Us. An Update.

How's life?

In a word, extraordinary.

Michael came home safe from Afghanistan. Home life transition went really well, not counting the sudden separation anxiety Jericho went through at CDC. We're still working on that. I say "we" because it's just as hard on me as it is on him. It's just a small rough patch; it'll pass.

After a week of hustling to get his ASU uniform (it's like the revised version of the Army Dress Blues) tailored, dry cleaned and decorated, finding a nice dress suit and packing, he said goodbye again and got right back on a plane headed for Washington, D.C. Michael was on the guest list to be at the ceremony of his fellow comrade Sal Giunta, Battle Company's Medal of Honor recipient. He's spent the week reuniting with old buddies, playing poker and swapping stories about who knows what, as well as shaking hands with some very important people. Sal's story has been relived and retold over and over in the last few weeks, but if you've just now decided to crawl out from under that rock, you can find them here and here. Every time I watch these videos, I thank God for bringing my husband home safely after that deployment, and after this latest one as well. If the third time's a charm, I'll be damned if he goes back.

Our move is getting closer, and I have to say I'm beyond excited! The builder is keeping us updated on our house, sending us photos of the progress. This week he is working on my baking drawers (you can check out the example photos I sent him here) and I cannot wait to see those pictures! I just imagine walking through the front doors and seeing all the things I don't have here - cabinets, closets, storage space - and taking a big sigh of relief! I've been dreading the move because I'm going to miss living in Europe. I'm going to miss the opportunity to just hop on a plane and be in Paris in 2 hours. Or take a simple train ride to Rome. Will I ever get that chance again? Who knows.

To prepare myself for that day, I've been emotionally separating myself from this place, trying to look forward to what's going to be more readily available to me in just a few months. Yes, I can adapt to change. I can make do with the things I have here if I can't find what I really want. But it's been so long since I've been able to be fully satisfied with what I have. I'm tired of feeling detached from the things I long for. A truly happy home. Everything in its place. A backyard.

This is my one life. I shouldn't have to "make do" with that.