October 23, 2026 V Wrap

Today marks the end of #L's freshman volleyball season. It's been such a joy to watch her compete and grow both on and off the court.  Note: The photo above is an indicator that she has inherited one of her parents' (um, her mother's) competitive edge. She plays as she lives, with passion, joy and a deep love for her teammates and friends. We praise God for that!  

October 3, 2026 Reunited and it Feels So Good

Happy Birth...errr ReBirth...errrr ReUnification Day!  Today Germany celebrates Unity Day (Tag der Deutschen Einheit), marking the 1990 reunion of East and West Germany.  Remember President Regan's famous declaration,"Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"? (He actually said this 2 years before the wall fell, in 1988.)  You can think of it as a countrywide birthday for a reunified Germany, complete with a day off school (it's Saturday so that's a loss), local festivals and of course beer and sausages everywhere.  We took a pass on the festivities but are grateful for any opportunity to wear Birkenstocks and even more so to commemorate unity! 

September 28, 2026 Quickshot: Pain @ the Pump

Here's the answer to a question we get from our friends in the States.  How much is a gas over there?  Well today #P gased up our gar and it cost 162.51 euros for 60.66 liters of fuel.  That's the equivalent to $11.33 per gallon, Yes, you read that correctly. Thankfully we walk quite a bit. #D and the kids walk to and from school each day which is about 1/2 a mile...up hill both ways if you believe the kids.  :)

August 26, 2026 First Day Jitters

 

Obligatory FDOS shot.  #L starting putting the "fresh" in Freshman, #A already struggling the Senioritis and #D threatened me with bodily harm if i posted how many first days she's had.  We are so thankful for this school and the community and are praying for a great year! 

BTW there were no jitters about school only about having to set and obeyan alarm clock again

July 23, 2026 Quickshot: Airport Goodbyes

 

Whoever said airport goodbyes get easier with time, lied.  #D is headed to the States to see her babies, grand and otherwise.  Someone wasnt very happy about her leaving.  PS Have you ever noticed how dirty airport parking deck floors are?  :) 

June 17, 2026 Robin Good

 

Our girl is having an absolute blast at camp, this week in New Mexico.  Thank you for praying for #M and everyone involved.

PS No archery targets were injured in the making of these photos.  :)

June 06, 2026 Deborah

 

This evening we attended the last middle school activity for any of our children.  Of course we wont get too far away considering that woman in green teaches there.  However, the focus of this post is that young lady in red.  Each year the school selects recipients of what is called the Deborah Leadership award signifiies the recipient has demonstrated wisdom, courage, decisive leadership, strong faith and obedience to God, often stepping forward to guide others in times of need (see also Deborah the prophetess in Judges 4-5).  Well, this year they selected your girl!  How amazing is that.  As you can see from the photo above, we were tickled pink...even her big brother!  May God continue to guide and shape #L and all her siblings, using each one for His service, for their good and His glory.  Amen and Amen.

May 20, 2026 Champ!

 

Some context for our friends the America that think football is played with a prolated spheroid:  This week, for the first time in 22 years, Arsenal won the Premiere League (England's top professional soccer leauge with an annual TV audience of over 3 billion viewers from 200 countries).  The story here isnt football but the image above.  #D had a friendly wager with one of her students that if Arsenal actually won, she would wear one of their jerseys to school.  This is the US equivalent of a Tarheel fan wearing a Duke hoody or a Yankees fan donning a Red Sox cap.  So, true to her word, here she is, Bukayo Saka jersey on, headed to classes. What a champion.

*To be fair,  in spite of who he plays for, Saka her favorite Premiere League player.   

April 22, 2026 Where's L?

 

One of the amazing gifts of living here is how saturated this place is with history.  Here's a great example.  On a field trip this week, her class visited and climbed ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP of this 13th century tower.  The surrounding castle was destroyed in the 17th century but thankfully this jewel remains.  For a house full of history nuts, what a treasure. 

April 4, 2026 Back in his Bed

 

Well, we have out boy back from Africa.  Eventually we will hear the stories and see the photos (apparently there is a family viewing of some sort of slideshow or presentation in the works) but for now it is enough that #A is back, sleeping in his own bad.  Praise God for His travel mercies, for opportunities like this, for a son whose bent is toward the nations and heart and hands are ready to serve...and for so very many people who love and support our children and make it possible to go.  

Some have asked why we send out children out like this and in its simplest form it's this. We decided a long time ago it was/is important for the kids to develop and express their own faith, see the world through the Father's eyes and put their faith to work.  Sometimes we cannot go but we can send our offspring to these places.  It's not unlike what many of you have done for us.  While the timing or the situation may not have been right for you to go, you have supported, prayed for and loved on our family for YEARS now.  We count our blessings to be a small part of such a beautiful Body!

March 1, 2026 Quickthought: All You Can do

It can be a dark feeling but there is no shame in sadness. While we are not in the conflict zone, many friends are, many children, families and vulnerable people are.  And there is nothing we can do to help.  Wait, there is one thing, and probably the most important thing we can do.  Prayer is so much more than a last resort.  And so we pray.

BTW  Thank you for all the messages checking on us.  

 

February 14, 2026 Romantic Walk?

Probably not the ideal Valentines date for most but it's easier to imagine when you dont realize it's a holiday until you're out in the middle of the hike.  Not sure if it's not a big deal here, we're immune to the commercialization or, and this is most likely, the date just snuck up on us.  However, it's not the occasion but the company you're with, right?  And a post-walk stop at a bakery for a couple sweet treats was more than enough for us.  Happy Valentines Day everyone.  

January 11, 2026 Quickshot: The (Absolute) Worst Part

We dropped of the last of them, #M, at the airport today.  Grateful hearts but honestly more than a little bummed.  You'd think airport goodbyes would get easier, right?  Unfortunately not, it's still the worst part.  On the positive side, we had such a wonderful time with all the kids here for the holidays and what a gift to experience the sort of love that aches with separation.  And a it's a wonderful reminder for us to pray for those who are separated from loved ones. So, we're doing that today. 

January 3, 2026 Off with a Bang

 

...or with a thump, thump, thump.  This evening, on the autobahn no less, we had a bit of an adventure.  No injuries sustained aside from one all-season Goodyear Vector.  Of course it happened on a Saturday night, when all the shops are closed and all the shops will be closed tomorrow (normal on Sundays), and all the shops will be closed on Monday and Tuesday (for Epiphany or 3 Kings Day) but we have plenty of groceries and who wants to drive in the snow anyway.  

December 25, 2025 Very Merry!

 

The smile on #D's face says it all.  By the grace of God we have all the crew here for Christmas. From all of us to all of you, a very Merry Christmas!

October 31, 2025 Reformation Day Quicktrip

 

In commemoration of Martin Luther's act of defiant faith, Reformation Day or October 31 is a holiday around these parts.  We took advantage of these three having no school to go on a little family adventure.  Exploring new places and hanging out with fam are a couple of life's greatest treasures.  We're so grateful God planted us in this place.

September 12, 2025 In da Clubs

 

This is another one of those deals in which we ask ourselves, Where do they get it?  or Where does it come from?  Never in a million years would I, as a teenager, joined a sports team full of strangers that all speak a different language.  These two, like their big sister before them, have joined local soccer (Fußball) clubs.  It's been fun to see some of their practices, watch games and learn sports culture in our new home.  Pardon the pun but it's a whole new ballgame over here.  

August 19, 2025 Quickshot: "I want you to stay."

Move-in Day sounds so innoculous but goodness it packs quite a whallop.  To be completely transparent, we are not fans.  Sure we're over the moon for #M's exciting, new chapter, for the opportunity to flex new muscles, for independence and new friends and new experiences and all the things but dadgummit, we're gonna miss that girl.  The flight back across the Atlantic tomorrow will be tough and that shocking (really) sentence will continue to ring in our ears.  "I want you to stay."  Oh if we could have baby girl.  Oh if we could have.  But here we are, following separate callings.  God is in those sad moments as well as the joyful ones.  We are so proud!  But Christmas break can't get here fast enough!

August 11, 2025 PRG Revisit

 

 

We were recently able to revist Prague for the first time since our visa fiasco.  It was a gift to revisit friends, walk on familiar streets, see our old flat and enjoy some of our favorite spots.  Alot of photos were taken but we will just post 2 for now, one #D's favorite and the other #P's and let you guess whose is whose.   

July 22, 2025 Happy A Day

 

Today we're celebrating this one's birth.  No, his mama absolutely did not manipulate or coerce him into picking strawberry lemonade cupcakes instead of a cake.  Okay, maybe a little bit!   We are so grateful for this dear, young man and are praying his 17th (shock and tears allowed) year on this planet is filled with continued blessings and opportunities to grow in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and man.  We love you #A!