The Beginning of Our Adventure!

It was so wonderful to see Penny! We all miss her so much. 

The children will love this picture!

(I would have posted sooner BUT no internet- ack!)

After arriving in stuttgart, the next day Katie and I went on an adventure! 

On the way we saw these lovely cows in their pasture- so we had to stop and take pics!

When we got out of the car we heard bells.

Everyone of the cows were wearing a bell around their neck.

It was such a beautiful sound- similar to chimes in the wind.

Later that day we found out that each cow bell has it's own sound and the farmer know what cow it is just by the sound of the bell it is wearing!

Katie was eager to try out her new photography lens so we made a few more stops along the way!

These pics were taken with my little Cannon point and shoot- it so easy and all I have time for ;-)

During this time in Germany I had decided to take up photography with Kate...

AND

I gave up taking photography with Kate...

That hobby had a short life span!

I LOVE photography but probably don't have the time right now?

Who knows... maybe I'll take it back up again sometime soon ;-)

We drove into the mountains in southern Germany-

 they were breathtakingly beautiful!

Katie just got her license in Germany! She did a great job driving!

NO, this is not our car but it was just ahead of us and I could not resist taking a picture of it!

It reminds me of the car my Mom drove when I was very young!

Whoa, I'm dating myself... I mean my grandmother drove when my mother was young...

I have a thang for windows...

I really do... I love windows... especially windows like this one!

Here is the cute room we stayed in!

Did you know they don't have air conditioning in Europe?

I just found that out!

So we slept with many windows wide open because it was quite warm this week.

YEP... this lovely church was right out our window!

The steeples here are AWESOME!

However, they rang the church bells every 15 m.i.n.u.t.e.s.

all. night. long.

Yes they did! Every 15 minutes!

And do you remember me saying we slept... or didn't sleep... with the windows WIDE open!

After the first night we wanted to call the church and help them revise their bell ringing schedule!

After the second night we thought they were kind of pretty but every 15 minutes... really??

And then after the third night ;-)  we didn't hear a thing!

We slept like a log!

The room keys were old fashioned- BIG and heavy!

No chance of losing that thing!

We took turns carrying it!

Our room was on the corner with the rounded window!

There are crucifix's everywhere!

Praise Jesus!

And so many beautiful flowers!

The one problem when you travel with only one other person is...

you are rarely in pics together...

We just loved this cute house with it's flowers and 

adorable fence and

 adorable water fountain!

I had no idea Germany was so beautiful!

After settling in to our room we went out to eat dinner.

I love my sweet Katie so much!

It has been such a blessing to spend this time with her!

After dinner she asked me to smile...

and she took this picture...

Thanks Honey!

Next time you ask me to smile for a pic I'm going to think twice!

FYI

I carry floss!

Be Back Soon!

The summer is on its last legs and the kids are almost ready to go back to school. I know some moms have already sent their kids to the first day of school, but here we don't start until the day after Labor Day. I am off to enjoy these last couple of weeks with my kids, while spending some time here...

Source

Bring on the chocolate!! Follow me on Instagram @ famlovehome to keep up on the latest.

Where In The World Am I?

On Saturday I hopped on a plane to Germany to visit Katie and Andrew! I have NEVER traveled by myself and to be honest it was a bit lonely. However, the travels went well

UNTIL...

I landed in Germany...

I had my bag and I was exiting the baggage claim area, Andrew and Katie were in sight! I was 10 steps from hugging them when a man came up to me and asked me to please go into "customs".

Although it ruined an "oh so thankful to see you moment" I was happy to oblique!

After all, I was just a Momma going to visit my sweet daughter and son-in-love!

I had nothing to hide!

Once I was in the room, he was not so friendly but I was still cheerful!

I said be careful of this package it's for my daughter...

And then the questions began and the interrogation took another direction...

Evidently, I did something wrong that I was unaware of- I brought a birthday gift for our daughter and it was over the customs limit- I had no idea. I have only been to China to adopt children and have never run into this issue.

On top of that I guess I walked through the wrong door...

It was not clearly marked and again I had no clue that I had made this mistake.

Sadly to say, this man had been to the USA and had been detained for some reason in NYC (his experience included handcuffs) so he was not feeling so kindly towards Americans...

It was a bit of a fiasco and definitely a learning experience. I can certainly understand what I did unknowingly wrong but it could have been a much more congenial experience had he also had a kind heart.

Such is life with it's ups and downs and oh. so. many. learning experiences.

I prayed while being detained, Andrew and Katie were very helpful and God heard my prayers.

It ended as well as it could have and after a couple hours I was free!

FREE!

Praise God!

Do we really realize how blessed we are to have the freedoms that we have in America?

I believe this man was doing his job. I also believe he could have handled it better and been more kind and less threatening towards me in this situation.

BUT NOW...

WE...

 MOVE ON...

 and enjoy GERMANY!!

Thankfully I can enter the country again and I am cleared of this incident.

Uffda!

The town of Stuttgart is magnificent!

It is in a valley surrounded by mountains and hills.

The architecture is incredible!

I am in awe of it's beauty!

Today it was into the 90's! The hottest day so far!

The fountain felt great and cooled us off!

We found a Starbucks so I could have a coffee and "wake up"!

This cute cute little town is right next to the military base! I can't remember the name but will add it in later!

We ate at the restaurant on the right!

Katie loves photography and honestly this IS THE PLACE for it!

That is why I brought her a new lens for her birthday!

It is so wonderful to see the two of them!!

Andrew will be out of town for the next couple of days, so Kate and I are going sightseeing!

We ate at a Greek restaurant- it was so quaint and the food was soooo good!

I am so thankful to be here!

THANK YOU JESUS!

I have never traveled alone and never been to Europe.

I am so thankful for this opportunity!!

College Bound!

Tonight we had a party!

It was for Johnny!

He picked the meal!

We ALL loved it!

BUT

He wasn't there?

He was playing soccer and getting ready for the fall season!

We ALL loved the dinner he picked and enjoyed our time together!!

After soccer practice he came home to have "his dinner"!

Because the next day is a big day!

He is moving into the dorm and will officially be a college student!

I had him all ready to go!

Our home has been in disarray lately.

Well, not exactly lately, it has been "wedding central" for May- July and now "college central" July- August!

The clothes on the table go to college... the clothes on the ground will find their way BACK to the closet!

This is only a portion of what is going to the dorm.

It's not showing the futon, refrig, microwave or the clothes!

The kids enjoyed helping!

The helpers... kinda, sorta, notta really!

But they work well in the pic!

Here is the caravan, ready to go!

He is not going too far- which makes this Mama very HAPPY!

Anna understood that Johnny was going to college.

She has been home the longest and is very bonded to the older children.

Praise GOD!

Oh my, how I love this boy!

She was so sad that he was leaving.

But like I said...

He. is. only. 30 minutes. away!

For a Momma is eases the burden.

We are all so excited to watch him play soccer this fall!

We are ready to wear PURPLE!

The moving in went well and he is happy with his new "digs"!

Hubby, Mark and Sarah moved him in because I was busy doing something else...

Which I will share with you soon!

;-)