Tennessee and Basket Weaving

I think we're finally all packed up!  For some reason, when I get nervous about something I procrastinate.  The closer and closer we get to finally moving overseas the more freaked out I get.  We're not moving overseas this weekend, but this is the weekend where we become official employees!  I keep saying weekend, but really it's Wednesday, more like mid-week rather than weekend.  But, we leave tomorrow, have one meeting tomorrow night and continue with meetings pretty much non-stop until our big service Wednesday night.  This half week full of meetings is not really making me that nervous, it's the idea of being one gigantic step closer to actually moving overseas.  I know I've looked forward to this my whole life, but it's still kinda scary.

I was talking to Andrew the other day about how I love to travel and go to new places, but I really do get scared right before.  The packing process is the worst.  Even in high school when I would go to summer camp for just a week.  While I was packing, I would have to get my mom to come to my room and just sit on the bed and watch me pack.  I called it giving me "morals" aka moral support.  Always, on the night before a trip, even just a small one, I lay in bed and think that this was a bad idea and we should just stay home.  I can't even imagine how I'm going to be the night before we head off for Africa!  I told Andrew that I'm probably going to be a basket-case.  So, since our conversation a few days ago, whenever I start to get a little anxious, I tell Andrew and I'm weaving...basket weaving.

I've Been Thinking

I've been thinking a lot lately about how fast time really does fly by.  Everyone tells you when you're little that as you get older time flies by.  I am only 25 and every year passes so quickly that I find it hard to remember how old I am!  I cannot even imagine what it will be like one day.  And what is it with deadlines?  When you are really excited about something that will happen in a year it feels like it will never come.  Once the time is near you realize how scary it will be and time just flies right by!

I've been thinking a lot about what all our big move is going to entail.  Packing up what few (in comparison to what we actually have) belongings we are going to be taking with us.  Selling everything else we own.  Moving half-way across the world (literally), all alone.  It just hit me the other day that I have never made a move without my parent's help before.  Of course they will be helping with the packing on this end of the move, but we've got to unpack all those suitcases and boxes by ourselves!  How will I get my closet color coordinated?  How will I know where to put all of my dishes and kitchen supplies?  And how will we get all of our stuff up who knows how many floors?

I've been thinking about how my days are so much busier now, but yet I really get nothing done.  As our D Day approaches, I yet again realize how short my time here is.  I want to spend as much time with my family and friends as I can, because pretty soon I won't be able to anymore.  I have so many goals to accomplish in anticipation of leaving.  Yet the most important thing is to be able to spend time with those who mean the most to me.  I am going to have a caffeine addiction (if I don't already) from all the coffee dates I have in one day.  I double book in one day without even realizing it, but I'm not going to turn anyone down.  If I have to have five cups of coffee in one day, so be it.

I've been thinking how much I am going to miss my family and friends.  I don't know what it's going to be like without you guys, but I am so thankful that each of you are in my life!

The World of Disney

Andrew and I returned from our youth trip to Orlando last night.  We had a great time.  It was neat getting to know all of the youth, as well as getting to see the amazing world of Disney.  It was pretty much the first time for both of us to experience it.  I went when I was very young and did not remember much, and Andrew went but just to one of the parks.  On this trip we got to go to four of the parks: Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Epcot and Hollywood Studios.  Each of the four parks had their own feel to them.  It truly is it's own "world."  Here are just a few of the places we got to experience while in the world of Disney:

A Monkey temple in India

Africa

Japan

And finally Italy!

I would like to put up a picture of our whole group, but it's too big to load it.  Andrew will have to do some work on it first :)  Disney World was definitely a fun trip.  I have realized though that I am not as young as I used to be.  I just can't keep up pace with all the youngsters.  I will be spending the next couple of days recovering.  All in all our trip was very fun.  It was great to get to know some new people and to be able to get some quality time with friends I already knew like Sandra.  I am really going to miss everyone when we move overseas.  Well, I hope that you enjoyed Disney as much as we did!

Orlando

My wife and I will be accompanying or sponsoring a High School trip to Orlando over the next 5 or so days. There we will explore a few parks commonly refereed to as the World of Disney or something like that. We plan to stick to the P90X routine while there so that will mean very early mornings before walking around all day or very late nights after walking around all day. None the less, we are excited.

First Round

Well, today's goal was to go through all of the clothes in our closets and clean out.  We pulled out everything that we never wear, that we won't be able to wear overseas and that have just been worn too much and shouldn't be worn ever again.  It was sad to see some favorite t-shirts go, but our closets look a lot better now and it will be much easier when the time comes to pack up our suitcases.  I say that this was just the first round because when it comes down to the wire and we are packing, I am sure some things that made the first cut will not be making the second cut.  It is really amazing how much stuff (more specifically clothes) you can accumulate over time.  We put aside at least four large trash bags full of clothes (mostly mine) for our yard sale and/or a consignment shop.  This has just been one more step towards our big move.

Getting Ready

In an attempt to prepare ourselves not only mentally but also physically for our adventures overseas, Andrew and I have begun a rigorous workout, P90X.  We are almost through our first week of intense training, and I am definitely feeling it.  Only 85 more days left till I am in "the best shape of my life." We will see how true the infomercials really are, but at the rate we're going so far, I still believe.  We are determined to see this workout through.  I believe it will help us mentally and physically as we will be going through so many changes over the next few months.  They always say you feel better and are happier when you work out.

As for the technical side of moving, we have begun our "list."  This is the list of all the things that we think we want to take with us.  Interestingly enough, as I was walking through Wal-Mart the other day with a friend, our "list" got exceptionally longer.  It's hard to even imagine what life without a Wal-Mart is going to be like.  I know that we are in for the biggest change of our lives, but part of me knows that I really have no clue.  Andrew and I have a couple of trips planned out of town before our big move.  Before we know it, the time is going to be here!  I am excited and sad all at the same time.  I am so excited to move to a new place, experience a new culture and language and make lots of new friends, but I am also very sad to be leaving everyone here.  It has been great living at home for the past year, close to my parents, and making new friends here. I am so thankful for new technology that allows us to communicate long distances so much easier.  Moving so far away will not be as hard knowing that I can skype my Mom or Dad anytime day or night (as long as they have their computer on).  Well, that's probably enough for now.  Consider yourself updated :)

One Month

Well guys, it has been quite a long time since our last post.  A lot has happened in our lives over the past year.  We thought that by now we would be living overseas, but with our economy like it is, things just did not work out the way we had hoped.  But finally we find ourselves just one month away!!  We have been looking forward to this time for so long but now that it is actually here we have so much to do!

Hopefully over the years as we continue to blog, I will get better at this and Andrew will be able to contribute some.  The next few months ahead of us are probably going to be just as challenging if not more so than the last year.  We have to pack up to leave, sell most of our belongings, head off to a stressful training and then finally end at our destination overseas.  I hope that you will join us along the way and I hope that I am faithful at keeping you all informed.