Welcome to Spain

We touched down in Rota, Spain a little before 11am local time.  I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it isn’t what I got.  There was no big terminal or bustling airport.  There were no familiar faces in the crowd waiting anxiously to greet us.  Instead, we departed the plane straight onto the tarmac, and then had to wait in line for an hour to get paperwork signed and passports stamped.  We had to go through several stations, and I felt like we were cattle being prodded on.

When we finally got through the line, we saw a lady holding a sign with our name on it.  I was thankful that at least someone knew we were there, but I was so tired and struggled to put on my “happy-to-meet-you” face.  Many introductions were made.  We met the people Ray will be working with, and the commander and his wife.  Those first moments are a bit of a blur in my mind, but I know Ray somehow managed to find all of our luggage and we ended up in a blue van headed to our temporary home.

Our temporary home was a shock to say the least.  It was not at all what we were expecting.  We had specifically requested to be in TLF, which is pretty much a hotel on base.  It would have been very small, but we would have everything a hotel would offer including internet and room service.  Apparently though, TLF was full.  So we ended up in temporary housing.   

The three bedroom house that we were given was fairly spacious (compared to our condo in Vegas, anyways), but it was very sparsely furnished.  There was a table with four chairs (doesn’t really work for a family of 7), a couch set, and six beds.  Unfortunately there were no pillows, sheets, towels, shower curtains, toilet paper, etc. 

Ray’s sponsor took him to get a rental car while the rest of us stayed in the empty house.  We were exhausted and homesick, and just wanted to sleep.  Each kid had a blanket, so we spread out the blankets on the bare mattresses, and they each took a nap.  I had no blanket, so I just laid on the bare mattress and cried myself to sleep.  It’s a moment that I will never forget as one of the worst moments of my life.

A plane to Spain

In line to board the plane

On August 16^th, after many miles and many tearful goodbyes, our family boarded a plane in Norfolk, Virginia that was headed to Rota, Spain.  The flight did not leave until 9:30pm, so it was dark as we soared into the air.  Tears streamed down my face as I watched the lights of America get further and further away.  I knew that life was changing, and I was terrified.  Ray looked back at me and smiled.  I reached out my hand and he gave it a squeeze.  

The plane ride was fairly uneventful, thankfully.  The kids were amazing.  Kay and Melody slept almost the whole time.  The older three kids dozed on and off, but mostly enjoyed the airplane food and played games on their handheld electronics.  

Getting closer!

  

About five hours into the flight, we watched the sun rise over the ocean.  The beauty was indescribable.  Ray snapped pictures as I watched the awesome display of God’s creation.  Our bodies were weary, but somehow watching the sun rise from 35000 feet brought hope and life.  It would only be a few hours until our big adventure would begin.

Sunrise from 35,000 feet

Busy, Busy

No major news to report...

We now have all seven birth certificates in our possession, so we can start the passport process.  YAY!

The kids are all done with the dentist.  AJ had just one tiny cavity, which has been filled.

I have a physical on Tuesday, and then another dentist appointment a week from Monday.  Megan has a follow-up with her eye specialist that same Monday.

VBS starts on Monday, so it will be an even busier week because of that...  But at least it will be a fun-busy!

Doctors, Dentists, and Realtors...oh my!

Well, this week has been super busy so far, and we have had a few significant things happen.

Monday the boys each had a physical at the pediatrician.  Both boys are healthy and strong, of course!  AJ is 68 pounds, and Drew is 58 pounds (and there is a 1 3/4 inch difference between them).  Seems so strange to me that they are getting so big!  The doctor's office has all of the kids paperwork, and hopefully they will be getting that back to us soon.

This morning both boys had dentist appointments.  AJ had one tiny cavity, but other than that there were no problems and they got high praise from the dentist.  (whew!)  This afternoon is my first dentist appointment, and I have some anxiety about it.  I'm sure it will be fine.

Tomorrow, the girls see the dentist, and then we will schedule an appointment for AJ to get his cavity filled.

The biggest news right now though, is that we met with a realtor yesterday afternoon and our condo is now on the market.  We are attempting to short sell it, and would appreciate your prayers.  It's one of the biggest road blocks right now, but we know that God has a plan.

6/9/11

Clever title that is, yes?  

Today was busy.  We're in the midst of a LOT of logistics.  So many phone calls, appointments, and countless conversations about this or that.  All of the kids who have teeth will have dentist appointments next week, as will I.  Tomorrow I will go over to the Tricare office and get our medical paperwork rolling.  (And I'm really hoping that they are in a TriCARE type of mood and not the Try-and-get-some-care type.)

Kay and Melody's birth certificates arrived in the mail earlier this week, so we are a bit closer to being able to apply for passports.  I'll be very relieved when that can happen.

The biggest news of the day, however, is that we got word that they want us in Spain earlier than November.  We're thinking August.  Obviously that is SO soon, and nothing is set in stone yet.  We won't know our actual dates until we have actual orders.  And we can't have actual orders until we are cleared medically and dentally.  (Hence the trip to Tricare and the pending dentist appointments.)  In any case, our summer is shaping up to be insanely crazy. 

I have a few praises to share with you and then I'll share a few more prayer requests:

PRAISES:
1.  We found cheap bunk beds for the girls.  They are really nice and have drawers underneath, so they really maximize the space well.  And the people we bought them from had super cheap mattresses to give us as well, so that was a huge blessing.

2.  I was able to get the kids in to the dentist that we wanted.  At first, they weren't going to be able to get them in until the end of the month, so it's a blessing that they can be seen next week.

PRAYERS:
1.  Dentist appointments.  Please pray that we don't need a lot of work done afterwards.  Our dental insurance isn't great, and most work will have to come out of pocket.

2.  Paperwork.  Please pray that we will be able to get our orders very soon so that we can plan the next few months.  Without the leave date, it's really hard to plan.

3.  Megan's birthday party.  I know this seems random, but Megan didn't get a 5th birthday party.  Melody had just been born, and I just wasn't up for it.  We promised her a party in the summer.  Well, the summer is here, and despite the insane craziness right now, I need to plan a ladybug party.  Please pray that I will be able to find somewhere to have the party that Megan will really love and that isn't very expensive (thinking a park or something).

9 hours

Rota is nine hours ahead of Vegas.  The kids and I have had fun talking about what is going on in Rota while we are doing various things throughout the day.  As we are eating lunch, the people in Rota are going to bed!  And as we are sleeping, they are going about their day!

It's strange to think that in a few months, we will be the ones who are nine hours ahead.  Most of our family is in central and eastern time zones, so we will be 6 or 7 hours ahead.  That will make communication tricky.

Almost every morning, my daddy sends me a good morning e-mail.  I look forward to it every day, and will probably have to get used to getting it around lunchtime!  My sister and I usually e-mail many times throughout the day, and we probably won't be able to do that very often once we move.  My mom and I chat on the phone often in the evenings, and that won't work because I'll be asleep when she comes home from work!

We'll get used to it eventually I'm sure.  It's just one of the many adjustments our family is going to have to make.  I'm just so thankful for technology.  Just a few years ago, we wouldn't have been able to video chat or e-mail all the time or keep in touch via facebook or blogs.  Thankful for those blessings.

Not much to report

No real news today.  Ray had most of the day off, so we spent a lot of time hashing stuff out and throwing around ideas.  I guess the biggest new today is that our family started learning Spanish.  I took four years in high school and college, so I have a bit of an advantage.  It's amazing how much I *don't* know, though.  I obviously wasn't paying very close attention in school. 

Here's a good link I found to info about Spain.  Not about Rota specifically, but good info about the country.