During our exceptionally long transition of an OCONUS to CONUS PCS a few years ago, we stayed in several hotels while traveling and vacationing, then a temporary apartment while waiting to close on our house. Needless to say, we had to eat out often. Restaurants always provided our children with kids’ menus, along with a couple of crayons to go with each. After completing their meals, my children loved taking the crayons, and sometimes their menus, with them.
Several years back, we were stationed at an installation with a popular coffeehouse chain that was converted from a former fast-food building. It was constructed for a drive-through, but the coffee shop did not utilize that service. The absence of drive-through service was a huge ongoing conversation with us mommies who all had little ones we were lugging around.
One rumor stated that we women were lazy for not just going inside the store to order, that the drive-through wasn’t necessary. My close friend countered that it had nothing to do with laziness. The fact is, it takes 20 minutes to unload all the littles, walk-in to order while those littles run around and grab things off the shelves, and then try to balance a hot drink while walking out with kids in hand, just to take several more minutes to load them all back up.
Ah, February: the month of Valentines and all things hearts and love. As I was thinking of this charming holiday, I began to ponder all the things I love about each duty station in which we’ve lived or some of the extra places we’ve travelled in between. There is so much to admire about each: the attractions, museums, beaches, restaurants, and oh, those coffee houses and treat shops—what I really adore the most!
Every January of a PCS year, as I take down the ornaments from the Christmas tree and pack it all away, I imagine where I might be when it’s time to put it all back up. Have you ever done the same?
We’ve never had orders in January for our summer moves. Most times, we have already submitted our options, but we usually don’t see our RFOs until spring. The beginning of the year is always a time of mystery as we await that defining notification.
For many years, my husband and I discussed attending a Christmas Eve candlelight service. He and I attended a few growing up or when we were married and didn’t yet have children. Once children came into the picture, the idea of attending a candlelight service sent me into a panic. These services don’t correlate well with the kids’ dinner and bedtime routines. The candlelight services hours force us to drag hungry or cranky kids into a church. Furthermore, to ask a very young child to sit quietly in a pew for an entire service, and prevent them from eating an unlit candle, tearing the paper shield, or touching the flame, is nearly impossible.
For a long time, during our bedtime routine with the kids, we’d ask each one to share something they were thankful for that day. It was always intriguing to hear what was on their hearts.
Sometimes, it was quite serious for them: “I’m thankful I didn’t cry when I got my poke [immunization] today.”
Sometimes, it was a bit comical: “I’m thankful my hair is growing like Rapunzel.”
Sometimes, it was reflectively wise beyond their years: “I’m thankful we had food to eat today because the children in Venezuela don’t have much.”
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