He's Home and We're On the Road Again...

After two and a half years here at Camp Lejeune Marine Corp Base in North Carolina, we are headed for Mark's next duty station in New Orleans. Mark's return from Afghanistan was a blessing. I have included a couple of pictures. I think you can see the total relief and happiness we felt that he was safely home.
Pretty soon after Mark got home we took the kids on a trip to Busch Gardens. It was a blast! Pictures also included. After a few thrilling hours, as we sat resting on the train benches, Mark asked Josiah is he was having fun. Josiah answered emphatically "Yes!". Then he paused mid-smile and said quietly "Please, I don't ever want to go back to China."  Thats when his Daddy took him in his arms and assured him that he never needs to worry about that. He is a Conard, and he's staying!

The rest of the Summer has been spent here in Jacksonville just getting in the family groove with Mark again. It always takes some time for all of us to readjust. But is has actually been amazingly smooth on the family side. The greatest difficulty has been Mark adjusting to being back in the States and out of a combat zone where stress was constant and high. Last week, Mark's Battalion gave him a Navy Commendation. That was a big honor and humbling to him. But I know he deserved it. Mark loves his Marines.
Now, orders have rolled around again and its time to move. We pack up and head out next week, this time to the Crescent City -New Orleans. We will be living right down near all the fun - in Algiers, the new Federal City. Mark will work at the brand new Marine Force Reserve HQ Building. And best of all, he will be HOME SWEET HOME most of the time for the next three years. Sweet!
We are all pretty excited about the new adventures ahead. I think our kids are now conditioned to actually look forward to moving every 2 or 3 years.  Our big sadness is leaving the "cousins" behind.  And you will probably hear me and Stephanie (my twin sister) crying all the way around the counrty!

But now I just have to gear up for a 12 hour car ride with the kids... It does provide some comic relief to hear Josiah squeal "Who cut tha cheese?!!! Who cut tha cheese?!!". Or occasionally he will point out the window and show us the "Mo Mo cycles!!" (motorcycles) going by.
Fun times. Fun times...