My Wednesday is nearly over, but it took me awhile to hook up the internet. Unpack Get kids' unpacked Get new phone numbers (set up family plan with T-Mobile) Target (because DD needed some shoes, I needed a toothbrush & toothpaste, and we had to "see" the store). Giant (because we needed a better variety of food). I walked in with a very basic plan. We did walk down all of the aisles to marvel at the selections. I'm still shaking my head over some things. And, I have no idea how what I purchased could possibly add up to $260!! I'm going to have to dissect that receipt. I mostly bought a few items of this and that to try, as I'm no longer familiar with most of the things on the shelves. Do Not Buy the expensive yogurt made from the ultra filtered milk... it's just a big disappointment (and I LOVE the ultra filtered milk). I'm going to have to really work at modifying our grocery plan (I had it down, so I could tell within a few dollars what we were spending at our major shopping stores in Italy... but I'm apparently way off now). Make dinner Go to swim practice Bed!

This is it! Get on a plane in Italy Sit in an airport in Paris Get on a plane in Paris Go through Customs in Virginia Get in a car and ride back to my folks' house. Find the hidden key, dump our stuff, change our clothes and... Get in a car, to take the girls to the pool (because we have to stay up until at least 8pm Eastern time (2am Naples time) Grocery shopping Dinner Bed -- sleep in at least until 7am. I'll see you tomorrow!

Freak out every time I realize I am leaving tomorrow. Freak out at everything that I'm trying to finish up for my husband before I leave tomorrow. Freak out when trying to fit everything I need into one 50# bag (and help the girls pack), while also trying to make sure that we don't go overweight on our express shipment. Crying because I have to say goodbye. A list, I'm guaranteed to succeed with 😂

Less than 24 hours. We are seriously wigging.

OH, and the piano (that doesn't work) got claimed within 5 minutes of posting. The bookcases? I still have. Well... two-three weeks to sell stuff still! I have one huge bookcase of curriculum/books that we're either selling or giving away. Everything else is packed. School supplies still to sort (not taking anything that's mostly used home, we'll just give it away). Still have to finish the school supplies and a few odds and ends. I'm nearly ready to pass this sucker off to my husband. 100# of school trash is gone (5 years of work here, consolidated down into a few envelopes), tossed all of the high school work (except for some papers) from the oldest, kept all of the high school level work for the next two. Tossed some decorations I'm not keeping. Tossing all of the miscellaneous wrapping stuff (keeping the gift bags) tossing the old (very old) Christmas boxes, tossed my wreaths, donated 3 coolers to scouts, donated 1 griddle to scouts, sold the other one. I still have to go room by room (NOT the boys' room) and move out anything that is being sold/donated or expressed or regular pack out. Have to do my room and little girls. My husband is feeling better about the move. We should be at least 2,000 pounds under what we brought here when everything is said and done. Not too shabby.

Trying to pack things into one 50# bag, and one carry-on is NOT going well, we're going to have to head to a store the day we get back, because we can't use the weight for any personal care items. The guys will get two 70# bags and one carry on in 3 weeks (I'll be picking them up, though -- so they at least have a ride). Third shipment is our express... and finally household goods. We still don't have an answer on our rental. DH is calling the landlord tonight -- basically apologizing and saying we're sorry, but we *have* to know. If the answer is no, I need to work double time on my interviews (which means driving back and forth from Fredericksburg 😞). I need to figure out the job situation before we can finalize the house situation. I have four interviews. One is definitely an a.m.; I may be able to squeeze them into two days and only spend one night in a hotel -- so we'll have to see. Friday, I've been asked to interview in one place. Saturday afternoon, I'm supposed to be in No. VA. I may see if I can just interview Thursday and Friday and then return to Fredericksburg, and drive to NoVA on Sat. Lordy, this is complicated! Wish me luck. in 48 hours I'll be on a plane (still) with 4 hours to go).

Some things we buy in blu-ray, other things we buy digital. Regardless of how it's purchased, it all gets digitized and put onto our Media Server -- which is also how we access Netflix, YouTube, etc. (I don't know what will be included when we get stateside in that mix stuff).

We're flying into Dulles. I'll be renting a van to drive us (and our baggage) home. I'll drive back the following day and my brother will pick me up at the airport on his way back from work to get me home. My husband (and sons) may be going into Norfolk in a month, though. They live in the Research Triangle with my brother. They are hopeful that my mom will improve enough in the next 7 months to be home for Christmas... but that's a big "if" right now.

Well, I have four days to try to finish having everything ready for my husband and sons to finish up (stuff to ship to my parents, stuff in the express shipment, stuff we're trying to sell/get rid of (what get's kept and packed vs. given away/tossed), everything listed for sale, old school stuff to go through (and toss/keep -- kids are doing their own, no high school stuff gets tossed if they are still in high school). It's a bit of crazy town at the moment. We're glad we came. We're ready to go. Really nervous about this next chapter as we have no home, nothing in the works -- as we've been waiting for confirmation on a rental. If I at least had an idea of what the plan was, it would be easier (there are people we know who live in Europe who have a vacant home in the area -- they've given us a price to rent, but there is nothing else, they don't want us to move in until they can check the place out, but their efforts to get their to "clean up" keep getting delayed....we're at over 2 months delay now). We only get so much time in temporary housing, and houses are going FAST right now. UGH. So, we're making a decision one way or another on Sunday. Come Sunday, I should know something. My parents are not in the area, my brother is going to be out of town, so because they wouldn't get me the flight I requested, there is NO ONE to pick us up at the airport yet. I've reached out to those I know in the area -- but it's a very busy time of year We were content, but I wouldn't call it "home." Missed my family. Some things are just harder... here. I will miss some things, and then there are things I can't wait to leave.

I mostly have issues with a lot of places piecemealing the online stuff. Groups use FB for this, then another site for that, and yet a 3rd site for something else, and oh -- we use Remind for X. Just put the information in ONE place. And, then, I hate it in FB because you can never find the information (hello -- if it's information we need to refer to, it needs to be in a FILE, not put into a random post that gets buried by everyone else posting things! Paying online? I generally don't mind, but if it's a bad website, hard to navigate, count me out. It seems overkill for a movie theater (unless I am booking for a large group, in which case, I can see the point. Things I'm going to miss about Italy... my full service gas stations! Who knows, I may wind up spending more on gas just to go to one (assuming they still exist in Virginia). Italians bag their own groceries here -- but we don't have to scan them (I don't mind bagging them myself). The scanning and bagging brings up bad memories, though. Count me among those who really hate the self-checkout lines (unless I'm just grabbing a water or something). My first shopping trip (next Wednesday) is to Wegman's. I have to go in the morning, though because I won't have time on Tuesday. I've already made a shopping list.

back to simply LisaKinVA -- my girls and I fly back on Tuesday. My boys and husband will follow in less than 4 weeks. My husband's original separation date was 8 June, but they couldn't figure out how to do my husband's orders and fund them until late Tuesday night. While a Tuesday morning flight is pretty quick, they wanted to put me on a flight on FRIDAY (ummm, no.) I have to figure out how to get from the airport to my folks house (my parents are living in NC, as my mom has been ill for over a year, and my dad was unable to care for her alone, and my brother is out of town). It's going to be a crazy four days (making things even more fun, we have a 6AM flight out). My Italian life is nearly over.

Pokeman's Eagle project is DONE. He collected and delivered more than $4,000 worth of supplies, food, toys and clothing to the center here. The write up is almost complete (have to add the photos), and then he can submit the completed packet. Final OA event this weekend, and I am supposed to fly out Tues or Weds (waiting on the email with the information). Dad will have to oversee getting him to the board of review and everything...they fly out in 4 weeks. DS learned a lot from this project -- mostly, that you can't really "over plan." (As adults, we do know that it's possible to over-plan, but usually difficulties are because we don't plan enough). I'm hoping to get an article in the Panorama about the project -- with a personal note. DS is looking forward to finding a new troop in the Hampton Roads area. My younger girls are hoping to find an AHG troop, and DD is hoping we live close enough to the Aquarium she can volunteer there.

Laundry Eagle Project -- keep bugging and following up with DS. Bug the kids to clean, because I don't want to. Maybe swim? The weather doesn't make that likely. Wait on pins and needles as we decide our housing situation for our move this week (we have a firm deadline). Optimal decision financially that makes a huge positive impact on our living situation and a smooth transition. Other situation has us in temporary housing for 90 days, and will be a more difficult financial path -- but still doable.

We just wrapped up phase 2 of Pokeman's Eagle Project -- Supply Collection and increasing community awareness. DS's group of volunteers spoke to more than 1,000 people about Centro Laila (non profit organization that helps refugees/immigrants/local families in need with child care, supplies, after school care, food, and transportation). We did well with the supplies donated, but personally I was really shocked at how many people couldn't be bothered to donate a $1.00 bag of black beans, or 1 can of veggies or fruit. We were blessed by a few people donating a lot -- but I can't help but feel like it should have been more. All of the items collected have been inventoried, and now he has to make a shopping list from the money raised during the breakfast burrito sale to fill in the gaps. I was hoping that we'd get enough beans, rice and canned fruits and veggies that he could use the money to purchase the more expensive items (canned meats, cleaning supplies, plates/cups), but that didn't happen. We have enough clothing, shoes and supplies that we will more than fill my van and my husband's car. DS still has to email his Troop and remind them that if they have anything they would like to donate (from the list) to please bring it to the meeting, and then invite any scouts willing to help load/unload to the organization on Tuesday night. I'm also going to have him email the commissary and see if they have anything he might be able to pick up (free) or any discount that could be applied to larger purchases. They may say no -- but it's worth a try. In the end, he'll deliver nearly $3,000 worth of clothing, food and supplies to the organization. It's a pretty substantive amount. Along the way we've talked about things that worked really well, and things he could have done better. Honestly, with all of the extra hoops we had to go through -- not the least of which having another group out there selling breakfast burritos on our day (THAT, after the nonsense legal gave us 2 months earlier), we weren't sure it was going to come together. But it did. Now, he's in the final stretch (oh, and I'm still in Italy because no one seems to understand the process for getting us out of here).

What she said... student-s are more than a black and white set of data points at a point in time. They bring with them a whole host of unseen/unknown layers. One "privileged" zip code in my area has a good number of families living in double-wide trailers not far from the million dollar homes. Other families are doubled up, because they can't afford to live in the area other wise. Many of these same families earn just enough more than what would entitle them to health care or food assistance, but they don't qualify. Others are renting from a friend or family member at below market rent, working on the property in addition to a full time job. Some families stuck together through circumstances that often tear others apart. As we search for places to live, the areas in which we are looking (because we can afford them) we are told to avoid. Maybe God is having us move into a struggling area in order that we might bless our neighbors with what we can help them with? I don't know. I just know I'm not paying $1,500 a month to live in a 1,200 square foot house in the nice area because my friends don't like the neighborhood we can afford. We've lived and stayed in worse. I do know as my daughter gets ready to start all of her essays, I'm going to make sure she has all of the documentation she needs to tell her story. It is far from the norm of that of our peers.

Whoo-Hoo! APs are OVER for 2019. School is OUT until we get to Virginia and pick back up with our summer program (looking like Memorial Day or thereabout. Hate all of these delays.

I'm old enough to have forgotten all of the stuff that I did or had that is completely irrelevant to today's life.

DD is a bit nervous for her AP English Language today... you know she's trying to keep things light as she makes jokes about bombing the calculator portion of the exam 😉 Next year, we will really be increasing the focus on her humanities subjects. I'm so excited!!

I'm going to suggest ClutchPrep.com. You can match their lectures to multiple textbooks. We used Campbell & Reese. I also purchased the study guide that goes with the book. ClutchPrep has PDF notes that can assist with notetaking, as well as practice sets for certain concepts, and even chapter exam review. I used questions from the Study Guide to create tests. And the Campbell Biology connect has additional activities and helps as well. http://webs.bcp.org/sites/rwong/mwb/campinter 1.4/chapter0/deluxe.html From there, you can study (or not) for an AP exam or the Biology SAT2. We've found Educator.com a solid source for good AP Test Prep.

Drop LEGOManiac @ work & PonyGirl for AP exams Wait for Gardeners to arrive for major work on trees and 12' bushes (they just arrived) Take my Kiina dog to the vet to be spayed, and have her rear shaved, to continue treatment for anal furunculosis, Work with kids on various projects, clean a bit, a bit of laundry, talk to my husband and try to figure out moving stuff (most of the day) Pick kids up... dinner... bed.

Eat real food...a lot of plants, and then don't sweat the small stuff. My youngest is now 10. She's still pretty picky, but there are things she'll eat easier than others. My middle girl and boy are my least picky. My oldest daughter is Vegan. My oldest son is also pretty picky -- but would eat convenience foods all day if he could. What worked best for me -- basing my cooking around what my family would eat. So, if they wanted chicken nuggets -- I learned how to make them. I'd make a lot of them and keep them in the freezer. And, I just wouldn't worry about the ketchup and BBQ sauce. (I'd buy chicken breasts, cut them up, "bread" them and bake them. Once I had a recipe they would eat well -- I wouldn't try another one. I didn't care if someone put something out there that was the absolute best. I had something that worked, and life is too short to sweat weather chicken nugget A was better than Chicken nugget B. I'm not trying to win a Michelin star! I'd make my own spaghetti sauce (hiding some mild, pureed veggies in the sauce). Again, once I had something that worked, I'd make a bunch and freeze in quart baggies. I'd buy the frozen tortellini or ravioli to make some variety in pasta dishes and considered it good. I'd keep trying the salads (with whatever dressing...and not worry about the dressing). One bite...two bites, three bites... improving the amount over time. Only one of my kids ever loved veggies as a kid (he used to cheer when I said they were having broccoli with ranch dip for lunch -- my 10 year old only really likes carrots raw, but will eat more grilled). Most of our food is grilled outside these days. We grill veggies and reheat throughout the week. Things are pretty simple. My vitamix became my best friend -- I could "hide" veggies in smoothies. Wasn't a lot, but it was better than nothing. Occasionally, we'd have hot dogs -- I'd buy the ones with the least amount of weird stuff and just be okay with it (my daughter just asked for some, I don't think we've made hot dogs in nearly 2 years though). All in all though, it was one step at a time. We never did well with huge, sweeping changes at once. And, our best successes started with foods/spices I knew they already liked. Yes, I've made my own homemade Spaghetti O's, even. Our family loves Mexican, Asian, and Italian -- we're just starting in on Indian. And, lunch is often a previous dinner re-heated. I've been really spoiled here by fresh TASTY produce, and incredible fresh artisan breads. I'm going to miss it. My life is going to be in a huge state of flux for at least the next 3-6 months. I will be having to buy a lot of things I wouldn't normally, just because I won't have pots/pans/measuring/mixing/baking tools for quite a while. And then, I have to actually move in and get settled right at the start of school/swim season. My goal is to take it slow, and gradually build into things again (I have to figure out where to shop, who has the best food, work in our trips to farmers' markets, food-co-oops and other things, ensure I have freezer/storage space). Then, I'll attack it one thing at a time. For me, that will start with homemade breads and smoothies. I'll go from there. Thankfully, I have most of my tried and true recipes I've built over years -- but I know I can't tackle everything at once. Hopefully over 12-18 months, we'll have our system(s) all in place for shopping/food prep/food storage, and life will get easier again.

Praying for you and your family.

Congratulations!

One of the biggest issues we've faced living overseas is that our health insurance is apparently not compatible with the USN Hospital here (there is good/bad/ugly about the local Italian system -- which we've had a bit of experience with as well). There are compounding factors -- most of which are driven by the high turnover rate for personnel. Our first major experiences with the hospital involved them sending things to the wrong address, then there were the coding issues (apparently, I was being treated for cancer, and my dh had a pap smear). Their "new" vaccination record can't be read by people who work there, or the schools (They lost my actual hard-copies for two of my children -- one of which is heading to college soon, so I need to get their original copies again from our previous doctor, and marry that to whatever USNH Naples provides -- just in case). I thought the $15,000 for 3 days of observation of my husband was exorbitant in 2015 -- fast forward to October 2018, and they charged $13,000 for ONE 18 hour observation. The bill we received said "all inclusive hospital stay and professional services" $13,000. That was it. Well, we submitted it and of course it was denied. After it was denied, the hospital was willing to provide some more codes (details), and it was again denied, except for $600 in professional services (they codes they provided indicated this was a planned hospitalization -- which has to be pre-approved -- not an emergency admit -- he was admitted through the ER by way of ambulance). We are still working on getting this straightened out 7 months later. The hospital claims it's coded properly -- the insurance company says it's not. I feel like screaming. We've also paid the hospital $3,000 and they are only showing $300 (?!?).

AP Exams -- wait around the food court, because everything else is closed (this is where I currently sit typing away). Shopping -- use my NEX coupon. Go home to a disaster of the remnants from our last breakfast burrito sale. I just didn't have it in me yesterday. Work on Eagle Project with DS (guide him through editing his flyer, then have him create a public FB post with it that I can share everywhere he's not allowed to join because he's not an adult/member. ) DS is working with a refugee crisis center here in Naples, Italy. Yesterday's burrito sale was to raise money for fresh food and supplies he'll purchase in town. This weekend is a big supply drive for shoes, socks, personal hygiene, cleaning supplies and shelf-stable food. He's already complied a "shopping list" for customers at the commissary and the NEX, the flyer and shopping list will be passed out to customers as they enter (by the scouts and volunteers), and items collected will be dropped off there. The online push is for people who have things at home they wish to drop off to donate. Then, he needs to catalogue everything and prepare for delivery (I'm hoping to need 4 vans). Once this is done, I have nothing left on my "to do" list that is of any major consequence. Finalize details for our goodbye party (on Sunday, we think) -- we're hosting a Chick-fil-A party and teaching scouts and swim team families how to make it. I'm sure more odds and ends of things to do around the house -- but my list is growing short. I have to leave something for the packers to do!!