Yes Caribou “Coffee solves nearly every problem”

It was a crazy experience to sort through everything we own and had collected and stored in our 4,000 sq foot home.  We ended up sorting most things and taking boxes down to the “daycare toy room.”  We placed masking tape on the floor to divide our storage items and our shipped items.  With the help of music, coffee,and mixed drinks we worked through and got it all done.

I do not think we were hoarders by any standard but we had lots of stuff.   The scheduling was a little rushed but we got scheduled for a crew from AAA movers to come on Thursday 6/18  and movers to load things on to the truck on 6/19.  Packing day was a crazy experience.  At 10 am 2 guys showed up. When I nervously explained that I could help with anything they needed Calvin calmly told me I could help him by sitting down, relaxing with a martini.  Caleb and I gladly sat down with our dear friend Merry Sondreal who was visiting from Phoenix.   It was a wonderful time to catch up and take in the beautiful Minnesota June weather.  The packing team went through our things, nicely packing them to make their way to Japan via air shipment or packing away our belongings to place into storage while we were gone.  The packers spent 9 hours getting things ready.   After our visit with Merry,  Caleb and I got back to work packing things that we would take in our carry on bags and cleaning up things around the house.

The moving crew showed up at 9 on Friday!  It was another great experience with AAA movers as they carefully disassembled our couches, table, and larger items.  They wrapped them in moving blankets and saran wrap.  I was so impressed with the time and care that was used by everyone at AAA movers.

I don’t even quite know what to say besides I am tired and weary.  We are busily sorting through every single item we own while literally tearing apart the house, getting things off the walls, having one room ceiling skim coated, holes patched, and still doing showings of the house.   It  is a crazy buzzing hub of chaos.  On the positive: we get to start our new adventure soon, Caleb and I get to stick together: no more solo business trips for a while, my sweet, helpful in-laws are visiting this week, Co even made a lemon cake per my request.  Very nice to have  a treat while we are trying to eat our way through the left overs and randomness from our fridge and pantry.

We are selling things on craigslist, giving to goodwill and throwing things away. We are making piles of things to ship via air shipment, and things to store.  Additionally we get a total of 9 checked bags for our family of 4.  I guess flying business class has even more perks.

So far the hardest things to part with was our 1998 Bayliner Capri and our sweet 70″ TV.   These items have lots of positive family memories associated with them.  I think the kids hit the “nail on the head” when they asked “Why would you sell something that was the source of  our great memories” regarding the boat. I think we were all about to cry at that moment and I know I have shed some tears since then. I am happy to know that the memories are not in the things, but the memories are inside of us.  However, I think we are all grieving this chapter ending.  We have new chapters to begin.   We will be stretched and we will grow.

On a happier note, we are really being taken care of by Boston Scientific.  It’s not all perfect, in fact we still don’t have dates from the packer’s/ movers and our house is not rented out anymore.  However, we have people supporting us in many areas:

Workforce Mobility counselor: our “go to” with anything regarding our move or transition, compensation, reimbursement, home leave policy….. everything.  She is our gateway.

Relocation Consultant: takes care of anything we need on the JA side.  Apartment, internet set up, learning how to run our appliances,  delivery of furniture

Global Pet Move Supervisor: making sure our cat gets to JA okay

BSC ‘s Global Mobility Specialist: coordinates services of all of the above

Move Service Coordinator: Helps us arrange storage and shipment of goods

I know there is more to write….. but it is getting late. Better to post this now than to wait and keep editing….. I hope you don’t mind.  I hope to post again soon.

T- 10 days….. we fly out on 6/20/2016

Here is our ode to the boat; a source of joy, smiles, laughter, and summer fun. Liberty, you will be mourned and missed.

This week has been a flurry of activity.  Finishing up daycare trying to sort through all of our belongings and selling some of daycare equipment to a friend.   It is bittersweet to say goodbye to my daycare kids and the daycare equipment.  I am trying to embrace the chaos of this season and realize my home will not look clutter free, clean and organized right now but that is fine.

I am thankful for many things:  flower delivery from my husband 6,000 miles away, gifts from sweet daycare families, sweet neighbors delivering a meal, sushi dinner with a dear friend and things moving along with our new home and school search (post to come soon) And guess what !!! Caleb made it home safe and sound. So proud of the work he is doing over there for his job and to prepare foe our family to move!   We still love each other A LOT after 12 days apart! It may be true “absence makes the heart grow fonder!”

We are in a new phase.  Caleb is working in Tokyo!!!!  With this trip he is gone almost 2 weeks.   His travel is important in the coming months as he begins to get traction in his new role as a Director at BSC Tokyo.  We will spend more time apart during this time before we move than any other time in our marriage.  I am not worried or fearful because I know this is all part of the process.  I have faith in God to sustain us and trust and faith in my husband and our commitment to each other.

I have started this blog post multiple times and then have stopped.  It seems mundane to track these everyday details.  It doesn’t seem very exciting to make a list of the things I’ve  done and am going through  right now but this is the part of the journey I am on right now and I should document my days.

This week I began sorting through the daycare toys. I am going to sell some items and give lots away.   I am so happy that my friend Tara is starting an in home daycare! She is going to do great and I am so happy that some of my supplies and equipment will help a friend get her business rolling.

I also began looking at toys through a lens of “do I want to save this toy for my GRANDchildren to play with”  Holy Cow!  That seems so far away but I should make sure I don’t get rid of things that fit into this category!

We are in the process of applying to 4 international schools.  Each school has their own application, questions, and documents required.  I am trying to keep them all straight and make sure I follow all the guidelines.  Most schools need an application fee of ~$150- $300 per child.  I have also had to request confidential letters of recommendation from teachers  and a request for teachers to proxy an entrance exam.  YIKES! I hope the kids don’t feel the pressure I do! I haven’t shared a ton with them as I do not want to overwhelm them!

Today(Sunday) I worked for 5 hours, sorting and cleaning in the water room and apartment.  Baby steps.

Also on the list of new (or newish) things… I visited a chiropractor this week.  I have been dealing with a slight discomfort in my lower back for a couple weeks.  I know that I tweaked something while working out a while ago.  When it started impacting my daily life I knew I should do something.  Definitely a frustrating turn of events since I have been enjoying my Crossfit 4-5 times a week lately.  I am trying to listen to my body and only do lifts and movements that feel okay.  Good news is that the chiropractor believes that my issue should be solved with a total of 3 visits.

Well that’s all for now.  Thanks for reading!

Caleb took a  business trip to Japan Sunday January 31st through February 4th 2016.  With a 13 hour flight and lay flat seats he felt well taken care of and was able to sleep most of the trip.  Arriving in Japan and working with the Boston Scientific (BSC)Japan team it became obvious  that they needed extra help  in planning and launching Rhythmia to the Japan market.  If handled correctly BSC could go from 2 percent market share to (hopefully) well over 10 percent.  Rhythmia’s groundbreaking technology will be well received in Japan.  This is a great opportunity for BSC Japan but they are so focused on the Cardiac Rhythm Management (CRM) side of the business that they might miss it.

Caleb used his Japanese skills learned in high school and quickly made a good impression.

Partway through the trip Caleb texted me and half jokingly said “want to move to Japan…. it’s kind of the semi running joke.”   Continue reading