the BEST of plans...

So as of February 1, the Colonel has informed us that at any time we will be seeing Chris' first set of orders. (Yikes/Yay!) So starts the daily wondering if today will be the day if we will be able to start planning the next phase of life, all while trying to somewhat manage today.

There will be little hints that will let us know orders will be coming down the line soon. Other Cadets around the nation that Chris served with at LDAC will start seeing orders and of course announcing on their social media sites where they are going and when they are to begin. I have managed to this point to just kind of stick it in the back of my head.

However...

One reality has hit. Chris, being up to his eyeballs with his Masters work, and ROTC responsibilities doesn't really even have time to sleep right now, let alone have a family or manage being a Young Men's leader at church for the 16 year - 18 year old boys. That being said, right now he is gearing up for the Military Ball (March 4th), and in March he will be gearing up for FTX ( field training excercizes, in April), and in April he will be finishing up his capstone and other classes and we should be ramping up for graduation (which he is refusing to march in...pick my battles) and the following Commissioning Ceremony on May 14th.

After that... who knows. I do know however from experience that as soon as Chris DOES get orders, life will turn up side down. The following months will be filled for him with training, schools, more training, and more schools, until we reach his first duty station. At THAT time, he will be at the bottom of the totem pole, literally and will be running ragged constantly. As they usually put new Leutenants in groups that are fixing to deploy, they will be extra busy, followed by a deployment.

I am not feeling sorry for myself. Just being real and getting a grip on the outlook for the year. THUS... I have been throwing ideas around for spring break for a while. We want to make a memory with the kids (Braden is't gonna be a kid much longer) while we are all together and have the chance.

We looked at a lot of things. Disney World FL? Uh...we're students. Soooo not gonna fly six of us to the other side of the country and then stay for a week. Lake Havasu NV? Spend some time on the lake? Erghhh. Lots of half naked co-eds and drunk jet skiiers. Nope. Seattle? Rainy, and buuurrr, we wanted some sun shine! Disney LAND? Chris couldn't bring himself to settle, but I started digging and we came up with a fun (I hope) spring break.

We have the plans made, and now it is just a matter of telling the kids. We are going to tell them at the end of the month...

I think I am going to make it a loooonnng....drawwwwwwn...ouuuuut...hinnnnting process. The suspense may kill them! Or me. ;)