120 YIKES!!!! and a little snow...

I've been putting off this blog, in hopes that things would change, but it doesn't look like it so here it is. Last Mon. Kyle started his new job as a flight commander in the OSS (don't ask me exactly what he will be doing, but I know it involves being in charge of linguists). He has been in the same squadron for almost 4 years and it was time to move on- we do love the 38th! He finally found a job that would allow him to still go to school, deploy once a year with his old squadron (apparently 0 a year wasn't an option), and fly just a few times a month with his old squadron. He got there on Mon., flew with the 38th on Tues., on Wed. he found out he would probably deploying in Feb. and not it May, on Thur. he broke the news to me, and by Fri. it didn't seem like the 120 day deployment was going anywhere. His deployments were 90 days at first and then they moved them to 60 and now that they are having a shortage of people they have moved it back to 90 days. That is why 120 days came as a shock and not a good one. His plane deploys to several places, but these long deployments are usually to Qatar. He will be the ADO (Assistant Director of Operations) and that position was just moved to 120 days. It is a great position and the Commander is a great guy, but Kyle isn't too concerned right now with his career in the AF, he will make major and Med. school comes shortly after that. His boss in his new squadron was not happy with the news of a 120 so soon, so he was working on finding someone else (that's why not much has been said), but it isn't happening- as of now, and there is nothing he can do, Kyle has to go. This job does interest Kyle and he does look forward to working with the Commander, but he would give it up in a heart beat. We know it is all in God's hands and we will be just fine. On a positive note, Kyle will make more money being deployed for so long (it is tax free pay when you are in a war zone, plus other extra pay) and this will help get us out of debt (paying for Kyle's school at Creighton, MCAT stuff, on top of other things)- we haven't had debt until this year and we look forward to getting rid of it. I think about 4 months and know I can handle it, but then I think about the kids and it makes me sad- they kind of get it now and kind of don't and it is hard for them to understand. It helps to remember in the long scheme of things 4 months is nothing and they haven't been harmed by all the other deployments in the passed. He leaves in the middle of Feb. and will return by the end of June. I will not be heading to Texas till after school gets out (both my sisters are teachers and it works best if they aren't working), so until May I will just be hanging out alone- if you feel like visiting me that would be great! Whenever I think about complaining about 4 months, I always stop myself and remember to be thankful it isn't longer, there are so many troops that are gone for a year at a time and Kyle will not be in the Air Force long enough to see such a deployment. Right now we are trying not to think about things, just enjoy the time we have together now and are looking forward to traveling to Arizona for Christmas. The MCAT is still happening and it is coming up shortly, right now the plan is the end of Jan. but there is a possibility of Kyle being able to take it while he is in Qatar (giving him plenty of alone time to study). Please pray as we prepare for this time, he hasn't been gone longer than 100 days (it was a 90, but the deployments seem to need an extra 10 days on them sometimes). Pray for the kids and my sanity. Pray for Kyle's safety and his upcoming MCAT test that he has been working so hard on. Thank you so much for all your support and prayers!

On a lighter note at the beginning of last week, the kids woke up thrilled to see snow on the ground! They have been asking about it and it finally came, not much but enough to play with for a while. We bundled them up and pushed them out the door to play with what was left of the snow before it melted. It was so cute, they ran outside and threw themselves on the ground and began making snow angels- I of course was not prepared and didn't have the camera ready for their first snow angels this year (I had no clue they knew how to make them). I did get some pictures of them making some more in our neighbors yard (don't worry no one lives there). Shortly after they came in the snow melted and I realized (looking at there wet clothes and shoes) that they needed some snow gear if they were going to play in the snow more this year (last year Avalyn hated it and Gavin only went out a few times to sled with Kyle). I was able to find 2 snow suits and a pair of Stride Rite snow shoes for Avalyn at a resale shop all for $16, now all I need are some snow shoes for Gavin. There are sure to be more snow pictures this year and they will be properly dressed!