My schedule

Ok...so is anyone interested in what goes on the last few weeks before one moves with the foreign service? I wish I could write as well as my friend Jay Porter...but we'll see how well I do. In October the craziness started with General Conference and the power going out for some friends. We ended up having the two families together all weekend...it was a blast! Then we decided to go to El Salvador last minute...Our bestest friends, the Roses, were moving anytime in the last part of October, but we weren't sure when. So we really wanted to spend as much time as possible with them, which was always--the beach, the Colonial Zone, the zoo, everywhere! The week before they moved we were at their house everyday-Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and then Tuesday. Wednesday was the day they left so we helped them get the last minute things done and off to the airport. Their tutor, Stephanie, came home with us and we helped her with her last few days. Thursday we spent at the beach, Friday she had to be at the airport at 5 am. Tobias is in charge of those airport runs. Good thing too...I'll tell you that story later. Thursday night we had a wedding dinner for some friends and were out till midnight. I had run home from the beach, changed quickly and headed back out. All day Friday was spent trying to buy something suitable for the wedding (they are really fancy deals here). Then buying a present, then the salon for nails and hair. Two salons looked at me as a white girl and just said "no, we don't do up-dos." OK...We finally found someone who took pity on us and we spent over an hour in a salon getting all dolled up. It was funny and fun. Beckah was a good sport hanging out with me. We rushed to the wedding, to have it start almost an hour late--should we be surprised??? NOO! But, we were. They had asked us to help with the pictures so we had to be on time. It was an awesome wedding in a beautiful hotel. There were two brides who were sisters and then two grooms. All were Dominican except one groom. It was an interesting experience to help the parents fit in who couldn't speak Spanish. They were lovely people.

The wedding was an interesting cultural experience. First they were married in a separate room, then we moved to this big dining hall where we were stuffed with nuts and lots of drinks until they served dinner at 11:30 pm. WOW! The food was wonderful and the music incredibly loud. We loved watching everyone dance...but didn't dare go with them. We went for the only slow song and danced very much like gringos...No one joined us...and I am sure they got a really good laugh out of us. Again we got home soooo late! That Monday night Tobias' cousins came and he picked them up at 111 pm---BUT they had forgotten their passport for the baby. Oh, and they didn't have a birth certificate for him because he is only 7 months old and was born at home. The paper work just hadn't been turned in yet, and they hadn't even thought to have a passport for the babe. Thankfully, instead of having to get on the next plane out, their American cellphone worked and they were able to contact Tobias. Tobias saved the day with some wonderful diplomacy! It was a nothing less than a miracle. OH WAIT!!! Even I am getting all mixed up in schedule. This was the previous week when my friend was moving. I ended up taking the cousins with us to their go away party on Tuesday and then to the bus station on Wednesday morning headed for a resort. The timing was perfect because of how crazy the week was. Saturday night they came home alive from a crazy taxi ride, and Sunday was interesting at church with French, English and Spanish speakers with everything being translated 3 ways :) That afternoon was a babyshower...that night choir...the next week we spent going 100 miles an hour to all the cool tourist places. It was actually really great to get out of the house and to play with the girls while seeing the sights one last time. The zoo was a favorite with hippos that were so awesome! They make the coolest sound and are just so HUGE!

We went to this wonderful island on Thursday, came home and did laundry packed in a hurry and went to sleep so we would be ready for our "trip to the end of the world." (see Eagle Bay) We came back in time Sunday to download and swap pictures and Tobias did the crack of dawn airport rujn once again! We loved being with Anna and Karl and their baby Michael. They blessed our home with softness and a wonderful spirit of contentment and love. Thank you for coming even at such a crazy time! We sure love you guys :)

This week I have been going through every nook and cranny of the house--you know the ones you try to ignore but just keep piling up! Well, we end up paying thousands of dollars for our little junk drawers, so I have to go through everyone. Needless to say my husband's ebay hobbit, oh wait, habit...oh wait, hobby...Well, this thing with ebay saves us TONS of money. BUT a lot of "great deals" accumulate in our nooks and crannies! We have been weeding and sorting and selling and giving away. I am at the point where I just want it gone! If you want to pay me, OK, if not, take it anyway! :)

Beckah's mom came last night and now we have Madison's birthday party Saturday (tomorrow) and Thanksgiving on Sunday because we will be at the resort on the real day. All at my house--we are excited to do all of it...it just keeps us crazy :) Next week we have immunizations, going away visits, tourist stuff with Aunt Sharolyn and then getting all suitcases packed and away, plus all the airplane freight separated as well--come Monday it all has to be sorted because the packers come! AAAAAAAAAA!

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we say goodbye to all of our stuff and head to the resort for the rest of the week. Monday and Tuesday are goodbyes and Wednesday we are out-a-here! Here's to moving!!! :)