House Hunt Update

Well, it’s been a busy month of travel, house hunting, and moving preparations. We have less than 3 weeks until we move across country. House hunting is very competitive but something will eventually work out. We just pray that it’s sooner rather than later.

The offers we put in are either rejected, counter-offerred, or we are still waiting for a response. The favorite house has one other offer ahead of us so if it goes well for those people, we won’t get the chance on the house, but if they pull out-then we can get it. There are other houses that we like too but we have to wait for them. The process is slow. We are  excited to get out there so we can be more competitive and deal with the people head-on instead of over the phone and through faxes. I also am job hunting but that should be easier when we get out there as well.  So far, that is all I can update on. Mom and Dad are still here for a few more days and we’re trying to fit in as much as possible in spite of all the rainy days.

Either Mom or I will be posting pictures on flickr soon, I hope.

House Hunt

Well, it has been a long time since I have updated this thing. I have been everywhere lately it seems. When I got back from Kentucky, I worked and then drove back up to Maryland so I could fly out to California. I am  here looking for houses. We will be moving out here in one month so things are happening quickly. We hope to be able to find something, but we also don’t want to rush things if we don’t have to. It is a nice area and I am enjoying getting to know it already. I am hoping that tomorrow will be a more productive day compared to today and yesterday afternoon.

If I find something, I will be posting pictures (if I remember to take the camera in from the car-believe it or not…I did that many times today!)

The pictures below are of the car I am driving around CA and one view from a house/neighborhood we like.

The Latest Update

On December 8th, 2008, we got our official orders for Andrew’s next six months (training, classes…). We will both be able to move to Dam Neck, VA (VA Beach). He gets to learn and do a lot of cool things during his training, but he probably won’t be home much since they have him traveling to a few different places. I am still working on my teaching application so I hope to get that done and find a job so I can keep busy while I may be alone.  We are excited for our next stage, however Andrew does not get to go to graduation…he ‘graduates’ early because his school starts a week before graduation. That means we have two weeks left here in Stafford and almost two weeks in FL for vacation. SOOOO much to do my head is spinning, but I know we will be fine. There are just so many details to see to and important things to get worked out. But I can’t complain because I know you all have moved before and had more issues than us. It’s just our first official move and all so I guess that’s why the stress comes.

Anyway, that is a very little update on our lives.  The schools are in high demand-wanting me every day. I love it but also have not been able to shop or do important errands. Today, I got to view the Commandant of the Marine Corps house and 8th and I barracks…it was an awesome day (so worth me asking for the day off!)! My friend, Jessica, took pictures so check out her site:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/jessicazwehner/

Okay, that should be it…Andrew has a lot to do and catch up on since his ankle issues so we are still praying that everything works out. I would hate for something bad to happen to his ankle and then have to start everything all over again and even have to try for his intel spot all over again.  We will be so happy when all of this is over and we can move to the next phase

The rest of November 2008

I am going to add pictures to flickr of our Marine Corps Birthday Ball and Thanksgiving. We enjoyed both events and are so excited to finally know what Andrew’s job is going to be…now we just wait to get orders so we know when we are moving.

The news is in…

Andrew found out his MOS today and we are excited about it. He got Signals Intel!  You can ask questions about it, but I bet we don’t know any of the answers yet.   We will learn  more soon hopefully. I do know that after more training (about 6 months or so) we get stationed in one of TWO places….. North Carolina or Hawaii. I bet you could guess our first choice! His first choice for MOS was intelligence so he is happy to be one of few that got it. I believe about 24 out of 300 got some form of intel so I am very proud of Andrew and we appreciate everyones’ prayers.

Update

Well, tomorrow should be the big day that Andrew and I have waited for. He should find out his MOS (military occupational specialty). When we find out, I will let everyone know. Then I will be able to plan for next year…do I stay here and get a full time job or will I keep subbing if we move somewhere else?  Subbing this half of the year has been great. I continue to get a lot of calls and build up my reputation (especially since I know of  a job opening or two come January).

Andrew had the E course yesterday….it had been cancelled the last time due to rain and this time it almost snowed! But as he was running it, he collapsed again due to his ankle! He never finished. He is not sure if they will take his old score, which is a low B because of the new sprain then, or if they will let him take it again before graduation sometime.  We are hoping he can retake it since we know Andrew doesn’t get B’s….especially on physical tests! He was also supposed to march 15 miles tomorrow with the company (while wearing over a 100 pound pack). Well, he probably can’t march tomorrow because he is not supposed to be on his ankle! Andrew said the captain will march with him during another time….Andrew will march with a different company for 9 miles and then the captain would join him. Sounds like a lot of fun (sense the sarcasm?).

His prayer was that he could graduate in the top 20 of 300 lietenants. It was SO doable because he was in the top 37 and if he continued to do well (which he has) he could beat out the others that didn’t do as well.  He is bummed about the grade and ankle this week, but the good news is that he does not get held back! They are being really understanding with him.  Andrew found out yesterday that his captain (his SPC…staff platoon sgt.) had sprained his ankle 7 times during TBS and before his next training took place!  Maybe that’s why they are being understanding. His ankle is SO huge and there’s a loose bone floating around which they say will just heal fine if he can be easy on his ankle. We’ll see!  But we appreciate your prayers on this.

Trust me…as soon as we find out his MOS (should be tomorrow), I will let everyone know! Thanks again for your prayers.

Update on our life

It is now November 4, 2008. Andrew and I have been married for 5 months already! We should find out Andrew’s job and next training place very soon. We are praying about it and are excited to find out. As soon as we know anything, I will let everyone know.

I have been keeping busy subbing. I work around 3-4 days a week and then do my errands and cleaning on the other days. This week is slow but I don’t mind. I am able to catch up on things. I might even post a lot of pictures on facebook soon, so be on the look out.

Andrew is more than half-way through with TBS. They are still keeping them really busy but the mood has changed for the better. We are excited to have a four day weekend, celebrate the Marine’s birthday Nov. 10,  attend a ball in Richmond,  and then we look forward to another four day weekend for Thanksgiving.  Time is flying by, but TBS is still packed full.  I am thankful Andrew is doing well and that I have made friends while living here. We also have found a really good church to be involved in. We are enjoying the area while we can.

For those who don’t know, Andrew sprained his ankle a couple of months ago. It was getting better when it happened again. It has been healing very slowly, but Andrew is doing his best to not let it slow him down! Today he has the Endurance course to run and then several other physical tests coming up. He should do fine, but I know I am always praying for him. He would hate to get this far in the program just to be held back several months to do it all over again because of an ankle! We appreciate your prayers too.

Well, I hope to keep everyone updated more often…especially if we hear news of Andrew’s job soon!

Our Home in Virginia

It has taken me a long time to take pictures of our place and download them, but I finally have done it! We don’t know how much longer we will be here, but it is still home for a while.

Job Search

I just had my first official interview for teaching. I was nervous but tried to hide it. The interview was for a small Christian school nearby. The school is very small, but it seemed perfect for me being a new teacher and all. I love small classroom sizes. They already offered the position to someone who they still have not heard back from, but if she is a no or never responds…they want me! Andrew and I will be praying about this. I can keep looking at other schools or I could end up subbing for a year. God knows where He wants me and I will be willing to go wherever. Time is running by as teacher start days are Aug. 19. I will try to update everyone, but if you don’t see anything on the blog, then just email me or ask me how the search is going. Hopefully I will have a good answer! Oh, I still haven’t finished taking pictures of the apartment because I haven’t put the memory cards onto Andrew’s computer. Maybe I will do it after this weekend. Thanks for being patient with me.

Well, here’s the update so far…last week I got the job offered to me (which I wasn’t expecting), but I ended up saying no. Andrew and I spent the weekend talking and praying about the opportunity when I first applied. The amount of work that I would have to put in for such a limited time and the conditions I’d be working in…just were ‘different’. That may sound weird…just ask me about it sometime. I would have been the only class to not share with another grade. Basically there were 4 classrooms for a school of K-8th grade. The curriculum wasn’t a problem even though it is not my style (too much seat work and not a lot of room for creativity and activities that make learning exciting). The school was the smallest school I have ever seen which also makes it well….let’s just say I can probably make more money being a sub than I would in this job. I know it is not about the money, but considering it at least and then knowing that substituting would give me more flexibility around Andrew’s schedule…it just seemed better to apply for a sub position. Maybe you all think I’m crazy..that’s okay…maybe I am, but we’ll see how it works out. I may even put an application to sub on base too! I don’t know how often they’d call me for work, but I will be willing to go. It is just hard not knowing how long I will be living here. I say ‘I’ because Andrew could temporarily move and I’d stay here while he trained somewhere else, but we just don’t know. I have been praying about it a lot…do I take a full time job and leave the school/kids half-way through the year? Or do I sub and not worry about leaving kids…just don’t know how often I’d be working? So just keep me in your prayers as I make this decision. I have a meeting on the 14 Aug 08 and maybe I will learn more info then. Schools don’t start until after Labor Day (but would have started for me in a week and a half if I had taken the other job). I am praying that the school I turned down will find a good teacher in this short time because they are a good school…and the principal might have to teach if she finds no one else in a week (while she is still on vacation). Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.

Honeymoon

Barcelona

Andrew and I spent one week in Barcelona, Spain where we stayed in a very nice apartment. There is so much to see and do in Barcelona! Then we went on a one week cruise to Valletta (Malta), Naples/Pompeii, Rome (Civitavecchia), Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Nice (Villefranche). It was all so beautiful and we had a lot of fun.

We hiked up a volcano (Mt. Vesuvius), saw the ruins of Pompeii, went to Rome and saw the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica (saw President Bush)and so much more,  went to Lucca and Pisa and we walked a gorgeous beach in France. I loved to have time with Andrew that finally wasn’t interrupted or rushed by schedules!  Andrew loved Malta. I enjoyed Rome. However, there was no one favorite. It was all wonderful.

There were almost 2000 pictures taken (mostly by Andrew) and I will post a few in my flikr account (http://flickr.com/photos/kemcclure).  There are just too many to choose from!