I love this tree.
I love to look at the branches
How they twist, bend and turn;
Always reaching for the sun.
Always trying to find the light
Accepting at times, that they must grow sideways
Understanding when to bend
Knowing when to turn
Yet, always growing towards the sun
Always changing to find the light
Such a metaphor for life. We grow one direction when suddenly our vision is clouded. We can't thrive unless we alter our course. We won't grow unless we accept change, bending our ways to find the light again.
Ryan's orders for Hurlburt, Air Field, FL were for the 6th Special Operations Squadron. Upon arriving in April, we learned that some changes were brewing within the unit. It seemed the unit would be elminating the helicoptors (therefore, their pilots) and most likely moving north to Duke Air Field which would change Ryan's commute from 16 miles to over 60 miles each way. In the beginning of May Ryan began Combat Aviation Advisory training (a future post about this) taking him out of the office for 3 months. Certainly, we could sense change was in the air, but we weren't aware of all the details. The training includes personel from other units as well. The winds shifted over a week ago when we learned that many more cuts were going to be made within the unit. We weren't sure which side of the line Ryan stood.
Fast forward a week, and we found out that Ryan's position, as logistics support, will no longer be a part of the 6th. In fact, there might not be a position open anywhere for him here at Hurlburt. There is the strong possibility that we will be moving. Again. Soon.
I'll admit the news hit me hard. I know this is military life. I know we signed up for military life. And certainly, others are facing much more difficult tasks. But, we moved twice in 20 months. We just got settled here in Florida. Logan just stopped asking to return to Ohio every day and even referred to this as home. We've been a part of a soccer team, part of a lovely preschool, found a great church, are involved in a weekly couple's bible study, joined MOPS, I've been asked to be a table leader at MOPS next year, I've been asked to join my neighbor's ladies tennis group, we're involved with regular swim lessons..... We did a lot of research before arriving here to help us integrate more quickly. We've also been willing to put ourselves out there but God has also blessed us here. We miss family. We miss friends. We miss traditions of past. We miss so much about life in NJ & OH. While we don't want to make Navarre our forever home, we feel at peace here.
Yet, once again, we find ourselves waiting.
We'll [try to] accept gracefully that we might have to transition to a new area; that we must grow sideways before we'll find the sun. Before a move there's always a fear that it will be difficult to feel happy in a new location. That the initial loneliness might not fade.
But, like the Oak's branches, we'll learn to twist, bend and turn,
in order to keep growing.
In order to find the light.
