Across the World and Back!

My military man has been in the Navy now for 10 yrs!...10 years in and 10 to go. In those 10 yrs we have lived in several dif. places such as MD, IL, VA, Italy and back to MD (our home State) again. Living in Italy for 3 yrs was amazing to say the least. I got so used to it there that we were even comtemplating extending there another 3 yrs...that was until we knew we were able to get stationed in our home town....of course we jumped on that quick. Anyhow, we got so used to living in the foreign country that it became home. I guess home is where your heart is...home is where u make it and it's certainly where the Navy has us go. I miss Italy so much tho. Even with being used to being there when we were, I tried not to take it for granted. I enjoyed it n embraced all that there was. I wanted to get out and explore...be adventurous and live n learn the dif. culture. For the 1st few months before I met all my wonderful friends there, whom became family, I was actually a little home sick. Once our household shipment n vehicle arrived, I got everything unpacked n set up n our house there became a home. We also got out and started exploring n doing lots of things. And then came meeting all our great friends there. That's when everything fell into place n I fell in love with the country. It was def. an experience that we are so blessed to have lived and enjoyed. Sure there were times that things could get rough, like when B was out to sea and I had our son over there without him...him missing his birth and no family there :( That was also before I started meeting all our friends there. I thought I was all alone, just Hannah n I, but B ended up introducing me to this wonderful fam n now our friends that helped me thru the birth, so I wasn't alone n video taped his birth so it all worked out. They flew B in on a helicopter 2 days later n he met his precious son, Nate :) But that just shows that anything can happen in the Navy and anywhere u live. Recently this guy came up to B and said he wanted to salute him and B said, "You should salute my wife! She has been the rock of our family and kept things going at times over in a foreign country while I was gone with no family etc." I never really thought about that. I always say he's my rock. He's the rock of our family. I just did what was natural. I did what most military wives do (the ones who stick around n endure it anyway) and did what any wife n mother would do. I not only did what I had to, but made it fun in the meantime. I had the time of my life over there. Italians are so laid back and cool. Not to mention the food was amazing n even better was the beauty of the country....so beautiful...it was surreal. So, that's where the across the world and back came into play. We were all the way over there...a 12 hour flight that was done with young children back and forth...that's another story lol...and now got stationed back in MD. We have been here close to fam n friends and loving it. But of course we have the travel bug, so when it came time (3 yrs after being here) to pick orders, we naturally jumped to the opportunity to go overseas again. It was either that or go on a ship. Lets see...ship n out to sea for 6 months at a time away from our kids and I or go overseas, which we love Europe anyway, and not be on a ship this time over there...come home everyday and travel n get all the good we can out of what the Navy has to offer. Not a hard choice. We thought for a moment if he should just get out of the Navy and stay here, keep our house and work at NSA, but then we decided staying in another 10 yrs n retiring from the Navy at the age of 38 with full benefits etc was way more worth it. Sure there could be some dwns along the way, but we can get thru it...we can get thru anything as long as it's together. We out weighed the pros and cons of it all tho n knew staying in was best. It's all we know. And to be honest, it's been great for us thus far. We truly can't complain. That's not to say we won't go overseas yet a 3rd time or that our children will meet friends n leave them from being military brats n moving around every 3-4 yrs, but those come with the job...not really just the job, but it comes with our life. Sure we thought about that too. Our kids were always at the top of the list as to what was best for them n we decided staying in would be much better, it would give our children their college money etc. We can't pass that up. And those that love to travel, who wouldn't want to for free!? Win win really, right!? Well anyway, it will be bitter sweet leaving our home though. We bought my childhood home, so it will be sad to sell it and it not be in the fam anymore :( Also, I am going to miss my fam n friends like crazy, esp my mom. My mom, besides my husband is my best friend. It will be hard leaving her, esp after living right dwn the st. from her for these past 3-1/2 yrs. It will also be sweet tho cuz we want to travel. We want to get to Spain (which is where we have orders to n moving to in 3 months) and experience life there. Life is so much more simple overseas. Our 3rd overseas tour might be Germany. When it comes time to go overseas for a 3rd time (after we come bk here for sore duty again) we can pick Germany cuz we won't have a pitbull anymore. My Belvie will be too old n gone by that time :( (Germany doesn't allow pitbulls). That's another story there too...n how I can't stand the fact of places banning a breed. You wouldn't ban a person with a certain nationality, so why is it ok to ban a breed? Crazy! Anyhow, we have 3 more months til we pcs...up n move to Spain n have much to do til then. We have to sell our house, get our overseas screening done, get Bella's passport (the rest of us have it already), get our pet's export papers n shots done, get our household goods (regular n express) shipment set up n done and get 1 of our vehicles shipped, enroll our kids in the DOD school over there, get our Visas to live in Spain among much more. But u know, even tho it'll be busy, sometimes busy is good. I can honestly say it doesn't get boring. Thank God tho for internet and being able to stay in touch with everyone. I'd probably go insane if not lol. And we'll miss the food in the States and the convenience of it. Well that's enough rambling for now. Just informing about some of our Navy experiences thus far lol :) Stay tuned lol :)