Our House!

Folks, I am utterly speechless. We had decided to live off-Base in the Azores. In Turkey, you don't get the option, but there you do, and generally, most people agree that when in Europe, living with the locals is the best way to experience the culture. So off-Base it was.

The military gives you a set amount that you can spend based on JB's rank. You can spend more, but you have to pay the difference. In the U.S., if you spend less, you get the difference. However, overseas that is not the case. If you choose to get a smaller house, you do not get the extra money that you have "saved" the government. 

Our friends Nick and Kristy who were with us in Eglin and in Turkey, are there now. JB and Nick will be the only two family medicine doctors on the Base! They have been looking for houses for us, and I have been religiously checking a popular military website for a place that fit our needs. (Nick and Kristy are SO amazing in the help they have provided us. First in moving to Turkey. And now in moving to the Azores.)

Nick and Kristy told us we just had to live in Porto Martins -- the town they live in. We took their word for it, and limited our search to houses in that area. We had a few other requirements. We wanted 4 bedrooms. We wanted at least 2 baths. We wanted a yard.

This one house popped up. The rent was nearly identical to what we had to spend. It said it had 6 bedrooms. 3 bathrooms. A pool. And more. I sent the address to Nick and Kristy. They went and checked it out. We did some emailing. 

We worried and prayed. We knew that June is still a bit away. Maybe they'd rent to someone in coming in earlier. But God worked it all out. The woman who owns it is a widow with many children and grandchildren. It was time to downsize. And she wanted to downsize by letting us rent her beautiful home. 

And so rent it we shall! It's in Porto Martins. You can SEE Nick and Kristy's house from the balcony (so they tell us.)

Here are just a few pictures of the house. To see more, click here. 

See that pool!? That's gonna be our pool. What I especially love is that it is surrounded by a very secure gate that will keep the kids from wandering in.

See that grassy area straight ahead that is completely walled in!? That is Scrubs and John's heaven-on-Earth. Yes, that is a fountain. Yes there is a path. And everything in front of it is fenced in driveway for the kids to play and ride their bikes! 

The kitchen. 

A view of the house. That's an outdoor kitchen and a Florida room!

Nick and Kristy toured the house. From what we understand, it is 3 floors. The first floor has a Florida room, a kitchen, an office, a den (with fireplace), and a huge bedroom (which we think will be a playroom. It also has one bedroom. The second floor has three bedrooms and 2 baths. This is most likely where we will be with the kids. There is another fireplace. There is an ELEVATOR! And then there is an upstairs which is for guests. We understand that there is another, at least 3 bedrooms up there. That means 8 bedrooms? We aren't sure. We know there is an outdoor kitchen. Jets in the tub. A freezer. Two refrigerators. And furniture to go with in some of the house as well.

What's even better is that when we get into town, Nick and Kristy will be able to pick us up and take us RIGHT to our house. No need to go into TLF (Base hotel) or put Scrubs in a kennel.

We are honestly, just reeling from this! We are also hoping that we will get a lot of visitors. We have decided that we will probably not do much traveling during our time in the Azores. The kids are at an age where this is just too hard. So we'll be laying low. And hopefully having some wonderful people to keep us company!