Short blogging semi-break

I probably won’t be blogging much within the next two weeks.  Things are really busy around here with us trying to get Mark ready to go, trying to get the house ready, thinking about everything I need to take with me, spending time with friends we’ll miss and getting some quality family time in.  Blogging is going to be low on my priority list for the next few weeks, but I promise I’ll be back once I get set up in the States.

Things here are going well.  I’m in really good spirits, which honestly is surprising to me.  I didn’t think I would handle Mark leaving this well, but I guess he’s not gone yet.  However, I’m trying really hard to keep an optimistic attitude and to look at all the positives in our situation.  And when you come right down to it, there really are quite a few positives.  Pretty much the only negatives are that we’ll be separated from Mark and that he’ll not exactly be in a vacation zone.  But I am SO excited to go home, I can hardly contain myself!  When else would I ever get the chance to go home and reconnect with all my friends and family there, without the guilt of leaving Mark behind?  Our week or two long visits home once a year just aren’t enough to really connect with people and I’m excited to get home and spend bunches of time with people who have been in my life for a long time.  I’ve been talking with friends back home, and I definitely won’t be bored, that’s for sure!  Abbie will get to know my 95 year old grandma more.  The last time they saw each other was when Abbie was 6 months old.  We’ll be saving a bunch of money because I’m going to shut my car insurance off here while I’m gone, and we won’t be paying outrageous electric bills over the summer.  Plus gas is cheaper in the States, and Mark will be making more money while he’s gone.  And I’ll get to shop.  And I’ll have internet that actually works…

I will miss Italy though.  I sure as heck won’t miss the Italians and their lifestyle, but Springtime in Italy is more gorgeous than any other place we’ve lived.  The Italians like their flowers and it’s beautiful when everything is in bloom.  And I’ll really miss my friends here.  I’m really bummed about leaving Brittney behind, but I am SO grateful that she is going to watch our house and take care of everything for us here.  Brittney is incredibly reliable and detail oriented, so I know I won’t have to worry about a THING with the house while I’m in the States, which is a HUGE weight off my shoulders.  I’m just sad I won’t see her for 6 months.  And I’ll miss all my squadron friends here too, but most of them are going back to the States, at least for a little while, and I plan on keeping in touch with everyone too.

Anyway, hope you’re all having a great week and that the Spring weather is here to stay in your neck of the woods.

(Our new favorite picture of Abbie. Taken 3/2011)