Hawaii continued until 2012...

It is official--Mike and I will be on the island until 2012. This has been a topic we have played with since the beginning of the summer. As a Warrant Officer, we do get some say so as to where we are stationed--at least we get to request and pray that we get what we ask for. Since Mike has a very specific job we can't just go anywhere. When it is a year out from our PCS date, we look and see what duty stations are available and then request what we want. That in no way means we are guaranteed what we ask for. This is how we ended up in Hawaii to begin with. Before our wedding we requested Hawaii or Germany, and ended up here in the Islands. Now this time, our choices were as follows: Schofield Barracks, HI or Fort Polk, LA (which most people refer to as the armpit of the US) and sadly, that was it. Even though LA is closer to home--that really is the only good thing it had going for it. Not only do we have no desire to ever be stationed at Polk, it was speculated that Mike would deploy almost immediately upon moving there--giving us maybe 6 mos between deployments. Needless to say, we applied for Hawaii and kept our fingers crossed.

Mike is super excited--I have honestly had a lot more time here than he has and there is a lot he still wants to do. I have mixed feelings. Although we aren't moving, everyone close to us will be. It will be, in a way starting all over again--and for that i am nervous. I can't imagine being here without all the girls that have been my support the past 2 years--especially these past 9 months.

The good news is, if you haven't had a chance to come and visit, now you have 3.5 more years! So start saving and planning and come see us!

Also, just to keep you all in the know-- the tentative plan (all things subject to change with upcoming elections and without ever knowing what will happen in the future) Mike should deploy again with the same unit in 2011--for no longer than 12 mos this time-- and then upon his return we will be moving. We have been told that we can do no longer than 2 tours here--and quite honestly, i will be ready to leave--hopefully on to another exciting place. I mean, if we are going to endure the deployments, at least we can see the world on the Army's paycheck. There are still plenty of places we want to go!

Mike's shaka--

He says "hello"--he has been busy lately traveling around checking up on his ammo sites. Hopefully, he will have an update soon.