HandS Travel

About

A little over a year ago, our adventure began. Since then, we have traveled to 2 countries and 11 states together. Most trips were planned down to the hour on respective Google docs months in advance. Others were more spontaneous – like a surprise trip to visit friends and sing along at a Keith Urban concert in Phoenix; or, wine tasting and enjoying beautiful views at a bed and breakfast in Shenandoah Valley. In the upcoming year, we plan to visit at least 10 new countries and share our trips with our readers. By visiting our site frequently, you can keep updated on our whereabouts as we cross items off Sheila and Henry’s Bucket List (also a Google Doc).

We’ll be living about 4298 miles away from home. A home not only defined by dear family and friends, but also where our hearts are…and where they first encountered one another. I am finally starting to believe Henry when he says, “Everything will work out. Don’t worry. It always does.” The likelihood that we would have even met each other was only 5% (completely made up, but it sounds nice)! Since neither of us is especially proficient at standardized tests, it was a blessing that we were accepted into the same scholarship program. Our passion for public service, dedication to work and school, and desire for success are what brought us together and what still shine through today.

We are thankful for each and every minute that we are able to spend together. In the beginning, our minutes were spent enjoying Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup ice cream, going not once but twice to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center’s Imax to see Dark Night, and buying vegetables at Eastern Market in DC. Now, they are spent in anticipation of watching new episodes of The Office, Top Gear, and Grey’s Anatomy, sometimes not only once but two or three times! They are spent indulging in our favorite foods – Five Guys cheeseburgers, Pronto shakes, and Qdoba queso burritos. They are spent answering curious friends’ questions about Henry’s Pioneer GAT hat and his obsessions with Lego-building and one-click purchasing at Amazon.com. Or, helping me break my coffee addiction and convincing Henry to watch Husker football games. Purple haze-drinking, picture-taking, museum-hopping, concert-going, four wheeler-driving, and snow skiing are other that round out our long list.

Looking forward, a few things typed in on our Google Calendar and Google docs include driving north to Edinburgh in Oct., going on “holiday” to Paris over Thanksgiving break, skiing in the Swiss Alps in Dec., marveling at fields of tulips in Holland, visiting our ancestors’ hometowns in Germany and Prussia, cheering me on at an Irish marathon finish line in April, welcoming friends and family, and many more. Who would have guessed a year ago that we would be sitting beside one another on a Sept. 10^th flight to London? A few could have won the lottery for guessing correctly…and boy, are we are thankful!

We share the same values and bring out the best in one another. What will this year bring? Please stay tuned, keep in touch, and visit our site often!

You and your family will be in our thoughts and prayers this year. May you be blessed with continued health and happiness!

– Sheila & Henry

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