Beck family FAQ's

I get a lot of the same questions asked. Don't get me wrong, it doesn't bother me. Each question I ask for the bizillioneth time, is the first time that specific person has asked it (most of the time ;-)
I was thinking though, that to be more efficient, I should post some question and answers to the most FREQUENTLY asked questions for our family. PLUS, it gets another post on my small, but slowly growing blog. And THEN, I can finally tell people that it's here! YAY! So, what follows is Beck family FAQ's 2009

1. When did Paul join the army?
In March of 2009. He left for boot camp (Basic training) at Ft. Benning, GA in April and graduated in July. From there, he went straight to Ft. Houston in San Antonio, TX for AIT (advanced training). He trained as a combat medic and graduated the first week in November.

2. Where do you go next?
We are assigned to Vilseck, Germany. Paul leaves the week of Thanksgiving. Vilseck is about 30 miles west of the Czech Republic border and a couple hours north of Austria. It is a beautiful rolling hills rural farming community.

3. How long will you be there?
We are assigned to be there for 36 months. There are a lot of variables that could change that though.

4. What about Chiropractic?
Paul has put that on hold indefinitely. He still holds a valid license for the state of Idaho, and will as long as he remains active duty. We still very much believe in chiropractic. It was time for a different career path for us. (one with more stability)

5. When will you (Lydia) and the kids get to Germany?
It ALL depends on how fast the military decides to move. I'm not very optimistic about a fast process. We could be leaving as early as the first part of December, but most likely not until the end of January. (I'm assuming it may be even LONGER because no one wants to work for that week around Christmas either). We'll see.

6. Are you excited?
Very Very VEry excited! It will be a lot easier once we FINALLY get there, though! We're thrilled to give our kids the amazing adventure of experiences other cultures first hand. The school at the base we're going to teaches spanish in the school, and we will be doing all we can to learn German. I'm thrilled with the idea of having trilingual children. (I'm sure they'll catch on faster than me!)
I'm excited to get a passport for the first time. I have never left North America, and barely stepped out of the U.S. It will be amazing!

7. What do the kids think?
They are very excited as well. Understandably, a little apprehensive too. My oldest especially understands the moving around thing. He and the twins experienced two school years in a row that consisted of THREE different schools each year. They were starting to get comfortable here with friends and the school. But they are excited to get to live with Daddy.

8. Are you going to be career army?
Possibly. Paul has applied to med schools, and if he's accepted, we will be transferring over to that program and he will serve out his term as an army doctor. The moving (that comes with an army life) doesn't scare us. We moved 17 times in the first 12 years of our marriage WITHOUT the army :-) There are downsides to a military life, but there are upsides too.

9. Lydia, are you really insane?
I truly believe so sometimes. I like people to meet my parents, because it helps me make a lot more sense. Ha ha. LOVE YOU MOM & DAD!!! Seriously, they are two of the coolest people I know! We have fun and act goofy a LOT though!


********I may add more FAQ's as I think of them, but I have a lot to do today, and this should not take up my whole day. (that would be bad)*****************

Pics from Boise trip

THese pictures of my sweet in-laws making the THanksgiving feast, and Paul and his brothers. The one of just the boots I call "Following in his Brothers Shoes!" :-) There's also a picture of the boys and their adorable Grandma. We love Grandma Blomquist!
I love the uniforms. It was fun to take thousands of pictures! (Though I don't think the boys enjoyed it so much). They were kind enough to humor us, though. I'll try to post more pics from the weekend soon. So much FUN!

He's Home!

So, Paul may not be home for a LONG time (20 days), but I'll take what I can get! He arrived at the SLC airport on Tuesday, Nov. 3rd at 8:30 p.m. We checked into a hotel right before picking him up, and that's when the butterflies hit. I thought to myself "WHy in the heck am I nervous to see this man that I've been married to for almost 13 years?" It was so amazing to see the reunion of Paul and the kids. Of course, I totally forgot to get pictures of me with him that day, so the pictures I have of us are taken a few days later.
We arrived home on Wednesday afternoon and went to my parents home in Rexburg for dinner. On our drive home that night, we noticed a big yellow ribbon as we turned into our neighborhood and then yellow ribbons EVERYWHERE (in all our neighbors yards). They also had hung a huge yellow sign that said "Welcome Home Paul" and was signed by all of them. It was so touching. I LOVE our neighborhood and feel so blessed to be here, AND to have been here the whole time Paul's been gone.
We went to Meridian on Friday to go visit Paul's family. All four of the Beck brothers were there (we can't remember the last time all four were together, but think it's been a couple of years). It was wonderful to see the family (although Paul's sister got sick and wasn't able to make it :-()
My M.I.L went to so much work to prepare a wonderful meal on Saturday (our Beck THanksgiving), and the Beck boys even succeeded in doing something silly together (climbing up into a closet at the church that was six feet up. They also got to go to a hockey game together. YAY!
I can't believe we have already used up 6 of our 20 days. I LOVE having him home. The other day, my 4th child kept asking the same question over and over, and just wasn't quite understanding my response, so I got to defer her to her Dad. LOVED THAT! ;-)
We have a lot we're trying to squeeze into 2 weeks, but that's why we have calendars. I'm not sure when exactly the kids and I will get to go meet up with my sweetheart in Germany. (It all depends on our passports and orders coming through). I'm hoping by Christmas, but we'll see. (I don't count on much with the army.)
I'll be packing up all our stuff here the 2nd week in December, and we'll take it from there.
Life is good. I love my Soldier. I love having him home. I'm excited for this NEXT stage in our life.