My Idea of Home

Us Army families must learn to love change. And while I usually have said that I was made for this lifestyle because I don't have a hard time with that, the 18 months we will have in central Texas will be too short.

Jason and I are mentally preparing to move yet again next year...this time his unit taking us to Fort Bliss in El Paso, still Texans but changes none the less. At first I pretended this was just not going to happen but after a call from Jay last week I have to accept it truly will. I have prayed, thought, planned, researched and prayed some more about it. Jason feels on the guilty side having a job that uproots these 6 people to a whole new place every couple years. I decided to put it down on paper how I really felt....something I like doing (hence the book) - as it is very therapeutic for me.

YES, I do LOVE this home
YES, I do LOVE our church
YES, I do LOVE being around family
YES, I do LOVE the small community
YES, I do LOVE not being in a military town
YES, I do LOVE the new school and teachers
YES, I do LOVE Clark's mothers day out that he would go to next year
YES, I do LOVE our neighbors
YES, I do LOVE all the people I have met and built relationships with

YES, I am NOT happy about having to sell our first bought home

I basically love every aspect of where we are living right now...If i had a choice I would grow deep roots here in Jarrell.

BUT....when I really think about it...

All the places we have lived I have felt like it was "HOME"
All the places we have lived I have had good/great/best friends
All the houses we have lived in were sufficient for us
All the churches were perfect for my/our spiritual growth
All the places the boys found friends and adjusted well.

There isn't a place I look back on an HATE...(even the tiny 800 sq. foot, 80 year old apartment we had at Campbell) I think fondly on that home because that is where Banner learned to walk and talk and we decided to have just one more child.

SO I have to ask myself.....after this track record what would make Ft. Bliss any different?

Do I want to move? NO
But do we have to? YES
Will I trust that the Lord will provide and we will go west as a family? YES

I have to keep remembering God has given us much grace and blessings even though I don't deserve it. I have to remember all the perfect pregnancies I've had and healthy children. I have to remember all the financial blessings we have had. I can't forget the big blessing I received in 2008- my life back and complete healing. I have to remember Jason is being kept safe in a war zone.

SO, I will 100% support moving to Bliss...knowing it is all in God timing and will. It might be hard, but we can do it as an Allman clan leaning on the Lord. The saying is true for me "Home Is Where the Army Sends Us"....six homes, in 3 states in 8 years!


(I might need to look back on this post when I get discouraged about this move.)