Greece

The IMB hosted a general meeting for all the European M's in Greece. We flew into Athens and then took about an hour long bus ride to the resort we were staying at. We left rain and 60 degrees for dry and 90-100 degrees. It was hot, to say the least. But I was looking forward to being hot for 10 days knowing I would seen return to the rain and cooler temps.

The main reason for our trip to was to be able to fellowship with others doing the same thing we are doing, to have some breakout/training sessions about what we can do differently or better or whatever in our ministries and even within our families, and for corporate worship time. It was a wonderful time for us to be refilled and fed in our heart language. While we were in classes all day, our girls were being fed just at much by WONDERFUL volunteers from the States who came and led Bible School all week for them. They were with our kids from 8:45 until 5:30 everyday except a lunch break. Our kids had a blast!!! They are still singing songs from the week. This morning I hear them playing with their Barbies who were also having Bible school. It was a wonderful time to see people that we spent 10 weeks at training with in Virginia and others that we have met in the our time here on the field. Granted there were 1200 people all together...which was a bit overwhelming for me...but overall it was a great time! I am thankful for the churches in America, the IMB and the precious volunteers who see the value of keeping the M's fed so we don't get burned out.

Macie doing what she does best...bossing someone around!

Is it just me or does this kid look a lot older? Where is my baby?

We are really going to miss Falyn!!! She was an awesome babysitter in Krakow but is starting college at UMHB this fall.  

WAWEL

One of my favorite views in Krakow is the Wawel Castle. It was gorgeous!!! It also beautiful at night from a particular bridge. I have been dying to get a picture from it. Nothing like waiting until our last possible night to go. The sky did not cooperate and I was not too happy with the pictures but it is what it is. Here are some of the shots I got.

Mission Trip #2

We hosted our second group of teenagers on a mission trip to Krakow in June. Their leader, Ryan, and his wife Carrie are some of our good friends. We worked together when we were house parents at The Texas Baptist Children's Home. He brought a group of about 15 from San Antonio, TX for a weeklong mission trip. We have friends who do not particularly care for hosting teams because it is a lot of work. And there is no doubt about it...it is a LOT of work. However, my calling to be a missionary was reaffirmed time and again on mission trips. James was on a mission trip to Kosovo when God really began to lay a passion on his heart for missions as a career. I have seen many teenagers who have been called to missions or other ministry positions on mission trips. And besides all that, it so good for people to get out of the American bubble and see life in other cultures. It really broadens their world-view. So I am willing to do the logistics on my end to allow God to work through it on the lives of the people who come on the trips.

During their time, they helped with the after school program at Ella's school, did some prayer walking for our various ministries we have going on in Krakow, preached and lead worship at our church, and did an amazing drama in our city center several times. During one of the dramas, James and Ryan were able to share with a man who was visibly broken and sad over what he was watching. James was even able to give him a Bible in Polish. I pray that he would read that Bible and God would place someone else in his path the continue sharing the Truth.

Salzburg...Ten Years Later

This year James and I celebrated 10 years of marriage. For our honeymoon we were able to take an out of this world trip thanks to a generous family in our church. We chose to go to Switzerland and Austria. I had always dreamed of going to Salzburg, Austria because I LOVED the move The Sound of Music. James thought I was crazy, but he went with it. We fell in love with the City of Salt and were determined to spend our tenth anniversary there. Little did we know we would be living within a 8-10 hour drive from this city. We took an early anniversary trip with Ella and Macie...I know, I know. We took the kids but they LOVE the Sound of Music as much as I...or we...do. So we couldn't pass up the opportunity for them to come along. We had a blast!!! We have now travelled many places in the world and both of us agree that Salzburg is our favorite city. We LOVE it...and you should go and check it out for yourself. :)

We started with The Eagle's Nest...which was a vacation home given to Hitler for his 50th birthday.

Walking into the side of the mountain to an elevator to the Eagle's Nest.

Marble fireplace given by Mussolini 

We then went to the salt mine we went to last time. It was not quite what we remembered...kind of lame! Then we after went to a lake and hiked to a point our tour guide told us to. It was gorgeous!!

The next day was Ella's birthday so we decided it would be fun for her to spend the day doing to Sound of Music tour and dinner theater. We had a great time. The girls loved getting to see where the movie was filmed and what were the true parts of the movie and what were made up for entertainment. The girls were glued to the performers at the dinner theater. 

The Gazebo

This is the lake that the kids fall in off the canoe.

Church where the movie wedding took place.

Standing on the bridge the kids run on with Maria in the movie

Ella and Macie got to be part of the show.

We did a lot of sightseeing throughout the week. James and I love to sightsee and tour places. God really blessed us with Ella and Macie. What 9 & 5 year olds walk all over old towns and through museums and have a blast and don't complain? We saw the house Mozart was born and the one he was raised in. Ella now has a love for Mozart after this. They got their own headsets and we couldn't pass by room because the girls had to listen to all the stories. We also toured the Hellbrun Castle with the trick fountains. I think we all got sprayed at some point. We took a cable car ride to the top of a mountain in the Austrian Alps. It was a bit scary to me, but the views were amazing! 

I never fail to be impressed with the ages of buildings and monuments in other parts of the world. I am always reminded of just how young America is. We toured the fortress and there were parts that were over 500 years old. AMAZING!!! We decided to add an extra night at the last minute when we found out The Sound of Music was the show at the Marionett Theater. The girls had a great time. I had to keep reminding them not to sing. Haha!

We could have stayed other places for less money and be closer into Salzburg, but we decided we would stay at the same bed&breakfast we stayed at on our honeymoon. The staff we just as sweet and helpful as they were 10 years ago. We had such a wonderful time celebrating 10 years of marriage. I am blessed beyond what I could imagine to have had James as my husband and best friend for the past 10 years. 

This is really why I love him! Haha...