Summer Update on our Preparations

100 swimsuits collected for kids at Wakiso Christian International Academy

100 fish sewed with love ready to be stuffed by VBS kids for the school kids  in Uganda

Kids from VBS in Colorado sending love to kids in Uganda

Thought it was time for an update on our travel preparations as we're getting close to departure - only about a month away!  It's been a busy summer of preparations, but think everyone in our family is nervous, excited and just ready to go after almost a year of planning!  Here is what we've been up to.  

Thanks to so many generous people, we were able to collect 100+ swimsuits for the kids at Wakiso, which is the school started by "Come Let's Dance"  and the school that Avery and Henry will be attending.  They would like to form a swim team, so we wanted to try and collect enough suits to bring along with us for all the kids, as their current ones are getting old and moldy.  We could not have made this happen without both the kids at First Plymouth Vacation Bible School and also the Forest Park Blue Fins swim team.  Now we just have to vacuum seal pack them to get them all in our suitcases!  Thanks also to the women at First Plymouth and the kids at VBS who lovingly sewed and stuff 100+ fish to send over to the school children as well to show their love and support from here in the states. 

And the last big "to-do" item is now crossed off our list - the house is rented!  We were blessed to find a wonderful family from Iceland who will be living in our home while we are away.  We feel like it was meant to be, as they were looking for a furnished home while they adjust to the area and they have three children, including two twin boys that will attend Arapahoe where I taught.  This puts our hearts at ease knowing our home will be well taken care of.  

We just returned from some great time with family on my parents' farm in Nebraska over the 4th of July.  My sisters, brother-in-laws and nephews were there and we also had visits from two sets of friends from Colorado that were in town for the Olympic swim trials and were able to stop down for a visit to the farm.  It was really special time with family and friends.  

So, in these last few weeks, we are packing up our closets, moving around furniture, finalizing insurance details, going to dr. appointments and trying to still have fun in between! 

Here is our schedule for these last few weeks:

July 13 - 16:  Enjoy a camping trip here in Colorado with Troy's mom and our niece and nephew from Michigan

Aug. 1:  Troy's last day of work

Aug. 2:  Drop Tally off at her new home with friends

Aug. 3:  Leave to drive back to my parents in Nebraska as renters move in

Aug. 6:  Drive to Indianapolis to visit my sister and nephews one last time and take in the Indy State Fair

Aug. 10:  Drive back to Nebraska

Aug. 13:  Drive back to Denver for last dr. appointments

Aug. 18:  DEPART from DIA at 9:45 pm - 8 hours to London, 9 hour layover, 8 more hours to Entebbe

We will be flying into Entebbe airport and staying at the CLD house for two nights, then flying to Tanzania for a 5 day safari.  After that we will return to Uganda and move in officially!   

We can't thank all of you enough for your support in preparing for our journey ahead.

Heather & family