So we made a BIG decision on Monday, August 25! Matthew swore into the Army National Guard! What?! I know, such a big decision! Here's how this all came to be. About 3 weeks ago Matt was feeling discouraged with his major. (He's currently an accounting major and was on track to graduate this coming April.) He wasn't looking forward to the classes he was signed up for and he kept saying that he doesn't really want to have a job with accounting when he's done. So we began brainstorming on other options. I wanted him to be doing something he loves, because we're planning on him continuing to be the sole provider for our family, and I want to make sure he enjoys what he does. Somehow National Guard came up. Matt almost joined the marines after he graduated high school, and he's always wished he would have. (I'm glad he didn't because he wouldn't have met me!!) We have a few friends that are in the National Guard so Matt talked to them, and he went to talk to the ROTC army recruiter at school. After talking to them, Matt got really excited and enthusiastic about it. I knew that it was the right choice when he was excited about it! We prayed TONS and fasted that we would know if it was the right choice. We both had good feelings about it and felt that if it wasn't right, Heavenly Father would show us it wasn't.
One of Matt's requirements for this to be the path was for his basic training ship date to be ASAP because he wanted to be back for Spring semester classes. Somehow everything was able to be done by Monday, and he was offered the Carpentry & Masonry job, which training ships September 8th. He accepted it and Will and I drove up to Salt Lake to watch him be sworn in!
What does this mean exactly? This means Matt leaves September 8th for 17 weeks. 17 WEEKS! So long! 10 weeks will be basic training at Fort Sill in Oklahoma, and 7 weeks will be job training in Gulf Port, Mississippi. We will be able to see him at basic training graduation in november, and he will get about 2 weeks leave for Christmas in December. CRAZY. I don't think reality has really hit me yet, that I won't be seeing my husband for 11 weeks. It's going to be very hard. But I know this is the right decision and pathway for our family at this point in time.
I am SO proud of my sweet husband and so thankful he does all he does for our little family.
While he is gone, I've decided that Will & I will spend a couple weeks in California with Matt's mom, then go back to Utah for a few appointments, then drive to Texas and spend 7 weeks there with my family. It will be nice to be with family!
Here's to this new adventure!
