What's going on with the Kulbes?!

Sorry its been so long since I've written, but nothing really has been going on with us.  Aaron has been working, and I've been searching and looking and searching some more for a permanent place for us to live.

I've seen about 8 places, and either they are too small, or too expensive or have stairs (and I've been banned from stairs for the time being).  We saw one on Friday night that we both kinda liked, but it was really technically only a one bedroom, and  half the bathroom was in the bedroom, only the toilet was in a separate room.   I'm going out again this afternoon to see two more places.  Hopefully one of them will work out.  Our other option is to just stay here, in these long term serviced apartments, but it is at the top of our budget.

So other then that, I haven't really gone anywhere with the camera, or taken any pictures.  The weather has been wonderfully sunny and mostly warm, so I've been out walking a bit, but I haven't taken the camera.  Once we get settled, I'm sure I'll be going and taking lots of pictures again.  I plan on heading out to Keukenhof in the next few weeks to check out the blooms.  Debating getting a "spring pass" that will allow me to go many times for cheaper, since I'm sure I won't be able to walk the whole place in one day!

So that's us in a nutshell ... nothing new, nothing old ... just about the same as last week and the week before.  The only thing now is WE LIVE IN EUROPE!! AAAHHH!! :)  It's still kinda sinking in ... :)

"supermoon" rising over Amstelveen

just a quick picture of the moon rising over Amstelveen this evening ... enjoy!

Approved!

So Aaron was approved this morning ... but for some reason they didn't get the memo on me, so I have to go back for an interview in the next week or so ...

But we're staying!! YEA!!!

Thank you for all your prayers and support!

The Netherlands ... :)

Well we're here ... in case you didn't get the earlier memo's ... :)

We got in around 10AM CET on Saturday ... about 1AM Pacific ... tired, sleepy and maybe a wee bit cranky.  After going through customs, which was easier then a breeze ... they didn't ask anything, just looked at us, stamped our passports and sent us along, we gathered up our luggage and went to the meeting place for our taxi.

After a little bit of confusion at the hotel, we got to our room and were able to relax. I was passed out shortly afterwards and slept very well, we thankfully have a very comfy bed! :)  After finding our way to the grocery store to buy some essentials, I cooked my first meal in about 3 weeks thanks to the generous kindness of friends! :)

We were both awake quite early Sunday morning, so we made our way to the English speaking Anglican Church we had found and enjoyed a worship service with them.  I'm sure we'll be going back their again in the coming weeks.

I haven't really done much since we've been here, the jet lag is really kicking me this time.  So I've been sticking close to the hotel and relaxing.  Today I am in the office with Aaron, dealing with last minute Immigration things, as tomorrow morning we have our interview, that will decide if we can stay or not.  Please pray for us at 9AM CET (1AM PST, 4AM EST tonight) that they will be favourable to us and let us stay!

Also tomorrow afternoon, I'll be going with the housing company rep to see a few apartments and see if we can find someplace to live here!

Aaron will be leaving tomorrow night to go to Austria for the day Friday, and will be back Friday night sometime.  I won't be going with him since it is only a day trip.

No pictures yet, I've only taken some from the airplane so far.

Till next time,
ME! :)

Hotel Living

So last week Friday, Feb 25th, the moving company came and packed up our lives.  It took four guys, 7 hours to do this.  Aaron & I sat idly by, answering questions, and attempting to make sure we got the right things in the right piles.  Like the computers went in the pile of boxes aiming for the boat to go to Amsterdam, and that the kitchen items went in the boxes for the storage facility here in Portland.  Even though we didn't really do anything all day, it was a stressful day, as well as week, and we were both very happy to get to our new "home" that evening.

We checked into the Courtyard Marriott around the corner from our place, and got a nice suite.  Its nice to be able to have a separate living area from the bedroom, so it doesn't feel so much like a hotel.  Other then the fact that we can't really cook, unless we want to use the microwave ... not!  We have been blessed to have been able to visit with families from church for dinner all this week, as well as next.  Eating out all the time isn't that much fun, or healthy!

Once we get into Amsterdam next week we'll be living in a hotel too, for the first three weeks or so, while we search and get situated in a rental property.  Then the wait will continue for our surface shipment (meaning a boat) of our bed, computer, my crafting supplies, some books and decorations.

Hopefully the shipment doesn't take too long to cross, we really are missing our bed already!

One of the things I'm looking forward to doing when I get to Amsterdam is checking out Keukenhof ... a large garden with a variety of flowers, but it is especially known for the tulips ... :)  I'm also looking forward to using my new macro lens filters to take some fun shots of the flowers! :)  I can't wait ... though if they could find a faster way to fly us there, I'd be happy! :)