Somewhere a place for us...

I don't really know how to say this, except just to say it: we're changing career paths and moving...again. I know, I know. You're probably thinking, "boy, the Smiths have become really flakey weirdos! Just pick a job and a location already!" We feel the same way ourselves. We know we are crazy for shifting gears and picking up and moving again and it's not like we really want to do it, but we feel good about the decision and know it is right for our family. So, what are we doing and where are we going? Steve is commissioning into the ARMY JAG and we've been assigned to Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. Translation: Steve is going back into the Army as a lawyer and we will be living back in Huntsville, AL about 10 minutes from my family. (Some of you may remember that Steve was in the Army before law school and was assigned to Redstone as an ordnance officer. That's how we met!) This was a really hard decision for us, but, thankfully, this was one time when Steve's pro/con list obsession actually helped.

Here are the highlights:
Cons:

• deployment (though low at Redstone)
• long training period
• 4 year commitment

Pros:

• steady, good income
• free housing/rent/house payment (whichever we choose)
• free, good health care
• more varied career opportunities
• lots of paid vacation
• perks: commissary, pools, vacation rentals, gym, discounts
• having the honor of serving our country
• generous student loan repayment program
• normal work hours
• can get good federal job when get out of Army
• Steve doesn't have to decide what to wear everyday (yes, he actually put this on the list!)

There are more to both lists, but that is the just of it. We feel relieved that going into the Army will let us catch our breath financially. Student loans and being unemployed for almost a year really set us back, so we're eager to be able to pay our debts and move forward.

You may have noticed on the con list was "long training period." Unfortunately, that hard task starts July 5th. Steve will be in Ft. Lee and then Charlotteville, Virginia for a total of 3 months. It's hard for me to even talk about how difficult it will be for me to have my husband and best friend gone and for the boys to not see their daddy everyday, but we are a close family and we'll make it somehow with Heavenly Father's help. We're hoping he can fly back on the weekends once in a while and we bought a webcam, so we can still see each other everyday.

I don't want to end on a sad note so I'll leave you with a couple pics to enjoy.

Steve in front of his law practice. Though his run as a private practice attorney was brief, he definitely does not regret it. It gave him an intense real-life course on the law and some really funny stories to tell.

This was one of the only cool things we found in Fayetteville, TN. Caleb keeps asking why there isn't a Caleb Smith Road, too.

My cute men!