Preparing to Take a Big Step - Rather, a Giant Leap! - April 2011

Spring has arrived in Nebraska! The journey begins........

As the joy and excitement of the great news begins to sink in; but unable to become routine - the next steps of the journey start to be a focus.

Oh my word!  Where do you begin?  What needs to happen when?  How do you support your daughter as she prepares to move away from her comfort zone.  That’s really what such a drastic life change is....  it is a move out of your comfort zone.

Listing of “what I need to survive” has begun.

First you need to figure out how to get to your destination.  Then you need to try to prepare to have with you the things you need for survival.  Everyone has their own unique survival list and different destinations for each individual have their own peculiar survival lists.  If you are going to travel say from Lincoln to Omaha, or Denver, or Houston, or New York - your survival list looks very different from your survival list for a relocation to Eastern Europe for ten months!

I am not sure we can even know what is needed for survival in Eastern Europe.  More research and thought must be given to determine.....  WHAT DOES SHE NEED?

So, the lists and questions were beginning....

Travel, a place to live, insurance, money, music....  no one can travel without music!

As the days begin to be counted,  we begin the plans and lists.  I must confess, it is daunting to try to imagine yourself living and working and learning in the culture of the Republic of Macedonia,  especially without ever having been there!  It is daunting to try to encourage and support someone as they make these preparations.  We have never even traveled in Europe, let alone Eastern Europe, let alone the Balkans....  let alone to live and work there for ten months.

Oh my word...  the beginning of the lists!