From East to West

What a week we have had! As we were finally getting "used" to the idea of Andrew being a Logistics officer, Tuesday morning of last week we received even MORE news that we were anxious to hear about!

Lt. Andrew Brown (and wife) will be reporting to our first duty station by mid April in Camp Pendleton, CA!

I honestly cannot believe it! Andrew has always talked to me about how much he loved southern California when he was able to visit. So when we were to submitted our duty station list it was #1 for us. Little did we know we would really be living there! We are very excited about this! While we have no idea what California is like we do have some good friends who will be traveling there as well and so we know we will be with good company as we figure out together the in's and out's of this big move!

It is really ironic to me that Andrew and I will be moving around the exact same time as we left Arkansas to head out to Virginia. I think that a lot of the emotions that we had then were different than what we have now, but some are still the same. Many people have asked me "are you excited?" or "are you sad it isn't closer to family?" And I must be honest....I am thrilled to go with Andrew to California. I got a first hand experience of seeing God's provision and grace when Andrew and I moved to VA and I am humbled that we will be able to see this again. While I am slightly nervous about there not being 4 seasons in California (shorts in December will be different for sure)...the fact that we will have GORGEOUS weather all the time AND see the beach every day will be amazing! Am I sad that I will not be closer to family? Our family is a huge part of our life. If you know Andrew and I, I do not think this would be something you would be surprised about. But right now, for whatever reason, God doesn't have us geographically close to them and for as long as we are in the Marine Corps, I am not sure that we will ever be close to them. This makes both of us sad, but it is something that God has been working in us that we know no matter where we are located we will never be "too far" to be involved in our families life....we just get the privilege of being VERY creative in how that is played out :).

SO...what's next you ask?! Lots of waiting on the Lord! Andrew will have training in North Carolina for 2 1/2 months and then we will head out to California! We now get to finish our time here in VA and fully enjoy every moment of it. We will get to spend tons of time with our incredible friends here and soak up the relationships God has given us while we have lived here. We get to actively pray and wait expectantly for what God has for us in our time leading up to move in dates! I hope you will all join with us in prayer, joy, and excitement!