High Ho, High Ho, It's Overseas we go....

Mt. Fuji

In case you didn't hear the latest, this Crew is headed for Japan! Camp Zama to be exact. It's right outside of Tokyo to the west. See?

When we found out I was a tad shocked. (see my post on that here.)

We have had a few days to let it soak in. This Momma has wrapped her head around the LONG distance between her Texas Aggie Football games and Tokyo, Japan. She has realized that she can store all of her 'must haves'. She has made her lists of pros and cons.

Honestly, we have wanted, for several years, to return overseas. Hubby was stationed in Germany a few years, and a few kids, ago. It was amazing! The Army family is incredibly strong overseas because you rely on each other much more in than in the States.

Here, you are more likely to run to the big box store yourself instead of asking the newest neighbor to borrow some sugar. Overseas, you camp out when that moving truck arrives to 'scope out' the new arrivals. The kids race over on their various wheeled items (bikes, scooter, even big wheels) to see if the 'newbies' have little 'Brats'.

Overseas, you become a stronger family unit. You have to. I been, literally, you have to.

It's up to you, and your little family, to find your way in a new country that does not speak English. The road signs, oh yeah, they aren't in English either. And, keep that $5 bill in your pocket, because you have to pay in Euros. or Marks. or Yen.

You have to order in a restaurant where "I'll take the #1- hold the pickles- and a large sweet tea" is NOT going to work. There cashier may not say, "My pleasure!" when you ask for your 3rd refill. The food is... different. It's not bad. A ton of it is great. But, it is very different. Get over it. Learn from it. You can always eat from a vending machine, right?

Japan is famous for their vast amounts, and variety, of vending machines.

During the holidays you watch out for each other with a shared knowledge of lonely times that are a bit overwhelming when Grandma and Grandpa call to say "Merry Christmas". With another Thanksgiving at the Mess Hall, you search for the soldiers or families without anyone and invite them to your table. You can scoot over a little more and fit more in, so that they too can have a smile from 'home'.

When you go to Disney Paris, there are -wait for it- FRENCH people wanting to see Mickey! They may be pushier than you think is approximate. They will cut in line. They will speak their native tongue, and expect you to at least try to understand. They may, or may not, wear deodarant. Still, you will see Mickey, and ride rides, and eat way too much. During the visit, it will occur to you that even those moody French will giggle at Daffy Duck. You will spend more money than you really want to. You will laugh, loudly. You will smile and take pictures. You will talk about the trip for years.

THAT is the joy of traveling. That is the privilege of being a mobile, military family. When your child discovers that little girls all over the globe want to be a princess. Little girls who don't look like her, talk like her, think like her or- even- smell like her, want to grow up and dance at the Ball.

While on a 'quick trip' to Poland your son sees kids. younger than him, washing windshields at a stop light so they can eat a meal that day. Reality hits hard when it is seen first hand. At 8, he can tell that his life is infinitely easier than those children in poverty. They make look like him, but their circumstances are teaching him far more than a 'quick trip' to Walmart to get some milk.

What will our newest overseas adventure bring us?

Stress, and worry. Some.

New friends and stories to share. You bet.

A blog or two. You know it!

But, what we are praying for most, is that being overseas will allow us to share our faith with someone who may not otherwise hear it. We long to tell people about the love that makes us whole. We look forward to helping with VBS and learning to connect with young ones without spoken words.

We long for the memories that only living overseas can bring to our four kids.

They will share struggles that only the four of them will ever know.

 They will learn tidbits that only other Brats will understand.

They will rejoice in the silly pleasures of life.


Like when something as simple as finding Blue Bell ice cream in the commissary, after not having it for years, makes my usually quiet teenager yell, "Mom, I found H-O-M-E right here on Aisle 5!"

For years, they will tease each other about crazy Japanese vending machines, seeing the Cherry Blossoms all over Camp Zama or learning to drive on the 'wrong' side of the road.

Will they miss playing American sports, or ordering in their native language?

Will they long to run through Grandy & Bubbie's door and straight into their arms?

Will they shed a tear, or two, over the friends, cousins, life they are leaving behind in the States?

Yes. Yes, and oh my, YES!

But, when Uncle Same says "Go", you go.

When this Southern girl said "I do" to her Knight in Shiny uniform,  she promised, "I will GO with you where ever the Army sends you."

When God put the peace in our hearts that Japan really was what we should put on that preference sheet, we knew what that would mean.

The bags are getting packed. The house is sold. The stuff is headed to storage and the plane tickets are bought.

We are moving to Japan.

And, watch out. We. Are. Ready!

Keep the Faith. Pack the Bags.

~Aggie Amy

The kids will not miss the annual bluebonnet pictures!