AAAHHHHH....NO INTERNET!!

OK, quick update....poutine (as asked by a friend) is crunchy fries with cheesecurds and then hot gravy.  Yummy.  OK, here goes...we have no internet and no cable.  We are in a town but rural enough that cable hasn't come to our house yet.  So we are getting satelllite TV next week and we are desperately searching for internet.  You don't realize how dependant you are until you don't have it.  So tonight we are at the library using theirs..so we will do this every couple of days or so to keep up to date. 

Our stuff came Monday and as expected the stuff that stayed on the truck was fine the stuff on the 2nd truck ...not so fine.  What is funny is most of the fragile stuff made it...including my elephants, trunks and all...but some of our furniture (nothing important) got trashed.  Oh well, I say it is God's way of helping me get rid of more stuff.  The unpackers came on Tuesday and that was like having a tornado go off in your house....not fun.  But now slowly we are getting things into shape.  I have the kitchen semi functional as of today and I have some groceries in the car right now. 

Tiana and I went and saw Twilight: Eclipse today at the local theatre and were pleasantly surprised at the size of the theater.  No lines or anything..yeah!  I think we are going to be brave and head into Ottawa tomorrow for Canada and see if we get to see the queen.  We will see.  More later.  Keep praying we have alot to do and a very short time to do it.

Oh, I got the Trailblazer back this afternoon..don't know what they did but it was free and it seems to work...so fingers crossed.

Love and miss you all....love the comments!

Exploration continues

We started the day by going to a restaurant called the Roosteraunt.  Painted yellow inside with roosters everywhere...yummy breakfast...great toast! 
Then the exploration started... Tiana and I went to Zellars ...much like Target.  Found a second grocery store in town, so I will have to find out which is better from some Canadian Friends.  Then we went to walk around down town...unfortunately most of the stores were closed since it is Sunday (what a novel idea!  lol).  But we saw some cool stores that we need to go back and visit and a couple thrift shops..yeah!  Saw a couple dog groomers and a store called 2 crazy ladies....can't wait to check that out.  Then we went back to the hotel, grabbed the dogs and took a walk to the park.  Very nice park, right on the canal and checked out the locks that the boats go through.  I can't wait to see one go through it!  Took some pics...will try to post soon. 

Then Wil and I limped the Trailblazer into the nearest Mister Transmission for them to find out what is wrong...oh wait..that was after I tried to start it and the battery was dead so Wil had to change the battery and guess what...if your battery gets to low in a trailblazer you can't get the key out of the ignition....but we dropped it off so we will say what they say tomorrow...hopefully no more bad news.  Then we came back and went to Nicks Fish and Chips...OMG...very yummy fish and we upgraded our fries to poutine....and yummy poutine too!  So now I sit here trying to come up with a plan for the chaos of unpacking that will happen tomorrow and planning out what all needs to be done this week before Wil goes to work next week. 

We won't have internet right away so I am not sure when I will blog next.  Keep praying for us...we need it ...altogether things are going well but the snags are starting to add up and I see time ticking away..but not much I can do except keep plugging along.  It sure is beautiful and I am enjoying the fact that when I take the dogs out in the rain...it is warm....I love that!  More later!

Anxiously awaiting!

Well things are a bit boring right now....we have access to the house but our stuff doesn't come until Monday so it is a little boring right now.  We met with the contractor today and are working on stuff like mailbox keys, insurance, and little details like that.  We went shopping for a bit today...checked out a different Winners.  It has been rainy today but tomorrow is supposed to be nice so I think that we are going to explore downtown Smith's Falls tomorrow.  There are some cute shops and some fountains and stuff...so we will walk around and see what we can discover.  Everybody in the states be thankful because cable TV is super expensive here...we are still working on that...we have to do satellite and you don't rent the boxes..you buy them...OUCH!  We will see what we can figure out.  Tomorrow after exploring, we have to drive the Trailblazer in and drop it off for it to be looked at....I am hoping it is nothing major again.  Can't wait until Monday...ready to move in!

I didn't share this the other day but while driving through Toronto...the song that came to mind was "I will survive" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBR2G-iI3-I.  I don't want to hear any more complaining from Canadians about Colorado driving...because in Toronto the speed limit signs must just be a suggestion along with driving etiquette also....CRAZY!

We made it!

Yeah, we finally made it!  After paying 4K to get the transmission fixed, we headed out of Toronto last night.  We made it about 30 miles from Smith's Falls when the transmission started acting up again.  Luckily, this time we were very close to a friends cousin who came and towed the trailer to his house so we could limp in to Smith's Falls in the cars.  We were just determined to make it..so today we call the place that did the transmission and work on getting it to another location so that they can work on it under warranty.  Either way we are here and I am thankful that it is over.

I have to say with all of this stress, Tiana has been spectacular.  She stayed calm, never complained and keep me laughing and awake.  Her attitude was better than mine most of the time.

So today we close on the house, Wil is going to go clear our goods with customs and we will work on the car issue and see what else we can get done...maybe some laundry...maybe some exploring!

Song for today is God is good...ALL THE TIME.  I forget that sometimes!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jl06RN5zRxk

First Day in Canada

Well, unfortunately, today was not such a good day...started out rough...fighting with the GPS...crossing the border went smoothly then we hit Toronto...at rush hour.  Not a huge problem until the GPS rerouted us through the city to avoid the traffic and the trailblazer started acting funny.  So we had to unhitch and take the car to Firestone...something is up with the transmission...could be minor, could be major, we won't know until morning.  We had a hard time finding a hotel because of the G20 conference, but we found one.  I guess if I look on the bright side...we stopped one block from a transmission shop but it is unsettling to be in a strange city...a bad part of the city....with your trailer and truck in 2 different places several miles away. 

Then on top of that, we found out that a close friend that we rode motorcycles with in the Springs was killed today in a motorcycle accident on a bike trip to California.  She was a dear lady and she had 2 kids about Tiana's age and older.  Very sad...we were looking forward to riding with her when she got to Ottawa in a couple years.  On the bright side...she probably didn't know what hit her...that is good since bike accidents can be sooo tragic.  But I am sad that I can't pay my respects.

Man I could use some encouragement....we are so close to the new place and soo far away.  I know this is all part of God's plan and I know someday I will understand some great lesson that I learned today...maybe it is as simple as be thankful in everything....at least I can be thankful...Nancy can't!  :(  I think I will go with that.  Thank you Lord for everything...for the trip going well, for the border crossing going smoothly, for the opportunity to see family two days in a row...for the truck not breaking down in the middle of the highway....for the friendly Italian man in the neighborhood where we parked the trailer who is going to make sure noone touches it...for the one hotel room left with 2 beds and for whatever happens tomorrow.  Thank you Lord that I am able to be thankful and please help Nancy's family as they deal with this horrible tragedy.  Song of the day....I am going back to Let it Rain.

Life is beach

Well, we made it to Lansing, Michigan.  We had great weather today, no wind and very little rain.  Nice drive.  We stopped at Indiana Sand Dunes National park and Tiana and I got into the Indiana part of Lake Michigan.  It was a nice distraction.  I love the beach...the waves go in and out, the tide goes up and down, the sun warms you up, the water cools you down.  Just like life up and down, in and out, hot and cold but overall beautiful. 
We got to Lansing and 3 of my cousins drove up to see us.  What a wonderful treat!  My Michigan family  has always been too far away to see regularly so it was good to see them and we are closer now so maybe we will get to see each other more often.  Thanks for coming Judy, John and Dave.  Judy and I are already planning a trip to Niagara Falls!  Yeah!
Today we head for Port Huron where we will cross into Canada.  Please pray for an easy entry.  We have all of our documents but  you never know how that will go.

Nebraska versus Iowa

So we started off in Lincoln, Nebraska and started driving in the pouring rain and wind, which with a large trailer makes for a real drag.  I am sure Wil got tired of me going way under the speed limit but when you are watching semis get blown all over the road...man my arms and shoulders were super tense.  Tiana made a sign that said "hi" and was trying to get other drivers to wave or smile or honk and she figured out that not only are Iowa drivers nicer than Nebraskans...she was also witness to alot of distracted drivers.  They were reading newspapers, talking on the phone, counting money...all sort of things.  But then again, I was taking a picture (Tiana was asleep).  Over all it was a successful day if not just really stressful but we are here and in a much nicer hotel.  Tiana  and I went and walked around a mall just for exercise and we are getting ready to watch a movie.  I am very tired but I just keep trusting that God will give me enough energy for a couple more days of driving.  Tomorrow we are headed to Lansing, Michigan.

The adventure begins

Well, we left Colorado Springs this morning.  So many mixed feelings flooded me as I watched my mom wave good bye in the rear view mirror.  It has been terrifically sad the last couple of days and yet I am still excited and yet I watch the pain in Tiana's eyes and I hurt for her.  It is sooo hard.  But we left and started driving north east into Nebraska.  Yes, Nebraska, that wonderfully boring state.  We had an overcast day, which makes for nice driving but lots of wind.  My arms are very tired tonight as the wind was blowing me all over the road..even with the trailer in tow.  Anyways, our goal was Lincoln and we made it.  I did just fine until the last hour and then I was tired and done...but we made it.  It started raining as we got here so we picked a Ramada and checked in...ewww!  Last time I do Ramada.  The rooms have a unique odor and just don't feel clean and relaxing but we are only here for the night and it could be worse.  I think I will go ahead and do some research about the next leg just to be prepared.

The trailblazer is pulling the trailer just fine although the gas mileage sucks and the volvo is on track for awesome gas mileage.  Tiana and I did fine in the car...lots of tunes and laughter and ..oh yes..the surprises from family for her to open.  Lots of distractions.  Please pray for her...this is so difficult and she is very sad but she is trying so hard to have a positive attitude.  I am very proud of her.  Tomorrow our goal is Davenport, Iowa...we shall see.

Song of the day....isn't it obvious??? The Great Adventure by Steven Curtis Chapman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrrjbTc0urk

God and Time

God and Time by Newsong...my song write now.  Although I am sure that it was meant for sadness from death...the sadness I feel is very real.  I have said goodbye to as many people as I could, my boss and coworkers, my best friend of 25 years, my sister, various other family, and a couple who I have grown to cherish as friends.  Very sad...lots of tears.  I am ready for that part to be over.  I am ready to begin the trip.  We will leave town around 8 am tomorrow morning and head for Lincoln, Nebraska.  I am excited to just get the adventure started.  God and Time...God and Time....these are the 2 things that will carry me through and heal me....God and Time.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dejVUZJuqIU

CANADA OR BUST!

24

Well, here we go on the last 24 hours.  Yesterday the house got all packed onto the truck, well actually 2 trucks.  Unfortunately the first truck already had a load on it so our stuff wouldn't fit.  This is what we were hoping to avoid because now the 2nd truck will off load our things at some point and reload on to the first truck and that is when problems happen...things go missing...breakage.  Oh well, not in our control.  TIana said good bye to a very dear friend, Andrea and her boyfriend.  So tough day for her, I am hoping that Andrea and her can keep in touch, they are so funny together.

Today, Wil is going to let the cleaners into the house and pick up the trailer and do a couple last errands.  Tiana and I are going to run around a bit and then hang out at the hotel with the dogs.  I need to do a bit of repacking and we have a couple people coming over just to say that final good bye.   I will say good bye to my best friend and then dinner with friends and back to the hotel for a (hopefully) good nights rest before the trip begins tomorrow.  The song today is "Let it Rain" by Michael W. Smith.  I heard it yesterday and it just reminded me of how I feel.  I know it doesn't have to do with crying but my floodgates are open.  I love the rain, it is cleansing and refreshing.  I could stand out in the rain all day....love it so I will go from my floodgates being open to Heaven's floodgates opening and refreshing me.  I will need that refreshment each day of the trip and I know he will be faithful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15uoXP_LUSI

2 Days left

Well, who knew that not packing would be so exhausting.  The packers finished yesterday and the truck is probably a little over half full.  You don't realize how much "stuff" you have until you see boxes, boxes and more boxes.  By the end of yesterday...I just wanted to get rid of all of it and start over.  We head back to the house today to watch them finish packing and then get the rest of the trash out before the cleaners come in tomorrow.  We got to the hotel yesterday night, it is nice to be in a place with no boxes.  The dogs are doing OK, Lizzy seems fine but Molly is pretty stressed out, she just paces around the apartment. 

I do have to say thanks to Craigs list.  There was a bunch of stuff in our garage that the movers wouldn't take and some left over paint that needed to be disposed of and we we talking about how to get it to the hazardous waste place.  Some friends had said they would take it so we started gathering it all together and then I thought...let's try Craigs list.  So I put an ad for "Free stuff the movers won't take" and gave our address and within about an hour and a half it was all gone.  SWEET! 

Tiana is hanging in there...she is having a hard time saying goodbye to everyone but she is a trooper.  She had a great overnight with her Big Sister but got pretty sunburned at the pool so I hope that it goes away quickly, she was pretty miserable last night.  She has a friend coming to hang out at the hotel pool today...so hopefully she can relax a bit.  It is hard for me to handle saying all of these good byes so I can only imagine how hard it is for her.

Well, time to go get some breakfast and get moving. 

Pack Day #1

Wow, I didn't know what to expect but I sit here in a living room full of packed boxes.  The packers came around 9 and started packing and stayed until almost 6.  The basement is finished and the main level is about 90 percent done.  We met the driver of the truck, a canadian with story after story...nice guy.  He did the inventory and started packing furniture.  Tomorrow they will finish packing and start loading.  I tell you what...I know I couldn't have packed that much in one day...amazing and seriously what a blessing.  With all of the stress of the move, it has been nice to know that you don't have to pack.  We just went to Pueblo Viejo for possibly my last authentic mexican food....one thing I have been told I will miss in Canada.  Oh well, it will be something to look forward to when I come back and you know I do make a great green chile myself.  Well, need to finish up a couple of things, like redo a consent Tiana needs for tomorrow that the packers packed today...lol.  I will laugh when I unpack it tomorrow.  Tiana is at a sleepover with her Big Sister..so Wil and I will enjoy our last evening in the house and our last evening alone and rest up for another busy day tomorrow.

Back to the land of the living

Well, I don't know what it was but man that was a wicked 24 hours.  I lost almost 6 pounds and I am still very tired...wow I don't wish that on anyone.  Anyways, onward and upward, last day of running around today and then tomorrow the packers come...seems like we have too much to get done in one day but my wonderful husband keeps reassuring me that it will get done...so we will get it done.  Last loads of laundry, starting to pack for the trip and trying to figure out what we need to take on the move and separate it so it doesn't get packed up.  Tiana's pictures turned out so well...we will try to get them posted on here but they are on both of our facebook pages.  

My life is very much reflected in the music I listen to.  I have huge musical background and a very musical family.  Music can tell you what kind of mood I am in or if you know how to use it you can change my mood.  It is inspiring and humbling and just speaks to my soul.  So on that note (lol) my song for today is "Running to catch myself".  I found it on you tube and although I don't like the video with it...you wiill get a feel for the song.  Enjoy!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ap6e2edHQgs

Cleansing

Well I guess that God decided I needed to be cleansed.  Last night over a couple hour period, I became very ill.  I don't know if it is food poisoning, some GI thing or something else but I have lost 4 pounds in a 12 hour period.  I am better this am but still not feeling anywhere near 100%.  I am very weak and can't keep anything down but life goes on and unfortunately we have alot to do before the packers come on Wednesday.  I am hoping that I make a quick recovery but the joint pain and weakness is really tough...not to mention the cough is worse and I can't get any nutrients in me.  Please pray that God will help me recover quickly and that I will have enough strength to do what needs to be done.  More later.

As I sit here, exactly one week before we leave Colorado Springs, I realize how much my life has changed over the years. One week from now, I leave the town that I have called home for 29 years. I leave family and friends and a job that I love. And yet, with all of the sadness comes excitement as well. That is why I call this blog "The Great Adventure". This is how I am looking at it..an adventure! Are adventures all fun and games, no. But they are new and different experiences that shape people's lives. I have lived in 2 countries in my life, Liberia and the United States. So, I am a white African-American on a journey to live in a third country, Canada. Should be very interesting.

God has a plan and although I don't know what that plan is...I trust it. 4 years ago I was a single mom and had basically given up on ever getting married again. 3 years ago I told Wil that we couldn't get involved because there was no way I was moving to Canada. And if you have known me a long time, there was ABSOLUTELY no way that I was going to marry a military man. Well this MK/PK in Colorado met and fell in love with a Canadian Sailor and now the countdown has begun to my last week in Colorado Springs.

The only thing I know at this point is that the tears will fall freely this week and will continue on and off for awhile but there will also be excitement and laughter as I believe that God wants me to go on this adventure with my family. I will do my best to chronicle the highs and the lows so that my family and friends can pray for us in our times of need and rejoice with us in our victories.