So much to do...

We are moving to Belgium!

There is so much to do if you want to live in a foreign country, legally that is. Every form and certificate has to be notarized and then given another notary called an Apostelle. Bob has created a "notebook" full of documents, instructions, guides, maps, business cards, certificates, time lines, school info, etc. If there is even a glimmer of an idea that we may need that piece of paper in order to make this move easier, Bob has saved it. Each item is stuffed into a clear plastic three hole punched page and added to the "notebook". The notebook was a great idea until we left it on top of the throw rug display at JCPenney. We got a call from the store later that night saying they had found something they thought might belong to us and it "looks very important". Stephanie at JCPenney thought it was so important that she put it in the safe for the evening! Maybe she saw the copy of our new lease written in Flemish.

Here is our timeline so far.

April - Visit Belgium and France with kids. Show them the sights then tour International schools in Brussels. Had a great time and even picked a school.

May 5 - Julie and Bob return to Belgium to find a house close to school and work. (South Brussels and Zeventam Airport) Found a house in Overijse, Belgium. It is still under construction and will be done on July 15. If someone in the US told me their new home would be done on July 15, I would not believe them. But we have been assured that Belgium builders are true to their word and never ever face time sensitive setbacks!

May 9-31 - Plan feverishly. Get physicals for kids and apply for an important and expensive item called a DVisa. Every single day is filled with some little task which gets us closer to our move. Did you know that although Julie's birth certificate has been fine for 44 years, it has now been discovered that it was actually signed by a clerk and therefore, not official? $55 and a very long paper trail are all it took to get an official birth certificate.

June 23 - Pack house. Somebody is doing this for us, thank goodness. Right now we are obsessed with one thought. If I don't clean out this cabinet, the movers will pack needless items that I will never need or won't be able to plug in, for the next two years in Belgium.

After June 30 - Wander around like nomads. Our things will take 5 weeks to arrive in Overijse, Belgium after sailing on a very slow boat and clearing customs. Want some company?

This was my first post on a blog! Next I will try to add photos.