What is going on with the Snyders?!?

We've been in a somewhat overwhelmed state of mind for the last two months! Posting has been pushed to the back burner (as is kind of obvious :P )

First, we planned a last minute trip to Maui, HI for two weeks! Lots of crazy covid regulations made the run-up to that hectic and nerve-wracking. But the work was worth it!! So amazing! Scoot over to my instagram feeds (@elizabethjanesnyder and @snyder.elizabeth) to check out my pictures and reels! Ugh. It was painful to fly back to the frigid weather : )

Second, we received the news of Paul's next assignment, beginning in June. And it's Izmir, Turkey! This is a special, yearlong assignment (so, shorter than average.) It is also considered "unaccompanied" meaning, the Air Force will not relocate our family with Paul.

So sad, right?

That is, unless you're me! What, I'm going to let Paul go to an amazing country, live near amazing historic sites, see gorgeous scenery and enjoy mouthwatering cuisine without me?? No way.

So I'm trading in my military wife hat for my long-term tourist hat. I'm going to spend the summer with Paul, in Turkey. Since he will be living in an apartment in the city, there will be plenty of room! We'll put this house on the rental market and I'll get visas, plane tickets and a minimalized wardrobe (that fits in carry on luggage) and the kids and I will show up at Paul's new apartment's doorstep : ) (Not unexpectedly....he's totally on board with my ambitions!) After the summer, we'll see what the rest of the year looks like. The plan is to come back to AK until our new assignment is revealed. We'll manage the winter by travelling to see friends and family, vagabondish.

While the end result should (I hope,) be epic, there are so many things that need to happen between now and the beginning of June. We need to massively downsize our household goods because we'll be storing anything Paul can't take (and he can't take much for this short assignment) in AK on our own dime. We also need to get the house ready to rent. There are some cosmetic fixes that need to be tackled and completed. Bleh. Adulting. I'm learning more than I wanted about caulking, basic plumbing, spackling etc. But that's ok. It's for a good cause (my travels!) Lastly, we want to spend our remaining free time with all the wonderful friends that we've made here in a AK. Many pictures will be taken....some including watery eyes as we inch closer and closer to saying goodbye.

Oh. And homeschooling : P That too.

Anyway, that's our life right now! Because we'll be so adventurous in the summer, I'm also working on upping my videoing game - hoping to start a youtube channel and share videos and pictures in vlog format as we learn to navigate our turkish environment. Stay tuned : )

Thanks for hanging in there during the silence of the last few weeks! I'll get back to writing soon!! In the mean time, do make sure that you're following me on instagram (both accounts, one is familyish and one is mostly cool photos of AK.) It's the easiest way to see life through the Snyder Family lens.

-Liz