Two-month summary

Wow! Almost two months since our last post. Too much to write about in detail, but I'll sum it up and hopefully we'll be able to post some pictures. To sum up: we moved all our stuff to Provo where we'll store it until it gets shipped to Germany; Holly and I then snuck in an unexpected cruise with our friends the Hobbs to Key West and Cozumel; we then drove from Provo to Phoenix for a couple days before driving across the country for Christmas in Georgia with my (Dan's) Aunt and Uncle; then we drove down to Florida for New Year's at Disney World and a week-long Disney Cruise to St. Marteen and St. Thomas (planned by my mom prior to her passing - thanks Mom!); then I dropped Holly and the kids off at the Orlando airport this morning before driving up to Montgomery, AL where I will begin Officers' Training on Monday. For those who are keeping score at home: the last month = 10 different states (Alabama and Florida twice); two different countries (Mexico and the Netherlands Antilles (St. Marteen) - Geography note: St. Thomas is actually part of the U.S. Virgin Islands therefore not a different country - nerd alert); and just over 4,000 miles on our car.

Wheeew! Now I get to relax with 5 weeks of training while Holly gets to kick her feet up with a soothing schedule of preparing all of our things to get shipped to Germany while taking care of two kids. Holly and I were thinking the other day that our lives started getting a little crazy sometime around the beginning of last June when I started studying for the bar and we are thinking things probably won't settle down until we have been able to get our house situated in Germany which likely won't occur until sometime next June.

Throughout this hectic and emotionally draining year, we have Trula been blessed and I know that we have grown closer as a family and have come to realize how much strength we receive from each other. As I sit here on the first day of five weeks away from my family I miss them immensely and already look forward to being together again. I love them and know that I could not have survived the past months nearly as well as I have without Holly's loving support, Josh's clever since of humor, and Maggie's adorable smiling face.

I am proud to serve my country and aside from being called to serve my Father in Heaven in some form, I could not think of another endeavor for which I would be more willing to separate myself from my family for such a period of time.

For more details on my training, please check my personal blog from time to time: unclesamesquire.blogspot.com.