We made it

We flew out on Wednesday evening. We arrived Friday morning.

Let that sink in.

 

 

 

17 hours. In the air. But we are here. We made it. Barely sane. But we are here, and I write from my quaint little kitchen all the way across the world.

And of course, I have to represent...

 Part of my computer is in Russian...not sure why?

We flew out Wednesday even at 5:10 (US time). We went from RDU-NYC-LONDON-OUR COUNTRY. We had a long layover in London, so we decided to escape from the confines of yet another airport and enjoy the dirty air of England. At first this idea seemed a little daunting, because not only did we have a sweet little baby who was running on so few hours of sleep (not to mention all of us "adults" were too), but we CARRIED ON:

Carseat

Pack N Play

 the BOB

Huge diaper bag

My personal bag

My purse

My pillow

Abby's carry on suictcase

Abby's bookbag

Abby's purse

Eric's carry on suitcase

Eric's bookbag

Eric's pillows. Yes, pillowS

 

 

...and there were THREE of us to man-handle all the goods. Besides the overwhelming amount of items needed to travel with a baby, AG was a total rockstar. Seriously. I couln't have been more proud of her. On our long flights she slept or sat quietly most of the way. She was ready to play the last two hours of our last flight, but who blames her right? I sure don't. Goodness. I was ready to play.

 

 

But, back to London. Excuse the random thoughts. Jeg lag going on over here.

 

To our great delight, the London airport has a baggage service where we can pay per item for them to store our things while we sightsee. So of course, we felt it necessary to fork over the cash. We took many pictures, saw many tourist-y spots, marveled over amazing architecture, and ate outside at a cute cafe. AG slept for most of her time in London.

 

On the Heathrow Express to Paddington

 

Heathrow Express to Paddington

 

Our taxi ride from Paddington to Buckingham Palace...Yes, we straight up rolled the stroller into the taxi.

 

 

 

What's London without a selfie?

 

This telephone booth was so gross and smelly

 

 

 

 

When we arrived in our country, we hauled our many items inside to Customs. One thing I learned about this country from the get-go...no personal space.

 

Somehow we ended up in the BACK of the line. We did not start in the back. Apparently if you aren't touching your nose to the back of the persons head in front of you, people think its fair game to cut you in line. OH YES. MY PET PEEVE. Line cutting brings out a side in me y'all. Not to mention the lack of sleep.

 

Anyways, my conscience, aka ERIC, gave me a look that said "cool it." Okay fine, but remember I'm holding a very fussy baby right now so this mama bear is about to flip out if she doesn't get through customs ASAP!! Many people staring at white girl with red hair, who speaks a funny language, in a funny dialect, rocking a baby back and forth.
 

Real life. Tired baby, daddy, and aunt

 

After an hour wait, we finally made it through. The very last ones. But on a positive note, it was very easy to find our bags. Except that one of Abby's didn't quite make it.

 

So we are missing a bag, and we have this huge language barrier going on. How do we communicate to these people...WHERE IS OUR MISSING BAG?!

 

Oh. Right. It just so happens, that one of our team members (from Alabama) was on our flight with us and speaks fluent Russian. G-ds grace. It's incredible the amount of His grace that has been so evident within the last few days. I could cry thinking about it. We learned that Abby's bag got stuck in NYC, but thankfully is making it's way to us as we speak.

 

On a random note...Eric and I opened one of our huge duffle bags to find a little boy's Sketcher shoe?? Just one of them. Our theory is that this kid's shoe fell out of his bag, so while they were stuffing it in a random bag (aka ours), they forgot to load Abby's bag. Yeah. This is probably what happened. Poor kid only has one shoe.

 

We walked out of baggage claim to be greeted by our friend Liz and our driver. They brought ONE van. Our bags were stuffed to the ceiling. Abby squeezed in the front with Liz. Will, Eric, Addie, and myself squeezed on one row. Will was holding the Pack n Play in his LAP. Eric was holding the BOB in his LAP. The front wheel to the BOB was poking Liz in the head the entire 45 minute ride back to our apartment. We couldn't have squeezed in one more bag. G-ds grace that Abby's bag was delayed.

 

 

Since we got to our apartment, our schedule has been jammed packed. It's Sunday here, and we still have not unloaded our bags. We have not had one bit of time. Our team here is AMAZING. We have our meals provided the entire next week. They have taken us grocery shopping to help show us what is what. We have already pr-yed together. Sang together. We have a family away from family here.

 

G-d is SO good. He is so kind to us that He has provided so much already. Just a few things I for me to remember:

 

1. AG did amazing on the flights. His kindness.

 

2. When we walked into our apartment, I immediately cried. Overwhelming tears. I just wanted to go home. This apartment doesn't feel like home. Then I walked into the kitchen. My dream kitchen. I see this kitchen as His kindness to me.

 

3. I was anxious about getting AG milk/food if we ran out, since we don't have a car. Across the street from our apartment is a little market. WITH AN ENGLISH SPEAKING girl who works there. His kindness.

 

4. There is a fresh fruit and veggie stand down the street from us. His kindness.

 

5. Our first night, we left our apartment to go to a school picnic. When we came back, we had no idea how to get into the door of our apartment building. We just stood outside. Couldn't get in. Someone eventually came out, and let us in. So I decided to ask, "Do you speak English?" Pretty rare, here. The guy said, "yes." He said YES!! So we asked him how the door works, and he showed us. His kindness.

 

6. Although the buildings aren't very pretty (old Soviet architecture), we have an amazing view from our living room of the mountains. His kindness.

 

 

7. The amazing community here amoungst our team. His kindness

 

8. I have already met several young American moms who are blvrs who want to help/hang out. His kindness.

9. Will (from Alabama) was on our last flight. He helped us get through customs and find Abby's bag. Out of all flights, all times, all days, someone from OUR team was there. His kindness.

 

I could go on. I cannot get over the amount of grace He has provided in so short amount of time. One thing after another. I am overwhelmed with the amount of love He has for us. He is a good G-d. A kind G-d. A loving and gracious G-d.

 

Marty, a dear friend of mine from back in NC sent me the most encouraging email the day we left for CA. It is a quote by Charles Spurgeon, that I highly recommend you take the time and read. So let me leave you with these encouraging words:

 

"All events are under the control of Providence; consequently all the trials of our outward life are traceable at once to the great First Cause. Out of the golden gate of G-d's ordinance the armies of trial march forth in array, clad in their iron armour, and armed with weapons of war. All providences are doors to trial. Even our mercies, like roses, have their thorns. Men may be drowned in seas of prosperity as well as in rivers of affliction. Our mountains are not too high, and our valleys are not too low for temptations: trials lurk on all roads. Everywhere, above and beneath, we are beset and surrounded with dangers. Yet no shower falls unpermitted from the threatening cloud; every drop has its order ere it hastens to the earth. The trials which come from G-d are sent to prove and strengthen our graces, and so at once to illustrate the power of divine grace, to test the genuineness of our virtues, and to add to their energy. Our L-rd in his infinite wisdom and superabundant love, sets so high a value upon his people's faith that he will not screen them from those trials by which faith is strengthened. You would never have possessed the precious faith which now supports you if the trial of your faith had not been like unto fire. You are a tree that never would have rooted so well if the wind had not rocked you to and fro, and made you take firm hold upon the precious truths of the covenant grace. Worldly ease is a great foe to faith; it loosens the joints of holy valour, and snaps the sinews of sacred courage. The balloon never rises until the cords are cut; affliction doth this sharp service for believing souls. While the wheat sleeps comfortably in the husk it is useless to man, it must be threshed out of its resting place before its value can be known. Thus it is well that J-h-vah trieth the righteous, for it causeth them to grow rich towards G-d."

 

Move update

So I believe it has been a little too long since my last post. Let me start by filling you in on a major update... our visas have arrived! This means we fly out on Wednesday. So it's happening. It's really happening. Life as we know it, milk as we know it, transportation, meat, plugs...as in electrical outlets...family, friends, and everything as we now know, will be different. I will not be able to buy anything on my own, as I have no idea how to find it. I will not be able to communicate with locals because I don't even know how to say hello in their language. Everything I find comfort in...my friends, my family, my favorite foods, tv shows, my BED...will be different. 

Yet one thing will be the same, and in this I find great hope and peace. God is the same here, there, in my joys, and in my sorrows. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He never changes, and I can count on that. 

I believe this experience will truly reveal my heart. The good, bad, and ugly. I believe that this experience will allow me to see the beauty of the Gospel in a new way.

If I stay here, there are so many other things fighting for my affections. So many other things which I find comfort and hope.

But to have everything of this world

every material thing that gives me comfort, 

stripped away...

I will only have Christ. 

And that is enough. 

So please be praying for us these next few days! Once we arrive in country, we have a jam-packed schedule so please be praying for endurance!

Beach Bummin

Last week we had an easy life. Actually our lives still seem pretty easy...we have no jobs and are bumming off of friends, that takes no hard work whatsoever. The hardest part of my day is making sure not to violate the pet peeves of the friends whose house we are staying. But they only have two. TWO. I am a terrible person because I probably find a new pet peeve of mine on a daily basis. Although they only have two, these two seem quite difficult for me. 

The first is that Josh doesn't like food particles in his dishwasher or on the DIRTY DISHES that are sitting in the dishwasher. Wait. You mean I have to WASH the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher? How about I just wash them, then put them in the cabinet. 

And the second is that Jessica doesn't like any spec of crumb on her floors. Omg I just started hyperventilating. I have a very messy 11 month old child. So when I sit Addie down to eat, I sit beside her with a wet cloth in my hand, quickly swiping up every crumb that flows from her mouth, fingers, toes, arms, and head onto the squeaky clean floor. 

This child produces crumbs from nothing. 

 Im not sure if I even noticed it until now. Where did that come from?? Change her diaper. Boom, found a few crackers saved for later. 

But this week they are at the beach, so you should SEE THEIR HOUSE NOW!! We have let loose people. Crumbs everywhere!! 

And when I say crumb, I mean I follow Addie around with a broom. 

But we are so so thankful they have graciously opened up their home to us. They have been so generous, and we love being around them, so that makes this more like a three-week slumber party. 

Hopefully I will be able to cook a few of my gourmet meals to show our appreciation. Josh is the easiest person in the world to cook for...no really. I have never met anyone with so few taste buds. 
He likes salad but with no dressing. He likes baked potatoes but not mashed. He likes spaghetti without the sauce...All I have to do is BOIL NOODLES. Dinner is served!! Help yourself to some noodles, guys. 

Anyways, I originally started this post to share about our beach trip, last week. We started out at Wrightsville Beach with Eric's family, for the weekend. We had so much fun and Addie began to warm up to the sand. Eric's mom roomed with Addie, so Eric and I got to sleep in a little.

Going to the beach with a baby is no joke. 

Have you ever tried to lather a baby with sunscreen? A baby who crawls away or tries to wiggle out from your grasp?...which makes it dangerous since she is already so slippery from the lotion? 

Have you ever put on a swimmy diaper only for her to go number 1 immediately after you put it on? And you are HOLDING HER? Fine. Lesson learned. You will wear disposables IN THE POOL. Your diaper will probably blow up, but we shall take our chances.  (For those who aren't sure, swimmy diapers only hold number 2. That's right. Every baby you have ever seen in a pool has done number 1 in the pool you are currently in).

And the beach. Oh the beach. Crawling around in the sand. THE SAND. I'm not a sand person y'all. Poor baby. When it's time to take her in, this mama holds her out at an arms length. Of course this would be the time she wants to cuddle. Then my heart strings start tugging, so I give in and now mama and baby are both covered in sand. 

Then she must have a bath. This week, the week she needs a bath the most, the week she has sand in every crevice possible...kind of like her crumbs... 

She is hating the bath. 

HATES IT. 

Screaming. 

Trying to stand up. 

Trying to crawl out.

So be it. 

This shall be the quickest bath you have ever had...

I get her out and rub lotion on her. It's more like I am exfoliating her body with the amount of sand still left on her. Oh well. It will fall off eventually, I tell myself. 

Repeat this process 8 more times. 

After the weekend at Wrightsville beach we headed to Atlantic beach for my family vacation.

We beached it up, pooled it up, televisioned it up, ate it up, and slept it up. I may have eaten so many cookies, I purposefully lost count at 10. But that's what vacation is for, right?! 

Both Eric's family and mine threw Addie a "first birthday party" since we will be gone on her real birthday. It was so much fun, but unlike her mom and dad, she did not like the cupcakes. Either time. She didn't smother it all over her face, squish it between her fingers, or bury her head in it. 

So disappointing, I know. 

But I was so proud. PROUD! 

Call me uptight, but I just wasn't yet ready for my 10.5 year old to eat pastries. So when all she did was poke her finger in the icing, stare at it, then whine, I was secretly elated. KEEP WHINING, MY CHILD....THAT'S MY GIRL!!  

I know, it's a bummer for everyone else. 

Confession: it took me months to give AG plain Cheerios....bc there is sugar in the ingredients. No judgement.  This is a judgement free zone, here. And remember, she is my first.

Sugar or no sugar, both parties were super fun and AG got really fun gifts. We had a blast beach bummin for 8 days and are so thankful both families made these trips happen! 

But for now we have 3 more weeks to go...and no jobs...and only time...because we were suppose to be in Central Asia...so if you want to hang out, let us know! 

We are very free :)

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH/ PARTY #1- Hovis Edition:

Opening presents 

Not sure she wanted to touch Uncle Dean's bald head

Laying out

Playing with daddy

Skeptical about her sandy hand

ATLANTIC BEACH/ PARTY #2- Brown Edition:

This is as messy as it got...

More interested in the presents

Because we won't let her eat seashells...

Sandy girl

Sunscreened up and ready to go!

Loving some spaghetti 

My family

Aunts, uncles, and cousins

A Little More Time

Today is the day. Well, today was the day we were suppose to leave, now it's September, 4th. Instead of sitting here at the kitchen table, sipping on coffee, and awaiting our 12:30 lunch plans, we would be loading up the car and heading to the airport for the longest two travel days of our life. After last night, I believe that God knew my heart was not yet ready and needed just a little more time for my "see you laters."

When we originally thought we were leaving today, I planned a little get together for our family and close friends so I could soak all of them up one last time. I don't know what I was thinking. I mean it was so much fun, but this idea was two different sides of my personality clashing together. I could have never been satisfied saying goodbye this way. Are you kidding me? I am a person that values long heart to hearts with a few people at a time. This makes me feel refreshed and invested in my friendships, BUT to have all the people that I have sweet conversation with in ONE room? Well, that only makes me feel as if I missed out on something by the time the party is over. 

The last few months, I believe God guarded my heart from feeling sad as we prepared to move. I felt nothing but excitement and calm. For once in my life I actually felt as if I did have it all together. I am not someone who covers up feelings of doubt, stress, insecurities, etc.. I share all my junk, so to speak. So when friends would ask how I am feeling, the truth was that I felt great. Not scared or worried at all. But when I would say that, I wondered how that could be...was there any fear or sadness at all? Because I felt nothing of the sort.

God does not give us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind...so when I prayed for my fears to turn to peace, I trusted in His power and the truth of the Bible to do so. Be anxious for nothing but in everything prayer and supplication, making your requests known to God... so I did. Fear and anxiety reveal lack of belief in God's promises, yet God has always kept his promises, so why should I not trust Him? He loves me, and He is good. 

But sadness over leaving friends, family, and everything that is familiar?

When Christ said to deny everything and follow him, and when he commanded his disciples to leave their home and families, I'm sure their was sadness within their hearts. 

But I pray that my heart would be so captivated by the Gospel...by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ...that I would believe that my sole purpose on this earth is to build his Kingdom and not my own...that the urgency and truth of Gospel would spur me on to give up everything that is comfortable. Because He is worth it. 

Last night, for the first time, I was sad. Maybe because we are not in our own home and it felt so much more real. Maybe because I had all my friends and family in one place and couldn't have good time with everyone. Maybe because I caught a glimpse of what I am leaving behind all at once. 

But each day, whether hard or easy, I want the Gospel to reign in my heart. I want the characteristics of God to be engraved in my soul. So I must remind myself every moment...

He knit me together in my mothers womb. He created me, he knows my personality and my needs 

He died for me and gave me His righteousness. He loves me, he is for my good, he pursues me

He cares for the broken hearted. He is a caring and comforting God

He left the glory of Heaven to live on earth as man. He has left his home in obedience to God the Father

He is Sovereign. I can trust that He knows best and is in control

All things work together for good for those who love the Lord...so I pray the the Holy Spirit will work within my heart and allow me to love Christ. 

...while remembering that my good is defined by the building of His Kingdom and not by my own selfish desires. 

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save from wrath and make me pure

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law's demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyes shall close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgement throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

Last night was so much fun, but I am so thankful for another three weeks...now that the reality of moving across the world has finally soaked in. We will be home in just ten short months, but that is the longest and farthest I have ever been away from the comforts of my life. 

I am so thankful God loves me so much that He wants to push me out of my comfort zone so that I may seek Him more, rely on Him more, talk to Him more, crave Him more, worship Him more, and truly feel that I can't live without Him. 

Three of Eric's best friends (Luke, Austin, Eric, Robert)

Thank you so much to everyone who came! It truly meant a lot to us and we ARE SO THANKFUL for each one of you!!

 

11 Month Update

11 months. That's 1 month away from being a year old. The amount a baby develops within the first year is insane. Think about if we continued to develop that fast our entire life. We would all be 20 feet tall, speak 10 languages, and would have already developed cures for the rarest of diseases. I look back at pictures at my 4 lb baby and have such a hard time believing that was really her. I can't even remember what it was like holding such a small human. Back then I tossed her around like a sac of potatoes, used to her small body. In my head she wasn't a porcelain doll. She was resilient. Couldn't be broken. Of course I was very gentle, don't get me wrong. But she was mine. When friends came to visit her right after her birth, so many were afraid to move their left pinky because they thought it would break her bones. One of our friends told us, "I have never been so scared to hold a baby." Some even refused to hold her because of her small size. But now she is 11 months and 20lbs. She is always been around the 35% for weight, which I am so proud since she wasn't on the charts when she was born.

It's true what they say. You really do think your kid is the cutest. The smartest. The most wonderful creature on earth. I could Instagram pictures of her all day long. Of course everyone else wants to see her because she is the cutest baby on the face of the earth, thinks every mom out there. So I try to remove myself from planet baby and back to planet earth and remember that not every person wants their feed bombarded with my little daughter. Don't get me wrong though. If you choose to follow me, you will see many pictures of that darling child :). 

We have been beach bums for the past week and Addie has conquered fear of sand, fear of seashells, and beginning to conquer fear of ocean...only to have that progress stripped away as we move to a landlocked country. Yikes. No ocean within 2 hours. No ocean within several countries. 

At 11 months, Addie is speaking full babbles. We have conversations with each other on a daily basis. Sometimes I wish I knew what she was thinking because I'm sure she is wondering why she has to repeat herself a million times...and I still misunderstand her and change her diaper when she is actually telling me she's hungry. I'm sorry my child, I'm trying to learn your language but I'm an adult and our brains don't work as quickly as yours. 

She says dada, mama, baba, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh, va, and probably others that I'm forgetting

She also seems to be getting over bottles. I speak full babble now, mom. Bottles are for babies. She use to drink 4 full bottles a day, and now doesn't want but half of the bottle. She is loving finger foods! I fill her tray with food and she stuffs it down that tiny throat. At 10 months I started putting whole milk in a sippy cup for her to "practice" during meal times. I didn't want to go from only bottles straight to sippy cup and whole milk when she turned 1. This is her "new schedule" that we are going to try based on her interest in big girl food and not bottles.

7:00- bottle

8:30- breakfast/ whole milk

9:00- nap?...she sometimes wants it sometimes not

10:00- snack/ milk 

11:30-12- lunch/ milk

1:00 - nap/ bottle 

3:30- snack/milk

5:30- dinner/milk

7:00- bath/ bottle/bed

I'm going to move to 3 bottles and give her whole milk throughout the day. When she turns 1, hopefully then she'll be ready for no bottles and just whole milk!

So far she is loving to eat:

Turkey sandwich (whole wheat bread and turkey slices)

Spaghetti

Pasta salad

Feta cheese (plain!!)

Cheese in general

Cucumbers

Hummus

Lasagna

Broccoli and chicken casserole

Fruit...LOVES fruit (bananas, peaches, strawberries, grapes)

For snacks, many times I give her the organic squeeze packs

Many times I'll usually give her what we have for dinner unless its red meat, seafood, or fried food

Happy almost 1 year my little big girl!

               

                                

Moving update

I haven't forgotten about this blog at all, but I have felt too overwhelmed to write anything. There has been A LOT going on and to think about what to put on here...well, I don't even know where to start!

Last week our life was crazy. Our plane flies out on Monday, however, it will be leaving us behind. But let me not jump ahead, I'll get to that in a minute. It actually started two weeks ago when Eric kept saying, "Kelly, we should really start packing up the house. We have so much to do." Actually we don't. I mean we have to pack our clothes but we get to leave our furniture and decorations so really there isn't that much and when I put my mind to something I work super hard and super fast so really it's not a big deal and I could probably do it in two days and be done. These were my thoughts...they were nothing but calm, cool, and collected run on sentences. I was not one bit of stressed. We decided that it would be best if my MIL kept AG for a few days so we could focus on cleaning and packing so we could be out by our deadline of Aug 1. So once again, I was a not stressed-totally relaxed- fly by the seat of my pants kind of girl. We have so much time and Im really not worried bc your mom is keeping Addie for 3 days so that's plenty of time to do what we need to do so actually we should just play and hangout since we can't really be productive when Addie is here anyways. I am a stupid girl. 

Because I am so optimistic about my ability to work hard and get things done quickly, I decided to make dinner plans with some girlfriends on Wednesday, July 31. I just knew we would be done with our house since we had to be out by the following day. So here we go. We get a little bit done on Satuday, then Carlyne (MIL) gets here on Monday to pick AG up. We still have Monday, Tuesday, AND Wednesday to pack and clean so this will not be that big of a deal and we still have so so much time, thought the stupid girl. Thanks to Carlyne we get a lot done on Monday. We got to take a nice little break during the middle of the day for our church to snap some pictures of us so they can tell our story, but not such a stressful day. Then Tuesday. Oh Tuesday. Four years of marriage and Eric and I still find ways we are different. Me, I wake up and can go. I can go hard til around 4 or 5 then I am exhausted and burnt out. I'm done. DONE. Leave me alone, kind of done. Eric, well he takes a little longer to fully wake up. He really gets going around lunch time or maybe a little after then can work til 10 at night. Nope, not me at all. So lets just say the tension was running a little high in our household. And the meltdowns begin. It's Tuesday evening, I canNOT go anymore. I just can't. You can't make me. And we still have lots to do. But we still have Wednesday and I have my dinner plans so this will be a great day and we will get everything done. 

Wednesday. I don't even like to think about you anymore. I started working around 8 am.  Scrubbing refrigerator, vacuuming floors and two flights of steps, cleaning out every drawer that exists in our house, finishing packing bags, categorizing what should be checked, carry on, and/or go with us to the beach. Yikes. Our car won't start. Call AAA. Tow it to Toyota dealership. Oh great, works for them. They have no issue with our car. Kind of like being sick and then you finally go to the doctor and you're all better. Stupid car. And cue meltdown. Back to the house to continue cleaning. It's 5 o'clock. My body and brain is telling me IM DONE. I also realize there is no way I'm going to make dinner with my friends so I sadly have to cancel. It's 6 o'clock. Still working. Cue meltdown. 7 o'clock. I SERIOUSLY CAN'T GO ON.  Another meltdown. This process continues til 10 pm when I finally convince my night owl that we can come back in the morning to finish the last touches since we were FINALLY almost done. We were staying with friends and so we didn't want to roll in at midnight. Thursday morning we roll out of our friends' house by 6:30am. We have to be in Greensboro by a certain time so we needed to leave be 9:30am. When I think I am done, Eric says we should vacuum. AGAIN. Meltown. I am so burnt out. I hate our house. I don't think that is necessary. I think we are done. Since I am on the verge of a mental collapse, my sweet husband tells me that I should go ahead and leave for Greensboro. I agree and sprint to my car before he changes his mind and tells me to power wash the house or something.   

FREEEEEEDOM. Those days were the most stressful days of my life, besides having a newborn. I was so on edge, that it took me a couple of days to get back down of the cliff and truly rest. Lesson: start early! We did way too much in too little of time. 

If you are still reading, I'm impressed because this is long, I know. But now we are homeless and jobless and not leaving on Monday. Our friends the Nances have graciously opened up their home to us until we leave.  The government of where we are going has not yet issued our permission for visas. They are in the process of doing so, but taking a long time. Our international school has even had to postpone their start date to school, in order to give us time to get there. So please be prying for this situation. We believe that Gd is in control and are trusting in His sovereignty. 

Pictures of our car after we packed...bags to the ceiling and all the way up to the front two seats.

To come: our beach trip with both families, Addie's 11 month update, and Addie's "birthday" party with both familes. Who knows...we may still be here for Addie's real birthday party! Nothing wrong with having 3 parties, right?!