We've been downsizing!

We've gone from this:









To this:









Then to this:











and this:









And finally to this:









And now..........we're off
Off our rockers that is: both figuratively and literally. You have heard of boom-a-rang kids, well we've been boom-a-rang parents. We love and will miss our families while we are on assignment but we know they are happy for us to be launched on this adventure.

Adios! Hasta Luego

"This is a Test..."
You may remember this phrase from tv and radio. Well life seems a little like that right now. We have had many opportunities to be tested in preparation for our new Peace Corps life. The newest one is living under another family's roof. We have been living out of a suitcase (several really), our van and our families' homes since 1/29/09. Now, we are staying in one room of our son's house with our son and daughter-in-law and their 2 little girls until our departure for Mexico March 2. It is a bit challenging to blend our ways and not upset the apple cart (or the children)!
Our house is sold, a big relief, so many of our bills will disappear in a few days making life much simpler in our absence. We are sorting out the final details of packing, paying taxes, storing and of course, studying espanol!
This picture captures a glimpse of how we might feel some days.! Note the sign behind the van.

Surprise, surprise, surprise!
While we have been traveling around celebrating my birthday and seeing our family, they have been planning surprises. Last night Dan, Andrea and James took us to The Melting Pot in Novi for Dinner. Low and Behold there were Kate and Mike waiting to join us. A surprise, but since they live just 2 hours away from Dan it wasn't impossible to believe. Then after dinner we all went back to Dan's and started to see their pictures from Costa Rica. In the middle of that they skyped Andy (in Texas) and presented us with a going away gift (guaranteed to weigh less than 4 pounds!). It is the most beautiful memory quilt you can imagine! Has pictures of them, quotes to live by, good wishes and their special messages. Here is a picture complete with Andy from afar.

Surprises

My long time friend and I have made a trade. Her husband and Roger are off to "the farm" for a few days and she and I are celebrating our mutual birthday in New Orleans. We awoke this morning to find a note under the door stating that the hot water pump had broken in the night and the resort had no hot water! So we set out for Cafe DeMond in the French Quarter for breakfast figuring we'd survive without a shower. While waiting for the trolley, I saw something run across the street and commented it was either the skinniest squirrel I'd ever seen or it was a rat....well you guessed it, it was a rat! We walked to the NEXT trolley pickup site! Guess I better get used to surprises as we have no idea what we will experience in the next 27 months!

Practice, Practice, Practice!

We are getting plenty of practice in lots of things. We thought a mini vacation in New Orleans would be fun so we got a timeshare on St Charles Avenue. Turns out to be about 2 + miles to the French Quarter so we have been walking down there in anticipation of walking in Mexico. We also have a mini kitchen with 2 sauce pans, 2 burners and a few other utensils. We are trying to use up the things that were left in our pantry and frig in Fort Wayne so cooking is a bit of a challenge..... Then today we decided to visit a near by church, again a practice in difference. It was a tiny congregation (9 others), but warm and inviting. The sermon was about responding to God's call to serve with authority. They wished us well. This is certainly an adventure, but we are having fun! We happened to catch this wedding parade on Royal Street.