She made it!

Our newest teammate Lindsay arrived today! We are so thankful that she is here! Please pray for her, as she adjusts to her new life in Vienna :)

He has given her a love...

Our kiddos didn't get to choose the lifestyle of living overseas...and although we feel there are many benefits to living in another culture, we also have had to watch our kids struggle time and time again with the many differences. We pray a lot for our kids and often a prayer that is spoken, is that they would have a love for the country of Austria and a heart for its people.

So yesterday when Abby came home from school, she said how they had been learning about flags...the American flag, the Austrian flag and the British flag. She was all excited to draw them for me and put them up on her bedroom door.


In addition to the flags, she also made a sign stating "these are my family's"...

I think God is answering our prayers...and He has given her a love...

Land der Berge, Land am Strome

As the national anthem says, "Land der Berge, Land am Strome", Austria is a "country of mountains, a country on the river."

Friday and Saturday, I (Brad) enjoyed the view of the mountains, riding a train 8 hours from one side of Austria to the other, where I joined my fellow pastors in the Evangelical Reformed Church to test and approve our newest pastor. Our denomination is young and small (5 churches and 4 pastors in 2 countries), so an event such as this takes on even greater significance. We thank God that Kurt Vetterli passed the exam, and that he was ordained on Sunday in Basel, Switzerland, where he is planting a church.

Today (Monday) was Austrian Independence Day, and the whole family drove an hour outside the city to Melk, a little town with an enormous abbey (Stift Melk) situated right on the Danube. Almost 20 years ago, my parents, brother, and I first traveled around German-speaking Europe, and one of our memorable stops was to the Abbey of Melk. A wave of nostalgia hit me as we entered the massive courtyard.

Melk can be seen from a distance when traveling on the highway linking Vienna with Western Austria, so a little Hunter family tradition has been to call Neena from our cell phone every time we pass by Stift Melk.

Neena--enjoy the pics!

Silas has a sleepover...

My name is Silas and today my mom is going to deliver my baby brother! Since I couldn't go to the hospital, my parents thought it would be fun for me to have a sleep over at the Hunters.


I got to read Elmo...


draw...


put puzzles together...


I even played the piano...


And that Miss Stacey is a real softy...she let me play with things that I normally don't get to touch and she even let me eat yogurt with 2 spoons!










So as you can see Mom, I do miss you and I am excited to see my new baby brother...but it is pretty fun here!

It's the Little things...

This was Levi this afternoon.
Slurping, blowing bubbles and giggling a lot as he dripped his drink all over his chin and the counter!

Who knew that drinking from a straw could bring so much joy!


Hope you are finding joy in whatever you are doing today :)

Cookies, caramel and conversation

This afternoon we had a play date with our neighbors. We shared ginger snaps, apples, caramel sauce and really good conversation.

The kiddos played and played...so long in fact that our play date turned into a dinner date :)

Just perfect, since Brad started classes again this evening.

Friday Favorites-Lainzer Tiergarten

It's Friday again, which means it is time to tell you all about another "favorite" I have about living in Vienna...

A few weeks ago, (before Winter suddenly came along) we spent an afternoon at Lainzer Tiergarten. It is a gorgeous park, with lots and lots of space! (which is important when you need a break from the city)

It is the perfect place to:

*feed the deer


*or feed the ducks


*check out the rams


*hang out on the playground


*play some football


*take a walk


*play in the leaves


*stop and smell the roses


*sit for a spell


* or simply just pose for a beautiful picture for Momma


Happy Friday from Vienna!

Memoo would be proud!

We woke up to falling SNOW this morning! Mind you, it was mixed with rain, but the high today is only supposed to be 39, so the kiddos are hopeful it will continue. :)

As Levi was getting himself dressed this morning, he came out in these...



Totally cracked me up that he was all proud to be wearing Memoo's socks that she left here the last time she visited.

And I know you all are wondering..."did she let him wear them to school?"

Of course! :)

Let's go for a sleigh-ride...

It quickly turned cold here today...with temps in the mid 40's. After school, the kids put on their "winter" pj's, scarves and mittens and proceeded to go for a sleigh ride! Imagination at it's finest :)

Apfelhof

Today we invited some old and new friends to join us at an Apfelhof

We picked potatoes, apples and pumpkins! It was a fantastic day on the farm. Then when we got home, we made THIS out of the apples we picked! YUM-O :)

Friday Favorites- Museums in Vienna

Yesterday I went with Abby on a class trip to the Technical Museum. We all had a fantastic time! This is just one of the many great museums in Vienna. Anything technical you want to know about, they have it! And as you can see, it is VERY hands on for kids...

Sword Drills...

Recently the kiddos have started liking "sword drills". It has become the highlight of our evening family worship. Abby especially likes to find Exodus...which she refers to as "Exo-dose" or "Exo-duce". We get a kick out of it too!

Gettin our routine down...

Yes, I know we have been in school now for over a month...but I just now feel like we are getting our routine down. Slowly, we are adjusting to the new schools and after-school activities. We also have been busy setting up Brad's office at Operngasse, along with building some new closets and dressers for the kiddos here at home. (as they had grown out of the current furniture) and I should say Brad and Levi were busy building!

Our "stuff" is finally finding it's way back into a particular "place" and I feel like we all are finally settling into our new "places" too.

Levi has had a pretty hard time adjusting to life at a new school, with new friends...but we are seeing him come around. His anxiety seems to be lessening, but he still could use your prayers. He is a BIG helper and is so funny! Just yesterday, he told me he was going to be a "mailman" someday and then asked me what I was going to be when I grew up :)





Abby absolutely loves her new school! She is making friends and although her days are longer than last year, she does her homework at school, which is good for all of us. She is our budding artist and leaves a trail of artwork throughout the house. Recently we have discovered this website, and have found some great ideas! Below is her latest work, along with a picture from one of her best friend's birthday parties...



Luke continues to do well with all of the changes, and is playing soccer and flag football. He also has had the opportunity to re-kindle a friendship with Andrew Mason. The Mason's lived in Florida for awhile when the boys were just little squirts and now he and his family are in Vienna for at least a year, while his parents serve on staff at Vienna Christian School. It has been really fun watching these boys together again!




New City Wien has started to meet weekly again at Operngasse for worship/Bible study and this weekend we are gearing up for a family day with the church at an apple farm.

And last, but certainly not least...Today we got news that our teammate Lindsay has the go ahead to purchase her tickets to Vienna! And while that means some more changes ahead, we are very thankful that she will be joining us soon! :)