Know Thyself

Today Alex was assigned to write a business letter as part of her English lesson. After we reviewed the reasons people typically write business letters, I asked if she preferred her scenario to be a letter of complaint or a complement.

Without hesitation she replied, "Definitely complaint. It's what I do best."

We all had a good laugh, and I suppose self-awareness is a good thing...

;)

Noticias!

I know you have all been on edge waiting for me to break the big news. And the wait is over!

As it turns out, coach pitch baseball at Osan Air Base uses soft-core baseballs!

Whew! We can all take a collective sigh of relief that Derek is in less danger of a ball related injury than I previously thought.

I'm sorry I left you all hanging so long, I know you were concerned.

Oh, and in other news, we're moving to Texas!

;)

A mere 37 days after we expected to get our assignment, the personnel people have taken pity on us and have, well, actually given us our assignment.
This is a good development, because I had already gone through the 5 stages of grief.


Denial-- What do you mean we don't have an assignment? This cannot be true.
Anger-- This is my life you're messing with people! Work some dang overtime.
Bargaining-- I will send you some kimchi or a mink blanket or whatever else you want from Korea if you will just tell me where I'm moving.
Depression-- This set in after everyone else on God's green earth had received their assignment and we were still waiting
Acceptance-- Eh, not sure I ever made it to this phase. I just kept cycling back to anger.

And now that we have our assignment, I can safely say I was probably overreacting. Thanks for bearing with me.

So we are headed to Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio-- which is a part of Texas that I quite like. We are excited to be living in a big city that offers lots to do and delicious Mexican food. And hopefully, lots of opportunity to practice our Spanish skillz!

Speaking of Spanish, I mentioned before that Josh was out of town for a few weeks. I did not, however, mention that he is in my second favorite country in the whole world. That's right, I have been left behind in Korea while he eats tapas, drinks wine, and practices the siesta in España! I am jealous as all get out very happy for him.
Ha.


Meanwhile back at the ranch, the first weekend he was gone it rained and we were cooped up inside. I told myself we would not spend another Saturday in the apartment all day, and today this happened:

Thanks for nothing, China. Way to send all your pollution particles our way and keep us indoors again.

But at least I had plenty of internetting to keep me busy! After all, now is when the real work begins. Decisions about housing, schools, activities, where to find homemade tortillas. All important things!

Also, I had to make this elephant. Because we needed indoor activities and apparently play-doh is only fun if mom plays, too. In honor of our news, I gave him a cowboy hat and boots.

After my elephant, I made something else and got lectured by my 10 year old for mixing the colors.

"Ugh, mom. I thought once Derek was old enough not to mix the colors that we could finally keep the play doh nice."

Oops.

Also, did I mention that we're supposed to arrive to Texas in 2 months and 4 days? That's like, no time at all. When we hop on a plane out of here, it will only have been about 10 months since the kids and I arrived. I'm not even sure I've fully recovered from that flight out.

But the good news is this will wrap up the 5-Moves-in-5-Years adventure!

2012- North Carolina to California
2013- California to Spain
2014- Spain to Alabama
2015- Alabama to Korea
2016- Korea to Texas

That list is responsible for some gray hair. We are looking forward to seeing how long we can stay put in this new location! Come visit us in San Antonio!

But maybe wait 'til we have a place to live, mmkay?

A couple of things.

Remember a month ago, when I said we'd have our assignment the next day?

Ha ha ha.

Ha Ha.

HA.

(Read that in the voice of someone teetering on the edge of their sanity.)

I suppose we'll know where we're headed sometime before the movers come. And that's about the only assumption I feel safe in making anymore.

So.


In other news, Josh is away for a couple of weeks and the kids and I are plugging away at our final quarter of school.

Know what we're going to do for school next year?
Yeah, me neither.
Because I don't know where I'll be living.

Derek is signed up to play baseball for the first time, and I'm hoping that Wii Sports has been enlightening enough that he knows which way to run when (if?) he hits the ball. Practices start this week, and I'm wondering if I can request that my tiny infant baby be allowed to play with a squishy ball because I'm worried he may get hurt.

He is not on board with that plan.

But do you know how hard those little balls are?

Alex isn't signed up for any sports this season, because they didn't offer any that don't involve a ball. She requires all of her activities to be free of projectiles.

Now you can consider yourself up-to-speed on my super exciting life.

Cherry Blossoms

While Korea has some scenic locations, the majority of the cities would not be what you might refer to as pleasing to the eye.

And by that, I mean that our city is kind of ugly.

You know. Unattractive. Unkempt. Dirty looking.

However, we have reached the one week out of the year where it is not quite as ugly as normal.
I bring you, That Street with the Cherry Blossoms.

Thank you, Songtan, for our week of pretty trees.
It doesn't make up for the other 51, but it's better than nothing.