Getting Our Feet Wet

Mornin' y'all!  So that is as far as my Texas lingo will take me, but give me a few months and I am sure I will have expanded my vocabulary.

Our family (minus Emily) has been in Texas a month now. I thought it would have been much easier to jump into daily life, but alot changes when you are out of the country for 4 1/2 years.  New technology. New food. New products. New styles. New trends. New cars. New, well, just about everything. In some ways, it is like being someone who has amnesia and slowly has to remember and learn everything over again.

We closed on our house at the end of March, but have not been able to live there since most of our belongings are on the slow boat from Japan. However, tomorrow that will all end, as 427 boxes containing our junk stuff will be delivered. It will be like Christmas opening each box and trying to decide what to do with everything. (Okay, so 7 1/2 weeks really hasn't been that long, but it sure feels like it.) Chris told me recently "Our life has been like living the Suite Life of Zach and Cody. Finally it is almost over."

While I cannot tell you much about the area thus far, I can tell you where every Target, Lowes and Home Depot is within a 25 mile radius of our house. Chris and Sami have settled into school with only a few minor bumps. The kids here seem very welcoming and friendly, which has made the adjustment much easier. We miss Emily more and more each day, but we also know each day that goes by is one day closer to us to all being together again. If this is how it will feel when Emily goes off to college in a year, then I owe my mom a huge apology for not understanding why she was so upset when I went off to Ohio State. I feel a bit lonely and overwhelmed most days, but I know that is all part of the repatriation process. Hopefully getting in the house and turning it into our home will help.

Life in quiet, small-town, Prosper, Texas will be much different than being in the city for the past 4 1/2 years. I am sure the weeks and months ahead will provide laughter and many tears, but I think we will really enjoy this new adventure. So don't stay away from this blog too long. I have a feeling things are about to get interesting.

Dear Mom: Change of Address

Dear Mom:

It has been almost 7 months since we spoke last. I hope you are enjoying your "vacation" and are having fun being reunited with all of your family and friends that you haven't seen in a long time. I know I promised you I would start blogging again on a regular basis, but life got crazy shortly after my last post. So let me take a few minutes to catch you up on "The Jacobs' Family Adventures".

As you know this was to be our last year here in Japan and we have been anxiously waiting to find out what and where was next. At the end of November Matt found out about a job opportunity in the Mining Division. After a few weeks of interviews, waiting and alot of praying Matt was offered the job. Put down your golf club and your old fashioned just for a minute, because I would hate for you to spill or break your club from shock. Ready? We are moving to Dallas, Texas at the end of this month. I know you and I talked at length this summer about Dallas and I firmly believe "There Is No Coincidence in Life, Only a Purpose". And as hard as it will be to leave Japan, there is no doubt in my mind that this move is exactly the path that God wants us to be on.

The kids are anxious, yet excited. This has been the longest place they have ever lived. They have grown up here. We came with a kindergartner, 4th grader and 7th grader. The kids will be in 5th, 9th and 12th in the fall. Sami and Chris will start school for the last 9 weeks in Texas and we are leaving Emily in Japan to finish out the end of the school year. Don't worry, we have her staying with a good family that will make sure she is okay. I will be coming back to Japan in May for prom (there is NO WAY I am missing that) and will stay until final exams. I will let my friend put Emily on the plane to come to the states. Yes, I know I will owe her big for that one.

For me the move will be bittersweet. I have fallen in love with Japan and I think this will be the hardest move I have had to make. Wait I mean the second hardest. The first was leaving you of course. But I am excited to see what the next adventure holds. I mean, what can go wrong with cowboys, rodeos, Tex-Mex and FOOTBALL! And yes, unfortunately this means there is a chance Emily could become a Longhorn. You will just have to learn to tolerate them if so. Maybe I can watch Matthew McConaughey bongo on the Texas sidelines up close and personal.

I think the hardest part of this whole move is you not being here to talk things through. I never thought I would miss hearing "I am not telling you what to do but...". I really could use that right now. Dad is way better at not giving his opinion. You two always evened yourselves out.

I will try to be better about blogging in the coming weeks. We will be living the "Suite Life of Zack and Cody" and staying in a hotel for 6 weeks starting this Thursday. We have to buy two cars and move a household across the ocean. Life will be busy, but I am sure it will present some great bloggable moments. After all, it is our family.

I miss you.

Love,
Alexis

Happy Japanniversary!

One year ago Matt left our happy American comfort zone and embarked on the beginning of a great adventure. Hard to believe Matt has been in Japan for a year now.

I can picture the morning clearly. We had to leave at a bright and early 4:15 am to take Matt to the airport.
He was to be in Japan for 3 months and then the kids and I would join him at the end of January. We made it through saying goodbye with only a few tears and then went to the Waffle House as a little treat to ourselves. I remember looking at the kids thinking, holy $#*%. What was I going to do with them alone for 3 months? But hey we made it!

Matt was very good about appearing as a guest blogger during those 3 months. It was nice being able to get an idea of what I was in for.

Of course I think deep down some of it was trying to freak me out a bit.
And while he was off enjoying his new adventure I was back home plunging the sink and toilet, trying to get ready to move 12,000 miles away, and doing all this exciting stuff.








One year... Happy Japanniversary Matt!

Hitting the Ground Running

In only 42 days I am moving to Japan and I think I am starting to hit a slight panic mode. Okay maybe more than a slight panic mode.

There is so much I still need to do here, not just before we move next month, but before they pack our stuff for the sea shipment on December 18. I have been busy stocking up on medicines (you can't find simple items like Tylenol very easily and medicines are 1/2 the strength in Japan. And speciality items such as Leptovox) or Viagra, you might as well forget it), food (cereal, granola bars, canned goods, dressings, peanut butter, mac & cheese, oatmeal, pancake mix, etc) and household goods (laundry soap, shampoos & conditioners, soaps, dishwasher liquid, Kleenex, paper towels, etc) I have picked out new master bedding, kitchen rugs and towels, bath towels and area rugs for the kids bedrooms. Even though our dining room is already full of stuff, I still have a long list of things I need to buy this week.

1. Shelves for linens to put in the storage room
2. Shelves for toys to put in the storage room
3. Baskets and bins for the kids closests and the bathroom cabinets
4. Some type of storage/drawer unit for Chris's closet (We are not taking his dresser)
5. Spare sheets for Chris's & Emily's beds
6. Extra razor blades & Emily's face wash
7. Picture frames
   
8. New kitchen dishes (We are keeping ours here to use and then put into storage)
   
9. Blank DVD Disks
10. Extra boxes of contacts
11. Artificial Christmas tree
    
12. Some last food items
    

This weekend I managed to sort Sam's bookshelf, Barbies and all our DVDs and VHS tapes. Although Sam has outgrown many books on her shelf I just cannot part with them. Some of them were mine and Matt's when we were kids, and others have been passed through all three of my kids. So into storage will go a whole tub of board and toddler books. I figure someday my grandchildren can have them.

Besides shopping for the above items, I have a whole list of things that needs to be done before next week. Just a few of the most important things include:

1. Mail Visa paperwork **MUST DO BY TUESDAY**
   
2. Starting to pull out clothes and items that we will be taking with us on the plane and put into suitcases.
3. Finish Christmas shopping & wrap gifts.
   
4. Sort through toy closet, dress up clothes and doll basket to take stuff that kids no longer play with or have outgrown to Guardian Angel store.
   
5. Organize office, purge magazines, file paperwork, sort through supplies.
   
6. Backup laptop and burn photo CDs.
   
7. Pick pictures to print and place in frames.
   
8. Clean junk drawer in kitchen.
9. Clean out dining room hutch and sort recipe books.
   
10. Call boat storage place and find a storage place for van.
    
11. Call painters for quotes to get bonus room and master bedroom painted.
12. Call rental agent regarding paperwork for January to get our house rented out.
    
13. Sort through game closet to decide what goes and what will be stored.
14. Organize coat closet.
15. Make hotel reservations for Dec. 19 - Dec. 22 and then Jan. 16 - Jan. 19.
    

All of the above needs to be done while I have to get the kids to school, homework done, get groceries for this week, gymnastics practices (everyday this week), laundry, cleaning the house, 2 Japanese classes, finish work for one client and set up meetings for another client. I am way behind in my blog reading and I apologize. I promise I will get to them soon. I am also going to get a small real tree for the kids to decorate so we have something "Christmasy" here. Plus it will be a nice surprise for Matt (who will be here in 9 days!!).

Things are crazy around here right now trying to get things done, but it is probably a good thing. It keeps me from worrying about moving 7,200 miles away, the transition, the kids, missing our friends and family, and just being scared/nervous about this whole adventure we are about to embark upon.

Oyasuminasi! (Means goodnight in Japanese)

Conversations Heard Around the Lunch Table

Emily: Mom, M emailed and asked me send some pictures because kids at school want to see what I look like. (Emily already has two girls from her school in Japan emailing her and they seem to have really hit it off)

Chris: The boys want to see what you look like. He he he he he

Sami: Emily is going to get a boyfriend.

Mom: Ugh... I guess you probably will have your first boyfriend while there considering you are in 7th grade now. (Mom trying to be a realist)

Emily: I don't have time for a boyfriend, but when I do I want him to be from Europe.

Mom: (no words as mouth hanging open)

Chris: he he he he he

Mom: Well I guess that would be pretty cool to say my first boyfriend was European. But what about when you or he leaves, that is a far distance. Maybe you should pick a boy from North America at least. (Again trying to be a realist)

Emily: Nope. Because my boyfriend will fall in madly love with me and follow me to the States.

Mom: (again, speechless)

Chris: My girlfriend will be from Australia. He he he he he he (As he makes some seductive eyebrow raising look)

Sami: My boyfriend will be daddy.

Mom: (leaves the table to find something to drink that will take away the sudden headache this conversation has caused)

Days... Days... Days...

Days until Matt leaves .......... 7
Days until David Cook's Album comes out.............. 33
Days until Matt comes back for Thanksgiving (Just confirmed this morning)................... 35
Days until Ohio State Plays Michigan......... 37
Days until they pack our sea carton ............. 63
Days until Christmas.................... 70
Days until New Years .................. 77
Days until Emily's first meet................... 87
Days until Emily's 13th birthday..................... 89
Days until we leave for Japan....................... 96

Luggage Lowdown

Wednesday night our family went shopping for new luggage. Sounds like a fairly easy task. No trying on needed. No worrying "do they have this in my size". Just pick it out, roll it up to the register and pay. Maybe for your family it is easy, however for this picky family of five it turned into a three hour journey.

Our first problem was we had not yet decided exactly what we needed. Since we will be doing alot of traveling over the next three years we obviously needed something decent that will withstand the massive beatings airline give it. But how many and what size? Heck if we knew. Our biggest issues are our initial move, home leave and when we return stateside.

Since we will not have all our stuff for over a month when we get to Japan or get back to the states, we need enough clothing and items to last us several weeks. Plus we also will want room to carry some food (Caterpillar won't ship food with our belongings and there will be things we are unable to get while in Japan) and to bring back our "must-have" items from the US. (Mainly health and beauty items as I have this fear of thinking I am buying shampoo and instead it is some Japanese face cream with bleach) Then you have the shopping we will do when on home leave to think about.

With our Northwest tickets, unless the policy changes, we are allowed three pieces of checked luggage (plus Cat will pay for one more per person when we initially leave and then when we return stateside). But as Matt pointed out, can you imagine me traveling next summer with the kids by myself with 12 pieces of luggage? I can't stop laughing at that picture. I have a hard enough time taking my one suitcase and hooking my laptop bag to it, let alone 12 pieces.

So we wandered from store to store writing down features, sizes and prices. All while Sami was begging us to let her have a pink suitcase and Emily was informing us that she will not have a black or poop colored suitcase and Chris danced around in circles telling the girls since he gets the one black set we already own and he wants a black suitcase that he is obviously our favorite. We had debated not taking the kids with us to shop, but decided that allowing them to go would help them feel a part of the process. Next time I say screw the process and Matt and I go alone.

After three long hours we finally made our decision. We bought from this Ricardo Santa Cruz line at Kohls. Our deciding factor was the design of the wheels and the "Self-repairing, nylon coil zippers never go off track or tangle." Zippers on suitcases are my downfall as I am always breaking them. We let the girls each pick their color (Sami picked the baby blue and Emily picked purple) and bought three of the 28-inch expandable suitcases and one of the 25-inch expandable (I picked baby blue too). We figure once we get closer to our departure I can always get a few other 25-inch ones. However between what we just bought and the two Chris will be using and then the two Matt will be taking with him should be plenty. We will then use our remaining checked luggage allowance to pack actual boxes and fill those with dry foods and our must-have items.

Who would have thought picking something as simple as luggage would have been such a chore. If you think this was bad you should have seen us when we bought a basement dehumidifiers at our old house.You know with us Jacobs' nothing is ever easy without added drama.

Thankful Tuesday

For those that know me well you know that I am an anti-change person. So our decision to accept a job in Japan is probably very non-Alexis-like. Because change doesn't even begin to come close to mention just how much change it will be. So just why is this post titled "Thankful Tuesday?"

In just the past 3 weeks of accepting the overseas assignment I have been emailed or called by three wives of Caterpillar expats in Kobe, emailed by a friend of a friend who used to live in Tokyo, emailed back and forth several times with this awesome family, and have been invited to dinner with 4 families while we are in Kobe for our house hunting trip. We also have a full agenda already emailed to us for the week we are there, so there is nothing we have to do on our part but show up. The support that the other expats have already given us, and Caterpillar in general (they think of everything), is bound to make this exciting, yet terrifying and nerve racking transition so much easier.

So I am very very very thankful that God has placed these people in our lives. It makes me know that our decision to accept this assignment was the right one to make. I can already see how he is working in our lives not only here, but in Japan as well.

Special Guest Blogger

Matt and I are working to make the transition from North Carolina to Japan as easy as possible for the kids. While this is an incredibly scary time for all of us (even Matt is nervous), it is also exciting and an opportunity of a lifetime for our family.

I had meetings the past two days with the kid's school guidance counselors. One of the things suggested was to allow the kids to be "part of the process." To let them "journal" to friends and family about what they are doing here in general, what they are doing for the move, what they are feeling or are excited about and once we are there about their daily findings and experiences. So what better way to allow them to do so but on a blog. The kids are not ready to keep their own blog, so for now I will let them be "special guests blogger" here and maybe someday they can start their own "Experiences From Life" blog.

So today your special guest blogger is Emily, our 12 year old daughter.

Hi, we are getting ready to move to Japan(the big move). I am excited to be able to see the world other than the US. I can't wait to be able to go to Australia. I will love to see the kangaroos, koala's and I am looking forward to seeing where the Olympics were held. I am a fan of the gymnastics. Oh,and that brings me to my gymnastics. I am glad I will get to compete level 7 before I move WITHOUT uprises. I will be able to compete two level 7 meets. I am glad that I will be able to go to some school dances with my friends. Maybe if i am lucky i can go up to shops on main (a store where every one goes to hang out and they have a Starbucks-type place, popcorn machines and games that you can play) if my mom lets me. :-)

Syonara,
Emily

**All the "special guests" blog posts will be left unedited, other than spelling**