Lists of Things

I have a notebook filled with lists of things; things I need to buy, things I need to sell, things I should donate, things I need to do, things I want to do, things I think I need and want to do, things I don't really want to do, but need to do anyway, things I want Matt to do, but know he'll turn them back on me so I'll have to do them, things I wish I could click my heels and make disappear, things and things and things.

What's fun about my notebook is checking these things off my lists. I love to use a colored pen and draw a big check mark next to the item, write the date, and know that they're completed. Today's checked items were:

Sell Children's Playhouse - check

Sell White Washed Wicker Chair - check

Sell Sewing Machine - check

Sell Matt's Black Jeep - papers signed - double check

Schedule Outgoing Inventory and Checkout - check

Find an Interim Sponsor for Swan - check

We've finally made a dent in selling our heavy / bulky / extra items before our pack-out 4 weeks from today! So far we've sold (or donated) most of the things we hadn't planned on taking to Chennai. All I'm waiting to sell now is our patio furniture, Matt's bike, a rice cooker, and of course, our Land Rover. I think I may have a buyer for the car, but I don't want to talk about it and jinx ourselves before the deal is potentially complete next week. Fingers Crossed.

The gigantic weight has been lifted off my shoulders now that I found an interim sponsor for our maid. HOORAY!! When you sponsor a maid you are required to either find them a new sponsor before you leave OR send them back to their home country. Although Swan is from India and has recently completed building her house in Pudhapur, she's not quite ready to go: she wanted to wait one more year, make a little more money (she makes about 4 times the amount of money here in Israel than she would in India), get pregnant, and THEN move back. Swan will eventually be sponsored by one of the new guys in Matt's office, however he doesn't arrive until mid-September. And, as Swan isn't allowed to stay in the country without a sponsor, I had to find someone who was willing to take over for the 3 months in between our departure and their arrival. It was a stressful few weeks, but it is now done and checked!

More things to come ~ stay tuned!