Six months

It is hard to believe we have officially been here the first 6 months. Everyone tells you "The first 6 months are the hardest." So we're hoping that things look up from here. We can't say it's been "HARD". Parts have, but the past 2 months have been relatively easy. We're settling in to somewhat of a routine. Homeschooling was doing great, up until the week on Love, and then I've fallen behind because life God busy. Hoping to pick back up this week, as the kids have been bugging me to do school. I have goals for the coming week, hoping to take each day at a time.

Goals:

1. Get up with husband, if not, no later than 8am.

1b. Go to bed by 10 most nights, 11 at the absolute latest.

2. Have everyone get dressed, make beds, comb hair and brush teeth every morning.

3. Work out at least 4x this week.

4. Complete my Bible study before Thursday.

5. Do school at least 4 days this week, including reading books, some crafts, and some fun time.

6. Go outside and play at least 4 days this week.

7. Go to mass on Wednesday.

8. Work on my diabetes management more.

9. Finish crafts and get them mailed

10. Finalize what curriculum we hope to use for K next year.

Anyway, Germany... do we love it? No, not at all. We really don't like it at all. We're trying our best to be content. Jon apparently felt it when we first moved in, and I'm really beginning to feel closed in and cramped in our little apartment with three kids and so many toys, and no real place to do school. We're praying about possibly moving in the fall, or after. We'll see what comes and how we feel then. We can't move any earlier than Sept. We also hate that we don't have a backyard, and our kids have to play on a playground, with us out there, and a bunch of much older kids. I'm really trying to make sure I take the kids out in the morning when the older kids aren't out there. I hate the language barrier, and I'm just not picking up German like I had hoped. The idea of traveling is all good, but you have to have money, and a family that wants to do it. My husband doesn't like to travel at all unfortunately. So, we're stuck here for 3 years, and are doing the best we can to make it a positive experience as much as possible. Hopefully the summer will bring more joy.

However, I do feel very blessed in that I LOVE our church on base and our Catholic community. Right after I started here, the Catholic Women's group, which I had already joined, created a new Bible study for "Moms and Lil Catholics". Through this group, I have met some awesome, very conservative Catholic moms who all have kids the same age as mine, and are all about the same age as me. This is a very new experience for me, and I'm LOVING it and feeling so blessed. Also, my husband seems to like their husbands and able to relate to them, which is a very new thing for us as well.

Anyway, with that said, mass is in about an hour and a half, and I need to run and start waking up kids and getting them ready. Happy Sunday to all!