**KONICHIWA**!!

I think all of the phone calls have been made to family by now, and official orders have been cut... so we can announce that we are moving to Okinawa, Japan in July!! It is a far cry from our original plans, but after the last 48 hours I haven't been this sure of something in a long time. This adventure is too unbelievable to pass up...even if it means staying in the military for another 3 years. We'll be living at Camp Butler in Okinawa for 3 years where Michael will have a non-deployable base job. He will probably be helping get the Marine Corp base moved to Guam while we're there (which is what our best man (and Michael's college-roommate), Marcel, started on the Navy's-side 3 years ago when he was stationed in Guam!) I feel as though the last 6 tumultuous months have been leading to this. As much as I have cried and complained about all the changes we've had to undergo, God has had a plan for us and didn't let us know what that was until now. Hopefully, He will continue to lead us in a path that is right for us regardless if everyone else is happy with it or not. To add to our amazing news...we found out yesterday that Michael is no longer being extended in Iraq!! What a huge surprise this was! I had prepared myself for him not to come home until May, but they have decided to send the MTT team home as originally scheduled. I guess this proves that if you stick with something long enough, that eventually good karma has to come your way. Michael and I are so excited about this next chapter in our lives--we finally get to see the world!! God has big plans for our next 3 years together... we just have to bring them to fruition. Less than 2 months and Michael will be home--WHOOP!!