Our First Week

This afternoon marks our first week since we reached Bamberg.  While the boys FINALLY seem to be adjusting to the new time, Tim and I still seem to be having difficulty.  We might go to sleep for a few hours then wake up in the middle of the night for hours, or we just stay up till an insane time (3AM).  The lack of sleep is definitely making the days harder to bear.  Prayers for peace and little brain stimulation from all that is new and yet to be learned would be much appreciated.  We want to rest in the knowledge that God is our Provider and to trust in His plans.

There has been frost in the mornings when we first go out, and on Friday some storm clouds blew in and dropped some snow.  It blew over in about 10 minutes and nothing stuck.  We are very thankful that there is no snow yet.  The 30 degree weather plus winds of 10-20 miles, at times, is enough of an adjustment to start with.  Tim was told that at this time last year they had a foot and a half of snow and it was in the negatives!  I don't know what we'd do it we just moved here under those conditions!

The guest room we are in has a mini-fridge and a microwave.  I think we were put in the "over-flow" room because most of the other guest rooms have a full oven/stove.  We are very grateful that they made space for us, otherwise we could be off post. We heard that being in a hotel off post would be even worse than what we have now.  The main complication that our room is bringing us is lack of food.  So far we've managed.  We planned on eating at the DFAC but I learned last week, the hard way, that they aren't open for dinner.  Why, I don't know.  We ate there twice this weekend though and I sympathise with the soldier that has to eat there everyday.  I almost cried during our first meal there.  Literally.  I had to hold back tears.  Probably in part that we hadn't had a real meal in about six days.  I was really hungry and crazy disappointed.  I was thinking it might be like our high school cafeteria food.  Pretty sure it was worse.  Or I have a jilted memory of what our school's cafeteria food tasted like. Oh well.  The second time around wasn't quite as bad.  Tim says that's all it takes.  One meal, and you are used to it.  I think I just had my expectations too high.

We made it to the Commissary this weekend and were able to pic up a few items, but our freezer can only hold so much (plus it doesn't really keep things frozen...just slight there of).  We've eaten lots of PB&J, hot dogs, and microwavable pizza.  I picked up some frozen dinners for tonight and some friends two buildings over offered their kitchen for use when needed.  The boys and I managed another trip to the Commissary this morning and I picked up some hamburger helper and stuff to make tacos.  Now I just need to make another trip back to the PX to buy a pan.  :) 

The boys are doing well considering the confined space and the limited amount of time we are able to get out since Blaine doesn't handle to cold so well.  We ran thru the thrift store this morning and picked up some "new" toys to help keep them entertained.  So far it's working.  Since I no longer have a phone, I figured I had better invest in a watch.  I picked up a $10 one at the PX this morning.  Paid for it.  Asked the cashier what time it was, then went to set my watch.  The battery was dead.   I proceeded to walk about 10 feet back to the jewelry area and asked the lady behind the counter if she could pop it open and tell me what kind of battery it was so I could buy another one.  Nope.  They aren't allowed to open it up.  She said I'd have to take it to a jeweler...which there isn't one on post.  Lovely.  So, I'm going to attempt opening it up on my own tonight.  Nothing's easy, right?! Now that we have the on post bus system figured out hopefully we can get out a little more.  Due to our fridge size I see a daily trip to the Commissary in our future. 

We still haven't enrolled Ryan is school yet. While everything on Post is with a 1 mile walking distance, and the Elementary School is about 1/2 mile, I don't feel excited about walking him and two other little ones at 6:45 in the morning.  If we take the bus we'd have to ride about an hour before it makes it back around to the school. It's still up for discussion, and homeschool is still on my heart.  With homeschool we'd have a late start as well, but we could continue thru the summer.  Enrolling him in public seems pointless until we get our van; which is still a few weeks out.



Blaine has become a "professional walker" the last few weeks and has also seemed to turn that 18 month corner, although he's only 15 months.  You know...the I'm getting closer to 2 and wanting to do what I want to do so I'm going to scream and throw fits.  It seemed to happen overnight.  Almost always seems that way. 

We've been watching a lot more TV/movies than normal plus the boys get time to play computer games.  I packed stuff to help keep us busy in our unaccompanied shipment of goods, but that's still about a week or so out.  Now that we have the on post bus system figured out hopefully we can get out a little more.  Due to our fridge size I see a daily trip to the Commissary in our future.   The PWOC (Protestant Women of the Chapel) meets on Wednesday mornings and I hope to be able to attend soon.  I just have to figure out childcare for the boys first.  There is also a week long class they offer to spouses that takes you out into Bamberg to learn the city shopping/eating/bus system/etc.  The first class offered is in March.  Tim will be in the field the entire month of March so it should be a good time to go.

There is another couple from Tim's unit that we have made friends with and I think we are debating a trip to Nurnberg this weekend.  We just have to figure out the local bus or train system first.  I don't understand how it works but he came with orders saying they would have to live off post.  The only thing I can guess is that they are short on 2 bedroom apartments on Post.  He's doing his best to find something close to post so his wife can still walk to the Commissary, but the pickings are slim.  He said he called one the other day that was about 1 block outside the gate and the lady told him another guy called 10 minutes prior and said he'd take the apartment without even looking at it.  Tim went to housing last week and we are 3rd on the list for a 4 bedroom.  We haven't been given any sort of time line as to how long the wait is.  Tim goes back on Thursday to check in so hopefully we will hear something more.  We are very grateful for the on-post housing.  With moving overseas I really didn't want to have to deal with finding our own apartment and then figuring out all the utilities.  We are grateful for having that whole area of our lives taken care of; despite the wait.

Well, I think I've done enough blabbing for today.  I know I've promised pictures, but Blaine's naptime is over so doesn't look like it's happening now.  :)