While 2014 held many changes and adventures for us, it did not quite hold up and compare to what 2015 had in store for us. As the year closes out we rejoice for all that God has blessed us with this year and cannot wait to find out the blessings to come in 2016. If you have read any of our latest blogs than you know a great deal about our changes in 2015, but if not, here is a quick look back at it.The first half was one of our most "uneventful" in recent years. As is par for the course of a household of an auditor, Steve was extremely busy with work at Ernst & Young for the first few months. When Steve's work finally started to come back down to a reasonable pace in late March it was just in time for Abby's work to pick up at SSM Health Care Foundations. She enjoyed close involvement with several major fundraising events again - especially one at Ballpark Village in St. Louis that included a large majority of the Cardinals lineup donating their time to raise money for Cardinal Glennon. We were fortunate during this time that Emma loved her preschool teachers and school friends so much and were surprised when she was already moving up to the three year old room in March. It was certainly a moment that caused us all to pause and reflect at just how far she has come in such a short time! While there was about 3 minutes of hesitation on Emma's part when we discussed the change, any sense of nervousness was quickly gone. In the months to come we found ourselves hit with many more birthday party invitations than we could have anticipated, and with it many stories of budding friendships at school.
With work consuming much of our time, weekends included, our travels were limited to start the year but didn't remain that way for long. Despite Easter coming at a busy time we were thankful for a weekend trip to meet Abby's parents and sister's family in the Amana Colonies and celebrate Easter together. Then, at the end of April, Abby snuck in a very quick trip across the pond to visit a good friend from our time in Zurich and her family, who have since relocated to Dusseldorf, Germany. It was a much needed break, time to catch up with friends, and see the beauty of a new part of Germany as well as Bruges and Antwerp, Belgium. Steve held down the fort and while Emma was sad asking mommy via skype why she didn't get to go with to visit her friends too, they both seemed to manage just fine for a few days at home without mom.
Not long after that we all enjoyed a great trip together to Central America in early June. It was fun to see Emma's anticipation build as she truly seemed to understand the concept of vacation for the first time. We spent the first few days exploring the unique mix of old world meets cosmopolitan in Panama City, with the highlight of seeing the impact of the Panama Canal on the city and country. From there we spent a week driving around many areas in Costa Rica. Steve was the dedicated travel planner as he spent a summer there in college. We loved having so much time together in a beautiful country where we could enjoy a volcano, rainforest, time at the beach and unique wildlife. It was difficult to pick out just one favorite area.
Shortly after returning back to St. Louis, Steve and Emma were also able to join his parents and both of his brother's families on a trip to the Smoky Mountains, while Abby had a few work commitments to tend to. It was a great meeting spot for all to make the trip and watch all the little ones play together. From there we were fortunate to have both sets of grandparents and many of Emma's friends join us for her third birthday party at our house. It was her first real birthday party with her own guest list. I think it is safe to say that the princess bounce house, tutus and wands were the hit of the morning.
We were sad to see her birthday party at our south city house come to an end as we suspected it might be the last big celebration there. Just a little bit later in July it was confirmed when Steve was offered a new job opportunity, still with Ernst & Young, but this time in Sydney, Australia. It was not an easy decision to make, especially as there were a few other options and factors to consider, but in the end we thought why not? We loved our time in Zurich and didn't want it to end, so why not have another adventure abroad or really two new adventures as we had recently found out that we were expecting as well!
So needless to say the rest of our July, August and September were spent packing, selling most all of our furniture, living in a temporary apartment after the house was sold, filling out countless applications and paperwork (Steve gets most of the credit here), a short weekend in Chicago with good friends from Zurich, saying goodbye to family, friends, and our beloved dog and cats who all had to find good new homes this time around, wrapping up very busy jobs (for Abby this meant one more of her favorite benefit events - a polo match), a quick trip to Minnesota for Abby and Emma, waiting for our visas to be approved, and the one we rejoice for the most - completing a healthy first trimester of pregnancy. A big thank you to so many of YOU who helped us out in every way imaginable during this time.
By the end of September we arrived in Sydney and hit the ground running to secure a place to live, buy furniture, open a bank account and do everything imaginable when you relocate to a new country. Since our arrival Steve has quickly become busy with his job here, although a very similar role to the one he left, it is still different with new clients and colleagues. Abby has settled back into a role back at home with Emma for the time being. While everyday life with a three year old is no walk in the park, it is precious time that she knows is fleeting. The immediate plan is for her to stay at home with Emma and the new baby once it arrives (scheduled arrive for mid-February). Although transition to Australian life is no doubt easier than it was to Swiss life, there are still many things to learn and do and it is certainly a blessing that one of us is able to stay at home and help with this transition. Yet, we are also lucky that she was immediately granted a work permit as well, so whenever the time seems right she may or may not also look to join the Australian work force!
While we had hoped to potentially do a bit more traveling upon arrival, everyday life and work seems to have gotten in the way. Yet, we were lucky to find our way to Tasmania for the week leading up to Christmas and it was much welcomed family time. Steve has some nice time off for the holidays, but unfortunately a trip back to the U.S. would be just a bit too far at this point in Abby's pregnancy, so we will continue to fill it with another nearby coastal trip for a few days and enjoy taking in the Sydney's New Year's festivities. Celebrating Christmas during the summer seems a bit strange, but we will survive going to the beach.
It's hard to believe that the year is already gone, but it's safe to say we stayed busy. So busy in fact that it was the first year since perhaps before we were married that Abby did not complete a marathon (don't worry she's already scoping out her 2016 options). It is difficult to be so far away again from our family and friends, but we look forward to treasuring every experience. We pray that all of you found many things in 2015 to rejoice over as well.
Merry Christmas, Happy Boxing Day, Happy New Year & Happy Australia Day!
Love & Blessings,
Abby, Emma, Steve and Baby coming February
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