"How the Boy Spent His Summer Vacation" (Part 3)

Fishing. Fishing. Catching bugs. Fishing. Riding his scooter (around and around and around and around his grandparents' yard). Fishing. And, some fishing. Other than that boring and horribly long drive across the country, he had a really good summer. We used my parents house as our "home away from home" while waiting on Housing and while getting settled here at Bragg. The (very grown-up) boy even spent a week with BaBa and PaPa by himself! He and my mom came up with the phrase "Camp DoWhatcha Wanna" for time spent at her house. (Why was it never called that during the 18 years I lived there?) It is nice though... I think that's how little boys' summers should be.

Star Wars Church

I am taking a brief break in the recap of our summer to share a funny moment. First, some background. There are at least 6(!) different Protestant chapels/church services on the base. This is mind blowing for us... we just came from a post that offered one. So, we have been "visiting" around each Sunday to find the style of service and worship that we feel most comfortable with. Keep in mind that the 9 year-old in this family has spent most of his life with his daddy as a Southern Baptist "preacher" in very casual, relaxed church settings. Very informal. Mostly "Praise and Worship" type music. Mostly familiar hymns. Mostly casually dressed members.

... So, yesterday, we visited "Main Post Chapel." (The very formal and beautifully ornate chapel in the center of the base.) (Dan wanted to hear this certain chaplain who was speaking.) As we drove into the parking lot and were getting out of the car, the two "officiating" chaplains were walking across the lawn. Wearing their clerical robes and stoles. And the voice from the backseat...

"Hey! Who are those two dudes in the Jedi Robes?"

I'm not really sure if he was joking. I'm pretty sure that, in his mind, somewhere out there... in a galaxy far far away, there are real Jedi. If not walking among us. And, apparently, coming to church with us. Actually, I wouldn't mind singing a few hymns alongside Obi Wan or Yoda, myself.

"Build-A-Boy" (or "How I Spent My Summer Vacation Part 2")

Most people buy the "accessories" for the bear they just made. Not my brother. He tries the accessories on his son. Much to our enjoyment! While spending a few days in Hotlanta with the Rogers, my favorite son decided he wanted his cousin to go to "Build-A-Bear" for the first time. His treat. Too sweet. Now they each own matching bears with matching clothes (Alabama t-shirts!) and reversed names. (Elijah's bear is named Noah; Noah's bear is named Elijah.) I would normally say that this is too cheesy for words, but... April tells us that Noah loves his bear, and I know a boy who adores his baby cousin.
Our visit was too short. Always is. And, I don't say this just beacause of Noah. We do adore him. (This was actually Dan's first time to see him!) But, it is always hard to leave when we've all been together. I am glad we'll be a little closer on the map for a while.

Perfectionists Make Great Procrastinators

OK. So my favorite sister-in-law tells me that I have not updated the blog in a while. Yes. I know this. I also know that I have issues. Strange and odd things about my personality that make life interesting for the people around me. I am a ridiculous perfectionist. Not a horrible trait, but it comes with "benefits." If I KNOW in my heart of hearts that I cannot do something up to my (ridiculous) standards, I put it off. A LOT. For a LONG time. I also have this "problem" with doing "fun" things BEFORE "work" things are finished. (Once again, not an entirely bad habit.) I blame this one on my mother... In our house, you could not go out and play or watch TV until all homework was done. A great rule; and one that I use with the boy. BUT... I tend to take it to the extreme. So, if you combine all my quirks with this huge move we just made, you get the perfectionist procrastinator... putting off blogging. Putting off calling friends. Avoiding organizing all our junk. Among other things.
Anyway, this is my pitiful attempt to play "catch up" with you all. So starting tomorrow... just kidding. Here are the first pics from our whirlwind past few months.
We drove from CA to SC, rested a few days, and then went to Birmingham to see the Wrenns. I know this may be hard to believe, but we took no pictures. Neither did the Wrenns. The two "picture-taking, scrapping queens" took NO photos. I think it may have something to do with that perfectionism thing. Shannon would say it's because there are so many kids in her life now. Whatever the reason, we are sad and sorry. We did have a great time, though. It always feels like "family" with those crazy Wrenns.


From Alabama, we went on to Pensacola to see Dan's family. Elijah enjoyed playing in the rain puddles in Nana's yard. Don't forget people... we haven't seen rain in two years.



We also went to the beach and ate A LOT. Typical for a visit with the Urquharts. Funny how no one is complaining WHILE we eat! We also celebrated Danny boy's birthday. I did post a blog to say "Happy Birthday," but here are the belated pictures.



From there, we drove to Atlanta and stayed with Noah and his mommy and dad. Those are the cutest pictures of all, and they will have to wait. A boy is calling his mom.

Up and Running

The friendly little Cable man came yesterday, and we are back in the techno world. Sorta. Only half of our channels have sound. The friendly little Cable man is scheduled to return today to fix the problem... between the hours of 8:00 am and 7:00 pm. How convenient. Oh heavens.. I am starting to sound like a depressed, crazed, irritable middle-aged woman. In looking back over the last few blogs, I realize the need to complain a bit less. Sorry. I will, in time recover from the stress of this move and return to my old self. And, I promise pictures from this summer very soon! For now, enjoy this glimpse of the boy... running on the beach in Charleston. A much more nice and happy thought than the soundless TV channels!

The Unpacking

It has begun... the great unpacking. We have a newly renovated house (yeah!) on Post! There are boxes everywhere, and we are tripping over piles of stuff in our feeble attempts to make it feel like home. Our junk arrived last Wednesday. We quickly realized that we have more stuff than we have house. To be more specific, we lost a garage. We really didn't lose it; we just had one, and now we do not. Just stop and think for a second about what you keep in your garage or attic (which we cannot use either). Camping junk, Christmas decorations, bicycles, yard tools, regular tools, and about a zillion other things. Now picture all that in my living room. Because there is no where else to put it. Other than the middle of the driveway. That's where it sat for a few days. Then we went on a hot date to Home Depot and bought a shed. After putting that together (not good for the marriage) we filled it up. Now we are looking at dates for a yard sale. We are gonna be the most "simplified" and "clutter-free" family by the time the Army's finished with us! On a more pleasant note, the house is very nice... like new on the inside, and the closet space is good, too. We are right across the street from the pool on one side and right across from Elijah's school (we think) on the other side. It is nice to look out the window and see green trees and grass. It's refreshing to hear the thunder of an afternoon storm. And (love you, Amy!) I can drive off Post in about 10 minutes and be at Michael's, Hobby Lobby, AC Moore, and Joanns. Not to mention all the restaurants you can imagine or desire. We'll be broke in a month. Hopefully my next blog will be from home. My own computer. In a room I can actually walk into.

A House?

Could it be true? We have a house! We left Ft. Irwin knowing we were on a Waiting List for Housing at Bragg. Our spot on the list put us at mid-August for getting into on-post Housing. When Dan got to Bragg and checked into the Housing Office, they told him we had moved WAY up on the list, and that we could have a house in the next three days! Needless to say, after our lovely experience waiting for a house at Ft. Irwin (9 months!), we were excited! But, the Housing at Bragg is old and needs improving. There are lots of improvements being made, and there are lots of cute nice new homes, but none are available to us. So, Company Grade Officers get the old, in-need-of-repair homes.
The one they could give us had old carpet, old blinds, old flooring, old (1970) tile, broken bathroom fixtures, old cabinets, no ceiling fans, old metal closet doors, and a washer/dryer hookup in the middle of the kitchen. Please don't think we are snobby. Please don't think that we think we are "above" living there. We aren't. And, we were ready to take it. But, then the Housing dude told Dan that the other homes just like this one were being renovated. Completely updated and improved. Some (including the one next door) were already done. And, ours (if we took it) would not be. So, our HUGE monthly housing payment would pay for a run-down house that needed improvements. And, our neighbors would be paying that exact same amount for their newly renovated house. (That's the insanity of Housing!) Somehow, this didn't seem fair to us. Or the best use of a hard-earned dollar. SO... we went on yet another "list" for a renovated home. The wait? 10 weeks. Or more. That meant school would be starting, and we wouldn't have a house. We resigned ourselves to the wait.
The boy was fine with it all. He's been with grandparents since early June, and the thought of spending 9 more weeks at the farm was appealing to him! (I, however, began to sign him up left and right for every swimming lesson, art class, and VBS in a 100 mile radius!)
Then, just a few days after making this decision, the Housing dude called Dan. "It's good news, Captain Urquhart!" he said. And, boy was it! We could have a renovated house by July 11!! A renovated house that wasn't available earlier had just come open! (Thanks to some poor family who had to PCS sooner than planned.) So, we took it!!!! July 11 is a whole heck of a lot sooner than September 1! I am still holding my breath. Waiting for something bad to happen. I have issues like that. But, I am grateful. Very grateful.
I had just asked my "Iron Peaches" to pray for our situation. I actually asked them to pray that things would move faster. Way to go, my girls! Thanks.
If all goes as planned (I said I have issues), the movers will come on July 16. And, then the fun begins again. It's like Christmas... opening boxes and not knowing what you will find... But, I can tell you all about that another day!