It's almost time

Wow. This has been by far the fastest week of my life!! Monday we got home from Michigan.  Tuesday had dinner with my brother. Wednesday saw a good friend and celebrated a birthday with the family.  Thursday we did dinner and a movie with Moe's cousins from Cincinnati. Friday I ran errands with my mom, while hubby hung out with friends at home.  Saturday was our going away party, which was wonderful. Sunday we met my grandparents for dinner and said goodbye to some wonderful people.

Anyway, today is our last full day in Ohio.  We only have 1 more night in our bed :( We have a lot to do today! It is slightly overwhelming. But I know that all things will work out for good.

Just to remind you we are going to Chicago Tuesday and staying in a hotel there.  While we are there we are going to see The Bean.  I have been to Chicago multiple times but never seen The BEAN!!

We then fly out of Chicago at 12:45pm there time.  We fly to Seoul and then right into Chiang Mai. We will arrive in Chiang Mai at 10:50pm local time on Thursday which is 9:50am Thursday here.  I will send out an email or possibly a short blog update that we have arrived at the airport.  So please make sure to be following. Or send me your email so that you can be updated. 

 
Side note: I have caught a cold.  I am very sad about this. I do NOT want to be sick on a plane for 20 hours. So prayers are greatly appreciated.  I would love miraculous healing for my trip!

Leaving Michigan: 11 days

How ironic: this is our last night in Michigan and we are 11 days away from arrival :) Dakota requested a shout out so here it is. Thanks for stopping by to say goodbye D-Bird, D-Cat, D-O, or whatever you wanted to be called!

Not the best picture but you get the idea.

We had a blast while we were up here.  The weather was wonderful!  We spent a couple days out on the boat which is probably my favorite thing to do.  Moe got to spend time reading, playing games, and working on 'his base' for Thailand.  We had some friends up here with us at the beginning of the week which was wonderful.  We LOVED spending time with them and being silly together.  We will treasure that time with them.  Also, we went putt-putting, which has come to be a tradition for Moe and I when we vacation.  Neither of us are amazing at it but we enjoy it.

We were also productive.  We got the last of our luggage needed.  Who knew that finding large luggage would be difficult....well it is! Especially in northern Michigan.  But we found something that I think is perfect; it just took us 4 stores!  I went thrifting a couple times too which was surprisingly productive :) Moe fixed Aunt Lynn's computer and we got everything settled for her to make me a t-shirt quilt.  I am SOOO excited to see it when it is done/when we get back!

This has been a wonderful week to spend with family.  We are so blessed by the support here.  We will truly miss these people.  It's been real Michigan :)

Anyway, even though I said we are 11 days from arrival we are closer to 9 days from leaving home.  It is so so so close!! Moe and I are both getting extremely excited.  We are ready.  Although we still have quite a few goodbyes left and a TON of packing to do, we have come to terms with everything.  We know this is where we are supposed to be and have full faith that everything will work out.  With only a few days left, I am very comfortable with this feeling and know that it is good.  Not sure if that makes any sense but it is how I feel.  And so goodbye Michigan and family.  We love you lots! :)

July...18 days

          Wow, I can NOT believe that it is July already! Where did the time go!?! We are now down to only 18 days until arrival and 16 days until departure.  We are up in Michigan to spend our last week with Moe's family :(  It is going to be a crazy but wonderful week.  

          As far as updates about Thailand: We have chosen our seats for our flight!! Moe and I sit together and have a window seat on both flights.  On our flight to Seoul we are in the second to last row of the plane.....so I am somewhat nervous about that.  We have our 'guesthouse' reserved for once we get there.  I am not real sure what that means but I do know that it means we have a place to stay for the first while that we are there.  We will hopefully begin looking for a place of our own as soon as we get there.  
          Ok I think this is all for now.  As I said we are in Michigan so not sure if I will update again unless something CRAZY happens :))  
          p.s. I did not bring my calendar with me so this picture is from google.  Googling the number 18 is a bad idea! Just in case anyone was wondering.  

21 days and more good byes

Today Moe and I made our final trip up to Michigan.  We are here for a friends wedding and then heading up further north for family time!! It is strange sitting here on my roommates couch knowing that this will be the last time I see her for a long time.  The goodbyes are getting harder and the days are going faster.  The emotions are getting stronger for leaving as well.  I am EXTREMELY excited to start/organize my classroom.  I am very very nervous for the new culture, new food, new housing, new EVERYTHING!  But as it gets closer, I know that this is exactly where I am supposed to be.

We are now 21 days until arrival in Thailand.  We have a little over a week in Michigan and then a little over a week in Ohio.  Wow.  It is really sinking in tonight.  BUT again I am so so so excited.  Moe is too.

Ok that is all for now.  I need to go to bed.  And stop thinking for today.  I love and appreciate you all for your support.  It means more than Moe or I could ever express.

27 days but many blessings

We are now down to 27 days until arrival in Chiang Mai. It is quickly getting closer!    Trying to fit in doctors appointments, friend visits, family dinners, and everything else is quite interesting.  Our days are crazy.  But we would not want things any other way.     

I also wanted to share some blessings we have recently received.  Wednesday we received our VISAS!!! I was so so so so excited.  When Gramma brought me the mail I truly shrieked with excitement.  It took only 12 days (7 business days) and 2 shipments of information from me.  I assume that if I would have sent all the proper information the first time that it would have been done in 3 business and back to us in less than a week!  Thank goodness for efficiency within the Thai Embassy!!  

Secondly we received a check from our land lord.  This was something completely unexpected.  For those of you who don't know we broke our lease in order to save money.  We left 3 months early.  We were told that if they were able to rent our apartment within the next month we would get a prorated amount....blah...bah...blah!  The point is they were able to get our apartment rented fairly quickly and we recently got the check for the prorated amount.  I was stunned when it arrived.  Although I loved the apartment and did not think they would struggle to find a new tenant, I was not holding my breath for more money! But again God had a different plan and blessed us yet again!  

Thank you all for your support.  We can truly feel your prayers and are so blessed by the support system that we have here.  Every day is a reminder that we are following His will and in His hands.  

30 days and counting

Today I had a sad but exciting revelation.  We are now 30, thirty, yes 3-0, days from arrival in Chiang Mai.  Once I had this realization I knew a countdown was in order and a timeline for making sure that we stayed on top of everything that we need to do!! So here is the calendar that I have made on my beloved white board.  This is also one of those things that has been with me for forever.  I LOVE it.  It is probably the teacher in me.  If possible, I would take it with me, but I don't think it will fit in my suitcase :(

This also means that the updates might increase since more things will be happening.  You can see that we have some wonderful things coming up, but also quite a bit of empty days.  We would love to get these dates filled so any invitations would be greatly welcomed!

I decided to have the countdown be days until we arrive because we have such strange leaving dates. We leave Ohio on the 17th and leave the country on the 18th but arrive on the 19th.  Plus I wanted to start on an even number (again I know weirdo!).  The times listed on the calendar are local time for where we will be.  More information about our departure can be found at the previous post, plane ticket trials.

We still have a lot to do here.  We are still awaiting the return of our visas.  I firmly believe that everything is perfect with them now (after the second round of information was sent!).  They arrived at the Thai Embassy in DC on Friday so I am certain they are being processed.  We also have to pack. duh.  We are both definitely avoiding that task!!  Cleaning is another thing that we are both ignoring.  But again, thirty days means we better get on these things.

Ok this is enough.  I am quite distracted by the Newlywed Game on TV.  These people are crazy!! That is all for now.  Hopefully I will have a better update and better information for you soon!