Life Is What Happens While You're Busy Making Other Plans (Tomorrow Is Another Day...)

A long, long time ago, I can still remember when... well, okay, it wasn't that long ago, but it has been FIVE MONTHS since I published that blog post all about how we'd be finding out soon where we'd be moving. We expected to know by the end of the month. Then by the end of the year. Then by the beginning of the year. I expected that at this point in my life I'd be busy sorting through piles of old baby clothes, 220V appliances and pantry items. That we'd be coming to America a la Eddie Murphy.

But alas, that is not to be the case. After a number of false starts and tempting opportunities that could have led us down new paths, Colby got offered a fantastic job here in Germany that will not only be excellent for future promotion and professional development purposes, but will also keep us here in our little village for yet another year.

I'd be lying if I said I was over the moon about it. I've said goodbye to a lot of my very close friends here over the past year, and have started feeling a little bit like old fish--that person who just doesn't know when to leave. I miss the conveniences of America, the little things like a Target shopping trip and drive throughs not to mention the big things like moderately affordable and conveniently located childcare options. And as I mentioned previously, I've become addicted to this nomadic life of ours, and I've felt the itch for a change for a while now. And yet, here we stay. And I've come to terms with it.

Suspecting that the likelihood of staying at this base a bit longer was a more and more probable outcome, I've worked to build relationships with new friends. I'm a natural introvert and I have to work hard to overcome my innate shyness, but I no longer worry so much about being left behind with no friends to spend my days with. We upgraded our internet provider to a new company that wasn't available in our village when we first moved here, and while it may sound silly, faster more reliable internet will go a long way to improving my mood on a daily basis!

I've also given myself things to look forward to this year that I couldn't have experienced if we were moving back to the States. We're taking a week long trip back to Italy for the first time since our honeymoon there in 2008. I've registered for a half marathon in Iceland and am eyeing a 10K in Switzerland. And I'm living for the long trip back to the States that I've promised myself. One that will come with lots a family time and perhaps a little tour around the US of A to see some friends that I've been missing way too much.

So, there it is. Another year that will undoubtedly go by in the blink of an eye. Another year that will bring us to a total of four years spent living in Germany. Starting to feel kiiiiiinda silly about the fact that I still haven't learned to sprechen das Deutsch!