This is far from my usual posts, so I apologize in advance. Last week had me reeling. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out my emotions and as a result it was a very unproductive week.
Early Wednesday morning, there was a loud noise and a yell before someone opened my front door and stepped into my house. My dog, who is used to my husband coming in at all hours of the night, raised the alarm and chased the intruder(s) out of the house and yard. Turns out the best home defense is in fact a dog. I’m so very grateful to her.
I don’t even really know what to think about it. I was so shaken up by it that I’m still not sure I’ve processed it yet. I know for sure I’m proud of my dog for stepping up and defending us, but that it happened at all is confusing. My husband’s Sheriff truck was parked outside. Clearly, he was home. Why take that risk?
For the time being there are extra patrols in the neighborhood. Since the dog is the only one who saw anything, chances are we’ll never know the who or why. As far as home invasions go, I suppose it was in best case scenario category.
Since that wasn’t stressful enough, later the same day my husband got the official invitation to go to MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station). He was in the Coast Guard when we met and we had some fun adventures because of it. Despite everything, a few years ago we made the hard decision that it would be best for our family to get out. The grass isn’t always greener, but we’re getting a second chance. Last year he came across the opportunity to get back in and we decided to go for it.
For the last nine months my husband has been jumping through hoops to make it happen. It felt like such an impossible goal. Every time he jumped through one hoop, they’d hold up the next. So many things were so ridiculous that we’re both convinced they were messing with him; trying to see if he would give up. He quit once. It would make sense to test him.
I think we’re both still in complete and utter disbelief that the end is in sight. We will know for sure one way or another in a few short weeks. It’s both exciting and terrifying. Exciting because the limbo we’ve been in for the last 9 months is almost over, and terrifying because everything will change. If he gets back in the Coast Guard, we’ll be moving wherever they decide to send us and likely soon. If he doesn’t make it in for some reason, then we’ll begin seriously pursuing other opportunities we held off on to see where the Coast Guard thing would go. Regardless, a big move and big change are on the horizon. We’ve been saying that for years, but this time we might actually make it happen.
A word about the photos:
The first one is of my awesome dog Shanzi. She’s a 10-year-old Brittany with hip issues, but will still outpace and outexplore all of the other (younger) dogs on a hike. She’s used to and uninterested in me taking photos of her so to get her attention and to hold her ears up prettily, I had to hold bacon over the camera. I practically have to do the same thing with my kids. Who doesn’t love bacon.
The second photo was taken in November, 2012. It’s of three cutters; the USCG Spar, USCG Alex Haley and USCG Munro in their homeport in Kodiak, Alaska. I was grocery shopping on base when I noticed the sunset. I just happened to have my camera in the truck so I grabbed it and ran over to the edge of the parking lot and took this quick snapshot. It’s probably one of my top 10 favorite photos. It reminds me of just how awesome it was to live in Kodiak. The most mundane things could be so spectacularly beautiful. I swear, I was just walking around in awe the whole three years I lived there. I know it’s extremely unlikely, but if Kodiak is ever available via the CG again, I’m there.
Wow, you are definitely going through some crazy stuff! Gosh Amber, thankful that you’re all okay and praying for the job and good news to come for your husband!
Just a little crazy. Thank you, the only thing that really matters is we’re safe. If the job doesn’t work out we’ll just keep on trying, but it would be nice if it did. 🙂