Mittwoch...

Are you feeling over the hump yet?  Mittwoch means Wednesday for those of you who are non-German speakers.  Actually, I still qualify as a non-German speaker!  Ha!  Anyway, I told you that I would post some shots of the "mundane" of our lives here in Wien.  This is the building that I attend German classes in on Mondays and Wednesdays.  My teacher keeps it pretty light and we have a lot of fun!  I still am understanding way more than I can speak...but I feel like I am progressing.  Below is a statue that is in the courtyard of several University buildings.  I'm sure he is important, but I never have taken the time to stop and figure out who it is...unfortunately I am always running to late.

A new word that I learned today is schnarchen...any guesses as to what that could mean?  No cheating!

Well, blogger won't let me post any more photos for the time being, so I am off to the park with my neighbor to practice my (not so good) German!  

**Answer**

to snore!  

Power in weakness...

Our kids love to "clean". Abby usually helps with bathrooms, Luke does garbage and dusts and Levi gets mirrors and whatever else he can get his hands into. As much as I love that they are helping, it is sometimes much more work than if I would just do it myself! Sometimes they even make more of a mess!

As I was watching Levi smear, I mean "clean" the mirrors, I thought about how God uses us in spite of our weaknesses and how even when we make a mess of things He loves and adores us.
Today I am praising Him for that promise!

2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, "my grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness". Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

Just Another Manic Monday...

As we all wake up late, we are greeted by a never-ending to do list and an invitation to a birthday party that we have yet to get a gift for. At breakfast, syrup spills and then 2 backpacks are forgotten. As I am getting ready to walk out the door with Levi he exclaims..."Mom I need to poooop!" I just missed stepping in vomit (sorry there is no good way to write that!) as I got off the Strassenbahn, then I am late to class. I get a present for Luke's party and then take the 13A (a bus) the wrong way and don't realize it until I am lost...

What a Monday...

I sorta wish it were still Sunday!

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day....

So, I made this Almond Puff loaf...in my feeble opinion it was just ok. Don't get me wrong, we managed to still eat one loaf in a single sitting, but I didn't think it lived up to it's claim of "If I had to take one recipe with me on a dessert island". (yes Neena, I think it was a play on words):)

Anyway, breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. Many times we even eat if for dinner. Tomorrow we are starting our Sunday with Baked Orange French Toast, taken from the Celebrate Life cookbook, put out by Hope Pregnancy Centers of Broward.

4 eggs
2/3 c. orange juice
1/3c. milk
1/4c. sugar
1/2tsp. vanilla
1/4tsp. nutmeg
1/4tsp. cinnamon
8 slices of Italian or French bread sliced 1/2 inch thick
1/4c. butter
1/2c. chopped pecans

Beat together eggs, juice, milk, sugar,vanilla,nutmeg and cinnamon. Arrange bread in a single layer and top with egg mixture. Refrigerate overnight. In am, put a few pats of butter over the bread and bake for 20 min. at 350. Sprinkle with pecans and bake 10 minutes more.

Best part...Orange syrup
1/2c. sugar
1/2c. butter
1c. orange juice mixed with 2 tsps. of cornstarch

combine and cook over low heat...do not boil. Serve with warm french toast!

From the looks of it, I am not the only one who enjoys a good breakfast...check this out!
Next Sunday I think I'm gonna try this!

This weekend..

I plan on making this

Listen to lots of music from here

And we will take a drive thru here in our new van...just because we can! Have we told you yet that we have a new set of wheels? Hooray!

Taken captive...

This is what happened this afternoon when Abby took Levi captive and convinced him that she could turn him into Spiderman...

Prague

Last week while the kids were still out of school, we went to Prague to visit the WHM Team. By train it is only about 4.5 hours. Mark, Joanna and Sasha Stewart graciously hosted us, filled our bellies with yummy food and gave us great ideas for our interns this summer. They were also great tour guides!
Prague is a beautiful city and we had a wonderful time with the team!

Baby Love...

I love this shot of Abby!  The kids are out of school this entire week because of their semester break, so we are trying to find some things in the city to keep them entertained.  This afternoon we visited the Hundertwasserhaus and the Kunst Haus Wien.   She really wanted her American Girl doll, Kit to come along.  Here she is giving her a piggyback ride.  

The Mundane...

Often I take for granted that I am living in Vienna. World famous Vienna! And while I don't want to pretend to be a real photographer, I do like to take a lot of pictures. I have decided that on Mondays I will try to post pictures of what might be "mundane" to most, but they are the sites I see almost everyday. I want to be able to look back at our experience here and remember...
remember the spectacular sites and the everyday sites that I could easily take for granted.This is the stop in front of our apartment...

This is our address...

This is the view coming out of Karlsplatz...

A handmade address sign from a shop on our street...

Lots to celebrate...

This week we have lots to be thankful for! We picked up our visas, we found a car (which will arrive in a few weeks) and Luke and Abby received their report cards. Much to our surprise they got ALL 1's, which are like straight A's! We couldn't have been more proud! So to celebrate all of their hard work this last semester, today we took them ice skating at the Rathaus! It was warm, the sun was shining, the hot chocolate was delicious and it was just a wonderful time of rejoicing in our blessings!

Ultimate Grater...

I could tell you about how Brad and I picked up our visas, applied for our drivers licenses, or how our parent teacher meeting for Abby went. Or I could write about how Brad is out shopping for the perfect (automatic) car for our clan with Levi or how I am about to walk out the door for some pottery painting with some friends...

but instead for some reason I'd rather tell you about the "ultimate grater" that my sister-in-law sent me! It is made by Kitchen Aid and I love it! It is the perfect size for small helper hands.

Then the container holds all of the cheese or whatever you just grated!
And last, but certainly not least...it comes with a lid. No more cheese wrapped in aluminum foil that turns green by the time you find it again! Doesn't this info just make your Friday?

Have a good weekend!

A taste of two worlds...

Advil Liquid gels, Lucky Charms, Velvetta, Bleach pens, Slim Jims and Thin Mints...does it get any better? :)

This little taste of America was brought home by Brad after his trip to Orlando.  Of course we were elated to see Daddy, but we also found much joy in the goodies he managed to cram into his suitcase.  It is so weird how treats from where you come from can stir up your emotions.   There are a lot of things I miss about the States...our old world.  Our family and friends, the fellowship of our home church, the junkfood and the convenience.  I miss being able to go to one store to find all that I need...not 3 or 4 stores.  And of course, knowing the language.

Still with all that I miss, I am surprised how much I really like here.  The old buildings, the parks, people of all walks of life, living in an apartment, the fresh breads and just the "feel" of living in a city.  I wouldn't have thought that after 7 months this could feel like our home.  We have made friends, we can get around well (even without a car), we all are learning more about the culture and the language everyday, and we are loving it. I am encouraged. I knew in my head we were called here, but now I am beginning to feel it in my heart. It feels good.


It also feels good to know that our kids are thriving.   Today Levi could hardly wait to get to school for his Faschingsfest.   As I write this, Luke is at a birthday party of a friend.  And yesterday when our neighbors only spoke German with Abby, she was able to understand everything that they were saying!  This is our new world.

I am excited to see how the combining of these two worlds will continue to shape and challenge our family, as we cling to His promises and trust that He has called us here to love and serve.

DADDY'S HOME!

HE'S HOME!
ALL IS WELL... :)

Really ready...

Ok, Brad was supposed to be home by now. His flight was late getting in, so he missed his connecting flight from Germany. The kids have been chomping at the bit since 7 am. While I am writing this, they are all in their rooms...cleaning. Ha!

I actually just shouted to Abby, "I hope you are working as hard as your mouth is!"

Ouch. Now I am really ready for Daddy to get home.

A party at the Palace

Just like getting invited to the ball, this was also a surreal experience! A birthday party in the Schonbrunn Place! It took place a few months ago and for some reason I never posted about it. I came across these photos and thought you might get a kick out of them too.

It was Alice's 6th birthday party and she definitely was treated like a princess! All of the children got to dress up in costumes of their choice, took a guided tour of the palace (even getting to go in rooms that are off limits to the public) and the party ended with the serving of a traditional sachertorte.