Around the Corner

When I was younger I always dreamed I would marry someone who would get me out of the town I was growing up in. I didn't like where I lived. It was small, everyone knew everyone, and not a lot of change happens.

I didn't know that God was listening to me when I was praying for someone to take me away from everything I knew. I just knew I wanted out. On a hot day in June, in Green Bay, I met a nice Marine. Once he told me he was a Marine I figured it would be a fun adventure. I didn't realize that the adventure would still be going on 13 years later. On Saturday we will be married for 11 years.

We have had the privilege to live in many different parts of the country. Each place had something unique to offer. In Washington we enjoyed living on Whidbey Island. We enjoyed great views that looked like something from a post card. In Texas we experienced that everything is bigger in Texas. Including the hearts and open arms of the people we became close to. In Kentucky/Tennessee we learned the hardship of deployment, the true meaning of friends, and absence does make the heart grow fonder. Here in North Carolina we are enjoying being three hours from the beach and three hours from the mountains. Of all the places we have lived this one will be our longest duty station. We are learning how to stay put for more than a minute. Having lived in 5 states and 9 houses in 11 years I always feel ready to move.



We have dreamed of being where we are our whole married life. The kids are older and don't require us to be on top of their every move, a house that we own not one that the military lets us live in, and the joy of having a little extra money to go out to eat or do fun things once in a while without having to save up for them.(meaning bowling or movies). Being at the destination that we planned for so many years is surreal. There are days I wish we could go backwards and have to check jean pockets for enough money to order pizza. Those are the days when life didn't get in the way. As the kids get older and so do we, our responsibilities grow as well. Instead of teaching our oldest how to walk we are now teaching her how to drive. YIKES!

During a recent trip home to my hometown, I was reminded of the things I love about it. I love that I don't have to do a constant head count of children to make sure all of my kids are accounted for. The people there look out for each other. There isn't much crime and everyone still knows everyone. As I was growing up my grandparents owned a bar so people knew me even if I didn't know them. That didn't allow for me to get into much trouble without my parents knowing about it. BUT don't think I didn't try:)

The town is small. You can ride you bikes to just about any place in town. When I was jogging one night I realized that from my dad's house to my mom's house is only a couple of miles. During my stay I drove 50 miles in 4 days. Which, for me, is a drop in the bucket compared to when I am in North Carolina. I drive 36 miles round trip to the gym.

There are many treasures of my hometown that I took for granted when I lived there. My children have never had the joy of riding their bikes across town to their friends house. Our towns have been to big to do that. When I was a kid I went up north with my aunt to Crivitz where my other aunt lived. My sister and I would stay there for a few weeks at a time. As many times as I have been home to visit I have never had the chance to take the kids to see where I spent so many summers. On the next trip I am making the time to go there.

I am still amazed at how God takes me around the corner of a path to show me something new. Things I never realized or even thought about. I hope I have many more corners to turn. After all, what kind of adventure would this be if the path were straight?