Lucky Charms

As you know, we’ve been gearing up for Blaine’s possible retirement from the military and our subsequent move back to OK. Although we didn’t have any of the teeny tiny specifics ironed out, like whether or not he would have a J.O.B., and whether or not we would have any M.O.N.E.Y., we were hopeful things would work out. We had a wonderful house basically fall into our laps last summer, and call it what you will … fate, destiny, providence, God (I prefer to call it God) but we trusted that the employment/retirement situation would pan out as well.

For the past few months, we had pretty much accepted that the kids and I were going to move without Blaine, and he would stay behind to get our Georgia house ready to sell, and to continue looking for a job as best he could. He loves the military and had hoped to stay active duty, but when the spring jobs list for Tinker AFB became available a few weeks ago, the only job opening they had listed was for a veterinarian. And while he had a cat when he was younger, and we actually have a dog now, and he and I dressed up like Holstein cows one year for Halloween, I don’t think any of that makes him qualified to take physical CARE of animals. So, we were resigned to just waiting, and hoping.

Blaine got a call on Thursday. The Air Force has given him a job. At Tinker. In a career field much, MUCH closer to his training than veterinary school. And he begins the end of this year.**

Which means, our family will leave Georgia together. We will move into our new house, together. Blaine will get to remain active duty, which will not only count towards his eventual retirement, but also means he and Kendrie will get to keep their health care with Tricare, which is beyond huge. And by working at the base for a few years now, he will hopefully have himself in a good position to find a civil service job when he *does* retire.

We are so blessed and lucky and fortunate, that I keep looking around for that leprechaun guy from the Lucky Charms box and expect him to be sitting right next to me, grinning. And while I try not to sit around in my “poor, poor me” pants too often, I have to say that after the last few years we have had, I am greatly enjoying things going our way for a change.

Yep, Lucky Charms. Milk for your cereal, anyone?

**Bearing in mind that this *is* the military we’re talking about, until they get the last box loaded on the moving truck (and occasionally even after that point) there is always the minuscule chance plans will change. But we’re about 99 percent sure this is going to happen, and 100 percent thrilled about it. OK, well, maybe 99 percent thrilled because a small part of us will really miss Georgia (especially part of Kendrie … a Nicholas-shaped part, to be specific).