A Few Bumps

Bumpy Road Ahead

A walk in the park

All our baggage stuffed in the car. Luckily kids weren't
with us...No room for them!

After much thought, I figured I had better send an update about where we currently are.  As I mentioned in our last post, our possessions have been packed and we were living in a hotel.   WE STILL ARE!  Who knew getting out of the United States would be our problem?  We planned and thought of a million scenarios and while this was one we considered, we really did not think it would have kept us this long!  Poor Ryan has been in a hotel for pretty much of the last four months, we are now entering our fourth week as a family.

The whole trouble began back when I was with Ryan in Belgium trying to make decisions and figure out the details of our day to day living.  We knew this trip would leave Ryan a whole month without seeing the girls and two and a half weeks away from me.  This was the longest we had been separated as a family in a LONG time. When Ryan returned home to be a part of the moving process, he was only home for 3 days before the movers came (Throw in a strike with the airlines jeopardizing his return).  As we needed to maximize our time in the USA between the move and visiting with family and friends, Ryan needed to get back to Europe for meetings in the UK and somehow get the girls and I settled into our new home.  Since Ryan was on a schedule and needing his passport, we asked for permission from our Relocation Team to let us go to New York and visit the Belgium Consulate directly to expedite our residency visas.  They told us our $1,500 in flights (hotels and food were already being covered by them) was too expensive and denied our request.  After much discussion, Ryan's contact assured him he would have his passport/visa back in 3 days.  While we knew in our hearts this was not going to be possible, we did not seem to have a choice.  Let's just say 4 weeks later, they still have not even looked at his information, let alone begin the processing (and we have far surpassed the $1500 in hotels, food, and car rental they "saved").  So, we are stuck.

Holiday World

We have spent 3 of the 4 weeks in a hotel with an adjoining room with ALL 15 pieces of luggage, stroller, and at least 7 carry-ons.  The arrangements weren't ideal and we needed a little more space, let alone a place to sit that wasn't the bed or floor.  We have since moved to a larger space with a small kitchenette and place to relax.  While being stuck in a hotel has not been ideal, we have certainly made the best of our time left.  The girls have spent extra time with the Grands; they have been swimming galore; we went to Holiday World; we have eaten and tried more food than one can imagine so as to not live in a McDonald's; went boating; had a swimming party with friends at our hotel; toured the sights we typically just drive past; had lunch with our neighbors; and (today) we finally went inside the Indianapolis Monument to tour the museum and climb all the way to the top. I am sure we will be doing more with what time we have left. The girls are beginning to form a list of more activities they want to do.

Laundry Mat Fun

At this point, we have NO idea when we will be leaving.  Last week, the company told us to be prepared to stay at least one more week, possibly two.  I am struggling a bit and feel lost.  My friends and colleagues are headed back to school on Friday and my kids would be starting school the following week.  I feel like I should be getting a classroom in order, printing first week of school items, and calming my excitement for my incoming class.  It's such an odd feeling to be here, but not really belong.  The life we were supposed to have started, is still waiting on us to get there.  A great comfort is that this is all in God's hands.  He has kept us safe and provided for thus far, and will continue to do so.

Boating 

I will keep you all posted as our status progresses.  In the meantime, thank you for reading about us and sending such kind and encouraging words.  They mean more than you know.  Hopefully, we will soon find out the timing of our next steps in this long drawn out process.  Until then, we will just continue to find fun and enjoy our holding pattern.  

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away

Rylee 

in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Matt 6:25-27 NIV

Gwen

Chloe

Moving Day

Moving Day! (more like DAYS)

Our Sea Crate

Let the chaos begin!  Ryan had barely landed before the quick acting, completely distracting, million question asking movers came to ready our possessions for the trip to Belgium or storage.  The whole process took an ENTIRE four days and proved to be just as exhausting (at least mentally) as if we had done the moving ourselves.  We had our ups and downs and have decided we are going to just be excited about what actually arrives in Belgium, whenever it finally gets there.

Eating breakfast with no table.

We made the rookie mistake of not labeling enough or segregating our items around the house to make it easier for the movers to tell what items were headed to which location.  (however, I am not sure it really would have mattered) We were granted 1,000 pounds of Air Freight, 14, 000 pounds by sea, and everything else had to head to storage until we return.  We were told nothing could leave the United States until we had at least one Residency Visa. The air shipment should take a week and the sea freight should take about 8 weeks.  Other than those guidelines, I had absolutely NO idea what to expect! 

Our first day, team one arrived and got started with the daunting task of packing.  They wrapped EVERY- SINGLE-ITEM.  The process took a little more than FOREVER!  They were able to complete the main level of our home, (Let's just pretend they were able to complete the first level of our home, we found many items they forgot.)  as well as the girls rooms and their clothing.  Day two consisted of more packing and the beginning of loading the sea container.  The girls LOVED getting to see the semi come park at our house and watch as the men packed, moved, then packed some more.  Day 3 was supposed to be the last of the sea items.  Day four the second team came and took care of packing our air freight, wrapping all of our furniture (with no seams un-taped), and finishing loading the sea container.  The movers also loaded our air and storage containers.  Being limited to weight and not space was very nerve-wrecking, with no scale in sight.  It proved to be a guessing game.  How much do you think this weighs?  Better just put that in storage.  Do we really need this?  Will this even work over there?  We held our breaths as our semi left for the weigh station.  We were dreading what this huge container could possibly weigh.  After sitting on pins and needles, we finally got the call we had been waiting on.  Our sea shipment only weighed 12,000 pounds.  Ryan and I did a happy dance.  At least there was enough weight left over that if our air shipment was too heavy, items could be placed on the sea shipment.  

At this point, we are not super clear on what was actually put on the sea shipment.  We discovered along the way items meant for storage ended up in the sea freight, and items meant for sea either got left behind or ended up in storage.  Either way, when we open up that massive container and see our possessions, our new home will begin to take shape.  I imagine I will be glad to sit on my couch and sleep in my old bed.  These things, these items, these possessions I was so sure made our house a home, will now be in Belgium.  In our new home; transforming an empty home, OUR home, for the next three years. 

As this whole process of moving out began, we moved our family and luggage to a hotel.  We spent the first week in one hotel room with a king bed, little pull out couch, seven pieces of HUGE luggage, two adults, and three children. We quickly decided this was NOT going to work.  Ryan added a room and we were able to have an adjoining room.  While this gave us more space, we quickly filled it up with the rest of our luggage, carry-ons, work bags, and some snacks. With Ryan's flight status, we are each able to take three pieces of luggage each weighing 70 pounds, a carry on, and a personal item.  Needless to say, our hotel rooms became a little tight! On a positive note, we are getting a great deal of close family time in.  Is there such a thing as too close? How did our families 100 years ago even manage in one room houses?

Moving day (moving DAYS) was very emotional for me.  The possessions that filled the home we designed and built had meanings and memories.  Everything from prescriptions to family pictures, to scratches on tables, to hand prints on the stairway,  and paint on the walls told a story.  In our hearts, this was our forever home.  We were going to grow old here.  Have prom pictures, get drivers licenses, play ball, ride bikes, have cookouts with our neighbors.  I mourned the memories I had yet to create and grieved the ones I had already made.  Cleaning and preparing the home for the next family who will make memories where I thought we were  supposed to be was very difficult.  So while I cried, I prayed for peace.  As a wash of calm came over me I was reminded of a t-shirt I recently saw which read, "Rather than cry for what I have lost, I will smile for the fact I had."  My time here is just a blink of an eye.  These possessions were just things.  Items I cannot take with me forever.  One day, I will leave it all behind for eternity.  Memories are mine to keep.  They travel with me no matter where I go.  I will always have those.   This process has been far from easy, but I know in my heart it is right and good.   Even through all these ups and downs, tears and laughter, frustrations and encouragements we have had a great and exhausting time.  Next step, getting to Belgium and seeing what our movers sent us.  

Sleeping in our tiny hotel room

Tough Decisions

Decisions! Decisions!

Let the fun begin!

I was not given much time to let the dust settle after the end of the school year before I was needed in Belgium to assist in planning our future.  All too quickly, time came to Jump the Pond and help initiate decisions about the school the girls would attend, finalize our banking arrangements in Belgium, tour the house Ryan chose, and attempt to sort out the whirlwind change our family needs to grow accustomed to for the day to day living in a new country.

Ryan arranged a taxi and yet a carriage (stretch limousine) arrived to take us to the airport.  As we headed east to Belgium, the girls were headed to South Hilton Head (Hilkin Head as Chloe calls it) for a little sun, biking, and swimming with Nana and Papaw.

Upon our EARLY morning arrival, a day of sight-seeing was ahead of us since our early hotel check-in is not an option.  The next day we met with the relocation representative making our first stop at the International School of Brussels (ISB).  Ryan and I toured the beautiful (and much different than our American) facilities.  The school was quite different and offered a great deal of academic and extra-curricular options for our children.  I was amazed at the MIUCH smaller class sizes, being a teacher with not only more students, but also more classroom real estate to work with. 

Building in Brussels

Next stop?  The bank.  What we thought would take 15 minutes took more like an hour.  Let me just start by saying, banking is quite different in Belgium.  Sure, the banks look the same and appear to operate in the same manner, but the devil is always in the details.  Keeping up with the rules and practices of utilizing little machines that have to attach to home computers was enough for me to think I will let Ryan work through the banking.  In addition to the little computer attachment and the fees for everything from depositing and print out your statements, or get charged for NOT getting your statement at the bank.  We signed our life away.  Seriously, I think I signed more forms for a bank account than I did when we bought our house.

The third stop was the next International School, St. Johns.  This school was a much smaller and more intimate school than ISB.  Ryan and I really enjoyed the relationships the students had with their teachers and the opportunities the girls would be given, albeit a little further bus ride for the girls.  The school's curriculum is different than that of our current American School, but I think it will be good for them with the right amount of challenge.  After much thought and discussion, we felt this school best fit the personalities of Rylee and Gwen.  I am secretly excited about the fact the girls will have uniforms and I won't have to have future discussions about what they have to wear (at least until middle school).

FINALLY, the moment arrived that I had been waiting for ALL day, the trip to our new home.  The second Ryan found out he had the position he started looking online for homes.  He had to have looked at hundreds of homes daily and just not finding something he loved.  Things changed when he saw this house, as he fell in love immediately given its large land space, castle-like outdoor appearance and wood beam interior.  To be honest, I did too.  The home was built in 1945 and looks like a European home imagined while reading of fairy tales.  The house sits on 2.5 acres fully lined with a huge wall, gated entrance, mature trees, beautiful hedges, and a tennis court.  We were a little worried the house would not be available before I could join Ryan to see it, so I told him to take a look on his own- if he loved it to go ahead and sign for the house. As soon as we pulled up, I knew this was the one.  Our relocation agent was sure I would hate it and I had to laugh when they told me this.  Apparently, Europeans are drawn to the more modern interior style of home, while we were looking for the exact opposite with a more traditional style.  

A chance to walk in someone's
shoes?  No, just a canal ride.

The remainder of the trip was mostly trying to figure out where the stores were located, the types of foods we could buy, and the cost of living we would soon encounter.  For some reason, we thought this would be a great opportunity to make our first trip to IKEA.  (I think could write a whole blog on that experience alone!)  I can't tell you how many times we got lost and we were on sensory overload the entire time.  There came a point when Ryan and I felt like we weren't going to make it out alive.  

Overall, if I were to put this trip into one word, it would be "reassuring." While the point was to make decisions and try to figure out our new life, I felt comforted by the fact this move was not an impossible task.  If we can't move something we own, we can find it there or buy something completely different.  The girls will have a great education and we have a new pile of bricks and mortar we can make our home.  

Coming home to moving will be a new task to obsess and worry over.  I was thankful for the time I had with Ryan to make for our family and the time the girls had making memories with their grandparents.  We are going to have a different type of life than we have had here, but an exciting one full of possibilities for sure!

Starting at the Beginning

Starting at the Beginning

A GREAT deal has taken place in the last four months.  I guess I will just need to start at the beginning.  After multiple interviews and riding the roller coaster of emotions, time, and possibilities; Ryan was promoted to his new job in his dream location...Belgium.  As a family who has spent much time apart, we were ready to be together.

Ryan and I knew this would be a difficult task to tell everyone.  We have always lived close to our family and they have been an integral part of our lives.  How do you tell them your are leaving, it is only temporary and all will be OK when you are struggling with convincing yourself of the same thing?  Our family was AMAZING (as always) and congratulated and celebrated with us we started to begin this new chapter in our lives.

Telling Rylee, Gwen, and Chloe was a whole other matter.  Once we were sure the move was happening, we fixed fondue and meat with our salt block, then gathered around our kitchen island for a relaxed family chat,  Rylee made it clear she was not happy about this move with tears in her eyes and worried words,  Gwen teared up but when we asked her what she thought she took a deep breath and said "Don't worry about me mommy, its going to be fine,"  Chloe just wanted more bread.

Then the chaos begin. Paper work, PAPER work, PAPER WORK!  OH MY!  The birth certificates (not the ones from your county either), marriage license, apostille stamps from the government, FBI checks, house details, car documents, contracts galore, fingerprints, doctors appointment, medicals sign-offs, .,, the list goes on forever. We now have a binder (ridiculously thick) detailing every aspect of our lives.  We carry this with us everywhere we go.  Our binder (which will end up with a special name by the end of this) has now become another member of our family.  We feel lost and a little worried if it is not in our possession at all times.

All of this was happening while Ryan and I were countries apart and both still working.  It was an emotional time for both of us.  Ryan was dealing with all the paper signing and document filing and the LOADS of emails coming each day.  I was busy with scheduling appointments, getting our house ready for being put up on the market, meeting with realtors and appraisers, and getting all the documents picked up or found lost in our house somewhere.

Mother's Day weekend involved our ENTIRE set of parents coming to our home to weed, mulch, paint, clean, and organize. Ready or not, the set of realtors and appraisers were coming later that week.  The Grands (as I call them) all came with laughter, smiles, and were ready to work.  During the day, I would look around and be so warmed by the love and generosity each provide with each trip of mulch carried or wall wiped.   I recall a small mental breakdown in the bottom of my shower as no matter what I tried, I could NOT get the paint for the stairway to look blended, matched and even.  I will be forever grateful my stepmother coming to paint it again. (THREE ATTEMPTS!!  UGH!)  These wonderful sets of parents have ALWAYS been there when we needed them, this was just another example. It made me wonder, what will I do without them? 

In the end, it all got done. Time had now come to meet Ryan in Belgium and figure our schools, see the house he chose, and more PAPER WORK,  But, that is a whole different blog story.  I will get it written soon and show some great pictures.  

Thank you again for reading our story,  The original purpose of this blog was to document this trip as the Myers Family reinvent ourselves.  I want something the girls can read and know what took place.  Something as a family can look back on to laugh, cry. and remember our journey.  The blog was also designed as a way to keep those that love us updated on our what has been happening in our lives.  However, as I type the honest, raw words and thoughts in my head, I hope others read this and see a family doing something we never thought we would.  I hope when reading this you start to challenge yourself to do something you thought you couldn't.  Be brave.  Be David in the story of David and Goliath.  

Love,

The Reinvented Myers