Checklist to Move Overseas

We have accomplished a lot since Micah accepted Christ's call, 10 months ago.  Yet, it seems we have just as much to do this last month here in the United States.  Of course there's a lot more involved than what meets the eye.  This list has had many lists within the list, within those lists, and then again even more lists.  The "Work" list is very much in brief compared to the "Personal" list.  But I wanted to include it to point out that Micah is still "working", while trying to accomplish our personal list as well.  It's a tough juggle, especially with a newborn, but God willing, with a lot of prayers and support, we will get it all done.

Work

Clean out old church office

X Orientation

X Setup presentations at churches

Travel the U.S. to build a support network

Setup a database of all supporters

Stay in contact with support network

Collect and sort through donations for the CLET (seminary in Togo)

Start learning French with Rosetta Stone and at The French Alliance

Personal

Sort possessions-

Take with us 8 large duffle bags full of clothes, shoes, coats (for one more winter in France), toiletries, laptops, cameras, DVDs, important papers, car seats, stroller, pack ‘n play, and a select few of the following- toys, balls, books, games, kitchen utensils, pillows, and Notre Dame items.

Put in storage (memorabilia)

X Sell (furniture and all other possessions)

Donate (everything that doesn’t sell)

Give to family & friends (family keepsakes and “coveted” items)

Throw away (everything else that can’t be donated)

Sort through Micah's old boxes

X Find a new home for our cat

Sell cars

Rent a van

Sell house-

X     Move out

X     Clean

        Fix things here and there

        Maintenance

        Find a POA & prep for sale if we are out of the country

X Find temporary housing

X Choose a French immersion school and apply

Plan for kids’ homeschool education

Close unnecessary accounts

Make a list of all accounts

Go paperless with as many accounts as possible

Get finances in order, total financial planning

Write wills and plan funerals

Choose a U.S. representative for our personal accounts 

Choose a U.S. address & forward our mail

Choose a Tax Preparer

Medical appointments-

X   Physicals

Blood tests

X Dental

Eye 

Travel clinic for vaccines

Buy prescriptions (contacts)
Haircuts
Go shopping for specialty items that may not be found in France

Get an International Drivers Permit

X Have baby October 13, 2014

X Ask hospital to expedite birth certificate (took 3 days)  

X Apply for Social Security card (took 12 days)

X Apply for expedited passport (took 10 days)

Apply for french visas for all of us (scheduled an appt a week after getting passport, 4 days to get extra paperwork, 15 days to 1 month to process)

X Purchase tickets to fly to France

Enjoy Christmas/Winter Festivities around Milwaukee (MillerLites, Jingle Bus, Candy Cane Lane, parades, snow, etc.)
Say our "Good Byes"

Have a going away party?!

X Get together with family for Thanksgiving
Get together with family for Christmas December 22-29

Fly to France December 30, 2014

Ring in the New Year in Albertville, France

Start French immersion classes January 5, 2015

Fly to Africa the end of July, 2015