Just over a month

After more than 1900 miles (etwa 3000 km für unsere europäischen Freunde) driving through 10 states which included time just the six of us in Florida, a special visit with Clay and Cherry Hart and family in South Carolina, a stay with Kim's grandma in Ohio, a warm welcome and much loving support at Memorial Road in Edmond and a fun time visiting Kim's family and the Littleton Church in Colorado, we finally arrived in Woodward, Oklahoma on Friday, August 2nd. This friendly small town near the panhandle of Oklahoma will become our family's new home.

Click here for different highlights from our travels since we arrived in the States on July 5th.

Since that Friday, we have been quite busy trying to get settled: getting cell phone contracts, finding vehicles, scheduling dentist appointments, finding a family doctor, getting our kids enrolled in school, purchasing school supplies, receiving our container of shipped belongings from Vienna and, of course, spending time with cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents.

Here are some of the thoughts we have had and observations we have made since arriving in the U.S.:

• Everything is larger in the States (roads, vehicles, houses, people, q-tips, etc.), including the portion size, which means we often share food.
• There are so many (often it feels like too many) choices in the grocery stores.
• Processes are different: 
• paying for things - the tip gets added after the card is run 
• Paying with a card is expected, preferred and sometimes the only option (like on an airplane). 
• You can get money back when you pay with your card at the grocery store, which is quite handy. 
• The cashier bags your groceries and some stores even take them to your car for you. 
• The view of the mountains from Highlands Ranch is beautiful.
• Northwest Oklahoma actually does have trees and is significantly prettier than much of Kansas (and, apparently, southeastern Colorado).
• Family is a special gift from God.
• Oklahoma still has Josh's favorite sunsets.
• We're thankful for Skype.
• There are more bread options that I remember but nothing in comparison to Vienna.
• The coffee is weaker here and just not as good.
• God has connected us with people who speak German (even in Woodward)!
• Air conditioning is a blessing.
• Panera Bread is not as good as Ströck.
• Everyone seems to know Josh or his family in Woodward.
• There are more people that speak English in Vienna than there are who speak German in any of the places we have visited.
• God is faithful!
• We miss our friends and church family.