I've got skills

So glad Katy Jo enjoys being outside as much as I do. Today we enjoyed a lovely lunch out on the balcony. Caught a few seconds of her practicing her new skill. Clapping. So cute.

We've already tried out her new Spring outfit from Miss Jan and it's precious. Today definitely feels like Spring. We have been finding new hiking trails all around. They are super close. On Monday we broke in Bo's "new" (for Christmas) hiking baby carrier. It was really comfortable and Katy Jo loved being so high and being able to pull mommy's hair. ;) Next time we will take our camera along to capture some gorgeous shots for you.

Lisa Leonard

Check out Lisa Leonard's blog all this week for her new decor line. Her blog is so much fun. I wish I could be a sale's rep for her. I would wear all the jewelry and sell it like crazy I'm sure!

For those of you reading this just to hunt down pics of Katy Jo...

here she is on sunday enjoying her pizza crust.

our sweet bonnie

This past week was so full. We tried desperately to squeeze in adventures, cuddling time, "girl-talk", home made meals and so much more. Bonnie was here and we wanted to show her a good time. Unfortunately, one week vacation from her stressful job in the ER is not enough time. Yet, we are still so thankful that she came. So many good memories were made. She is, for sure a trooper, convincing us that she was perfectly fine to sleep in Katy Jo's room- with her! Of course, we didn't plan for this, but as our futon couch is in the nursery and we do not have a guest room, it made sense. She just snuck in every night using her I-pod as her night light. In the mornings, she was awoken to little baby babblings. What a good sport. :)

The highlight of the trip was enjoying the all you can eat chocolate room with our dear friend Kristen at the Cailler Chocolate factory in Switzerland. Oh my, we had fun! Felt so good and silly to just admit that we were okay being "those Americans" who lingered and attempted to try each and every chocolate. Really special time with the girls, Katy Jo included.

Bonnie and I also thoroughly enjoyed ourselves at the thermal baths. We jumped right in to join the water aerobics class and from there worked our way to the warmer outside pools. The steam floating off the water outside created an amazingly relaxing and somewhat mysterious atmosphere. Good sister chats that night.

Yesterday we tried to cram in a whole day of shopping in Frieburg and ended the evening by meeting up with Bo and Heidi for Mexican. I will give the Germans credit for trying. It was good but the "queso" was beyond questionable. Regardless, it was an enjoyable night out.

This morning I drove Bonnie to the airport around 5am. It was sadness mixed with an overwhelming sense of anxiety about when we would see each other next. In Texas? Florida? Or maybe somewhere else that has yet to be determined. Ugh.

In the meantime, I am thankful for this past week of wonderful memories. Especially the one of Bonnie twirling in circles while holding Katy Jo in the quaint cobblestone streets of France.

hello monday

Hello Bonnie visiting!

First day was packed full ~ brunch at fav restaurant, trip to quaint little French town just to walk around and take beautiful pictures, quick trip to cute German town with stunning castle on a hill, and then lovely dinner with friends (a traditional Malian chicken with peanut sauce).

Hello early bed time!

I'm exhaaaaausted! Just want to say, it's great having Bonnie here. So fun to watch her love on Katy Jo. Today she already proved she still has the skill of getting her to fall asleep.

Thank you for visiting us Bonnie. :)

pictures to come

another first

on sunday my mamma took me to my first real french flea market. my favorite miss jan sat right next to me for the whole drive. she entertained me with dozens of funny little songs. I just love when she sings and does all the hand movements.

when we arrived we were greeted with a beautiful enterenace to the centre ville- a huge drawbridge. I was carried across but soon was comfortably riding in my stroller where I can see everyone.

miss jan pushed me all around while my momma shopped for treasures. soon I had had enough of the cold and was so sleepy. I made it very clear that I would sleep... but only in the baby bjorn.

after a short snooze I woke up and was in a great mood. I was ready to keep shopping! I was on the lookout for cool vintage toys. but, I didn't bring any money.

so I was forced to look at vintage linen, old postcards & letters, and fun books for mamma's art projects.

after shopping, they finally remembered to change my diaper and feed me. from there we drove up the hill to find a beautiful picnic area and an amazing view of the city of Belfort.

photo taken by Heidi

It was a gorgeous day but super windy and cold. my little nose is still recovering. all in all, I agree with my mamma- it was a fabulous day. on the drive back I snoozed while listening to miss jan chat. so lovely.

really so fun. check out more pictures here.

photo taken by Heidi

hello monday

super excited about this week, just a lot going on. :)

first of all, hello daddy. so glad to have Bo home after being gone for the weekend. and looking forward to him cooking tonight.

hello spring weather... lots of birds chirping away all day right outside our windows. feels like we live in a treehouse sometimes

hello second week of art class~ already obsessed with making girls and quotes and backgrounds.

hello bonnie coming this week!!! (well, early sunday morning)

hello my little "top model"

Lately

Today Bo left us for the weekend as he heads to Switzerland for high school retreat.

And considering someone little decided she would rather stay up all afternoon and find out what goes on during nap time, I took a few short video clips for you.

Lately Katy Jo has been practicing her new skill: shutting her eyes. It's too funny. Of course she also does this when she eats something disgusting, but, sometimes she does it just to do it.

I took this video to show you her cute dress (my friend Becky picked it up in Paris for KJ).

Late Night Thoughts

"On judgement day will God end up giving everyone a second chance to choose Him?"

We were asked this question one evening in one of our seminary classes. I can't remember which class and I can't remember my professors own opinion. Perhaps he didn't share it. But, I do remember there were about 3 or 4 quesions written up on the white board. We were to write our answers down and then we went around the room and shared. In my mind it is a significant turning point, not for my own faith, but rather a gained understanding of what some of my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ believed. We were studying missions! We were getting our MA in Intercultural Studies, all with the intention of learning how to contexualize the gospel. I was there because I felt a call on my life for unreached people groups.

Matthew 24:14

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

If one believes that God will allow all to enter heaven, then, we must ask the obvious question what is the purpose of missions?

Tonight, I'm trying to sort through all this. I'm anxious to see how Rob Bell defends his words.

A friend and I are doing a weekly study of Rob Bell's book Velvet Elvis. I have already gotten a lot out of the book. It's actually really pushing me to go deeper. But I will have a problem and be quite saddened if Bell turns out to be leaning toward Universalism. I will have to read this new book for myself. I don't think I can assume I understand his theology based on what other people are writing about him. But, I did watch this short video clip and was left confused.

Some people thought Brian McLaren's book, A Generous Orthodoxy, was pretty liberal in theology and pulling bits and pieces from all different religions. I loved it, and would highly recommend it.

Now, I'm anxiously awaiting Rob Bell's new book. I'm hoping he will continue to speak biblical truth.

Have you been following the drama of this? What are your thoughts?