Alex Got the Call!

Welcome to my first blog post - ever!  I've been preparing for this big day by reading other blogs by friends and friends of friends so I've tried to prep myself well :)  I hope you enjoy hearing about life gearing up to our big move and I hope you will check back here often to read about my adventures of being a new wife and new resident of the lovely little country of Luxembourg.

Here's where our story began...

Ever since Alex and I started dating, I knew that one day, he'd be transferred from Nashville - the home that I'd fallen in love with since I set foot here in 2003.  Ever since we got married in September, I've been waiting on the phone call for the big news and, in mid-January, I got it.


"What?!"  I exclaimed, half chuckling and half in complete shock. "Where exactly is Luxembourg and how do you spell it?" (My apologies to any geography teacher reading this)  "L-U-X-E-M-B-O-U-R-G, Alex rattled off, as if he was reading it from his computer screen. I immediately googled a map and there it was - smack dab in the middle of Western Europe in between France, Germany and Belgium. I was sure he was teasing me, as he often does because I've been so impatient in this whole "where are we going to move" process. However, Luxembourg was so random, I knew deep down that Alex was telling me the truth and I'd finally gotten my answer.


Luxembourg was the answer to the question that we'd been waiting for. Luxembourg was the answer that was going to change our lives as we knew them in Nashville, Tennessee. In just a matter of seconds, God reminded us, in a big way, of His sovereignty. You see, Alex had practically banked on his next job being in Dallas...or even Birmingham.  Never in a million years did we expect an overseas assignment but that is exactly what we got and absolutely where we feel led to go for the next 2+ years.


"Many are the plans in a man's heart but it is God's purpose that prevails."


Since mid-January, our lives have gotten a little more hectic jumping through the hoops that are required for an international assignment. Small tasks like getting a criminal background check (there isn't a warrant for either of our arrests :), proving our citizenship and marriage, getting medical examinations and preparing to sell our house, to name a few. Oh, and quitting my job - that was a big one.


It has been such fun to dream with Alex about what our lives will look like in this little city so far away from home. Both of us agree that we want to have no regrets at the end of our 2 year stint and I'm praying that God will open my eyes to the life he wants me to lead there since I'll have a lot of free time on my hands.  Since we don't speak French or German, one of our top priorities is to learn French via the Rosetta Stone we were recently given (thank you Heather!). A few of my personal priorities once I get there include more French classes, weekend travel planning, cooking classes, exploring volunteer options and, well, simply making friends.  Do let me know if you have friends there!


Next week, Alex and I leave for a 9-day visit to Luxembourg to house hunt! Click HERE to see an example of the apartments that we will be looking at while we're there. What do you think?!


I will be back in touch when we return with a post to update you on where we're going to be living.  And for those interested in visiting us while we're there (did I mention that Lux is 2 hours from Paris by train?), we assure you that we'll do our best to get a 2-bedroom :)


Love until next time...Melanie