We Made It!

Well folks, we have officially made it and settled in.  We arrived last Thursday morning around 8 a.m. and have finally gotten our internet hooked up (Wednesday 3:00ish).  We travelled for 30+ hours to get here.  Put a one year payment down on a flat the afternoon we arrived, and have been running around crazy trying to get things settled since then.  So far, we have averaged 1 to 2 trips to the store daily.  I think things are starting to come together now, so hopefully the trips to the store will slow.  It is definitely a different world here.  Things are just not the same.  For example, when the guy came to put in our phone line, he ran a wire in through our window instead of into the wall.  Andrew had to stand at the window with his arm out to catch the wire as the man threw it to him to pull in through the window.  It's just little things like that here and there that remind us we are living in a different place.

I just wanted to write a quick blog now that we have internet.  Now I'll be able to blog more and keep everyone up to date as to what is going on here.  I also hope to post some videos soon too!  We'll see how things go.  I think we'll be pretty busy here for a while.  I believe we start studying language next week.  Fun times :)

P.S.  I found my favorite Gluten-Free cereal here!  Who would have guessed?!

And We're Off...

As I sit here this morning before the rush of things really begins, I am trying to fathom the fact that we are moving half-way across the world to live.  It feels so surreal.  I am not that stressed because I think I really do not believe that we are going  yet.  Eight bags total, two carry-ons each...we've borrowed a van to get us to the airport.  My dad informed me that the weight of our bags is roughly two people.  We have had so many changes in the last four months.  Two days before our July 1st departure we were informed we could not travel because I was too sick and could not handle the transition overseas.  Now, three and a half months later, I am feeling better than ever!  We have been issued new tickets and we brace ourselves for thirty hours of travel beginning this evening.  It is going to be incredibly hard to say good-bye, but the time has come. We have waited long enough, said our good-byes too many times, it just feels like the time has come.  We are so thankful for the family and friends that have surrounded us during this difficult waiting time.  We are continually thankful for their love and support as we leave them to travel the world.  Words can not even describe the love and gratitude I feel.  Thank you for your support.  Thank you for your thoughts.  Thank you for keeping up with us even though we are out of site, but not out of mind.  I look forward to writing again soon and keeping you up to date with the things that are going on in our lives.

These are a Few of My Favorite Things

My Fabulous (Tall) Friend Sandra

My Favorite Mom :)  [Don't we look so much alike?]

My Ridiculously Handsome Husband who loves Turkey Legs

Our Wonderful Grimms who stick with us through everything

Just another treat for ya'll to see the good looks of my husband with another Turkey leg

Sarah's GF Spice Cake

As many of you know, I am planning to enter the Gluten Free Baking contest in the GA National Fair this year.  I am quite excited about this, but I am not sure that I will even be here to enter.  Thankfully, my great friend, Sandra, said she would make the cake for me and enter it.  I am quite excited about this cake.  I have been working on it and tweaking it a bit, and I think I've got a final recipe.  Tonight I am going to a Ladies Dessert Social, so of course this was a great opportunity to have another test run of my cake.

I am still not entirely sure I've got the icing like I would like it.  It is a cream cheese icing but I can't seem to get it thick enough and it runs down the side of the cake.  Maybe when Sandra makes it for the final cake she can tweak it to get it right.  The taste is delicious.  It is a three layer cake.  Gluten Free flours don't rise as much as wheat flour does, so I added an extra layer to make it tall enough to decorate and look pretty.  This cake is not decorated like it will be for the fair.  I made some Marshmallow Fondant Icing, which I colored into four different fall colors.  I found a leaf mold at Hobby Lobby to shape leaves with the fondant to decorate the cake.  I think it will look pretty when it is done and I am sure Sandra will do an amazing job on it.  Probably better than I could have done :)

Clearance

For all of those who have been following my husband and me in our venture to travel the world and  move overseas, we finally have medical clearance!!!  We received the phone call this morning from the doctors.  I can't believe it....I am still very much on an adrenaline/excitement high.  Working on ticketing now, but it looks like we might be leaving next week.  Thank you all for your continued support and "thoughts" for us!  We hope that you will all stay tuned for the next leg of our journey.

Mani/Pedi

Enjoyed a manicure, pedicure and Starbucks coffee with Sandra today.

                                                

Fabulous Fall

I know it has been a while since my last post.  Things have been quite busy.  Andrew and I took a short trip to Texas and New Mexico, which I should probably blog about.  Also my mom was in the hospital, she is out and doing much better now.  I have gone in for more blood work which hopefully be my last one and then we'll be able to go.

Not knowing whether we will leave soon or not, I have been getting a little into the fall spirit.  The Georgia National Fair is October 7 through 17th.  This year they are having a Georgia Goes Gluten Free Baking Contest.  If we are here, I am planning on entering.  Here are a few cakes that are giving me some inspiration from Country Living:

Autumn Spice Cake

Chocolate Pumpkin Cake

Tiered Pumpkin Spice Cake