Computer crashed

Our computer crashed, so that is why there have not been any pics or posts recently. Maybe sometime soon again.

Max's First Prayer

This evening I had the awesome privilege of hearing Max pray for the first time. His words were his own. At dinner he held both of my hands and whispered, "Dear Jesus, thank you for our food. Please keep us safe. In Jesus' name, AMEN."

Thank you, Lord, for working in the heart of my son. Thank you for giving him the desire to pray.

Drop it like it's hot!

My Big Boy is 3!

You can never start too soon.

Sun Rays

As sun beams lazily shine through my window and make my bedroom turn golden on this Fall day, I hear, "Come quick, Mom! All this dust is coming from your room!! Go away, dust!"

Bubbles

When we think of Omi and Opa's house, we think of bubbles! Towers of bubbles; bubble caves; overflowing bubbles. Bubbles, bubbles, bubbles.

Fall Outing to NC

Days before we came to the apple orchard, I told Max all about how we were going to go apple picking. He was so excited, and so was I. I had plans of making apple strudel, apple butter, etc. He was off almost as soon as we got to the orchard looking for some ripe yummy apples to pick.

Max picked this apple...up off the ground.

It was actually the only apple we found all day that was even worth eating. Everything else had already been picked because the harvest had come in three weeks ahead of schedule. All of the other apples we found were rotting. Oh well. We still had a good time.

Thanks to Mik, we got a rare family picture.

Let me give you a kiss, my dear one-and-only apple of mine!

I love this time of year!

We picked Uncle Mik up on the way to the orchard. It was so nice to have a day with him. Today Max asked where he was, and I said, "at school." Max said, "He needs to come here."

Daddy showing off how strong he is. :-)

Max was able to observe the honey bees at work. There was a tube at the bottom of the box where you could see the bees going in and out of the box. Once they were inside, you saw them making the honey comb. It was awesome to watch.

For the first time, we took some money out of Max's piggy bank. He had four quarters in his pocket. When we got to the sheep pen, you could buy food for them from a machine. He got so excited and started digging in his pockets because he had his own money to spend.

Two cuties in the pumpkin patch.

On Eggs, Squirrels, Heifers and Poverty.

This morning Max surprised me by eating almost four eggs for breakfast. I ate two. Instead of eating the regular cereal, I decided to make eggs because they are healthy and nourishing. They come highly recommended when a woman is pregnant, so with lowered immune systems due to colds, I figured making eggs might just be a good idea.
As I was waiting for my pan to heat up in order to make the fourth egg, I looked out my window and saw something that I can only describe as a ninja squirrel. This little guy was psycho as he was collecting the pecans out of our yard. He chased other squirrels away, doing all kinds of twists and turns and flips. As I was watching him, I was overcome by thankfulness to God for providing enough food for this little ninja, but even more so for my family. After all, I was about to scramble the fourth egg for my son. All I had to do was open the fridge, and I could serve up a bowl of nutrition. All to often to I take such blessings for granted. Only because of God's faithfulness am I able to offer a fourth egg to my son.
I then remembered that I had received a Christmas catalog from Heifer International this week. I have never donated to them, but from what I can tell, they are highly respected and do a lot for people all around the world who are currently living in poverty. In other words, for mamas that cannot give their children any eggs. I learned that by donating $20, it is possible to provide a flock of chicks. That can range from 10-50 chicks. According to the catalog, a good hen can lay up to 200 eggs a year. The eggs can be eaten, sold or shared in the community. In addition to these benefits, chickens are easy to care for, help control insects and fertilize gardens. Of course, chicks are not the only animals that can be donated. Heifer International offers heifers, goats, water buffalo, rabbits, bees, llamas, etc. The family receiving the animal also receives training in how to care for their animal.
So this Christmas, I think I am going to give another mama the opportunity to make a bowl of hot yummy nutrition in the form of an egg (or maybe even four) for her child.

Our Afternoon at Schoenbrunn Palace

This was one of my favorite afternoons because we went to one of my favorite places, Schoenbrunn Palace. There is always something new to discover while you are wandering through the gardens. The Fall weather was perfect, so we enjoyed the perfect combination of colorful leaves, sunshine, history, views, conversation, exercise and for some of us, naps.

Brothers

Pondering

We arrived back in the States Saturday afternoon. Now I am trying to get used to being here again. First things first. I have to get my household up and running again. I enjoy the challenge, but a nap sounds really good right now too.
I am shocked by how much American culture shocks me again. The dormant Austrian side of me came vibrantly back to life for a month. Now I am in No-Man's-Land, trying once again to figure out how to be the expression of all that God has made me to be (not just the American or the Austrian).

Up on a hill

Last week the weather was absolutely glorious. We decided to go to a playground that is only about 15 minutes away from my mom and dad's house. However, you are going up hill the entire time. Max was a champ and walked the entire way on his own. I really did not expect him to do otherwise because he loves to walk. When we got to the top of the hill, we were in for a surprise. Not only was the playground awesome, but you could see down into the city. The playground was surrounded by a green meadow that would provoke some to start singing, "The hills are alive..." Our day at the playground was a perfect day. We were surrounded by hills, fresh air, and I got to see my boys enjoying the Austria I love.

EXTRA, EXTRA Read all about it

It is official. Will is now mobile. He started crawling yesterday.

Life is never going to be the same again.

Light

Last night I had the priviledge of sitting in on a prayer meeting I have heard about for the last four years, but one I have never been a part of in person. The group consists of men and women who gather together to pray against human trafficking and for its victims; especially those in Vienna. It was an encouraging meeting on multiple levels. For one, I was struck by the diversity and normalicy of the people involved. I kind of had it in my mind that the people praying and going out into the streets at night would be rugged and tough. To a certain degree I am sure they are. Yet, from the outside most of them looked liked moms. (Please don't take offence to this comparison. I think moms are some of the toughest people out there. But sometimes you would not guess it just by looking at them.) But maybe that is exactly what the ladies out on the streets need.
Also, it was amazing to be in a group of people who were passionate while they prayed. It wasn't passion for the sake of passion, but rather a passion that showed total dependence on God to move and work in a very dark and dangerous world.
Finally, it was amazing to see how God is opening doors throughout Europe for his people to become beacons of hope and restoration.

All this to say, we live in a very dark world full of tragedies, but God uses normal people to be lighttowers for a restless sea, gentle candles in a world of violence and lanterns in a maze of dispair. The light comes from him. All we have to do is shine.

Fall Afternoon

Today the weather was absolutely perfect. The air was a little crisp, but the sun was warm. We spent part of the afternoon eating delicious food, and walking around a pond in the Vienna Woods. Max and I charged up a hill, and he then enjoyed throwing rocks into the water with Opa. Will enjoyed eating some of Opa's soup, and being snuggled by Omi.

Date in Vienna

These first few pictures are from St. Stephen's Cathedral. Joey and I climbed the South Tower. An ancient stone staircase winds it way up to the highest lookout point. I believe the first stone for the tower was laid in the 14oos. This was also the tower the gigantic bell was in. However, during WW II, the tower caught fire, and the bell plummeted to the ground. Something new that I learned is that the bell is made from left-over canon balls from when the Turks invaded Austria in the 1600s. The shingles on the roof of the cathedral make various patterns, including the Austrian Eagle.

These are a few pics from inside St. Stephen's.

This guy is the artist that did a lot of the work inside the cathedral. Instead of signing his work, he would sculpt himself into his pieces of art. Often, you can find him looking out a window.

One place I wanted to take Joey was the Estherhazy Keller, which is an old wine cellar in down town Vienna. The Estherhazy family was a royal Hungarian family that helped the Habsburgs take control of Hungary. They have a palace surrounded by vineyards east of Vienna, and this wine cellar only serves wine from their vineyards. I love this cellar because of how rustic and far underground it is. It is dark. It smells of wood, wine, candles and old Viennese cooking. The roof is a low brick arch, which basically makes the main sitting area a long brick tunnel. We were surrounded by the silence of the underground world, and the soft melodious whispers of the Viennese dialect.

This is the Ruprechtskirche. It is the oldest church in Vienna, dating all the way back to A.D. 740. However, most of what is now standing is from the 11th Century. I like it because of its simplicity. In all of my time in Vienna, I have never actually been inside. So, maybe this time around, I'll get to see what is behind the ivy and dark walls.