We Made It.

The unbridled pre-trip optimism

We're here. In Austria. After 2 months of insanity, paperwork, packing, moving, and living out of suitcases, we've arrived in Gaming.

    Courtney and I (just to be clear: this is Brian writing, not one of the children) spent Monday through Thursday in Steubenville. It was a great chance to hang out with my side of the family, and we ate as much American food as possible to gear up for the chicken wing shortage we'd soon be facing. 

     We left my parents' house on Thursday around 12:30pm to head to the Pittsburgh airport. After a short layover in Washington, we arrived in Vienna at 8:00am the following morning, and made it to our new home in Gaming around 11am. 

   In every aspect of this move, from the big picture of picking up and moving our family overseas to the endless checklists and logistics to figure out, God's provision has been so evident. I know we believe that God always provides for us, but sometimes He makes it abundantly clear. Here are some of the hlighlights so far:

 -We brought 6 checked bags, and we had a rough estimate of how much they weighed, but weren't really sure until we brought them to the airline counter. The total weight was exactly on target and there was just enough room to shift things around to even out the weight distribution.

-We only had 3 tickets for the flight from DC to Vienna, but a very kind Austrian Air employee gave us an extra middle seat for the baby. We were able to keep him in his carseat throughout the 8 hour flight, and he slept like a champ for most of it. Ellie even slept the whole flight.

-We arrived safely, with all of our bags and most of our sanity, to Gaming.

Sleeping Ellie: sponsored in part by the makers of Melatonin

As a lover of movies, I was excited to stay awake for 8 hours. I got to watch a Liam Neeson movie. It doesn't matter which one, since they all involved a loving father on a killing spree to prevent someone from hurting his grown (but also grown distant) child. And Courtney finally watched the Sound of Music. So yes, we're ready for life in Europe.

    Our first day in Gaming was great. We were greeted by several of the faculty and staff families in Gaming, who helped us unpack and get settled into our townhouse. We walked the kids in the stroller to dinner, and they had both fallen asleep by the time we got there. So far, so good.

    

Can't wait to see what the next few weeks bring. Stay tuned for updates. My next post will include the story of yesterday's alcohol-related injury, but don't get too excited. It doesn't involve anyone drinking.

Dinner in Gaming. Before my sober, but alcohol-related, injury.