Taking care of business!

I am so happy to report that I sold my car! I sold it to a sweet couple who were excited to buy it. It was much easier letting go of my cute car knowing that it would be loved by its new owners.

After selling my car, I looked at my key chain and noticed that I only have one key on it--a key to my mom's house. I used to have about 7-8 keys on my key chain between work, home, and my car. Slowly but surely I've gotten rid of each key as I have resigned from my job, moved out of our apartment, and now sold my car. It's a weird feeling, but also freeing at the same time. I guess I am freed up now to be a world traveler!

On another note, Jeff and think I will be flying out this weekend to Sicily. We'll keep you posted!

The Art of Patience

If there is a way to learn patience, I think I have discovered it. That does not mean that I have mastered it, but I am learning how to have it.

I guess I've always been accustomed to that phrase "hurry up and wait" but not to this degree. On the other hand, I realize that I am getting accustomed to waiting and trying to not get my hopes up. Again, this does not mean that I have become more patient...yet, but I am learning...

I now understand how hard it must be for spouses and children to have loved ones in the military overseas or deployed. I understand how important it is to be supportive to those loved ones abroad, but to also have your own support system in place. My main support that has helped me through it all is my faith in God. I know it would be much harder otherwise.

Update: The latest and greatest news is that I will fly out on Feb 4th from Norfolk. Of course, that could change...I'll keep you posted!

One step closer...

At an unbelievable rate of speed, my visa for Italy arrived this Friday. I was so amazed at how quickly it arrived. However, due to some red tape (see last post), we are still waiting for a form to be processed before I can join Jeff in Italy. However, since I am one step closer to flying to Italy, I realize that it will happen all in good time. Realizing that I will be gone from my family and friends for 3 years, it has been good spending time with them during these final days in the states.

That sticky red tape

I've been trying not to complain,really I have, but some days my patience runs thin by that sticky "red tape." We all know that red tape is that bureaucratic monster that runs most of our organizations,businesses, and the government.

I'm just venting at the amount of time that it takes to move a piece of paper through all the proper channels so that I can join my husband overseas. I know that it will be only a matter of time before I will join him, but there is ALWAYS some other form, some other signature, some other sacrifice that must be made in order for things to continue moving along. Without one of the above requirements, everything comes to a screeching halt.

I was talking on the phone tonight to my husband and saying that I was growing annoyed with all the red tape and that there was SO MUCH RED TAPE!!!! His reply, "Jill, you have no idea."

And as much as I would begin think that it is personal, it's not. It's just red tape. Stupid,sticky,icky red tape.

The big picture

Here's a map to show where we are living in Italy (Sicily,near Catania) in relation to the rest of the country of Italy. It's neat that there are so many countries near by to explore!

The wheels are starting to turn!

A fellow Navy wife once told me that "the wheels of the Navy seem to move so slowly at times that it seems as though they have not moved at all." Now I know what she means!

However, I got a call yesterday from the base stating that my passport is in! Hooray! I now have to apply for my Italian Visa and wait for it to return. I was told it would take 1-2 weeks. Then I will be scheduled a flight. I am thrilled. I must say that the wheels moved a little faster than I had imagined. I was originally told that my passport would take 4-6 weeks to be processed. It arrived in exactly 4 weeks! Go Navy!

What a view!

This is picture of Catania, a city near our base. That is a glimpse of Mt. Etna in the background.

M is for Monet and Maps

Today I went to see the "Monet in Normandy" exhibit at the North Carolina Museum of Art. It was just a quick road trip to Raleigh and back. A friend from my sis's church asked me to go with her as she had an extra ticket. We had such fun pouring over the paintings and trying see what Monet must have saw when painting his masterpieces.

Since I studied abroad in France during my college years, I love Monet and the Impressionism era. Evidently this exhibit is only making three stops in the U.S., so this was such a treat!

Across the ocean today, Jeff is starting his cultural training class. This week long class helps you get acclimated to Sicily and its culture and customs. From what I hear, you learn some key Italian phrases as well as other useful info. Jeff also tells me that you take a "get lost" trip in which you go to a near-by city with a small group and then find your way back to the base. Sounds adventurous to me! I will take this class when I get there also. When I finally get there....

Let the Adventure Begin!

We are definitely in store for a grand adventure--that we can be sure! As I write, Jeff is already in Sicily. After celebrating the Christmas holidays with all of our family in Georgia, Alabama, and North Carolina, Jeff flew on to Sicily. We were bummed that we didn't get to spend our first New Year's Eve together, but hey, we have many more to come!

We are now waiting for my passport and visa to be processed so that I can join Jeff in Sicily. They (the Navy) have predicted that I will fly out of Norfolk soon. Being a new Navy wife, I have already learned that patience is a requirement if you want to maintain sanity. The Navy has its own timing, and you must learn to "go with it".

So, in the meantime, I've been visiting with family and friends, reading books that I never had time for before, exercising, updating my resume, and praying that the phone will ring to tell me that my passport is ready.

Jeff is adjusting to being back in Sicily. He has reported that the housing options are looking good. Also, it seems that the bases and surrounding area have changed quite a bit since he was there last time. (This will be Jeff's second time being stationed in Sicily). It sounds like the bases are stocked with plenty to do as they have a movie theater, work-out facility, grocery stores,retail store, and restaurants. And that's not even including life outside the base and the amazing scenery. It sounds like we are going to enjoy this tour of duty. I'll keep you posted!