Changes

Hello all..I have been absent from the bloggin world for quite sometime as we have undergone some MAJOR changes in the Schukte family. We found out in March that Kevin had received an assignment to Moody Air Force Base in Georgia, and we began the process of making the transition to the south. He is part of the 820th Base Defense Squadron here and is doing deployment training. It is a welcome change to have him on the ground, and even though this assignment will mean deployments, I am going to have him here more often then I did in Maryland. I quit my job at the beginning of June, Merrin finished up first grade and we made our trip down on the 26th of June. We split the trip up into two days, and aside form the dog puking in the car, the trip was not bad at all. We knew that we were going to be purchasing our first home here in Georgia, so that meant that we spent our first 26 days here living in Air Force Temporary Lodging Facility. As awful as that may sound to some, it was actually kind of fun to be there all together. Kevin had a couple weeks off of work and we spent the time exploring our new community, playing games, watching movies, and LOTS of time at the base pool. We found our house here relatively quickly ( it was the seventh house we looked at) and got to move in on the 20 of July. Kevin was already back at work by then, but was able to be here on move in day. Our movers were TERRIBLE and we relieved them of their duties about thirty minutes into the day. Kevin and I moved in everything ourselves, with some help form a couple of buddies with the washer and dryer, and began getting everything set up. Here it is the 14th of August, and we finally finished everything yesterday. This is the house of my dreams. Amazing location, beautiful wood floors, open spaces, room for the kids...everything I could want in a house. I don't want to ever leave it. Merrin started school at Dewar Elementary on the 5th and seems to LOVE her school so far. It is a very nice facility and her teacher seems wonderful and very well suited and accommodating to Merrin and her needs. I am VERY relieved to have that work out for her. I am still waiting to go back to work. Sadly, I am leaving all my years in home childcare and will be working for the new Child Development Center here. I am sad to leave me years at home and I will miss the flexibility and opportunities I had with being at home. However, there is an ABUNDANCE of childcare facilities here and the need for in home care is much smaller. I simply would not receive the business I would need to stay open. After all my years in childcare, i am able to take on a good position and Eden will be in the facility with me in an all day program until she starts kindergarten next year and then will be abel to go to the School Age Program with Merrin. I am sad to not be at home with them anymore, but the childcare programs here are excellent and the opportunity for me to go into the position that I can take here is excellent. I will be able to finish my Child Development degree and have an opportunity to enter the GS system. Kevin's job is going well, he has a lot of leadership opportunities and likes the people he has met. His unit is going through some major transitions right now in terms of structure and leadership and he is anxious to see what the outcome is as things are handed over. The girls are loving it here, they ADORE the house and having their own rooms, and I think that they have enjoyed having me home for the summer with them which was a rare and precious opportunity for me. I have loved the chance to be here with them and get to spend precious time with them before I go back to wokr. The city of Valdosta is adorable and the older part of the city has a quaint and charming streetfromt. There are many of the things that we are used to, there is a mall, and lots of restaurants and Target and HOBBY LOBBY, as well as a $1.99 movie which we love. There is less in terms of constant entertainment then we had in MAryland, but the chance to be at home together and play board games and sit on the porch is good for us. I have had lots of crafting time while waiting to return to work and have caught up on several scrap[booking prjects. We have taken one day trip to Atlanta to the aquarium and are taking the girls to Tamp next weekend for Merrins birthday. We are doing well here, and adjusting to the many changes and new way of life. We have tried a few churches out, and have some others that were recommended to us by friends still to try before we make our permanent decision on our church home. People ehere are so gracious and loving and sweet and much more friendly. Change is always hard, especially for those of us who have, shall we say, control issues.....but I am adapting. there are days that I miss Maryland and that I miss my friends and the things that I was used to ..but that is life. Move gives and opportunity to find new things abort yourself and experience new parts of life ad new parts of our family. God has an ultimate plan for us, and when I feel frustrated, I remember that. I am grateful for my amazing home, that Kevin and I have been blessed with work and that I have the amazing abundance of Gods calming hands to help me adjust. And one more thing....there are LOT of gnats here. Its funny no one mentions that part to you....