It's really Real now

Greetings,

T - minus 1 week and a wake up. 

It's Moving Day.

As the Greek movers roll up in their trucks... I realize that we are really going to leave this place!

Let the games begin...

 

My absolute favorite mover.... he played the violin from Israel, the xylophone from Thailand. 

Everything gets wrapped.... EVERYTHING!

After an hour or so... some guy comes in and says, "No pictures!"  And he puts his hand in front of the camera. 

Let me think about this ....

my house

my stuff

my camera?

What is the problem here... is he doing something he does not want me to photo?

The hallways are too narrow... so the boxes and furniture and the second and third floor... get tossed / lowered from the balcony.

Harry's was a great help... he pretty much stayed right here the entire time. 

Ah, it's all gone.  Boxed up.  Crated up.  And ready to ship off.

I hope it makes it to Virginia safe and sound and in one piece.

Blessings,

Last Meal

Greetings,

Tonight was the night Wednesday night service for several of our friends... I think Harry and I will be here for one more Wednesday night. 

We have made some life long friendships while our two-year stay here. 

Thanks Envantheia for all your hard work leading worship. 

And Matt for your continued service as the wizard behind the computer!

After Wednesday night service... we always eat a Pot-luck meal... it's a wonderful time of eating and fellowship... I will miss this, but not as much as Harry.

One of my favorite people in the entire world... Darrell. Thanks for taking pictures for me!

 

Here I am .... still trying to pack up Harry's office.

While uploading these pictures... I notice something we have left unpacked....

Harry's eye chart!  The must have eye chart.... I guess we will need to hand carry it.  For those of you unfamiliar with the eye chart... just know it is a keeper and probably older than Kayne.

Blessings,

Cat Napping

Greetings, 

This guy....

is not worried about the upcoming move!


I wish Harry and I could cat nap... we have a hard time sleeping through the night!
Blessings,

Along the roadside

Greetings,


THis is my NUMBER 1 problem with Crete, Greece...

their treatment of animals.

Why would anyone toss this little bugger out? 

Why would you leave this little guy in the dumpster? 

Why would you do this to the entire litter?

Why ?

Why?

Today... Harry and I found this adorable skeleton of a puppy in the middle of a busy street.  And of course we stopped.  Of course we brought him home. 

He was starving...

2nd bowl of chow...

And he wanted more...

 

He even got some love from Miss Peabody. 

He's so little!  and cute.  I have no idea what we are going to do with him...

We have taken in 3 strays... but only have the ability to take 2 animals back stateside.

My fellow Cretans.... anyone looking for a stray?  Harry is taking him to the Vet for all his shots!

Blessings,

The big 5 0

Happy 50th Birthday Mother

Love you,

Kristie, Harry, & Kayne

T minus 10 Days

Greetings,

T minus 10 days and a wake up.

Seriously?

It does not seem a reality yet... even though the house looks like this:

The above photo contains boxes of clothes ... and one with books.

And here is the "need to be wrapped by professionals pile... most everything is already boxed up.

And here are Harry's professional items.  I used ALL the boxes, so Harry had to snag a few from the NEX to back up his religious material.  Please notice.. the material is in alcoholic beverage boxes!!

Harry's wardrobe has been reduced to a suitcase and a Sea Bag.   

Items of mine that remains unpacked... I think I will wait until the last minute for the grooming products. 

The only thing left in our cabinets.... toilet paper!

Ughhh... here we go again!

Blessings,

Matter-of-Fact Mondays

Greetings,

1.  I forgot it was Monday today.  It's a US holiday and a Greek holiday.  This weekend marked the Greek Carnivale... we did not go.  And today is Clean Monday or Kite day... again, we did not go.

2.  Our last week in this cinder block house.  Still feverishly packing away.  Thursday is our pack out. 

3.  I hide money in strange places... books, make-up bag, coat pockets, anything really!  While packing I have found 134.17 in NEX gift cards.  $163.??  and a ton of change.  About 70 Euros. 

4.  Pets go to the vet tomorrow for their passport exit screening thingy. 

5.  Watched Creation (Darwin's movie), forced by Harry to watch Shark Tank Season 1 (Harry loves silly quotes... he goes around saying, "Do cry for your  money, Kristie, cause your money doesn't cry for you" or "do you love money as much as I do?" all from Kevin O ... about 30 times a day.

6.  Reading nothing but school books... have packed up everything else. 

7.  Harry's ship went to GTMO for supplies to return to Haiti... looks like Harry will follow shortly.

8.  I am an emotional roller coaster... happy one minute, stressed another, sad about leaving, then excited about leaving, but steadily very upset about leaving Kayne in a foreign country half way around the world.  He's only 21!

9.  Shhh... will share a BIG secret (that we are not allowed to discuss in our family) with you.... My mother turns 50 tomorrow! 

10.  For those of you thinking the BIG secret was some sort of pregnancy news... SHAME ON YOU!.. that post title would read something like... I am Speechless... or ...  I am about to Lose My Breakfast.


Monday Blessings,

Valentine's Day Gift exchange

Greetings,

Every time.. and I do not over exaggerate  e v e r y  t i m e    I go to the store, to purchase anything... Harry says, "Should we buy that... we are trying to buy a house."

To which I reply, "Harry, it's bread".

Which he still says we shouldn't buy because we are moving out of the house and into a hotel soon. 

I bought a pair of boots yesterday... "You should wait til we go home to buy shoes... there better in the State and maybe you should wait until after we buy the house".

Very conveniently... he does not say anything when the purchases involve new uniforms, boots, or coffee. 


So today when Harry asked me what I got him for Valentine's Day...

I told him I was saving for the house. 

When I asked him what he bought for me... he said a  house.

How sweet... we got each other the same thing!  And right now... I would love to open my new gift  (electricity has been out here again). 

At least I bought him a card... I am still waiting on mine?!?


Hope all you ladies have a blessed Valentine's Day.

Blessings,

A day at the Beach

Greetings,

Harry and I spent the day at the beach.... yes, Northeastern American, it's warm here (kinda).

I considered joining the windsurfers, but I have already packed up my wetsuit.... as if it fits anymore! 

And I am not sure if this little parasail will hold me..

Or toss me into the nearest burnt building?

We enjoyed a quiet windy day at the beach.  There are several things I will miss here in Greece.  The beach is #1... no I take that back.

Friends:   #1

Beach:  very close 2nd

Blessings,

The Dreaded...

Greetings,

It's that dreaded time again.  The pack-out or what I call my pre-pack-out.  The time when I request packing boxes early so I can  (in all my psychizo-glory)  pack my own things.  As if the professionally paid and insured movers are less capable... I feel the need to separate, fold, and pack away my clothes, linens, bathroom toiletries and just about everything...

I packed up nearly the entire house.... in two days.  Just a few things remain.

Insured or extremely fragile pieces..  oh, and those odd shaped ones that do not fit snuggly in one of the two size boxes the movers sent me... I left those for the professionals to pack.

And the stack of junk I never want to see again... I am still finding good homes for a few items...

The movers sent 20 boxes... and I just finished taping the last one. 

I have a problem... I know this.  The government pays good money for competent companies to pack and ship our goods.  I am having a hard time with the thoughts of allowing strange men pack up my things. 

I have a system... like items, same room, labeled properly ... is that so much to ask? 


Blessings,

Ah... 21 again?

Happy 21st Birthday little Brother!

Kayne turned 21 today... but for some craziness I still think of him as 12.

Love you,

Kristie, Harry, Oliver, & Miss Peabody

... and I really think you should come home with me and not stay in Greece (just had to throw that last part in there!)