With Bated Breath.....

.... we wait.  We are close, really, really close.  We are almost there.  We can see the finish line and we can taste the bitterness of goodbyes and smell the joy of hellos.  Oh so close.


As you know by now there are two things that still have to happen for us to leave - VISAs and support.  Here is the exciting news on both fronts and some general updates.


VISA:  We learned Wednesday that Scott and my VISAs have been approved.  We are waiting excitingly to go get them.  We also learned Wednesday that the kid's VISAs have not been approved.  They have not been rejected, just not approved.  The embassy is trying to resolve the problem and told us to call back Monday morning in hopes that it will all be resolved.


Support:  We are at 95% of our support.  We are hoping to have enough support to purchase our airplane tickets by Monday as well.  


Shipping:  We are almost packed and are shipping our stuff to Spain by the end of next week.


Apartment Hunting:  We began the apartment hunt this week.  It is a crazy process from here:

• Deb (a co-worker in Alcala) looks at apartments online in Spain and sends me possibilities of apartments to look at online here
• I tell Deb yes or no to pursue
• Hannah and Deb go look at the potential apartment and take pictures from every angle and send to me
• Scott and I keep it on the list or rule it out based on Hannah and pictures and our wish list
• And then sometime between now and the end of the month hopefully Deb signs a lease for us on an apartment we have only seen online
• And then we arrive and move in - well, actually just camp out in the apartment until we make it to IKEA to furnish it.

Hopeful Timeline:

• Resolve VISAs and support level by Monday, September 12
• Make plane reservations on Tuesday, September 13
• Depart sometime during the last week of September, 29th or 30th
• Scott start language school on Monday, October 3

It is close, really, really close.