Thursday, March 31, 2011

why Guam?


1. It's pretty there.



2. David is being based out of Guam for his job with the airlines. He will upgrade to Captain (woohoo!) and be home almost every night.



No really, he is so excited to be around me!
all. the. time.

3. It's a temporary move with a short commitment of 1.5 years. We could stay longer if we would like, but this is the minimum requirement for them to pay for our move out there. It's not cheap to pack and move two vehicles and household stuff 7500 miles!

No picture for this one because... ummm... I couldn't think of anything.

4. The flying is amazing.

Exhibit 1 is David's landing in Kwajalein. Can you believe people live and work on that tiny little strip of land in the middle of the gigantic ocean?



{It's a slightly dull first minute, but it gets much much better. Just hang in there!}
{There is no Exhibit 2 because uploading to YouTube is too much work.}

5. It's a great opportunity to travel and explore that side of the world. We were blessed to visit both Palau and Hong Kong during our temporary assignment there in January and February. Just think of all the places we could go in 18 months!



I think Noah was embarrassed to be seen with me.
But y'all see why I am making that face, don't you?

6. Family time. What I am looking forward to the most is the time that we will have together as a family. No soccer, no Scouts, no running around doing "good" things... slower pace, fewer distractions, and discovering things together.

These guys are worth it.



Even if they aren't very excited about going for fear of missing their friends too much.
I think they'll change their minds about it once we get there.


If you had this opportunity, would you go? There are lots of pilot families that could go but don't. Wondering if I'm the crazy one or if they are...

31 comments:

moreofhim said...

Absolutely THEY are the crazy ones! If I had this opportunity, I would definitely go! The fact that you'll see David every night would really factor on the plus side for me. It will be wonderful for your boys at their age to have their Dad home every night. Plus all the amazing things you'll get to do and see will be totally worth it. Plus (yes, another plus) it's not forever. It's for a year and a half so that means you'll get to make a decision at that time as to whether you want to stay or not. It's really huge that they will pay for your to move there, so that would definitely factor on the plus side, too (as long as they pay to move you back! lol). I know there will probably be some negatives, but really, what an opportunity that most of us would never even have. GO FOR IT!!!

Love ya - Julie

Melissa Stover said...

the pic of u and David and the pic of u and boys crack me up! david is so serious. are the boys sad about being gone that long from friends?

Tracy said...

In a HEART BEAT! But probably doesn't count coming from someone who has moved every three years HER ENTIRE LIFE!? That's the beauty of Homeschooling, right. You will have so much fun and so many memories!

Lainie said...

I cannot wait to show Elijah that video tomorrow! That was so cool! Good job :)

Oh, I would sooooo go. Are you kidding? I'm praying for the opportunity to come visit you!!! I have a few friends from high school that live there too :)

I'm so glad we get to experience it through you-- just make sure you don't leave that camera lying around any airports ;)

Christine said...

Although I'll miss you, I am so excited for y'all. I would definitely take that opportunity...especially since it's only for 1.5 years. I hope that the ticket prices miraculously go down sometime while you're out there so I can visit. I would soooooooo love that! Either that or my money tree out back will grow like the weeds. HA! I love you so much and I'm glad I'll get to see you in a couple of weeks.

Anonymous said...

It is beautiful but it is so tiny - not sure I would be able to live on such a small area with only ocean all around. You hubby did a fantastic job on landing that plane!

I think if I had the opportunity to spend almost 2 years in a beautiful place with ample time to spend relaxing and getting to know family - Kids and hubby - I would definitely take it.

what does your hubby think?

Amber said...

Wow! What an amazing experience this is for your family! I think every family is different. I'm more of a plant my roots and stay around kind of gal, but I think that God gives other families the desire to be more flexible and mobile. Nothing wrong with either. I hope you keep everyone updated with your move and settling-in process. I'm sure you'll be super busy though!

GammySel said...

I can say I am jealous! Wish I was going! I love to travel and experience new placed!
I pray you find a church quickly!
Blessings
Angie
Helpmeettosam.com

Christine said...

What a FANTASTIC opportunity!!!!! I've never heard of that little island! I'm thinking of all the firsthand home educating that could be done! The only problem I can see is not wanting to leave.

But it does mean that it will be at least another 1 1/2 years IF we ever get to meet this side of heaven :(

Can you believe I fully expected to see a little blonde headed boy when I scrolled down to that last picture :(
Love you sweetie

MarshaMarshaMarsha said...

Christine, it means so much to me that I'm not the only one that misses him when I take a pic of my boys! <3

Beth said...

#6 is the top reason we loved living overseas--it is the BEST! You will miss it so much when(ever?) you go back to the States. Your cultural perspective will change so much, too. You will be different people, changed forever, in a great way.
We OFTEN talk about moving overseas again, often. It was such a hard, HARD (don't forget that, but be able to move past it) time, but so very, very blessed, too. We miss the family time. All the things we got to see and do. The life experiences it taught us and the kids. The uniqueness of it. The way you just aren't affected by materialism as much.
I hope you all LOVE it, and I hope you keep blogging about it so we can live vicariously through you :) haha!

many blessings,
beth

dmauton said...

I would so totally go. How many times do you get these kinds of chances. The boys will look back on it and be thankful they had the opportunity.

Unknown said...

Marsha, they are the crazy ones!! This is a fantastic opportunity for you and your family!! The landing was awesome! Do you know I have never been on a plane?? I have never really been anywhere come to think of it....But, would love to see such places! I am living through you girl!!

darcy said...

I'm so excited for you family and these years will be so impactful on your boys' childhoods.

What an amazing opportunity - for travel and tgetherness.

Can't wait to see and hear all about it.

xo!
darcy

Lainie said...

And I quote," Oh, it's so beautiful! (calling to sister upstairs) Hey Charlotte! I'm watching a plane land!! Oh, it's so beautiful. Oh, this makes me want to be a pilot even more. It's so beautiful. I gotta meet this guy!"

As soon as it was over, he watched it again ;)

stef said...

I love your blog and that you are sharing this experience with us in blog land. Your perspective and attitude is a blessing to me.

Tess @ Pro-tography 101 said...

Wow, what an experience! Keep everyone posted!

Looking for guest bloggers on Photography tips, tricks and PS!

H-Mama said...

what a wonderful opportunity! i see amazing memories in your future. :)

Karen said...

If I had the choice it would definitely be to go! What an awesome experience. My kids will love the video too. Wishing you had loaded a part 2.

Placed for now in middle Canada, the pictures of the ocean fill me with longing. The best I can hope for is to see one of the Great Lakes.

(I don't blog on Blogger. My blog is at http://mansememories.wordpress.com/
Please keep in touch.)

Karen

Dana said...

To have my hubby home every night? Absolutely I'd do it. Even if they sent me to the city . . . I think. :)

Jenna said...

I would TOTALLY do it...as a matter of fact we ARE doing it! As missionaries on Guam we will have to raise support from churches and individuals before we can move over, but God willing we will be there in a year or two at the most! :) What a fantastic opportunity you have for your husband's job to pay to move the entire family over. I simply can't understand why other families wouldn't want to take advantage of that amazing experience!

MarshaMarshaMarsha said...

Jenna! Email me your addy so we can chat!

Ali said...

What an amazing opportunity! I would totally go if I was in the same position as you. What a blessing!

My kids LOVED the video! My son was going.. "whoa! whoa whoa!" because it looked like the plane was going to land in the water. What an exciting adventure!

Unknown said...

What a grand adventure you are going to have. Funny that I'm back in USA when you go moving abroad.
And the very first time I ever left USA was to go to that very island -- Kwajalein in the Marshalls. Yep. Amazingly beautiful and HOT.

Denise said...

Well, Yeah! Of course -- I'm here aren't I?! Looking forward to having you back on island to get to know you better!

Nancy ~Lessons Learned on the Farm said...

Wow, I never realized how beautiful Guam is. I would have done it too. I'd love to have that family time in a beautiful new place.

I think it's a special gift from God to you all.

Enjoy every minute, dear friend.

Milk and Honey Mommy said...

Marsha,

Wow! I feel so out of touch because I'm just learning of your move. This is such a blessed opportunity. It is so wonderful watching how God continues to move in your family. I'll be praying for all of you as you begin this new adventure and enjoy the family time.

I probably wouldn't go only because I'm such a homebody, but I will say that the idea is more attractive then it would have been a few years ago. I think you've made a great decision. You know we (your readers) will expect lots and lots (more than usual) of pictures.

Faith - faithfulmommy.com said...

Well.I.am.out.of.touch! How embarrassing!
Sounds like an awesome opportunity! Exciting! Cant wait to hear more!

Franchesca said...

I read this a few days ago and couldn't respond, but I just wanted to wish you all the best. Guam looks amazing, and how wonderful will that be to have a slower-paced life, and just enjoy your family!

Amy (Dandelion Seeds) said...

Risky?... yes
Crazy?... yes
Different?... yes

And that's exactly the life that God called the great "hall of faith fame-ers"... just read Hebrews 11!

Faith isn't faith until it's put into action... and we jump... trust God... take a risk... get crazy... and do something different than what the world has grown so accustomed to.

Wish I would have seen this when it was happening... I'm so excited for you!... and envious... I hope someday God will still want to use us for that crazy idea we had so many years ago to pack up our family in a motorhome... sell all our stuff... and meet people all over the United States... :)

Karin Katherine said...

THEY are crazy. No doubt about it. What an awesome homeschooling (and family) experience. I want to come along too. Don't think hubster will go for it. But I'm going to try BEGGING. I have at least 12 months to work on him, right?