Packin' up & Movin' out

The movers arrive in 2 days, so you can imagine life here in Brussels is just a wee bit hectic! Our weekend was full of taking down LOTS of IKEA furniture, yard work, sorting closets, packing bags and many other activities that come along with moving across the ocean for the second time in 18 months!

Here Jason is working diligently on one of the many IKEA treasures that have found new homes here in Belgium.

In case you ever wondered what it looks like to try to pack 6 weeks worth of clothing and necesseties into 5 suitcases - here is my best effort at organization for that task!

Moving in the fall is turning out to be a bit challenging when it comes to limited suitcase allowances now imposed by airlines.  We are headed back to central NC, where it can still be very wam through September and sometimes even into October.  However, there are some years where the temps start dropping, especially in the mornings and evenings.  So for all my dear friends I will soon be seeing in the Triangle Area, please don't get too tired of seeing me in the same 4 outfits all fall...just take it up with US Airways!

Despite our hectic schedule, we made time for a sleep over for the kids.  We had the children of my good friend Tracey stay over on Friday night.  Ethan was THRILLED to have his friends over for one of his first slumber parties here in Belgium.

And this is Jenna with her very close friend here in Brussels.  Recently, they have taken to making their own Barbie clothes!  Such creative girls.

Saturday night we had an impromptu Belgian dinner with some friends who had come to pick up a few items from the house.  We headed to the local "friterie" near their house and had a dinner of frites - a.k.a french fries.  We had to take advantage while we could when living in a country where a huge plate of fries constitutes a proper meal!

Last week, our church collaborated with the local Anglican church for summer Vacation Bible School.  The coordinators from both churches work diligently throughout the year and put on a wonderful camp for the children.  The decorations are always superb, the music and stories are thought provoking and most of all the leaders make it FUN for the kids!

On Sunday morning, the children went to the stage and performed a few of the songs they learned during the week. 

Drew, Jason and I enjoyed listening from the audience. 

Now, in just over 48 hours the movers will arrive and it will be a whirlwind until they are finished on Friday.  The professional movers come in like tazmanian devils and pack anything that doesn't move - one friend told me they packed her trash can...with trash still in it!!  So I'm doing my best to prepare and blockade a room where they are not allowed to keep together all the items we need to take on the plane or mail back our selves to use during our temporary housing.

Speaking of housing, we are still looking for a house in the Triangle area.  There were a few that seemed like possibilities, but did not work out.  We are trusting in God's direction for this critical decision and excited to see what He has in store for us. 

I'm hoping to remember to take some photos during the moving days to capture the craziness that is our lives right now.  We are so thankful that we will have five days in Brussels after the movers have finished so we can enjoy our last few days in Europe spending time with the dear friends we 've been blessed with.