Well, here I go.....

This is a feeble attempt to join the 21st century and actually blog my life. I thought I would try this just to document my day to day life here in Germany. I do not like to write. I am not one to get side tracked on beautiful prose. I am more of a black and white writer. I would love to be one of those who can just make the descriptions of the simplicity of life flow in beautiful prose. However, God did not make me that way, so here I am.

I live in Stuttgart, Germany where my husband is currently stationed. We have four kids: three boybarians and one little PRINCESS. We love to travel as much as the kids can stand. We also love to hike, bike, swim, and generally be outdoors. Germany in the summer is wonderful for those activities. Lots of rain means lots of green when the sun does emerge from the rainy clouds. Germany also has lots of trails and parks to explore. The kids usually complain when we leave for a hike and complain that the hike is too short when we get home. Ethan really loves to look for bugs while Victoria looks for birds and tadpoles. Matt and Daniel are usually piking up sticks for a bit of sword play or to build this latest fort. I love the fresh air!

Germany is not without challenges. Our home is a small townhouse with a backyard that faces everyone. The kitchen is the smallest space I have ever had. Fortunately, the dining room is in the kitchen so I have more prep space as long as the table is clear. Parking is a challenge also. The parking lots are several blocks from the stores. The town centers are usually almost impossible to park in either due to the amount of spaces available or the amount of money it takes to park in the parking garage. Language is a huge barrier. People here do not speak regular German but something called Swabisch. It is kind of like speaking Texan in the states. It is close but not understandable if you are new to the language. Overall though, I am glad we are here and love the exposure to world cultures that our family is getting.

Well, that is my world. I look forward to jotting down other tidbits as I go along. More later......