Garage sale tomorrow

We are having our last garage sale tomorrow. This will be our fifth and last since we decided we were moving overseas. We have decided that we have had enough garage sales and it is time to give every thing else away. So here again is another reminder that the time before we leave is getting short.

My life in 25 trunks

We are going through all of our things and getting rid of so much stuff, storing other things, and packing a few things to take with us.
Here's a run down of the things we are storing and those we are taking with us:
Storing:
3 trunks with yearbooks, pictures and albums and other memorabilia
1 trunk of books and toys to be sent later
3 trunks of Christmas stuff one will be sent later
1 big picture, 3 bulletin boards, one large asian style decorative fan
3 trunks of "memory and keepsake stuff" one for each of the kids
1 trunk of decorative items and dishes, etc.
1 trunk of coats and winter items we will not need on the equator but will if we come back for a visit.

Taking with us:
10 trunks and 5 duffel bags which are not so easily divided into groups but instead thrown in at this point as they are available to pack
some of the things in these trunks are:
Homeschool curriculum, baking products (choc. chips, vanilla, brownie mixes, etc.), games, toys, videos, medicines, tupperware, clothes, a few pictures and other things to make our house feel more like home when we get there.
We will each have a carry on suitcase also!

Our time in Blacksburg and Marietta

We got to see Mark's cousin Pete and his wife Jessica along with Aunt Donna, too!
We also got to see the Fox family in GA.

pictures of DC

We had a great time in the DC area! Not only did we get to see the sights but got to see friends as well. We saw David Jung, Lori Smith and Shannon and Sheldon Bream.

OUR TIME IN LYNCHBURG

Time in Lynchburg with friends! Lancasters and Bells at the Albertsons house.




Time with Cousins



















LIBERTY MOUNTAIN

Our support trip so far

Friday, March 7 – 4:00 p.m., departed Southaven, MS through our only winter snowfall, en route to Jackson, TN. Our plan to move onward to Franklin, TN was scrapped due to illnesses with our hosts, the Fish family, and due to the weather. We spent the night with my brother, J.R., and his family, including a visit from Derek Hylkema, a friend from high school and J.R.’s neighbor.

Saturday morning, March 8 – Play in the 4-5 inches of snow that accumulated overnight! Yahoo!

Saturday lunch – Franklin, TN – we met Mark & Dawn Swain and their 4 kids. Mark was one of my closest friends since elementary school, yet we haven’t seen each other for 8 years. It was good to see my namesake again!

Saturday evening – Chattanooga, TN – we spent the evening with Jeff and Keri Jackson in Ringgold, GA. Keri (Luther) was another friend from high school and she had played the piano for our wedding 12 years ago. Yes, this is unexpectedly turning into a high school reunion trip!

Sunday, March 9 – I shared our ministry and a challenge from I Samuel 14 at Duncan Park Baptist Church in Chattanooga, where Jeff Jackson is the pastor. Thank you, Duncan Park for the generous offering! I hope we keep connected in the future! Another surprise here was that our sister-in-law, Renee Dailey, and nieces Reanna and Taryn were able to join us at church and lunch since they live in the Chattanooga area.

Sunday evening – We had dinner with John & Candy Simmons in Sevierville, TN. Candy (Goodwin) has been friends with Amy since middle school. They were so encouraging. Pray about some potential developments with new people in this area.

Monday, March 10 – After finding a hotel with an indoor pool for some family fun time in Sevierville, we are now on the road to Lynchburg, VA. Amy is driving and the state police are out in force today!

~M

Coping with Moving

We had our carpet cleaned today so it will look better when we put the house on the market. I went through a lot of stuff today trying to clean out while things were in piles anyway. After the kids got home, I went to work going through stuff with each of them while the others went outside. Without going into detail I will just say that within 30 minutes all 4 of us had at least one good cry each and the carpet had several fresh mud spots. Now an hour later we all have found ways to cope with our "transition meltdowns" and the mud spots have been cleaned. Here are pictures of the ways the kids each coped with our moving.
Megan reading under her bed.







Titus drawing a picture.


















Caralina painting her nails outside.