Let the Chaos Begin...

Well we finally received our visas and passports. We picked them up on Wednesday. On Thursday James had a seminar to attend all day. So Thursday he notified Wright-Patterson AFB that we were ready to receive our pack-out dates. We needed to be packed up and ready to leave by the first day of a pay period (Sundays). So we needed to be ready to leave on April 11th (only 2 weeks away) or April 26th. Hate waiting so long but there is no way we could be ready to go by April 11th. The biggest reason being that in order to have permission to ship our new vehicle there is a lot of paperwork to submit to the lien holder. Once the lien holder gives permission then the military will happily ship our vehicle. I called on Friday and found out what the requirements would be. Now we just need to gather up all the information and send it in. They will look it over and (fingers crossed here) give their permission within 5-7 days. So obviously the gathering of the information and getting permission could take at least a week and then we will have to drive to St. Louis to ship it. Along with that we would need to have the packers here for 3 different shipments. Two weeks would probably be pushing it to the limits to finish in time.

Our packout dates are April 13 & 14 for hold baggage. This is our air shipment which will arrive in approximately two weeks. (This will include clothing, some school work, craft supplies, towels, some dishes and our bikes). The second shipment will be HHG (household goods) and this will go by sea. The shipment that goes by sea takes about 8-10 weeks to arrive. Most of that time we will be living in a hotel or temporary quarters so it shouldn't be a problem. The last shipment is our NTS (non-temporary storage) will be last on April 20th. We didn't store items last time we moved. This time, however, we decided to store things that we knew we wouldn't be using. Our new washer and dryer, vacuum, most 110 appliances, things we are saving for posterity or grandchildren (i.e. family made baby blankets, favorite toys and books, etc). This will help us out quite a bit because in homes overseas there are often not closets or storage areas.

We are going to send a lot of our clothing that will be needed immediately in the air shipment. That means less for us to take on the plane. Plus, these items will ship out some where around the 14th which is 12 days before we fly out. So of course, our items should arrive there soon after we do. I have already decided (much to the amused delight of my friend "C") that instead of having 2 suitcases full of clothes in my checked baggage that I will have one of clothes and one of craft supplies. I have a nifty craft suitcase and will pack it up. That way I will have something to play with in my time in the hotel. Other craft supplies will be sent in our air shipment. I really have to make touch decisions on what to take and what to leave for the big shipment. And I also need to have our homeschooling supplies in our suitcases and air shipment. (We only have 13 weeks of school left so leaving it for the big shipment really isn't an option.)

We have been going through things and purging items so we don't have too terribly much of that to do. We need to set up a garage sale for those items that we don't want to take with us. Bikes that are too small for the boys, old clothes and toys, etc. I have gone through my clothes, much of my craft room and helped the boys go through their closet and toys. James went through his clothes as well. The main things left to go through are the guest room and closets and my craft room closet.

Definitely a lot needs to be done but since we do have about 4 weeks it should be completely manageable. However, some where in there we are also hoping to go to Washington D.C. to see some friends and take the boys to the capital. The last time we were there Jared was 10 months old and Caleb was 3. They are at an age now where they can appreciate and enjoy the Smithsonian Museums. They have already voted for the Natural History and Air & Space Museums. Leave it to my brainiac kids to want to see the "interesting" stuff. Hopefully, we will be able to get there and visit our friends and enjoy the museums.

Not much else to say today. Just really wanted to let those of you who are followers what is going on.

God's blessings upon us all.

Angy

Time just gets away from me

Really and truly I have been wanting to post to this blog almost daily. But then time gets away from me and I end up not getting it done. With all the things that are going on here it is easy to get side tracked and not get anything done.

We are trying to clean up and declutter, I am starting up a handbag business (check out www.bagolitas.com/angyhughes ), trying to declutter my stamp room and get a lot of cards made for various reasons - gifts, etc., homeschool the boys, and plan the things we may need to purchase before leaving for Italy. i.e. trying to find a place to buy wheat that isn't too expensive with their shipping charges, food products that are not perishable that we will probably not be able to get in Italy - like dried buttermilk. So much to do and so little time.

Time ~ now that is another issue. We still do not have our visas but they will be coming soon. Once they come in though it will be a race to the finish. Household goods being packed up, deciding what goes to long-term storage, ship our vehicle, say good-bye to everyone, get the house cleaned and ready for inspection and fly out. Just super crazy busy. Trying not to get stressed out, everything will happen in its own time and it will all get done. This I know but trying not to stress about it still is hard.

Add to all that the stress of going to see our family. It was so dramatic in many ways. I know that they are hurting and sad we are going. So are we. However, we can't stay here and fall further into a depression. Working at jobs we don't like that keep us from family time. Too far away from family and so much more. It would take days to describe it all and I don't have time to write it all - nor you probably to read it all. Suffice it to say that yes we will be further away from our family but we will probably have more funds for the trip back to see them. And Lord willing, this will be a job that James enjoys more. We know we will enjoy the environment more than where he is currently. Anyway, the trip to NM was painful. It really made me sad and I hope some day to be able to express my sadness to those family members who just don't understand why we are doing what we are doing. Add to that the fact that they are unhappy in their lives where they are right now and it just contributed to them not being (or at least appearing) to be happy that we were there to visit.

On to something else. Today is absolutely beautiful - as soon as we got home and changed from church and lunch we went outside to enjoy the sunshine. James and Jared roller bladed. Caleb rode his bike and I walked. I have had hip pain for some time and riding a bike doesn't help with it, neither does roller-blading to be frank. I am also terrible at braking and slowing down when roller blading and pretty nervous because of it. So I walked! It was quite nice though to enjoy the sunshine like that. Got my vitamin D for the day. Hopefully the weather will hold out so that we can go out and enjoy it every day (at least for awhile - it is spring time after all).

Sorry, I haven't been doing a good job here lately. I will try to rectify that now! Have a great day!

Going Home

Today as I sit here in Kansas City International airport I am thinking about what it means to go home. It means sleeping in my own bed, using my own bathroom and shower, not having to explain to everyone why I am not there but instead am going to be X, Y or Z. Not looking at disappointed faces and listening to combative thoughts from sad or angry people. It means being able to relax and just spend time with my family. Ah...I am so ready to relax with my guys.

Sitting here I also am able to just enjoy my kids as they are. Caleb is a few aisles away doing what he does best ~ namely making babies happy. So heart-warming to hear him being silly just for the chance at making a small child laugh. He is just so good with little ones. Jared is sitting here making comments on the game he is playing and also bragging about how much of his book he read on the first flight. They really are such great kids.

I feel sad that the past two weeks of "visiting" family one last time before heading to Italy meant not really spending quality time with the kids. There were so many issues to take care of that it wasn't always possible. Many people who wanted to see us and many whom we wanted to see. Some understood why we couldn't spend more time with them, some spent their time being grumpy and disappointed and some just accepted the small amount of time we had. I am glad that we were able to see our family but wish that we would have had more time to just sit and chat, instead of arguing, play games, take walks ~ basically just enjoy each other. Perhaps we will be able to do that next time.

The next few weeks are sure to pass in a whirlwind. We should be receiving our visas soon and then the real fun begins. Before that happens though we will be going through the house, brutally if necessary and clearing things out. Clothes, books, toys (kids and adults) will be really thought about before deciding that they are indeed coming with us to Italy. I have already started cleaning out my stamping supplies and clothes. The boys have grown pretty fast lately so we don't have much to go through clothing wise for them. Just their toys and books and "collections". We have decided to put some items in storage this time. Our new washer, dryer and vacuum, most 120 electric items as well as the baby books, blankets and toys that we are saving for the grandkids some day. That will help as there isn't always a good place to store things when living overseas.

I am also in the process of starting a new home business. It is for Bagolita bags. They are so cute and well built and AMERICAN made. Can't wait. I finished all the paperwork and got it submitted yesterday. I am starting this new venture with my great friend "C". She is totally excited too! Should be a lot of fun and a great hit in Italy. I will have a website too for purchasing the bags which I will post when everything is up and running.

There is probably so much more I could say and I know I am just overflowing with all kinds of conflicting emotions due to this trip and our upcoming move. I am so thrilled with the opportunity to go back overseas. Praying that this job will be a great one for James (almost anything though will be better than what he has currently). I am also very excited about working with the Italian church and the missionaries that are there spreading the gospel to the people of Vicenza. What a wonderful opportunity. We did pray that James would get a job in a place where we are needed for God's work so this seems to be an answer to that prayer. We are already in contact with 2 different missionary families that are located there. What a wonderful learning & serving opportunity for us all but especially the boys. A great way to learn God's word too ~ they say no one learns as much as the teacher does. I am also saddened that some of our family has taken this move as a personal affront to them. In truth this is a great opportunity for our family - a way for us to have more family time, James to have a job he truly enjoys, a way for us to help spread God's word and to travel. This is all about what is good for our family. We tried finding a job for James that was closer to family but none materialized. This was it. So we are thankful for this and just grateful for this opportunity.

God's blessing to all of you who continue to follow me on this wide and meandering trail of my random thoughts. Thanks for sticking it out with me. Now that our trip is over I hope to be a little more regular at posting here. See ya soon!

Hey Dad, What are these?

When Jared was about 3, we were in Corpus Christi, Texas on vacation. We were getting ready to go to the beach and were changing into our swim trunks. Angy was in the bathroom and the guys were in the room.

Jared was about to pull up his swim trunks when he looked down and asked, "Dad, what are these called again?" I cleared my throat and said, "son, those are called testicles." Hoping that was the end of it, I continued getting dressed. However, Jared still had a very quizzical look on his face. And the question I was dreading came out....."What are they for?" My first thought was to say go ask your mother, but I did not want to sleep alone that night. So, I groped for the proper thing to tell a 3 year old. I said, "well, when you get married, they will help you and your wife to have babies."

I was quite pleased with how brilliantly I handled that. Then out of nowhere, Jared said, "Oh, so I'm only going to have two kids."

Horse "Whinny"er?

A couple of weeks ago I promised that I would post a fond memory of Caleb. I have had this in mind for awhile but kept forgetting. This is one of my favorites... (posted by James)

When we lived in Wiesbaden Germany, Caleb was very interested in making animal sounds. His nickname was Dolphin Boy around the military base since he could and still can make a sound like a dolphin. On the road to town from our home, there were quite a few horses in pastures. Once when we were stuck in traffic, I rolled down the window and asked Caleb to whinny to the horses. The horses were all about 100 yards from the car and eating grass. When Caleb whinnied, the horses looked up and started trotting over towards us. He whinnied again and they answered back. He has done this in several places so we know it is not just German horses that he can speak to.

Fast forward about 3 years. (posted by Angy)

The boys and I go for a bike ride out on the country roads that surround our subdivision. While we were riding we pass a house with horses in the pasture beside it. We start to ride past and then I asked Caleb if he thought he could talk to "American" horses. So we decide to stop and see...We park our bikes on the side of the road and go over to the fence. Caleb starts making his whinnying noise (not sure how to spell that word exactly). The horses prick up their ears and turn and look at us. He does this several more times and the horses start to answer back and then come toward us. Really fun to be there and see that happening. Quite unbelievable if I didn't see it and hear it myself.

I am hopeful that we will think of more later.

Caleb's birthday photos

Miles & Allen eating pizza.



Drew trying to hide her face and Christian.



Caleb & Jared at the birthday party



weird close-up of the birthday boy's face.


Sure thought we had taken more photos of the party but I guess not. The kids did have a great time though. I do have a few pictures of the super chocolately lopsided cake but chose to not post them and further embarrass myself.

Saturday morning pancakes

Caleb, Donovan and Christian on Saturday morning after the Friday night party.


Jared, Miles and Caleb preparing to eat James' pancakes.


James with his spectacular, chocolate chip pancakes made with L-O-V-E.
(probably should explain the L-O-V-E comment~years ago the boys stated that Daddy's pancakes were better than mom's pancakes. Mind you they are made with the same exact recipe but for some reason the boys like James' pancakes better than mine. James' remark??? Oh, that is because I put a special ingredient in them L-O-V-E. Fine by mom! Saturday is James's day to cook! I do grind the wheat prior to the making of the pancakes and make sure that we have all the essential ingredients. YIPPEE - a meal off for mom.)



AND FINALLY....

the pièce de résistance... a close-up of the beautiful pancakes