Unreal

I'm sorry, but it does not feel real to me that we are getting on the plane today...and moving to GREECE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It feels like a normal day, but with a little more excitement and it was a bit easier getting up, knowing we had a plane to catch. Which is weird. Shouldn't there be bells and whistles??? Butterflies in the stomach?? Oh well, I am certainly not complaining and I am sure by the time we get to the airport the nerves will set in!

Kayla and Elijah are super excited, as was evidenced by them being up and ready to go before 6am...I mean clothes on, breakfast eaten and teeth brushed, bags packed!! Love their enthusiasm.

I am sure once we get on the plane and start going it will feel more real. And, once we hit Greece reality will set in.

Today, the verse that is going to get me on that plane is "I can do ALL things (yes, that means get on a plane and move forever and a day away from all our family and friends) through Christ who strengthens me." (and I know He is going to give us strength!) Philippians 4:13

Mixed Emotions

It's the night before we fly out and I am a bundle of nerves. I am excited and ready to go, but sad and stressed too. We have been saying "good-bye" to family and friends for two months and that really does take a toll on the emotions. Then, being delayed for minor things has been frustrating, but in a way good, helping us to get more prepared.

We all are feeling pretty ready to go. After living for 6 weeks in suitcases, it's time to get settled again. We've been traveling a bunch too, so it is also time to settle again and get used to being a family again, without living with anyone else. Not that it has been bad living with my in-laws, it's just been a bit hard on everyone. They are used to us not being around all the time too :). 

Time to re-establish rules and boundaries.

We are excited to begin our adventure in Greece. Ready to see our apartment and start getting settled. We are excited to start exploring Greece and taking in all the sights. We are also excited to make new friends and try new things. Kayla and Elijah are super excited to stop sharing a room and space. It has been hard on them, causing more fighting with constantly being in each others faces.

We are thankful for the love and support of our family and friends. We are thankful that they support us in this adventure and we look forward to some of them coming to visit us in the next three years.

We are praying God's will for our family, that other's may see Him in us and that we continue to grow stronger in our faith. Trusting Him for exciting things on our new adventure :)

Stay tuned...I will try to update this blog more often!

April/May updates

I am terrible with keeping up with this blog. I always have good intentions, but life ALWAYS gets in the way. I guess the nice way to say that is that I have my priorities straight, lol.
Anyway, it's been two months since my last confession, um, I mean post. So, I am going to update on the last two months. Once we get to Greece I would like to get back in the habit of daily posts. But, realistically will try for a weekly post.
Anyway, so we'll start back to the beginning of April, where we celebrated Elijah's 9th birthday and Matt coming home from Iraq. We barely had time to blink before we started our pack out. The kids moved in with Grandma and Grandpa the Sunday after Matt got home. The movers came on Monday and we packed out all our stuff on Monday and Tuesday. Tuesday night we moved in with Matt's parents. This was a very difficult transition for Elijah, as he doesn't like change and he is still a very emotional mess. It's just too much for him to handle and he is ready to get on the plane. On Thursday we closed on our house and flew out to Indiana to spend the weekend with my sister, her boys and my Mom. We spent a very relaxing weekend with them and celebrated Easter with them as well.

Although it might not have been quite as relaxing for Kayla, being the only girl!

Once we got back from Indiana, we continued the week with school, violin practice, soccer practice, Church, and sewing lessons. On Thursday we headed to Atlanta and went to the Lego Discovery Center.

 

That afternoon we went and hung out with Elijah's friend Dano (who we met in Singapore). This has been a yearly event since we moved back from Singapore. We are going to miss this yearly ritual once we move to Greece.

 

On Friday we headed to the Atlanta Zoo with our fellow Bible Quizzers. We spent a few hours there, then headed back to our hotel to relax for a few hours before Quizzing started Friday night.

 

On Saturday the kids participated in the Regionals Children's Bible Quizzing. They did very well. Elijah placed 9th and Kayla placed 6th. Kayla's team was 2nd overall. They had such a fun weekend.

From Quiz Regionals, Matt and I took an early anniversary trip. We headed to Hilton Head for a few days.

 

The weekend we got back Elijah had his final soccer game of the season, hooray! They won, which was a great way to end the season.

The next week was more school, violin lessons, Church, and sewing lessons. On Thursday Matt's Grandma and Uncle Leon arrived. Friday we spent some time with them, did some school work and then went to an Uncooperatives meeting. Saturday we went to a yard sale and spent the rest of the day at Matt's sister's house. Sunday was Mother's day, we went to Church, came home and had lunch and hung out.

Kayla driving with Grandpa and Elijah riding in the back.

Grandpa driving with Uncle Leon, Kayla and Elijah in the back.

Look who's driving!!

Kayla playing the offertory at Grandpa's church on Mother's day.

Below: Wearing her outfit she made in sewing this semester.

 The three Grandkids with Uncle Leon, Grandma, Grandpa and Granny Gray.



Way too young to be driving, but he did a great job!!

 

This past week we continued to school and on Thursday we headed to Tennessee to see my sister, her family and my brother and his family.

Isaiah

Brady and Devin

Tyler on second base.

Tyler front and Aaron in midfield....not sure how we missed getting a picture of Gabe.

Every time they watched T.V. Clara was close to Elijah.

When we left Tennessee this weekend, Clara cried so hard. She never cries when we leave. It truly broke my heart and I ended up leaving in tears as well. I hate "good-byes" and I hate crying. That is one of the hardest things about the life we are living, we are always leaving people behind, or getting left behind. It never gets easier.

This is our final week of school and we are finally able to take it a little bit easier. Today, Matt and the kids took a computer apart, fun stuff!!!



After taking the computer apart, we had friends over for a playdate. This school year has been so busy, that playdates have been few and far between, but we are always thankful for the time we get with friends and family.







Me & Julie

 Elijah, Lana, Kayla and Parker

 

 

And, if you are still reading after this REALLY long email...good for you :) And, thanks for sticking with it!