The Alps

We awoke today at the foothills of the Alps to bright blue sunshine - a perfect day for a castle visit! We went to the summer palace of King Ludwig - Linderhoff. 

While I am sure it is 100 times better and more beautiful in the summer, it was so nice in the off season - it was empty and peaceful. 

After we toured the inside (no photos allowed) - we headed to Lake Eibsee for lunch. It was incrediblely beautiful

No lunch would be complete when eaten outside in 35 degree weather without copius amounts of hot cocoa....Gluhwein for the adults

My photos will not do the beauty justice - but this is all I got :) 

Back to the hotel - time for the little energy burn while mom and dad had a dinner date....

A very good day was had by all!!!! 

What would a trip (even a short one) to anywhere in Europe be without a train trip?? We were heading to Garmish for the weekend, so the big girls and I took the little ones on a train - having the added benefit for Ashlee and Jon to have a car date on the way down :) 

Melidee is a model tween - enthralled with all things phone - and Auntie Cami **may or may not** be setting a good example

The scenery from the train was beautiful - such a LVOELY way to see the countryside 

The little one was significantly unimpressed with the scenery

Checked into the hotel - our view from the room 

My hearts.....

The other thing you come to Germany for....

On the road again ....aka - EUROPE!

I can not believe I am FINALLY getting to post this post!!!! 

Two days ago, the girls and I boarded a plane (after some interesting time spent at TSA)...

Kate wanted Red Hots - and apparently they set off all sorts of alarms at TSA. Fortunately, we had lots of time, and they were able to resolve the issue without opening

 the 12 bags of Red Hots! 

Finally on the plane - we flew SAS, and I have to say, European Airlines are significantly more civilzed than US ones for overseas travel. They also weren't full, so we were able to eventually have three full rows to stretch out and nap

First stop - Copenhagen! Out flight had an 8 hour layover in Copenhagen. Normally, that long of a layover would make a sane person groan our load, but in this case...not so much.We got there at 6 am (an hour early) so we checked our carryone bags and headed into the city center... 

These girls were COLD - but it was so lovely it (almost) didn't matter...

What made the layover not only bearable by super AWESOME was that a friend from Facebook that I have worked with lives in Copenhagen. Because we got there early, we walked around till she showed up...

We walked around some more 

....we stopped for coffee and danish....

...then we did a canal tour - which was suoer cool....

..then - cake!!!! 

After a "see you soon" (because we have a 24 hour layover with Kate on our way back) - it was onto the plane and our destination.....or more acurately - our people!!!! 

The last time I hugged this - my favorite grown up girl - or hugged those little faces was March 13, 2020. A time when we all knew the world was hurting - but the extend of the impact of Covid was still unknown - the depth of the tragedy unfathomed. We found killer airfare back in February to Germany - and prayed Covid would be enough at bay to allow us to go. Armed with our passports and vaccinations cards - we made it! 

Our first full day here, I had to take my girls to my favorite german city - Rothenburg. We walked the wall, shopped and just enjoyed the beauty of being together in a beautiful place.

When Covid hit, and the Army moved my people , and I was struggling with an ugly cancer diagnosis, there was a part of me that wasn't convinced I would see my family again. 

God is good - all the time. 

I am humbled. I am underserving. I am grateful.