8 months

I like to think I'm an optimist. I always look on the bright side of life. Positive people beget positive experiences, right? I will say, I have loved everywhere we have lived and we've moved a lot. Granted, we've had the occasional gripe and groan (we're not all flowers and happy faces)about 1 year orders to the continental U.S. between our 3 island tours, but each place has had it's own charm. Sicily had the joy and excitement of newlyweds exploring Europe and the wonder of new foods and cultures. New Jersey had the beauty and peacefulness of farms, rolling hills and the best fresh fruits and vegetables (oh how we miss Delicious Orchards). It also had the thrill of a short train ride to New York City for a weekend getaway and a Broadway show. Hawaii was, *sigh*, Hawaii. Kansas was great because we were an hour drive from Doug's family, our beautiful daughter was born and I finally got my dream trip to Branson (ha,ha,ha- no, seriously). We were spoiled with that year seeing family whenever we wanted and were a bit sad to be moving so far away. But hey, life's an adventure, right? So now we're in Japan. The newness has worn off and the end of the tour is in sight...and the pessimism is creeping in. 8 months to go. 8 months to hang on. It's frustrating being so isolated, from family, from friends, from...things. It seems that there's no easy way to get anything. I go to the commissary for 3 items and they don't have a single one. The big Tylenol recall was last May and yet, the exchange and the commissary still have empty shelves with no replacement infant generic acetaminophen or ibuprofen. I ordered medication on-line for Adam and even though it shipped over a month ago, it's not here. Don't even get me started on our Christmas package from my parents last year. Why do they offer dance classes for our kids and not sell any of the apparel required and then say your kid can't dance if they don't have the proper attire? Thank goodness that shipment arrived in a week, but boy was I stressed. It's the little things that drive me crazy. Why is it that I can't find a single pair of 12 month boy pajamas? Sigh. Sure, I can say I love the food here, but because we're a 1 income family, we don't eat out much. Because we have a toddler and an infant, we are limited in what we can do and see. I love all the friends we have made here. I love how our family has grown from 3 to 4. I love the day to day enjoyment of watching and teaching our children. But most of all, I think I am looking forward to loving the day we move back to the States. 8 months left...and counting.