I'm Going to Post a Happy Post

Yes I am!  We have had some big highs and lows while here in Germany!  Nothing is ever easy, right?

*Starting before we even left Virginia--John had our furniture sent over early--like 5 weeks before we left--5 weeks--so it would be here waiting for us when we got here.........was it?  Was it?  Noooooooo!  Didn't see our furniture until mid September.

*My piano was destroyed in the move.  

*Everyone told me that I wouldn't have any trouble finding a job over here........BUT I did.  The military is drawing down their forces here, so the Army hospital doesn't have any positions right now.  But they were absolutely thrilled about the idea of me volunteering.  So, they got started on my credentialing.  I did manage to find a job doing physicals for servicemen leaving the military, but now I'm not able to do that anymore either.  But, I do still get to volunteer at the hospital.  At least I will keep my clinical skills current.  Looking into doing some temporary work back in the states.  

*We thought we were going to be able to see healthcare providers at the military clinics.  Nope.  We were told, ONCE WE GOT HERE, that we could only be seen at the military facility on a space available basis.  Guess how much space they have on any given day.  None.  Not once have they had "space available" to see us when we need medical care.  Frustrating!  On the up side, it is not too terrible difficult to be seen by a local doctor.  

*Emily broke her arm, saw a local physician who did not have a full cast put on her arm.  Wore a splint for 4 weeks, then had follow up x-rays and the bone was not set well.  We thought she was going to have to have surgery.  Saw a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at the Army hospital.  He decided it would be worse for Emily to have surgery than not due to her growth plates still being open.

*Ethan played football in Virginia.  But the football program here is not a very good program.  So, Ethan is going to take up golf.

*BUT, if we hadn't come here, we would have missed out of some wonderful experiences.  Such as:

*Seeing that HUGE rabbit at the farmer's market.  The "little" rabbit there is actually a normal sized rabbit.

*New and exciting ways to enjoy chocolate and sugar.  

*Beautiful scenery

*Family to share it with

*Santa Clause even comes to visit

*We have already had some fun times here and we still have 2.5 years left. Our list of things we want to see while we're here just keeps growing.  We have friends coming to see us in June.  Going to Munich, Garmisch, and Austria.  Looking forward to that.  Then, the very next week, we go to Texas to see family.  That's going to be a lot of fun.