What we've been up to... and what comes next (sts)

The idea of picking up where our last blog left off, 2-3 years ago, is a feat I have no desire to undertake.  So, here's the incredibly abbreviated bullet-point version of the highlights:

• We're still living in the quiet and wonderful village of Herforst, in the Rhineland region of Germany.

• Over the past 15 months, Brian has been deployed or temporary duty (TDY) more than twice the amount of time that he's been home.  As I write this, he's back in the states for two months.

• Despite that, while stationed at Spangdahlem, we have managed to travel to 23 countries in Europe together!  (That's Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Scotland, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, and Vatican City!)

• Separately we've also seen Turkey, Kuwait, and Iraq (Bri) and Croatia and Greece (me) since moving to Europe.

• All of our parents, and a few close friends,  have come to visit us out here.  For this, we are so incredibly grateful!  Those visits were some of the absolute highlights of our last few years.

• Tough not completely fluent, we've mastered enough German to converse with our landlord (who speaks no English at all),  give and take directions, understand newspaper, radio and television broadcasts, shop at local stores, and get by in areas where English is seldom spoken.

• Even though we're travel-addicts, we absolutely adore our German neighbors, and love spending time with them when we're home.  They have made our experience here so wonderful! 

• Finally, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention our squadron here.  The Warhawks and their families are some of the most fun, supportive, and awesome people we know.  There's no doubt that the friendships that we've cultivated during our time here will last wherever we all go.

So... where are we going next?   

Yup... we're headed back to South Korea!!!  

 We will be moving back to the 'land of not quite right' in mid-June.   The decision to go back to Korea (or to put it near the very top our "wish-list") was not a difficult one for us.  We had a great time there in 2008-09, we want to see more of that part of the world, Brian would like to stay in the jet for as long as possible, and, also, while we're there (for 2-3 years) he will NOT have to deploy to the desert!   This is a huge plus for us, because as most of you know:

That pretty much catches you up to what's happening here! Just a disclaimer: this will likely become more of a pregnancy/baby blog... it's definitely the highlight of our lives right now, and we want to share our excitement with the people we care most about!