Believe

So I have a Christmas pin that looks a lot like this one. (Sorry, I didn't get around to taking a picture of mine and uploading it.) Anyhoo... I loved wearing it with some matching earrings this last week in anticipation of Christmas. But, there was one problem...

everyone thought it was in reference to Santa. *sigh*

Hello!? I'm talking about the main man of Christmas-- Jesus. (It is his birthday after all.) And I'm wearing it in anticipation for his 2nd coming as I celebrate the anniversary of his first coming-- in a manger as a baby. "...so that whomsoever believes in Him would not perish but have everlasting life." Well, I sure BELIEVE!

Thanksgiving in Portugal

For Thanksgiving this year we went to Portugal. We flew into Porto, picked up a rental car and drove to Cascais (about 3 hours south). It was about 40 miles out that we realized that our rental car had an ant infestation. I spent the next 3 days smacking the dashboard and shaking out my coat and bag. Luckily, this was the only down side to our trip. The rest of it was wonderful- including the sunny weather. Enjoy some of the pics (in random order) of our trip:

Of course, we visited some ruins- There's me in my own princess tower-
We even stumbled upon Hans Christian Andersen's home in Sintra!-

Rob would have stuck out like a sore thumb in the past-

Rob at Hans Christian Andersen's home-

Rob is pointing out where we parked the car. We hiked up all that way!-

Cool panoramic window view at the palace in Sintra-

At the palace in Sintra-

Right where I belong. Queen Bri in her palace-

Self-pic at the freaky entrance to the palace-

The Atlantic Ocean-

The Tower of Belem (near Lisbon)-

Rob in the chimney at the Tower of Belem-

Monument to the Discoveries (& my crocs). It celebrates Columbus' journey to the New World-

Statue of Jesus Christ near the big bridge in Lisbon-

Rob and his very tiny cup of coffee-

Starbucks City Mug from Lisbon (with Tower of Belem on it)-

My Portuguese doll-

A new friend in Sintra-

At the airport in Portugal-

The road out to Cabo da Roca-

Rob at Cabo da Roca looking out over the Atlantic Ocean-

Our certificate proving we've now been to the most Western point of continental Europe-

At the lighthouse at Cabo da Roca-

The lighthouse at night-

Sunset at Cabo da Roca, the most Western point of continental Europe, over the Atlantic Ocean-

Cado da Roca Cross & moon-

Rob at Boca de Infierno (Hell's Mouth) where the waves crash pretty hard against the cliffs-

Bri at Hell's Mouth-

See, it was a great trip. Looking forward to our next adventure. Stay tuned...

=)

Frosting Face Girls

So while Grace & Glory were here for the week we decided to make cookies. I had a lot of food coloring left over from when I did some baking this summer- so we got a little crazy mixing up different colors (including some neon shades) that by the end we ended up with some on our face. We added a little more of the left over colors and well... you can see for yourself:

Colored fingers- A special cookie made for Rob-
A cookie made for Chris, my brother-

Just plain fun with frosting colors-

A 'B' for Bri-

Frosting Faces-

The wipe-offs of those faces-

Some more G & G

A while ago we had our friend, Mike's, adorable twin seven year old girls stay with us for a week while he had a conference for work. Well, he had another conference and we were blessed with Grace & Glory for another week. We had nail painting sessions, cookie making, we decorated Thanksgiving bags of food to be given to the chapel's food bank, watched movies, heard bedtime stories and had lots of other fun after school and homework. Here are some pics of our fun week:

Cookie shaping-

Grace's Thanksgiving bag-

Glory's Thanksgiving bag-

Some of the "decorated" food that was in the bags-

Adding more decoration-

Rob reading at bedtime- More Narnia reading-

3 1/2 Years

Today marks 3 and 1/2 years since Rob and I first arrived in Germany and started calling this place home. Originally that was only suppose to be 3 years but we were able to add on one more. This means that we only have 6 months until we move!
Where to, you might ask?
Now before I tell you- let me assure the family that, yes, we did try to get Ft. Lewis and be closer to all of you- It was not an option at this time.
We basically had a choice between 1. Fairbanks, Alaska 2. Ft. Hood, Texas and 3. Savannah, Georgia. I don't do cold and Ft. Hood* is in the middle of no where without an ocean- so we picked Savannah.
Now some of you smarties might remember a post a while back going on and on about our Army plans and Rob trying to go to Warrant Officer school and flight school to not just be able to fix, but also fly, helicopters. That is still the plan. Savannah is simply the back-up plan in case we don't get accepted to the flight school at Ft. Rucker, Alabama. (Naturally, we'll keep you posted.) Rob has completed Part I of II for his flight physical. Part II is next week and then he'll be able to send that off, and then the rest of the application packet by the end of the year. Then Ft. Rucker has from January on through the spring to get back to us and tell us *hopefully* that we won't get to go to Savannah because they want Rob in their program!
So anyhoo- it is hard to think back on all that has happened and all that we have been able to do in these 40 months that we've lived over here. In that time we have been to many places, including the following countries:
Germany (duh!)
Poland (need that pottery, but also on a couple of Christian service trips and to Auschwitz, the WWII concentration camp )
France (for some shopping- Plans for Valentine's Day to show Rob the city)
Luxembourg
Belgium ( love Brugge and the chocolate)
The Netherlands (Amsterdam and Haarlem mostly)
Denmark (Start of our Baltic Sea cruise)
Sweden
Finland
Russia
Estonia (Favorite stop on the cruise!)
Norway
Austria
Lichtenstein
Switzerland
Hungary
Italy
Israel (only Rob got to go for 3 weeks for work)
San Marino
Vatican City
Romania (Rob for 3 1/2 months, Bri for 3 days)
Scotland
Ireland
North Ireland
England (just for a day this time to see a play) ... That makes 25.
and then we already had Spain last time Rob was in Germany and this Thanksgiving we are heading to....

Portugal!
Whew... what a list. Can't wait to see where else this Army life will allow us to go. =)

PWOC Worship & Study

This last week I went with some other ladies from the chapel to our annual PWOC worship and study retreat up in Willingen (3 hours north of here). Women from all over Europe came together for fellowship and to praise our God (woot, woot!). One of the ladies from the Belgium area brought everyone custom made candies: I had the blessing of being able to go up a day early to help set up things and work in the Helps Office. Later in the week I was working in the office to help with updates once word of the Ft. Hood shootings came out. It was an emotional week and a great time to see many friends who I might not see for quite a while since this looks like my last European Worship & Study Conference. (We'll be moving before too long- but that's for another post.) I look forward to joining the local PWOC when we do move and attending that region's conference next year.

Most of the pictures from my week are on my friend, Tiffany's, camera, but I do have a couple. Here is yet another pic of my wild socks and crocs with this year's PWOC theme banner.

Knock, Knock

So, Rob's been in Romania right. And he is due home Thursday, right? (So glad we are all caught up and on the same page now.)
Well, Monday I was baking some bite-size pumpkin pies when Angie- my wonderful, neighbor downstairs- came knocking and asked to have 1/2 cup of rice at about 5 o'clock. Well, there was another knock on the door a little over an hour later. I called out for Angie to come in (the door was still unlocked). She didn't open it so I went over singing "Angiiiieee!" Only I opened the door and instead of an 8 month pregnant neighbor there was this 6 ft+ guy all decked out in Army gear with a big grin on his face.
"You're not Angie!!" I say, stating the obvious.
"You're right, I'm not." Answers my husband who had to come back 3 days early to fix some computers back here in Mannheim. (The rest of the guys are still coming back tomorrow!)
He came in, we kissed... and well that's all you all will be getting to read of THAT evening.
Just thought I would post a little post on the blog letting the blog watching world know that Rob is back home. =)

My summer

I know! I haven't written since Rob and my's 5th anniversary at the end of July and you are all dying to know what I've been up to since then... right?
Well, my summer in Seattle was awesome! (Remember Rob is working for a few months in Romania, hence me opting to head to Washington for a 2 month visit while he is away.)
Here are some pics and in-a-nut-shell type highlights of what I did...

I went to the Oregon Coast for my 5th anniversary (sadly, without Rob):

I went with my friend Staci (whom I met in Mannheim but is now living in WA again) and her 4 little kids to her sister's wedding in Montana. (What a road trip!):

I went camping in Newport on the Washington coast with my in-laws. We also headed down to the Oregon Coast in search of more smashed penny machines:

And, of course, getting to go to Oregon twice during my stay means 2 trips to the best breakfast place ever....

I got to hang out with my goofy brother, Chris, his girlfriend Tara and her son Landen (as well as more time with Staci and her crew):

I also went to see my Aunt Dodie and cousin Sheldon in Sequim, which just happens to be on the Washington Penninsula-- near where Forks, the setting of the Twilight Series takes place:

And here are some more random photos of my summer:

I went to another wedding.

I got my feet dirty and sweated like crazy in the 110 degree heat wave.I picked the blackberries outside to make cobbler and jam.Walked around the Des Moines marina near SeaTac.And I ate corn on the cob (every other row style). All in all, it was a great summer back at home. I was able to be there for my brother's birthday, visit with family and friends, and see some great places. Shortly after Labor Day I flew back to Germany and back to the routine of working at the elementary school, volunteering with the FRG and PWOC (women's group at the chapel) and having fun with friends here.