Wait!  Didn't you leave already??

Christopher, Talia, Chris, me and Ben at Shelburne Farm, VT (summer 2013)

If this doesn't look like Korea to you, you're right.  Even though we thought we'd be in Korea starting the first of October, Chris and I are actually in Lincoln, Vermont, staying with his parents while we wait for visa issues to be worked out.

Our last weeks in Durham were a whirlwind of activity: sorting possessions - getting rid of 75% of our "stuff" to charities, yard sales, friends, etc. and storing the rest, renting our home, "adopting" our beloved family cat to our next door neighbor, numerous send-offs and farewells, too many difficult goodbyes to precious friends, getting the kids settled as best we can for the long haul, and packing our minimal 4 bags for Korea!

On Oct 7 we flew to Lincoln, Vermont where Chris' family lives and where Ben is in college.  At that point, we knew we had a brief delay due to visa problems, and thought it was a great chance to decompress a bit with family and in the eye-popping environ of leaf-peeping season in Vermont.  We've been able to relax, spend time with Ben, take care of many remaining transition details.

But visa delays have lengthened, and it now looks like we won't leave for Korea for another week or two.  So I write from the back porch, overlooking a valley of gold, orange, red and green leaves, confident that we're still to go, but not knowing exactly when!  It's been a journey.  :)