Government Employee

Well it's official, I work for the government. I know I left everyone hanging with us in transit. We made it to our apt in VA and have sort of settled in. Life has been hectic since. This working EVERYDAY is crazy. Gone is my cushy 3 days a week. I am still attempting to learn what I am allowed to blog. Seems that there are rules about information distribution. So if I seem evasive, sorry.
One thing I do know is that we are moving to Algiers. That's in north Africa for those who are geographically challenged. It is the capital of Algeria on the Mediterranean Sea. It will be interesting and exciting. It has not been determined when we may leave.
I miss all of you. Please feel free to email and text.

On Our Way

Well this has been a week. The packers were there for two days just packing boxes, then Wednesday they loaded the truck, all 16,000 pounds. We thought we had done so well till we watched how much we still owned being loaded into the truck. Then we stayed with the children for two days and left in the rain this morning from Nashville. I have cried my share of tears leaving Brooke, then the other children and our grand babies. I understand peanut made his first appearance on Facebook yesterday. He has a new home with Hurley a 14 week old pug.
Anyway we are in Roanoke VA tonight with reality setting in.

The Saga Continues

Several funny thing have happened in the last week. The best one is my going away cake at the urgent care. When we opened 6 or so weeks ago a brochure was distributed with a glaring misspelled word. We begged them not to pass them out but they did. Well people I'm sure noticed. So....when they went to pick up my cake, low and behold there was a misspelling. It was perfect! The comic relief. We laughed, we cried and Linda shared a small corner of my desk, just like we how we started.

Now it's packing time. If you have never had movers you might not understand but they pack whatever is lying there. If you do not hide your stuff, well it's packed including dust and trash. They are there to pack. So a few things are packed that should not be, I also can not send candles, lotions, oils etc. Anything that is an open liquid. Hum......

The interesting news is we will get a list of possible places on the 27th. We will not know where we are going till Oct. 11th. Well we at least can look at the possibilities.

Joy and Sorrow together

At this point life is a mixed emotion. I can only take one day at a time and deal with what that brings because the list of things to accomplish is endless. The movers will be here in a week to start packing and we are still sorting. I'm sure we will never be finished.

I spent time with some good friends Saturdayl afternoon. Brittany's wedding was a beautiful joyous event mixed with the emotions of saying good-bye to some wonderful friends. These women I have worked with and shared with and grown with over the years. It is sad to think I will not see them for several years. I will miss them but they are in my heart and just one electronic message away.
Sunday evening we said good-bye to our church family. This was again a joy and a sorrow.

Good bye to a friend

As I said, saying good bye is difficult and the last weekend we said good-bye to Jeremiah. Most of you know Wayne's dog, our 128 pound Alaskan malamute. He has been with us since '03 and has been a good companion. He is also stubborn, head strong and determined. He is now living up north with some good friends who are familiar with malamutes headstrong ways. He is being spoiled more than we did even though he has moved to the city. He has even been out for some retail therapy at the pet store to help him transition.
Our other dogs will be going with Brooke and will continue to have a good life.  It will be the first time in many many years since I have been without a pet. The DOS allows us to travel with animals but quarantine laws can be difficult so we elected to give them good homes and move on.
As the packing and disguarding of STUFF continues a new sense of freedom is occuring. Less responsibiltiy to things, and  more responsibility to ourselves and each other.

                                                   Here is Jeramiah with his new family.

In the beginning

I have been asked repeatedly to join Facebook and I really do not think it is my style. I do want to share our adventures however so I have decided to blog. To bring everyone up to current...I have accepted a new position with the Department of State (DOS) and Wayne and I will be moving. This has been a journey just to get to this point. Last May we made a trip to Washington DC for my interview. I passed and began the preliminary medical and security clearance for the job. The medical work up was detailed and they checked us out top to bottom and inside too. A federal investigator visited and called my friends. I would get texts in a panic about speaking to this badge wielding person. After 2 months I received notice that I had made the 18 month roster for possible employment. Now I must mention that the government, cautions against selling your home or quitting your job. The information states it may take months! Well it did not. While Wayne was finishing his medical clearance, the job offer came. Wayne and I decided to accept and I am to start my job September 26, 2011.

Sorting, consolidating and selling

Our madness began. Sorting, consolidating and getting rid of STUFF. We are allow to store 18,000 pounds and we owned more. One big garage sale, lots of Craigslist and Lsn, giving things to our children and friends began to great purge. The pre move survey determined we had 15,000 pounds. All is going into storage in DC. When I get my assignment in October we have the option of taking 7,000 lbs. Pack up day is Sept. 19, pack out day is Sept. 20.
The saddest part is leaving our family and friends behind. Next is leaving behind our pets.