Penang, Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia when I was in the middle of my senior year of high school. After Kuala Lumpur, it was off to Santa Barbara, then a year in England which was cut short due to a certain proposal from a certain Marine. He was stationed on the west coast, and a year and a half later we PCS’d to the east coast, then across that state, and finally to Colorado, where we figured we might finally settle down.

Joke’s on us.

Because come February, we’re moving back across the country again! Back to the east coast, in fact.

My husband tried for months to find his dream job here in Colorado–and for various reasons, it wasn’t an option. Searching for anything, he interviewed at Home Depot, where he was told four minutes into the interview they wouldn’t hire him because he had such an impressive resume that he’d get snatched up by someone else immediately.

Entry level, anything to get us through until he got a better job, was ruled out, so we kept searching.

And searching, and searching, and searching.

Until he got a call from a connection with a connection in the DC area.

Ever since he was young, my husband has been fascinated with doing things himself, both in the DIY way and because he’s crazy independent—but he’s been particularly enthralled by wood working. Check out our first (very simple) project together in our home in North Carolina! When job options in Colorado dried up, his connection with a connection offered him something totally new, something we hadn’t yet considered: A carpentry apprenticeship.

Totally not what I saw coming when he left the Marine Corps, either. But he wants to work with his hands and be active, and who doesn’t love a man who can build things?

He moved back across the country in the middle of August, and we’ll be joining him six months later.

It’s kind of ironic that in our five years in the Marine Corps, we never faced more than 10 consecutive weeks apart, and now that he’s a civilian we’re finally going through a deployment-length separation. But he’s safe and we can visit, so I count myself truly blessed.

The little humans and I are staying here in Colorado, with my parents, primarily because, well, have you seen housing prices in the DC area? We’re taking this time to save hardcore while he lives in a little, but somehow still ridiculously expensive, apartment in the heart of the city. He also wanted some time to adjust to his new job and going to school, but mostly the house.

At this point, after searching hours and hours for a place to call home, I’ve realized if we can find a place that will fit our family and the five kids we want for less than 400K, we will have won.

Oh, the pain.

Truly, that is a challenging number to swallow for a veteran’s wife who is used to living on a lower enlisted salary.

All that being said, I’ve already found my dream house: a 119 year old farmhouse on 2 acres in Maryland. Stained glass, huge windows, vintage ceiling beams, a front door that’s over a century old, and the most beautiful deck you’ve ever seen.

I adore it and if it’s not still available in December when we’re ready to go under contract, it will be more devastating than if they discontinued Cadbury Eggs forever. That would be true agony.

One of my favorite parts of this story is how excited I was to put down roots in Colorado, and as it became more and more evident it wasn’t time for that yet, as we prayed for an opportunity and it seemed like none was coming, how God provided.

There is nowhere in the United States I would rather be than Colorado. Nowhere. Except for one place, and that is the DC area.

I spent my elementary school years there as my Dad commuted to DC for his job with Marriott, and I adored every second. The parks, the Amish markets, the orchards, the museums, the monuments, the culture and the diversity and the ethnic food–oh, and how almost all the family activities are free which helps offset the ridiculous cost of living.

We chose Colorado and God chose somewhere even better–at least for now. Our goal is to still buy the land in Manitou Springs we’ve fallen in love with and come back here when we can.

Until then, move #8 in six years, move #4 in five years as a family, here we come!