed in the US so far).  I get really excited every time we start looking at the possible locations for a PCS.  So far, I've been REALLY excited about the places we've lived- Texas (the great state of), Hawaii, and Rapid City.  Now, I was REALLY excited about Colorado Springs too, I still am.  Scott's happy about the job, we found a geat house that is within walking distance to both the elementary school and the church building......

....BUT, as the move date looms closer and closer, I realize how NOT excited I am to leave our home.  Despite my efforts not to make roots here, this has become our home and I will miss it- especially all the truly exceptionally wonderful friends I've made these last three years.  In fact, it makes me pretty miserable to think about.  So, a lot of the time I block that out and focus on the work of moving, its easier.

And then all of that reminds me that I felt this too when we moved from Hawaii to Rapid City.  And how sad it is that I don't keep in touch (at least not as well as I'd like) with all of the truly exceptionally wonderful friends I made there.

To top it all off, I start thinking more about how hard it will be to 'start over' again.  Make new friends (this doesn't come easy to me), and now that my kids are getting older, worrying about them making new friends, fitting into the new ward, finding the parks, library, stores-- the list goes on and on.  I remember how hard it was when we moved here, how lonely it was, how I was certain I wouldn't meet friends as good as the ones I had before.

But then I am reminded that I actually did make new great friends, which means I will probably find new friends in Colorado.  And we can keep in touch (even if its not the same as living in the same city or neighborhood) thanks to the miracles of technology.  So, I want to tell all of you, my truly exceptionally wonderful friends, especially those I haven't seen in a long while, that each of you have made a special impression in my life, you inspire me, and I miss you.  And I hope that some day our paths will cross again.

Packing, packing, and more packing!!!!

My excuse for my blogging absence is a combination of the following: being pretty darn busy, knowing I can't catch up decently, and therefor not trying, and a new found obsession with food blogs.  So, be prepared for a random order to my future posts, as I attempt to document what we've been up to.

I wrote this in the middle of packing up to come home from Montgomery, Alabama, but never posted it:

***I'm so over the packing, right up there with school work on my list.  I really wish we could be going home, and that's it, just be home.  But, we're not.  We get to take 2 quick trips in April, and then move at the end of May.  At least I know better than to think things could not be more hectic than they are right now.  I'd like to think we're going to have a blissful relaxing time once we get through the move, and through with Eden's school work.  But, I know from experience that's probably not a realistic expectation.  So, I will try to enjoy what can be enjoyed now and get the work done the best I can.***

Here are some pictures of some of the packing we've done in the last 5 months.  I'm not crazy enough to have photographed the packing for every trip, so here's the itenerary:
January 2010 (was supposed to be December 2009)- trip to Washington for Tricia & Kyle's wedding (I still take pride in having only 3 checked bags and 2 carry-ons for 4 people for 10 days); (Scott returns from deployment at the end of January);
February 2010- pack up for 5 weeks down south (Florida and Alabama);
March 2010- pack it all up again for the trip home (I count it again because it was a mini-move, not exactly a 'trip';
April 2010- 3 day house-hunting trip in Colorado Springs (this time it was just me and Scott); April 2010- two weeks later pack up for a 4 day trip to Utah and back for Logan and Anna's wedding; also begin packing for our move to Colorado Springs
May 2010- overnighter to Bismarck so Scott could attend the temple that we are actually assigned to before we move (the Denver Temple will be just under 1 hour away from our new home!); continue packing for said move, which is coming way too quickly!

Left: all packed up for a blizzar-postponed trip to Washington

Above: part-way packed for our return to Rapid City after a month in Montgomery (and Naples)
Below: my Mom is an awesome packer, this is what she did during her visit at the beginning of April!

Left: Jake scaling the boxes after our return from Utah (notice not much more packed than the above picture 2 weeks earlier).
Right: taken yesterday- I thought I had made the boxe to steep for him to climb, we think he used the couch and the wall ledge to get to the spot he's in (notice, a few more boxes! there are actually a lot more boxes packed around the house, we just haven't put them all in one place.)