Have Passport, Will Travel

Our Passports are here! Our Passports are here!

Look out world, Jim and Robyn Austin have their first passports. Ever.

Where are we going? First hint -- not the Olympics!

If you recall 4 years ago at this time, hubby was gone on a 9-day excursion out east, searching for family tree clues in northern Vermont and upstate New York. He came back with some new information, a few "new" cousins and gorgeous, gorgeous photos of the Green Mountains, Adirondack Mountains and covered bridges. I said, "Next time, you're taking me with you!"

Fast forward 4 years to Next Time.

One of the challenges last time was that Jim was only a mile from Canada, where his great-grandfather is buried, but he couldn't go there without a passport. A month ago, we decided we'd celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary with this trip. So we spent Friday, July 6, getting our ducks in a row -- photo taken, forms filled out, check written, oath sworn (seriously), etc. They probably got it filed Monday, July 9, and now just 3 short weeks later our passports are here!!

Good thing they "approved" us since we already booked our flights and rental car!

We'll be going in late September for a week, hopefully when fall colors are peaking on the mountain ranges and maybe reflecting on Lake Champlain when we cross it on a ferry, says the photographer. Even if we don't find out anything new for hubby's family tree, it will be a pretty second honeymoon!

Of course, now that we have the passports, there really is nothing to stop us from going anywhere in the future.

Well, except for the money part.