I actually enjoy driving across Wyoming on I-80. The speed limit is 75 mph, the scenery is different from what I grew up seeing in Texas, and you don't have to think about where you are going because you follow I-80 for hundreds of miles. After our great breakfast in Laramie, we stopped a couple of hours later. I dropped Jason and the kids off at McDonald's for some playland fun while I ran over to Walmart for snacks and to Starbucks for vanilla and chocolate milks for the kids. It was a great stop and the last one we had to make before getting to Layton, Utah.
As we were driving up to the gate on base, Jason's boss just happened to return our call and told Jason to come on over to their building where he'd show him around really quickly. This was not music to Jason's ears. Why? What do you normally wear on car trips when you leave at 4 in the morning? Exactly! Jason was in soccer shorts and a t-shirt and he hadn't shaved in days! Jason had called his boss a couple of days before but hadn't heard back from him, so he wasn't planning on meeting anyone that day. What a surprise! As it turned out, his boss was awesome and he's really excited to be working for him. That was a huge answer to prayer!!
While Jason toured his new office, I played hide-and-seek with the kids outside. It was so nice to be out of the car and staring at the mountains that would be the backdrop of our new home. Once Jason was done, guess where we went?! To the barber shop! He was planning to get his haircut in Colorado but didn't get around to it, so we ran over to the BX, grabbed something to eat and then went to get his haircut.
Just before we left Alabama, I took the kids to get haircuts. Jackson desperately wanted a "buzz" cut like his daddy's. I wasn't sure I was ready for all of his hair to be gone. I knew he would look so old. Plus, Jason wanted to be there and he was at home with our packers. We made a deal with Jackson. We told him that we'd get it cut short this time and then we'd let him get a buzz cut the next time. When Jackson knew we were going to get Jason's hair cut, the first thing out of his mouth was, "Can I get a buzz cut?!"
We had made a deal, so buzz cut it was! We thought it'd be fun for him. A new haircut and a new home. I really thought it was going to be hard...watching all of his little boy hair go...but I loved the finished look!
One last look:
After haircuts, we checked in to the place we'd be staying until we found a home. We had no idea what we were about to walk into. They made a mistake with our booking, so they didn't have a room for us. They wanted us to stay off base for the night, but the price was double and it was going to be our expense. I didn't feel like that was right since it was there mistake, so I asked if they had anything at all - even a room that is supposed to be for a larger or smaller family. (When they book rooms at AF Inns, they book you according to family size. Even if you want a larger or smaller room, they usually make you take the room that is sized for your family.) Thankfully, they had a unit designed for large families and they allowed us to stay there for the night. Jason had to be at work at 6 am the next morning and then he had to hurry back and help me load the car (Do you remember how much stuff we had packed in it?) so that we could move to the unit where we were supposed to be.
When we got to the new unit, it was great. We had two bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, and a large family room/dining room. It was a great place to stay while we started hunting for a home. Ready for the stinky part? We had to move again on July 1st to a TINY one bedroom. That morning, I had a good attitude about it. I wasn't happy about packing everything up and loading and unloading the car, but I figured it wasn't going to be that bad and that we could do anything for a little while. After all, I slept on an air mattress for 7 months of my pregnancy with Allison and then we lived in a tiny home with basically no yard for 10 months in Alabama. How bad could it really be, right?
It was terrible! When I saw our room, I was so upset. I felt so guilty for being ungrateful, but I had reached my limit. I could live in something like that for a few days, but not for over a month. You see, at this point, we had discovered that the moving industry was totally overworked and understaffed for the summer and that we wouldn't get our belongings until sometime between the very end of July and the middle of August. No matter when we found a house and were able to move in, we'd have to stay somewhere furnished because I had nothing to cook with. We had air mattresses, linens and towels, but nothing to cook with; and eating out for over a month will definitely stress the body and the budget!
I started looking for places off base, but there was hardly anything and most of them wanted leases with longer terms than what we needed. I felt like throwing up my hands and giving up. Why does EVERYTHING have to be so difficult for us. "Lord," I often said, "I'm done with the character building road. I can't take it anymore! I'm tired. I've been uprooted for long enough. My kids have been all over the country and need a normal routine. I want a normal life like other people. What is wrong with me?! Am I so dense that I'm not learning the lesson that you are trying to teach me?!" The self pity was terrible! In my heart, I knew that I should be grateful. I am so blessed and have so much. I'm healthy. My needs are taken care of. I'm happily married. I have two wonderful children and another blessing on the way. I have an amazing family and great friends. Most of all, I have Christ! What on earth is there to complain about?! And knowing that I should be grateful yet was being a complainer and setting a horrible example for my children was upsetting me even more. Oh Lord, change my heart!
He did. A little. I certainly wasn't Ms. Positive USA but I was better. Then, a couple of days later, Jason went to the office and spoke with the staff and they were able to find a two-bedroom room for us. I could have cried! I felt so bad for being ungrateful but I was so happy to have better accommodations. I felt undeserving of His goodness, but I sure was grateful! So we packed up again, loaded the car, moved across the street, and unloaded for what I hope will be the last time.
During all this time of moving around, we saw tons of houses and found a place to live, but the house won't be ready for us until August 17th. As soon as we found out, we told the staff that we needed accommodations until then. They would only let us book through August 5th, which was 30 days. They told us to request to stay the additional week and half that we needed about ten days prior to the 5th of August. Well, we've done that and now, of course, they are saying that they don't have a room available. I'm hopeful that something will work out, but if it doesn't, it looks like we'll be staying in a hotel. I don't understand why they wouldn't just book us through the 17th, but they wouldn't. I guess it's just one more area of needing to trust the Lord for His provision.
It won't be long and all of this transition will be over. I know I'll look back on it and say that it wasn't that bad and that I wish I would have been more positive and trusted the Lord the entire way through it. I'll learn one of these days! Until then, I'll just keep trying to do my best to walk with Him each day of my life.
I'll leave you with this photo of Allison. This is what moving around will do to you!
2 comments:
Oh girl!!! Wow...I think you had a better attitude than I would have. That is a lot for sure...I'm glad God is sustaining you!
I love the picture of Allison...that is awesome. You just have to hold onto those days when your children make you smile with their creativity. Good thing for their resiliency!
Jackson, Grammie loves your new hair cut. My grandson is no longer a little boy. He has progressed to the big boy status. I can't believe how much older you look with the new haircut, but I love it and I can see you do too.
What is it about haircuts that are so hard for a mother? I remember your brother's first hair cut. I cried all day afterward. My baby was gone and a precious boy was in his place, but that did not make me feel any less sad. When you and your sisters got your first haircuts, I did no have anything to do with those. You cut your own hair or your sister's. As you remember it was pretty eventful for all of us, but your hair grew out and it became a great memory for the whole family to have.
As I watch all of my grandchildren change, it only proves how time flies and we all should take in every moment and relish all the highs and the lows. They are gone before we can blink....Love you, Mother
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