Our small beginning...

September 2013...

After putting so much thought into moving ahead, making the decision was a no brainer! For something  I've wanted to do for so long, how could I not? This would be something I would regret for the rest of my life. Scary... yes, nervous... absolutely, time consuming and mentally draining... you got it! Worth it? More than anyone could ever know.
I am absolutely feeling mind boggled by all the info. Requirements for different country's and then different for individual city's inside those country's. All the legal requirements etc.  In my head it all seems so easy peasy... do the paper work, courses needed a little travel and a little wait (or a lot).
I know it won't be easy. I'm totally kidding myself. I like to think that I am prepared for the anxiety, emotional ups and downs or anything that is about to come along our journey.

Made a phone call to Sunrise. I was nervous to phone. I looked at the number all day before I could actually do it, but was equally as excited. Voice mail...
One week passed and nothing. Feeling bummed already and wondering "how the heck am I going to handle these ups and downs... it's only been a week without a call." I send an email, thinking they must be super busy, perhaps this would be an easier way to have some contact.
Then the phone rings!!! ECSTATIC!!
We exchange some information and I drill with a million questions probably overwhelming her! They send along an email with some information and an application.
WHOLLY COW this is happening! The pages upon pages of reading that I read again and again, hoping some of it would make sense.

Then I overload my husband (Kyle) with over the moon excitement and.... tons of reading! In my head I've jumped all over with different avenues to raise funds hoping we won't have to borrow money to complete this. I think I threw too much at him at once. He is feeling overwhelmed. On board but I need to slow down a little. Hard to contain it all, I'm just so excited!
So, we are now at the point that we have the information needed. We have a general idea that we will go with Africa, something just pulls me that way. Unfortunately with having 3 young kids (5, 2.5 & 6mo) a lengthy travel is not in our cards which adds more worry. Still, there are a few places with shorter travel (2 weeks) which is definitely do-able!

We have a couple trips planned coming up... so our goal during the next while is to enjoy those and look at our finances to see where we can wiggle things around. My idea was to sell our vehicle and purchase a used mini van. I love our car, but in retrospect it's just a "thing." Plus it would almost give us all the funds needed to really begin and even possibly complete this without borrowing.