Flag Day

In the Foreign Service, all entry level personnel find out their first assigned post in a large ceremony affectionately known as "Flag Day". It gets it's name because during the ceremony, the presenter calls out a location's name first and then the name of the person heading there. You then walk up and receive a flag for the location.

Prior to this special day, you submit a list with all your desired locations rank-ordered. You could get your number one choice or your bottom choice... all depends on the needs of the service. You have very little say in the matter.  Unfortunately, a few people weren't happy with their assignments, but luckily, I wasn't one of them. I got my first choice...

Houston... Here we come!!!!

The Safest Block in the USA...

As I write this, I'm at the Candlelight Vigil put on by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund with a few colleagues from work.  Twenty thousand law enforcement officers and their loved ones come every year on May 13th to honor officers who were killed in the line of duty.  And with that many cops in the same place, it was definitely the safest block in country at that moment.

This year both Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano made remarks and read names of the fallen officers.  It was definitely a moving event and I'm glad I went!

20,000 candles gets pretty bright when they all shine together!

Until we meet again

We are already missing daddy and counting down the days until we get to see him again.  Carl left yesterday morning after Todd’s soccer game to embark on a 2-day drive to Virginia to begin training for his new job.  On the first leg of the drive, he stopped at his favorite rib place in the world… Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous in Memphis, TN. 

YUMMMM!!!

I went there with Carl about 4 years ago when he was doing some Navy training in the area.  If you’re ever in Memphis, you’ve got to stop by… it’s in an alley in Downtown Memphis and you won’t be disappointed.

After an exhausting 1,300 mile drive, Carl made it to his destination and is getting settled into his temporary housing.  Carl will be in Virginia for several weeks and then will head to Georgia for more training. 

These past 2 weeks have busy with fun filled activities and last minute packing.  Carl was on leave last week in order to get things ready for the cross-country trip to Virginia. He was able to have lunch with Todd at school and spend some quality time with the kids and me.  We discovered a fun park with a splash pad and had a picnic.  We enjoyed having daddy home during the day and Katelynn enjoyed chilling with him in the mornings. 

At the Splash Pad with Daddy

Watching Todd's Soccer Game with Daddy

One thing I know Katelynn will miss is running to the door to greet daddy after a day at work.  We have already used Skype and FaceTime to communicate with daddy and are thankful for technology.  We are excited that this journey is beginning and look forward to seeing where it takes us as a family.  We will find out where we will be moving to in about 2 weeks. So stay tuned….