It's that time of year again

*DISCLAIMER* I apparently do not have the ability to update this page regularly but I'm trying.  Really.  I know it doesn't seem like I am but 2013 was another crazy roller coaster of fun and excitement.  I also cannot seem to master the art of the Christmas Card.  I bought them for years and just never managed to mail them.  One year they were even addressed.  So don't worry if you didn't get a card from us, nobody did!

I'll start with the current state of events and then give a brief history of how we got here.  We are all living in Florida with my sister and her family.  Chris is retired and I am back in school.  The monkeys are growing up way too fast and are now in 7th (Sarah) and 6th (Jacob) grades.  We haven't measured Jacob lately but Sarah was just at the doctor and is now 5'4" and a 1/2.  (Can't forget that half!)  She has passed one Grandma and is gaining on the other.  She is most excited about closing the gap with her Papa. ; )  We are still homeschooling and it's going well.  This past year has been filled with lots of transitions and living with my parents and then my sister so I am super proud that they have managed to still accomplish their schoolwork!  

I finished my first semester back at college after a 19 year hiatus.  It has been an adjustment but it was better than I thought.  This semester seems like it will be a lot more work but I'm up for the challenge.  Despite 3 years of a music degree, Valencia would not let me test out of Music Appreciation so at least one class is easy.  (At some point, I might have to read the book but not yet…).  I should be graduating with my AS in Hospitality and Tourism Management in December 2014 and then I will transfer to UCF to work on my BS.  Hoping I will be able to clear UCF in 4 semesters (including summer).  Some of you will find great humor in my summer schedule for this year.  One of my requirements is a 6 hour class called Quantity Food Production.  Yes, I have to take a cooking class.  I'm sure that will provide lots of inspiration for blog posts.

There is some light at the end of this tunnel we've been in.  Chris has a part time job and I am hoping to report the same news soon!  At the same place!  Let's just say the boss has big ears and a tail.  We are also hoping to update everyone with an address of our own by the end of February.  We haven't seen our stuff since last March so it will be like Christmas!  I also see a BIG garage sale in our future.  I'm certain there will be a lot of "why are we keeping this?" and "I didn't even know we had this!" during unpacking.  The monkeys have been AMAZING during all of this but they really would like to see their stuff again.  And a room of their own.  And their Legos.  Please pray that this can happen smoothly and soon!

This is where I tell you that I am going to try and better about updating this blog.  I can't promise to do it but I can promise to try.  I think I need to start blogging about less significant things instead of waiting for big news or such.  We'll see...

Going back to school... the incoming freshman were born when?

So, it's been long enough.  Time for another update.  If you feel lost about what I'm talking about, I recommend reading the previous post for more information.  Highlights include deployments, homecomings, hospitalizations, med board process and retirement. ; )

As of April 25, Chris is officially retired.  Seems strange to type that out.  It always seemed so far away and then it was here!  I'd love to tell you we are comfortable settled in Florida but not quite yet.  Retirement but no definite date when all his pay will come. So, we are crashing at my Mom and Dad's in SC until we get this all figured out.  Well, as figured out as we get.

Thankfully, Chris' retirement pay has kicked in but we are still waiting for VA disability and Social Security disability.  Both organizations assure us he is due compensation and it will be retroactive.  That doesn't help us right now though.  We have decided to rent for a year or two and then buy a home.  Apparently, people want actual proof that we can pay rent.  So, we are still at Mom and Dad's and have been here since April 1.  That's a LONG time.  What we thought would be a one or two month bump in the road seems to have turned into a major traffic jam.  For the sanity of all of us, most especially my parents who would like their house back I'm sure, please be praying that these obstacles are cleared soon so we can start our new life in Florida.

Here is the tricky part.  I actually have a deadline to be down there.  August 26 (also our 18th anniversary) will be my first day of class at Valencia College.  Yes, I think I have finally decided what I want to be when I grow up.  (Grown up is merely a name, I will always still be a kid.)  I will be studying Hospitality and Tourism Management.  The end goal is to work at Walt Disney World (duh!).  I will get my Associates at Valencia and then transfer to University of Central Florida to complete my Bachelors.  I will still be a Gator fan first and foremost of course.

This plan to go back to school sounded wonderful...until I came to the realization that I could be the incoming Freshman's Mom.  That was a downer.  And I think I have to take College Algebra.  It's been a LONG LONG LONG time since I took Algebra in high school.  Sarah is starting Pre-Algebra right now.  I might sneak onto her computer and see what I remember.  I do remember lots of solving for x.  That's a start, right?

At this point, we are just ready to get to Florida and settle in.  We are thankful that Mom and Dad were able, and mostly willing, to take us in.  We are just ready to be home!  To start this next chapter.  To scrape off the moving stickers (a nice rainbow of colors have gathered on our furniture) and know that we are done moving every year to 2 years.  (OK, we'll have to move once we buy a home but then that's it!!!)

I have wanted to move back to Florida since the day my parents dragged me kicking and screaming to New Hampshire my freshman year of high school.  Now it is so close... but we're still not there.  Please pray hard that we can move along SOON!!!  Hopefully, I can post a great update before August 1!

PS- The VA sent Chris a letter today that says "sorry it's taking so long, we'll be done soon!".  Wow.  Thanks.

What a crazy year it was...

See, I didn't drop of the face of the earth.  It's just been a very long and very interesting year and I needed time to process how to blog about it.  Still not sure how to fit everything into a logical order so if it's a little, or more likely a lot, rambling, I'm sorry.  This isn't really a "Christmas Letter" type of post.  I can say that the monkeys are growing up and up and up.  I'll have to post one of those type of posts next.

In order for things to make some sort of sense, I need to give a brief summary of how we got to this point.  If this is stuff you know, feel free to skim until you hit something new.

In March of 2008, Chris was in Afghanistan again.  He was 9 months into a 5 month deployment when he was med-evaced to Germany to begin treatment for Combat Related Severe Depression and Combat Related PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).  He was able to come home to Fort Bragg and continue treatment for a year and a half.  Once cleared for duty, we moved to Kansas for 10 months of schooling where Chris was doing well.  Then, the "needs of the Army" called us to Fort Riley, Kansas where they deployed Chris to Iraq.  He was there for almost 3 months when he realized he needed help.  So back home he came.  He was treated at Riley for 8 months and then we moved to Columbia, SC.  His job here was a job planning ops in Afghanistan.  Basically reliving that last Afghanistan deployment over and over.  It wasn't very long before he realized this wasn't healthy.  After numerous outpatient and two inpatient treatments, the Army found Chris unfit for duty and we started the medical board process.

OK, that brings us up to last June when we started this process.  I can tell you if you didn't have some sort of PTSD before, this process might give it to you!  In true Army fashion, what is supposed to take a week actually takes a month and what we thought was going to be a 4-6 month wait was 3 weeks.  There are a whole new set of acronyms to learn and power point slides aplenty!  We are finally nearing the end of this process which brings up the "What next?" question.

Chris was given the option to medically retire or apply to continue on active duty.  After prayer and discussion, we have decided to retire from the Army.  He will be placed on the Temporary Disability Retirement List.  Most likely, he will be placed on permanent disability retirement in a year or two.

Trying to imagine our life away from the Army seems so strange.  We were married for 10 months when he was commissioned and it's now 16 and 1/2 years later.  The thought of moving where we want is both exciting and a little strange.  Only moving once more, no more moving stickers on all our furniture.  Only one more round of "where in the world am I going to put this" and "why in the world are we still moving this stuff around".

So, where are we going to end up and when are we leaving?  Those two questions are still being determined.  Chris is looking at ROTC and JROTC jobs in Florida.  I'm sure none of you are surprised about the state.  As for when, the Army originally set his retirement date for the end of February but we have applied for a 60 day extension so we have time to take his leave days and house/job hunt.  I will try and keep everyone up to date but it's been a lot of "hurry up and wait".

The blessing in all of this is that we needed to be here in SC for Chris to get the help he needed.  THe right programs and doctors were here.  We found a great church family here.  We were also able to have my Mom and Dad an hour and half away during some very difficult times.  Their help and my sister, Michele, being able to come up was invaluable.  Even in the midst of a deep valley, I knew God had this all under His control.  My control/Type A personality does rear its ugly head every now and then but I'm working on it.  Chris is doing very well and we are looking forward to what is coming next.

Please be in prayer for our job/home hunting.  Especially the timing of all that.  Prayers for all of us as we become a retiree family in a civilian world.  Pray especially for Sarah and Jacob who, until last April, had no idea anything was going on with Chris.  They have been amazing about everything and are taking this huge change in stride.

I'll try to update when we have some sort of news.  Could be weeks, could be months, could be tomorrow.  Love that.

It's a different world...

Had a "out of military bubble" experience recently.  You know that moment when you are reminded that not everyone lives the kind of life you do as a military spouse.  Sometimes, I forget that because most of my friends are living in the bubble with me.  I've had a few of these moments over the 16 1/2 years we've been in the military.  (Yes, I know it's Chris who is "in" the army but I can assure you it's really a "we" thing).  Just thought I'd blog about these moments to see if it's just me.

The most recent moment was in our first meeting with our small group for our church here in Columbia, SC.  We were doing the "getting to know you" thing and everyone pulled a question out of a basket to answer.  Chris pulls out his question and starts laughing.  My first thought was "Is this something we will be able to share out loud?"  We have so many inside jokes that sometimes, it's really not a share out loud kind of moment.  Chris offers to answer his question first.  "Have you ever been to a foreign country?  What was your favorite part and your least favorite part?"  Chris and I are laughing together now but no one else seems to get it.  So he answers that he has been to a foreign country or two and his favorite part was living in Germany and traveling.  His least favorite part about going to a foreign country?  Being shot at in Afghanistan.  We both laughed again and it was at this point that I realized we were the only ones laughing.  Not that we take him being shot at lightly of course but it is part of our life.

Have you ever had one of those "we live in a different world" moments?

New Year Resolutions

In true Christina fashion, my "New Year's" post is a little late.  It's not as late as my Christmas cards though!  Those are about 7 years behind.  I actually have 2 sets of cards that I purchased but never wrote on.  I even had one set of cards that I wrote on and addressed but never mailed.  I keep thinking "This is the year I will mail Christmas cards".  Sometimes I even get the notion that I will include a family letter.  You know, the letter where I tell you all the wonderful and amazing things we did so you may ooh and aah appropriately.  Or, what the heck, you can ooh and aah inappropriately.  (Not sure what that would even sound like...)

2012.  I must admit, 2011 has been hard for our family so I was ready to see 2012 get here.  Not that a calendar change would automatically make all things better but there is something reassuring about saying "Last year, we went through...".  Not sure why that is easier.  We are still facing some of the same things but it seems like we have a bit of a new start to it now.  Tackling it with fresh perspective.  Or maybe I'm just feeling optimistic today.

New Year's Resolutions.  I've never been a big follower of this tradition.  Not sure why but it just never clicked with me.  It seems a lot of people have grand schemes that fall flat before the they ever get off the ground.  Good intentions but no follow through.  (I'm counting myself among the "lot of people".)  I think instead I will face each challenge one by one.  Some changes are small and some are bigger but can be broken down into manageable pieces.  I am now thinking that improving my spelling skills should be on this list.  It took me 4 tries to type manageable correctly.

I'm not going to start listing all of the ideas in my head but I'll start with one or two.  I have already accomplished two goals recently.  One, I actually posted to my blog.  I kept saying I would but then it would be a month since my last post and I would feel pressured to come up with something amazing to say to justify the long delay.  Not that I think anyone is losing sleep over the delay.  Occupying their day staring longingly at my page waiting for a new posting.  Second small goal, I managed to watch an entire episode of Biggest Loser without snacking.  Why does this show lead me to snack?  You'd think it would lead me to the elliptical but no.   I've heard three other people talk about this recently so I know I'm not alone.

See, my goals are not lofty.  They are relatively easy (although I was tempted by some leftover Christmas candy last night watching Loser).  Perhaps instead of long term goals I should think one day at a time.  Today, I have to go the commissary.  This is not my favorite thing to do especially with the monkeys along for the adventure.  So, today's goal is to approach the commissary with a better attitude.  Not muttering under my breath when someone blocks the entire aisle.  Not thinking they should have a driving class requirement to use the electric scooters.  Not sighing when another "vertically challenged" person asks me to get something off the top shelf.  (Seriously, I don't mind doing this but why is it not OK for me to ask a shorter person to get something off the bottom shelf?  I haven't tried it but I'm sure the response would not be favorable!)  Not scanning the freezer section for a space large enough to put a 9 year old in.  Or a 10 year old.  Or maybe both.  Not wringing my hands at the urge to shove the bagger out of the way and say "Good grief, I'll do it myself" when they take my carefully separated groceries and place one frozen item in every bag.

Hmm, perhaps my attitude towards the commissary is worse than I thought.  In an effort to break this into more manageable pieces (whoo-hoo, got manageable right on the first try!), today I will attempt to go to the commissary and return with my groceries and my children.  OK, maybe I could try a little harder than that...

What to blog, what to blog...

So, I started this blog, wrote a few posts and then dropped off the radar.  Not intentionally but life went a little crazy and I kept waiting for something profound to blog about.  Well, after a few months, I've determined my life is a little short on profound and very long on weird.  If I wait until something profound or really important happens, I might never write again.  (OK, maybe never was a strong word but you get the point.)

I'm still not sure exactly how this will go but I'm working on it.

Pitmans on the move!

Moving.  Ugh.  For the third summer in a row, the Army has called upon our family to pick up our tent stakes and move.  2009 took us from Fayetteville, NC (where we had been living for 8 years!) to Fort Leavenworth, KS.  2010 sent us on a rather short trip from there to Fort Riley, KS where we lived in Manhattan, KS (also known as the Little Apple... no, I'm not kidding.)  This summer sent us out from Kansas and back to the south.  Ah, the south.  Land of SEC football, sweet tea and warmer weather.  Where an outdoor shopping area makes a whole lot more sense! (Never understood Kansas outdoor shopping areas... nice in the summer but EEK! in the winter).  We were hoping to end our journey in Florida but we are settling in Columbia, South Carolina.

Columbia, SC.  Land of SC Gamecocks (or as I like to call them, Fighting Chickens) and the Clemson Tigers.  Chris is actually stationed at Shaw AFB near Sumter, SC but we decided to hang our hat here and he is going to commute.  (Thanks Sweetie!)  Less than 2 miles from our house here is a large outdoor shopping center with (drum roll please) 2 Starbucks, a Panera, Red Robin (yum!), Target, World Market and more.  Not to mention there are 2 Publix's near my house.  Unless you have lived in the south, you might not understand but as far as grocery stores go, Publix is the best.  LOVE it!

So we are setting in here but have hit a few hiccups.  Instead of our plan to have our new furniture (yeah!) delivered today and our household goods on Monday....well, I need to back up a bit to explain how we got to this point.  Flashback to August 26.  No, back up a bit further.  Dinosaurs roamed the earth... OK, maybe not that far back.

This move was under the Army's new and more efficient system.  No, stop laughing...it really was supposed to be more efficient.  First they came to pack our stuff on Monday and Tuesday.  Then, we got to sit and look at boxes until Friday when they came to load the truck.  Long story short (too late!), our stuff was put into two different trucks.  The load that was already on our first truck was 5000 pounds more than they thought it would be.  We won't even go into how you could possibly be 5000 pounds off.  SO, they put as much as they could on the first truck and loaded the rest (4 hours later) into another truck.  They assured us it would come together before we got to SC.

Two thoughts here... once they realized the first load was 5000 pounds over, don't you think they should have come with a different truck to my house?  One that had room for all our stuff?  Second, if they knew when they showed up that morning that it wasn't all going to fit, don't you think they should have made some logical division to our stuff.  Nope!  We have a shipment with half of Jake's bed, chairs but no table, half of an entertainment center.... the list could go on.  That shipment is coming on Monday.  The second shipment finally left Kansas the other day and is now scheduled to arrive "hopefully between Wednesday and Friday".  How's that for a scheduling window?  You thought the cable company had a broad range of when they might arrive!

I'll keep you posted on what happens next... I'm trying to embrace the attitude of "Semper Gumby- Always Flexible".