And… the Shoe Drops
We had a plan.
And for a brief, beautiful moment, it felt like a really good one.
The house was sold. Flights were booked for one last East Coast hurrah with family. We had a September move date to Italy, the kids were lined up to start school abroad, and Mom had figured out her U.S. work schedule. We had timelines, calendars, childcare… we'd mentally moved on to simply counting down the days until we boarded a one-way flight.
And then….
the shoe dropped.
The Army shared that our move would be delayed by about a month.
Of course it was. Because apparently we'd gotten a little too comfortable with the idea that our carefully laid plans might actually happen as planned.
If there's one thing military life has taught us, it's this: the plan is never the plan. Sometimes you just have to pivot.
So that's what we did. We started problem-solving in real time.
Could the kids stay in their Kansas daycare another month?
Could we still close on the house on schedule?
Where would five of us live for an entire month after closing?
Can we actually find somewhere to rent during prime-time college football season, in a community where football is basically a way of life?
Somehow… yes.
With a little luck, a lot of phone calls, and probably more than a few prayers, the pieces fell into place. The kids get to stay in their daycare for the extra month. We closed on the house. And by what honestly feels like a small miracle, we found an Airbnb willing to lease to us for a full month — during football season, in Kansas. If you know, you know.
So here we are.
Living in the weird in-between.
Our house is no longer ours.
Our new home isn't ours yet.
The kids haven't started school in Italy.
We're not quite Kansas residents and we're definitely not Italian residents.
Our life is somewhere between packed in a shipping crate, stuffed into nooks and crannies in the trunk of cars and randomly scattered throughout an Airbnb we’re desperately trying to make feel like our home.
And our next big milestone?
Mid-October.
That's when we're hoping we'll finally make it onto that one-way flight to Italy. Assuming, of course, our visas are approved… Because naturally, there's still that little detail.
And… there's a very real possibility that Dad may have to fly ahead of us and wait for the rest of the crew while we continue waiting on paperwork.
Which would be… less than ideal. But also? Very on brand for this adventure.
The Art of the Pivot
At this point, we've learned the art of not being wed to any set plan. And, if you know me, that’s NOT how I like to function.
But, we’re embracing the season of uncertainty. Of rolling with the punches. Of the time we’re all actually together, under one roof. Because that’s really what is most important.
We’re doing it, together.
It's not always glamorous.
Sometimes it's spreadsheets and phone calls and childcare logistics.
Sometimes it's packing up your entire house only to realize you're not actually leaving the country when you thought you were.
Sometimes it's living out of suitcases for a month.
And sometimes it's getting very, very lucky.
While we defintely have the “best case” scenario, “worst case” scenario and the reality of what lands somewhere in the middle, we’re ready for this wild ride. Because, that's part of the adventure.
We started this journey thinking the biggest leap would be moving our family of five across the world. Turns out, the adventure started long before we ever boarded the plane.
So here's to the next month.
To temporary homes and familiar daycare drop-offs.
To squeezing one more month out of Kansas.
To football season somehow working in our favor.
To visas getting approved.
To Dad potentially flying solo.
And to all of us, one day, finally boarding that plane.
Because apparently Italy wasn't quite ready for the Hoofs in September.
We'll be there soon enough. Until then…
We'll keep living by the moment.
Keep laughing.
Keep figuring it out.
And keep reminding ourselves that the slightly wild ride is the adventure.
One shoe drop at a time.