How many licks 'til Poland?

Remember that commercial with the Tootsie Roll pops and the owl and "how many licks...?" Yeah, we all remember the commercial. Well, that's the big question around here these days. How many days 'til Poland? (they' re not completely analogous but you get the point)

Originally, back in the dark ages of 2005, Martin and I were going to move to Poland as newlyweds. We were going to bite right through that hard candy shell to get to the chewy chocolaty center, just like the owl. After all, Martin already had a job, we had no responsibilities, except to each other, and we both wanted to go. What a great opportunity, right? Easy as pie. Just pick up and go. Ahh, newlyweds, is there anything more inspiring and beautiful?

No, really, we wanted to go but we weren't ready. I think it had a little to do with the fact that getting married was overwhelming enough. Moving to another country, not knowing the language and not having a job was enough to make my feet chilly. And Martin wasn't quite ready to take on the role as a husband as well as translator and tour guide. Okay, so we both had frost bite. So, we didn't go.

Fast forward 6 years and here we are, ready to go. And why shouldn't we be? Now we have four children, a house, a decent income, a growing extended family, and a school that we love for our oldest. Now, is the perfect time to leave the country. (I am typing this with sarcastic fingers...

...Or, maybe not.)

When I think about the fact that we almost moved to Poland way back when I still get tingly toes. It was Divine Providence that we didn't go then. And now I know why. Because now I know that we can go and actually be successful. If we can do it here, we can do it there. Simple as that. (ok, ok, it's not THAT simple, but you know what I mean).

So, it hasn't been just a matter of days that we have been preparing to move to Poland. For us, it's been years of preparation, whether we realized it or not. And it will still be quite some time before we get there. At least a year, and probably more like a year and half, (you think this is plenty of time but it's going to take me 6 months at least to just realize it's actually happening that soon) until we are for real living on Polish soil.

We are just now reaching that part of the Tootsie Roll pop where a little of the chocolate is starting to shine through on the one side where you licked more than the other. But there is still plenty of candy shell to work on. And that's ok. The important thing is we're still licking away.