All Packed Up

Sorry its been so long since I've added a new blog. Things have been super crazy here (surprise surprise) and lots has been going on. Let me fill you in...

Well we had movers finally come this week and pack up all of our stuff. So now we are living in an empty house for the next month. Fun times. We are basically living on bare essentials. We bought an air mattress and some really cheap plates, silverware, and glasses from Walmart. We also got a small cheap pot and pan so that I can still cook some food for dinner and stuff. I feel like we are basically camping in a house. But I figure that going without stuff here is so much better than going without stuff in England. Since we won't have a car and technically won't be even able to drive for a while and so we won't be able to drive to a store to get stuff. Plus I don't know how long it will take for us to get a UK drivers license and I'll be freaked out to drive on the other side of the road...I don't wanna kill anyone! But we are hoping for everything to go as planned: we arrive in England on June 12th and then we have a week or so to find a house and then our stuff is suppose to be there by June 17th (well that's what they say now, but I'll believe it when I see it). So we kinda lucked out with having our stuff only take a month in a half rather than 3 full months. I think its because we decided to ship our stuff before the big rush of movers begins in a few weeks. So my fingers are crossed that all of our stuff gets there on time and not broken.

I was so scared and nervous about having packers come this week. We have heard about some really bad experiences that some of our friends have had and how they had so much of their stuff broken or really badly damaged. But after lots of prayers and trusting that the Lord has everything under control, our packers were fabulous! Our first set of packers came last Friday and packed up our "fast" shipment. The "fast" shipment is just a small amount of stuff (750lbs) that they will ship ahead of time and make sure that it arrives before you do. That way when we get to England we can call them and they will deliver it right away. Basically they just tell you to pack daily essentials that you will need such as: towels, sheets, blankets, clothes, dishes, pots and pans, glasses, silverware, bathroom supplies, etc. The only bad thing about this shipment is that they won't let you ship any "furniture". So we couldn't ship a mattress or couch or anything. But we did send a couple of camping chairs so that way if we do find a house quickly and our other stuff hasn't arrived yet, we'll have something to sit in.

Then this week we had another set of packers come for the rest of our stuff. We had 5 people show up, two of which were women, which made me so happy. No offense boys, but girls just seem to be extra careful when packing. They pay extra attention to detail and make sure things are wrapped really well, especially breakables. So I thought that all my worries and stress was a silly waste of time when things seemed to be going really well....at least for the first day. But then we had the actual movers (all men) show up the next day to pick up all of our stuff and put it into wooden crates (which is how it is shipped over seas). Because our stuff is going overseas, they are required to pack the crates in a way that there isn't any empty space. Its like a giant game of tetris. Well the packing of the first couple crates went ok...but then the last two crates were a nightmare. Things weren't fitting together very well and the guys were getting frustrated and on top of it, it was a very muggy and hot day. So they starting cramming and pushing our stuff into the crates. I wanted to scream! They were pushing and pushing our stuff into the crates, forcing things to fit. I was so mad....I don't care how hot it is and how frustrated you are, your job is to carefully pack our things into the crates and not break anything. Well by the looks of it, we are probably going to have lots of stuff broken or damaged. I'm furious. Of course I don't know for sure if anything is broken but I have to say that I would be shocked if it isn't...especially after seeing what I saw. Ugh...I hate moving! I know that if we do find out that things got damaged, we can file a claim and get reimbursed but that just means lots of paper work and more stress. Plus it takes forever to get settled. For example: we arrived in Florida last October and had to file a claim on a few of our things and we just now settled it. That took 7 months!! But this is the way our life is and will be for awhile. So I just need to breathe and know that things like this are out of my hands and all I can do is trust in our almighty God. Because He will take care of us and everything will be ok.

This is what the crates look like...

And I took this right before I wanted to scream

On a better note... A weekend or two ago we played mini-golf (putt putt as Sam would call it) and rode go carts with our best buds Nick and Kristyn. It was so much fun! We all felt like we were on a junior high double date or something. :) The go carts were amazing! Seriously the best track I have ever seen. It was three stories high and had actual hills that you went up and down on. It was a blast! And the go carts went pretty fast...at least faster than any that I have ever been on.

Action Shot of Sam!
I was trying to drive while taking this pic

Nick and Kristyn

Game on!! :)

Oh and one last thing. We are trying to sell Sam's truck before we leave for England. Well we posted it on craigslist and got a call that same day. Everything was going really well with the guy who wanted to buy it. We met up with him so he could see the truck and stuff. Well Sam and him made a deal and shook hands on it. Well long story short, the guy never called us and the deal fell through. We are really frustrated because we really need to sell it. So please keep us in your prayers that we are able to find a buyer and everything will continue to fall into place during this hectic move.

Its Official....We're Moving to England.

Well I know this sounds silly but we bought our plane tickets today and suddenly it hit me...we are moving to England. I know that we were told about this move a few months ago but I don't think I ever really realized it. We're moving all the way to England. Oh my goodness....breathe.... Ahhh its an adventure right? We're living Sam's dream (and Sam says that I'm living mine by being married to him). :) Everything will be ok though and it'll all work out (at least that's what I'm telling myself). Plus God has a reason He wants us there and all I really have to do is trust in Him.

Well today Sam and I have been running around like crazy people trying to get all this moving craziness figured out. We had a meeting with the movers today and figured out when we are going to send all of our stuff (next week is the first shipment); we applied for my VISA so that I won't get kicked out of the country after 6 months of living there; we bought plane tickets that cost way to much and we won't get it all reimbursed (long story...arg); we found out that our stupid airline (the only one that allows pets) won't let us schedule/reserve two pets spots on the plane until 2 weeks prior to the flight (don't even get me started...) plus they want to charge us an arm and a leg to have the boys flown there, actually 2 arms and 2 legs (oh which we have to pay for ourselves); we made vet appts for the boys to get all their shots and paper work filled out so that they are ok to enter the UK; and we figured out how to ship our car over there. Busy day, uh? Oh but there is so much more we still have left to do. :)

I just want to get there and have all of our stuff (not broken or damaged) and a cute house and know that the boys handled the flight ok and then I think i'll finally be able to relax and be excited that we get the opportunity to live in England. But please continue to keep us in your prayers as we make this move. I tend to get really stressed out and worried about all the little things, oh who am I joking...I stress and worry about EVERYTHING that is involved in this move. I'm just so thankful for a husband who has such a postive outlook and who handles stress like there isn't anything to worry about. I'm a lucky girl because there is no way I could do all of this on my own.

On to a better note...we decided to set up a Vonage phone account so that we will be able to keep a US phone number while we are in England. So that way everyone can call us (on our home phone since our cells will be a UK #) and not have to worry about paying for long distance. If you'd like our new #, send us an email or message on facebook and we'll pass it along. Just remember that there is a huge time difference when you call. ;) Its an 8 hour difference for my fam and friends back in the Pacific Northwest and 6 hours for Sam's fam in the mid-west. Anyone not in those areas. you'll have to figure it out. ;0)

Wii Fit and Moving Craziness

For Easter Sam surprised me with a Wii fit. I was so excited because I've been wanting one ever since I got him the Wii for his Christmas/Birthday present. Plus I just can't get motivated to go to the gym...I tell myself that its too far of a drive. And I just feel silly when I go because I don't really know what I'm doing. :) But now I can work out in the comfort and privacy of my own home. Yay!! So far I really like it. I start everyday with a yoga routine and then move on to aerobics and strength training. And then it also has several games you can play like skiing, hula hoops, walking the tight rope, etc. Its a lot of fun! Here are a few pics of Sam doing his Wii workout.

Lunges

Push Ups

The Plank

Ab Twist
(it really works cause I'm super sore today from doing this)

I do wish that the program would let you make your own routine though. Because the way it works is that you pick one position and then do it but then you have to stop, pick up the controller and pick another position, do that one, and then stop again and pick another, and so on. So it isn't a constant routine. So it would be nice to pick 10 or so different positions and do them continuously. But overall it is a good workout and I am liking it.

As for getting ready for our big move...things are stressful. We are still waiting to talk to the movers but hoping to get an appt with them next week. That way we can start figuring out when we need to ship our stuff, find out how long it will take (hopefully not 3 months like we've been told), when we have to ship our car, and when/how to book our plane tickets, etc.

There are some days when I really start worrying about all these things we still have to do and figure out (what stuff to take and not to take or how we are going to live for 3 months with just a suitcase) when we are leaving in early June. And I'm really scared about our two kitties who won't be able to travel with us in the plane cabin (which I'm really not happy about) but have to be put in the cargo hold of the plane. And as some of you know, my baby Tommy is not going to like that much. Bello will probably be ok since he's a pretty easy going cat. But Tommy is probably the most particular and finicky cat ever. He doesn't handle change well and requires lots of extra love and attention from his mommy. :) So I am really worried about him. Ugh...moving stinks sometimes ya know. So please keep us and our boys in your prayers as we get all this figured out.

Bello and Tommy....best buds

Our First Blog Posting

Hey friends and family. We decided that we should start a blog so that you all can keep in touch with us since we'll be out of the country for the next few years. Now you all can experience our adventures from all over the world. :) I'll try my best to keep you all updated on whats going on in our lives and post lots of pics so you can experience everything right along with us. And my updates may (or actually will) include some of my stresses with our crazy unknown life but also lots of fun things we'll be doing. Hope you all enjoy!!