It’s Time to Learn German (Really)

We’ve lived in Hamburg, Germany for 11 months. Time has not flown, but they’ve been good, full months. We’ve seen a lot and experienced much more on so many levels.

Moving internationally is kind of like joining a club. I keep meeting other people who simply know exactly what it was like to uproot and join a completely foreign culture. I had no idea what I was in for, and I’m so glad we came! We thought, discussed, prayed, and discerned our way through this year, the whole time wondering whether we’d have an additional international move in front of us instead of a happy-go-lucky-bike-riding summer with our kids. I’m so happy to say that we’ve decided to stay! There’s a lot that went into that decision, and much of it will be documented only verbally over bottle(s) of wine with family and friends… But the long and short of it is: we’re so excited to stay here!

We have put a lot of work into settling as a family this year, and I’m so excited to see the payoff from all that work over the course of this year. We will not need to install lights, transition our children to school for the first time, watch them completely drained after a day of a completely new language, or buy a car. (No really. That last one was a pain.) It’s amazing how our weekends this spring have be dedicated to living instead of adjusting. So much goodness.

And guys: Germany. Europe.

Travel here is cheap and yes, we have a lot of vacation days. Our kids have matured into real travelers over the past year, for which we’re really grateful.

This year, we have visited the doctor at least once per month. Outside of our monthly contributions to our health insurance plan, we have paid 20.34 € on doctor’s visit. Over 11 months. 20.34 € Every prescription our children have needed has been handed to me completely free.

The grocery stores are closed on Sundays… And do you know what that’s meant for us this year? We rest. Because we can’t work. We’re home. Or we’re at the park. And it’s restorative. (Oh, and Hamburg is the first place in my marriage where I’ve successfully and regularly stayed in my food budget. Hooray, Lidl!)

We live in a row house and the kids have friends that share  backyards. We’re outside almost every night sharing life together. Grilling dinner, riding bikes, playing soccer, running in the sprinkler. It’s downright child heaven… and Brian keeps being reminded of his childhood years living on Monroe Street–which is high praise.

It’s been a long time since we’ve stuck our heels in and felt ready to stay somewhere. It feels good to peruse eBay for furniture steals and buy the bigger package of black beans… We’re here. And it feels good.

Thanks so much for reading along with us… I do hope you’ll stick around! ♥

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Malta!

Hi, Friends!

So, the last time I checked in here we had traveled to Italy as a family! And now, I’m coming back with the details of fun from my trip to Malta! (Reminder: Once you get to Europe, it’s relatively cheap to travel within Europe. Yes, Malta was a bit of a pricier destination… but it’s hard to beat 40 € tickets to Italy. But, I digress.)

I had the complete pleasure of joining my sister, Melanie, her husband Edmundo, and their son on their European adventure. We shared an Airbnb, hosted by a wonderful friend, and the whole trip felt like a literal soaking of beauty. Saturation was the perfect word. By the 3rd morning, I left the house WITHOUT my camera… because I just couldn’t handle that every angle was so photogenic. (For me, this is saying something!)

So, I embarked on my husband’s birthday! Yes. You read that right. My awesome husband sent me away on his birthday to spend time with my family on an island… while he held down the fort with the kiddos. God love him.

Highlights from the trip were flying without kids (all the reading!), the beautiful view from the apartment we stayed in, the gorgeous Maltese balconies throughout the island, a trip to Gozo (another island) to enjoy more and more beauty, seeing the oldest human-made structure in the world, the beautiful vegetation (so many huge succulents!), and last (but definitely not least!) amazing hosts who showed us all around their beautiful island home.

On the last morning, I attended church, assuming that the service would be in English… but it wasn’t! I enjoyed the rhythm of (again) a familiar, but non-English Mass, and I’ll tell you what. When the cantor got up and sang the Psalm in Maltese, it was so very beautiful. I was moved to tears… and I didn’t even know what he was saying! And yes, the icing on the cake was watching the priest process out of Mass, and having the older gentleman processing out about two paces behind him, wearing his blue tinted sunglasses to boot.

Please enjoy the photos!

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