All Packed!

All packed up and ready to go! We will leave early tomorrow morning and hopefully arrive at our destination in time for dinner. Our plan is to move in on Tuesday. The forecast is calling for extreme heat. Extremes seem to be the theme of my life, so why not? We have plenty of water packed for the occasion.

I do not know when we will have internet access. Gabe and I decided that it takes priority over buying a washer and dryer because we need the internet to order a set. LOL! Anyway, I am declaring this week "De-lurking Week". I know that I have people reading my blog but not commenting. Wouldn't it be a nice surprise to find a bunch of comments when we finally get hooked up?! Just say hello, leave your favorite verse, quote, joke or whatever you feel like saying (as long as it's nice please!!!)

Next post will be from our new home!!!! When was the last time you moved?

Melting in the Heat

Today was more packing and loading the truck. Temperatures were above 100 degrees. Did I ever mention that I melt in the heat? Extreme temperatures always give me a headache. I took a pain reliever before going outside but to no avail. We still have more work to do. Tomorrow we will go to the storage building EARLY in an attempt to work in the cool of the day – if such a thing exists in this Alabama summer. Wow! I cannot believe we have less than 36 hours. I need to go to bed and get some sleep!

Still Packing

In April, I found myself worrying about my son stepping out into the world when he started his first job at Chick-fil-A. Now, three months later, I feel relieved and somewhat proud that he is doing great and enjoying his job. He even got a raise! He gave his notice to the owner of the store that we are moving. He assured Gabe that he would give him a good recommendation and then we found out that the owner here in Alabama is good friends with the owner of the Chick-fil-A near us in Virginia! Moving is hard enough on kids and especially teens so I am thankful for this opportunity for him.

I am also excited about getting involved in a homeschool support group. Of course I have to find one first. There is a homeschool conference towards the end of July that I would like to go to. I haven’t had the opportunity to attend one since 1995. Of course that will all depend on our financial situation. Moving is not cheap and a trans-Atlantic move costs several thousand dollars.

John was able to get the moving van a day early at no extra cost. So we will start loading some things tomorrow. I am hoping to go through some of the boxes and leave things in storage that we won’t need in an apartment. I don’t like to wish time away but I just can’t wait until Wednesday. We will probably still be swimming in a sea of boxes but at least we will be moved in and on our way to getting settled.

Packing - again!

Our short visit to Virginia went well and if all goes as planned, we will be moving on Monday – this Monday. Thankfully most of our belongings are already packed and in the storage building. I am sorry to say however that it’s not as simple as loading it all on a truck. We are moving into a small apartment and everything won’t fit. So some things will remain in storage. John and Gabe worked on organizing that today and Hannah and I packed things up here. I am done in! There is a still ton to do to be ready by Monday morning. We’ll get some more accomplished later. Right now, besides taking a bloggy break, we are going out to eat with John’s sister. We’ve been blessed to visit with her. She is the only one of John’s eight siblings that lives in the same town with us. Next week, we will be family- less again. Just like in Romania but much closer and almost everyone speaks English!

Hannah finished her quilt while we were gone. Check it out!

Packing Party

I am having so much fun at this Packing Party. I did tell you it’s a Packing Party didn’t I? We have had introductions and some fun games and now it’s time to get to work! I hope you wore work clothes and not your Sunday best. Roll up your sleeves, find a packing gun or the dolly and let’s go!

John and I have been busy this afternoon with last minute details. Curtains have come down and packed in a box. John and Gabe are packing up our mattress as I type. My computer will probably be whisked away from my fingers shortly. Thankfully, we will still have the laptop. Packing is hard. It is more difficult when your husband has a different method or idea of how things should be done. Never mind that his way is probably better. For some really outrageous fun, try packing to please the Romanian Customs officials. We have packed and labeled everything the way we think that they want it. The paper work is the way it was when we came here five years ago. Rules have a way of changing daily around here.

The weather is only a bit more predictable than dealing with customs agents. This past week we have had rain every morning and sunshine in the afternoon. Tomorrow we need sunshine while we load the container. Please pray for good weather.

Tomorrow evening I will post some pictures of the chaos whole ordeal, if I find time to snap some pictures, if the camera doesn’t get packed and if I can still put together an intelligible sentence. You can join us then too for a celebration, complete with my son’s favorite pizza. Thanks for all your help!

Tonka Trucks

Sometimes it’s the small things in life that can open up a fountain of tears. This morning we were getting things loaded in the van that we are selling or giving away to some friends in Brasov – the washer, dryer, dishwasher, some small appliances, Holly’s tricycle and outgrown clothes. When I walked outside, I saw sitting near the van, apparently waiting to be loaded, some little yellow trucks. Gabriel’s Tonka Trucks. “Are you giving away Gabe’s Tonka Trucks?” I asked John in a tone of voice that made it obvious that I did not like the idea. Gabe just looked at me and shrugged his shoulders and said, “I’m not going to play with them anymore.” That did it. The tears came, slowly at first because I really did not have time to cry. I still had to focus my attention elsewhere. Gabe, who never likes to see me upset, came to me later and told me that I could keep the trucks if I wanted to. “Yes, I know I can. But I can’t keep your childhood. That is forever gone and those trucks are just a representation of the little boy I raised.” It’s just stuff! That is my motto for the next few days. I am glad to be able to give the trucks to another little boy here in Romania. I have the memories to cherish in my heart.

Rest for Your Souls

Here in the Woodward household, boxes abound and muscles are screaming for a hot bath. We are not done with packing but we must be soon as the bill of lading needs to be completed quickly and then translated. Bill of lading should be bill of laden.

laden – (verb) to load oppressively; burden

(adjective) burdened; loaded down

That is about how we feel right now. The children have reached the point that they would rather do school. We have been so blessed with their help. I know this time will end soon. My dad told me during another move years ago and my friend Cynthia reminded me today, “It’s just stuff.” Yes it is. Right now, I just need to trust my Savior who said,

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Prayer Requests

I have yet to shed many tears but I know that I will. I feel them welling up in my heart even now. It may be because of sorrow, fear or stress; more likely a combination of it all. Your prayers are needed and appreciated. Here are a few specific requests for our family:

1. Faithfulness to prayer and bible study during this very busy season
2. Physical strength and health for the task
3. Wisdom to know what to pack and what to leave behind – we still have no idea of where we are going
4. Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance with others while we are under stress
5. Good weather on March 5^th while we are loading the container
6. Time for fellowship with friends that we may never see again
7. That the enemy will be bound and not allowed to intrude in our lives to hinder us with difficulties such as the inevitable red tape one deals with in foreign countries or officials seeking bribes
8. A good home for my daughter’s sweet cat that we must leave behind
9. Our van to be sold along with a few other miscellaneous items

The Ultimate Blog Party

Right now, everything is about packing. I have just about reached the point of deciding that if it is not already in a box, it is staying behind. I am tired of packing and tired of stuff. I know that if you lived here in my neighborhood, you would be right here with me helping me out. Wouldn’t that be fun to have a packing party? Well, the next best thing is a blog party. 5 Minutes for Mom is hosting The Ultimate Blog Party and I am planning on dropping my tape gun for a while and pushing aside the boxes and joining in on the fun. Won’t you join me too?

Packing and Perplexities

Moving as often as I have has made me an accomplished packer. A trans-Atlantic transfer makes the process a bit more challenging. Everything has to go into a 20 foot container. There are no second trips, no trailers attached to the back, no vehicles filled to the brim following the moving van, no storage buildings for what does not fit. It all must go into the container or into our 10 pieces of luggage for the airplane. I actually find it challenging to fill up a box with just the right items. There are few holes or empty spaces left when I am finished with a box. Small toys go inside games. Pencils and rulers fill any empty crevices that I happen to find.

Up until this time, I have never bought anything more than packaging tape for a move. Boxes have been found at stores or from a friend that had recently moved. Breakables were wrapped gently in towels, sheets, blankets, etc. This time we splurged on bubble wrap. We found a good deal at a resale store. My dilemma is that I do not really know how to pack with bubble wrap. I know towels. I know what feels right and how thick it needs to be for each item. Bubble wrap has been a new experience for me. Another thing that has been difficult is the amount of time that we have been here. Believe it or not, I have never packed five years worth of stuff before. These are my new perplexities. I am learning to deal with bubble wrap and I am wading through all of our paraphernalia one box at a time.

What about you? When was the last time you moved?