Routine, Lies and Manners......all rolled up into one.

Okay, things are kind of routine here. Kids having sleepovers with their friends, gymnastics, soccer games, family outings on Sundays, and house work/projects that never end :)
It's all good!!!

We are coming to our final week before we hit the 120 day mark. That would be 120 days before our arrival day of July 1st in Germany. Of course our arrival date could change, we don't have our final departure papers. Even worse, they could tell us we're not going at all. I guess that's still a chance. We've done everything required of us at this point. Now it's just a waiting game. Once (or if) we get our final departure papers we'll be able to really get moving. We'll have passports to get (husband already has his), make arrangements for the movers and our car, change our health insurance and bank.

Okay, what a difference a day can make. Things are no longer "routine" or normal here.
I'm dealing with an issue of trust and lying. There are big lies and little lies, but when does a little lie become the last straw? How can you continue to trust someone who has told one too many little lies? I begin to wonder how many other lies there are that haven't been caught yet.

On another note, we know a German family here, we've been friendly with them. Had their daughter over for playdates, had dinner at their house, exchanged gifts, went out here and there, had long conversations........but lately things have changed. I've always sensed an air of arrogance and I can never tell if they are joking or serious. I just chalked it up to the German view of life. But rude is rude no matter what your nationality. When someone you know walks away and can't even say "bye", that's just plain rude.
I know Americans like this.......it's like they live in their own little world where everything they do is perfect and you are just someone who when needed or convient they will acknowledge or contact. Otherwise, your existence is unimportant because they are self-centered and arrogant.
I hear people talking on blogs about German arrogance. I think I will go crazy there if this is the norm. What's wrong with being polite, even if it's "fake" it's called MANNERS. Hasn't anyone taught the German's manners? Not from the experience I had yesterday. I'm hoping this is not true of all Germans as it is not true of all American's (but is becoming more true than not lately).
I'm not looking to become their best friend or even good friend.......I just wanted to be friendly and have the same courtisy given to me.
Am I missing something here?
It could be that she was just in such a hurry that she just ran off and not thinking of anyone or anything else other than herself and her situation that she forgot to say Goodbye.....or give a smile or a wave. It's sad when the norm anymore is to just be so caught up in ourselves and our own issues that we can't even be polite to others. We have become a sad, sad world full of self righteous individuals that feel they do no wrong, that they are the center of the universe, and that friendships, politness, manners and what not just don't matter anymore. It's a dog eat dog world out there. Everyone is out for themselves.
The worse part is that this is now becoming the norm and my children will have to live in a world like this. I hope they can find a few good people in their lives that are the exception to this, as thankfully I have. What will I ever do in Germany without them? Thank God for computers to e-mail them, airplanes to visit them, and telephones to call them and hear their voices and kindness and Geniune Friendship and love.

Where did the day go?

Another busy day. No time to feel stressed or anxious. :) That's a good thing.

Tomorrow is looking like another busy day and night.

The basement is coming along well. I can see an end in the forseeable future. Hip,hip, hooray!!!

Walls are up, just need to finish mudding and sanding......then everything gets a fresh coat of white paint. Lot's of painting. I'll have to send some pictures.

Yesterday we celebrated Eric's birthday!! The kids baked him a cake and decorated it and then they made him a birthday banner. They make birthdays fun even when you're turning 39, oops did I give it away. Sorry honey. He,he,he.

I can't think of anything special going on. Just the usual stuff.

It's all good.

Strange Day......

Just like in the pictue......my life just seems so upside down and unfamiliar. But at least I'm happy upside down and Eric is with me and the kids are off playing somewhere in the background.

Do you ever have one of those days where you wonder..."What the hell am I doing?"
Well today has been one of those days.
It started last night. I was thinking how much I really love our home here, how safe I feel here, how we have everything we need and then some, how close my family is to our home, how I just spent Sat. with the gals scrapbooking and having a great time, how much work we've put into the house and almost all our home improvements are finished. So why am I moving to Germany?

Maybe it's hormones? (I'm having a surge of them right now:) Maybe it's just that I'm starting to feel the stress of so much to do and so little time? Maybe it's the fact that we still haven't gotten "the final" paper that tells us when and if we are going. We're just assuming that we leave July 1st!!! Maybe it's because we didn't sell the camper and that it is still lingering in the driveway, maybe it's because I think of strangers renting our house and destroying it.

Of course these things may or may not happen. Logically, there is no reason why we shouldn't get the A OKAY to go, there is plenty of time to sell the camper and the spring is prime selling time for RV's, and not all renters destroy and we will have property managers looking after our home.
Life doesn't guarantee us anything. We should live our lives with no regrets.

I was just listening to a Big and Rich song called "Live this Life."
"I'll live this life until this life won't let me live here anymore. Then I will walk with patience through that open door. I have no fears, angels follow me no matter where I go."

Beautiful Song!!!!!

If I look back on where I was a year ago today I would say my life was completely different. I was headed down a road of pain and awakening. Things have definitely changed. That's not to say that everything is picture perfect. Everyone can stand some improvement now and then :) It's just to say that I'm more aware of myself and what role I play and the role I play in the lives of others. I guess it's where this whole life is too short thing came about in my own life. Does everyone experience an instance whithin their lives that changes them? That makes them come to realize that we are here but only for a short time and to live our lives with gusto, with integrity, with purpose? To work through are fears, to work towards a goal, to not forget to have some fun, to stop and smell the flowers or bask in the sun occasionally?

Ah, today is one of those days where I just feel like, "What the hell am I doing?"
What are you doing?

Goodbye Camper......maybe?

I'm trying to keep up with my blogging. But truthfully I'm not feeling so well. So hopefully I can keep this short and sweet.

Big news.......we have a family coming to look at our camper today. They are coming from New Jersey. It will be so nice if they buy it. One less thing for me to be concerned about before we leave for Germany.

There are a lot of mixed emotions concerning our camper. We have so many fond memories of trips taken with it. We all love camping the adventures we have. We're hoping we can camp in and around Germany when we move there. ????

So we are sad to say goodbye, but know that in order to move forward to our new home and new adventure we must do so. We hope that whomever buys it enjoys it as much as we have.

Some fond memories:

1. Driving to Niagra Falls Canada.....what a sight of beauty. Stay on the Canadian Side if you can and go for at least 2 weeks because there is so much to see and do.

2. Solomons Island and hiking to Calvert Cliffs to find fossils, the calvert museum, lighthouses, swimming and bike riding.

3. Ocean City, MD....building sand castles on the beach and waiting for the waves; boardwalk rides, Assateque and the horses, Frontier Park water rides and Western Park.

4. Hershey Park in the Dark........every October. Rides, Rides, and more Rides, getting dressed up for Trick or treating, decorating the camper, and Zoo America. We love your Chocolate!!!!

There have been many more trips, but these are just some of the highlights that stick out in my head.

I'm ready to make more memories and take new trips throughout Europe!! So, Goodbye Camper, enjoy your new family and the many more new memories you will create with them.

Maybe I'm jumping the gun, because they haven't bought it yet, but I'm ready to say goodbye. I'm ready to move on from this and be done with it. It was the biggest ticket item we had to unload since we decided to rent the house. Of course getting the house ready and rented is the next big thing to do. How much time do I have? Not enough I'm sure.

Things always have a way of working out, so I'm not worried. Check back in see what I'm saying in June when the real count down begins.

NEWS UPDATE: I guess I was way off track, they came, they saw, but they didn't buy. They said they had to talk it over and had one more camper to see. They didn't have anything negative to say and said it was a nice camper and well taken care of, which it is. We love our camper!!! Well you never know and camping season has yet to begin, so there is plenty of time to market and sell. I was surprise that anyone even answered our ad this early in the game and season.

What I want to do while in Germany.....

Snow at Last!!! as seen through our kitchen window at the backyard. 2,13,07

I was sitting here re-reading my intial idea of why I wanted to blog. I want to stay connected in the process of remembering who I am and what I want from life. It is so easy getting caught up in pleasing others and taking care of a family that you loose yourself.

It's about 4 1/2 months until we move to Germany. I think family and friends question whether or not I truly want to move there. I get the impression that people think that my husband is dragging me and the kids there. Not true.
Believe it or not, Eric and I have talked about moving to Germany for a very long time. It is a mutal decision. One that was discussed and thought over for a very long period of time. We've even included the children in on the decision making. What's the saying, "Nothing good comes easily, you have to fight and struggle for it."?
I'm looking forward to many rewards, and I'm sure there will be many moments when I'm feeling like I made a huge mistake.....that will be my battle. I strongly believe that no matter what, at least I can say I did it. I ventured out of my comfort zone, took a chance, and experienced it.
I think this will help teach my children that there is so much that the "world" has to offer, to take some risks.

Some things I'm looking forward to:
1. Traveling around Europe.
2. Long walks alone through parks and to markets.
3. German Carnivals/Festivals
4. Delicious Food
5. Learning to speak German (this is also my biggest fear to overcome)
6. Swim bads
7. getting around on buses and trains.

That's all I can think of right now. As much as I try to gather information and get an idea of what to expect, truth is I don't know what to expect. There are moments when I think what am I doing? I must be crazy! Moments when I want to just go right now, but overall I think I'm pretty laid back about the whole thing. It will be interesting to see what I'm blogging about when I'm actually there in 5 months :)

Funny thing, this blog is actually several days of stop and go drafting. I start to write and then something pulls me away. Usually the kids :) Well today everyone is home because of the ice storm. It started out as a beautiful snow and now it's just ice. But we are enjoying playing around the house. Maybe I'll get something constructive done or maybe not. :) Probably not!

Home construction update: It's almost finished...at least on the contractors end. They would have been finished today if life hadn't come to a complete halt because of the "ICE". I have a feeling that in Germany life doesn't come to a halt because of snow or ice. Is this true?

The bathroom downstairs is fully functional, the ceiling is up, doors are in place, the kitchen countertop is in and looks great. They are finishing up the trim and then they need to clean up. What a mess. Next will come our part. We are going to put up the walls and paint. We also need to figure out what we are going to do about the laminate back splash that is still haunting us behind our new countertops. Maybe I'll experiment today with that one. We're thinking of lightly sanding it, put a primer on it and then putting paint overtop and sealing it. I think it sounds more complicated than it is. If all fails, then we go buy something like mirrors or coark to glue overtop it. Does anyone have any ideas?

I'm not even sure you can see the backsplash with the toaster, bannanas, coffee maker, radio and can opener in the way.....wow that's a lot of stuff. :)

Update: The construction workers made it!!!!! I'm impressed. Life hasn't come to a halt. :)

Now it's time for me to get off of here and get moving.