CHAMPIONS!!

Sunday morning, we woke up to a Father's Day french toast breakfast for Dad and turned on Justin's basketball game. It was Game 5 of the Finals!! The whole series had been close and this final game was no exception. 

Justin did amazing. The first half was kind of close but by halftime, Alba was down by 20 points. I was bummed, but also it was okay because we're used to losing. Ha! But they came out in the second half and went crazy!! We went on a 17 point run and closed that gap. 

Everyone's three pointers were going in and we were screaming as we watched it on Dad's iPad. For the fourth quarter we put it back on the TV and couldn't believe what we were seeing. The best, biggest comeback ever. 

Here's some pictures I want to remember from this week.

When his shoe came off during the game but he didn't stop.

We were up by 3 points with 20 seconds left. Justin was fouled and missed BOTH of his free throws. Munich had two attempts at the three and missed them both. This was a relieved, on cloud 9 Justin as the clock hit 0:00. 

That turned into this...!!

& this was our view from home!!!! We couldn't believe it. Champions!!!!! I'll spare you the 34 second video of me screaming, "We won!"

I was so, so happy for Justin and his team. They all play so well together and truly play team basketball.

Coach Pedro

JB34 being named MVP. <3

So proud!!

Another favorite picture. When I got Jusitn's FaceTime notification and we celebrated over the phone. 

Justin's team took the train home and arrived at Hauptbanhof just after midnight. Norman and Birgit sent me this picture of them on their way to welcome those champions home at the train station. They're the best!

The next days were full of FaceTimes while Justin packed. Logan was especially excited to see the choo choo train.

The last fan event. Justin holding up his can of beans from a fan.

Sweet Anneliese. Justin gave her his piece of the basketball net he was given. <3

Then, after exactly 2.5 weeks of being apart from our Justin, he arrived in SLC!!!!!!! We had just wrapped up the Wagner family reunion and GG Wag came to the airport with us. 

See all of those legs in the picture above? There were HUNDREDS of people there to welcome home the mission presidents and missionaries arriving from the Manchester mission. Justin came out before all of them. Since we were towards the back of the crowd, I hopped up on the couch, threw up the "bean" sign and yelled, "Justin Bean MVP!" 

It went quiet and everybody looked at me but I didn't care. I was sooooo happy to see Justin. 

So was sweet Logan.

What a season and what a way to finish it out. I am SO proud of Justin and our family. Forever grateful for the person he is on and off the court. 

Go Alba Berlin and go JB34!

Updates From Santaquin

I love being home!!! I love waking up in my own bed, knowing that my family is so close, & watching Logan and Emery interact with everyone. & I love the Santaquin mountains. So beautiful. 

Emery started to eat real food! She loves pancakes, cottage cheese, peaches, bananas, and eggs.

All of the Blauer girls were in town & came down with their babies to say hi! We all grew up going to elementary school, high school soccer practices, Young Women activities, and trampoline sleepovers together. It was so fun to be together with all of our kids. <3 

& the two cute boys below who snuck away from our picture. 

Emery made her first Costco trip & Logan loved his milkshake samples.

At this point in time, Justin's team had made it to the finals! Alba was playing their final games against Bayern Munich for the championship. Emery was willing them to victory.

Justin was raining three's and it was so fun to watch!!

Andrew and I got serious about cheering on our Team USA in the World Cup with jerseys.

Surprise Father's Day dinner for the best Dad and Grandpa ever. <3

Courtlyn's bridal shower!! With all of the ladies from our home ward. The room was full of so much love. Almost every person there had been either my young woman leader or Sunday school teacher. It was so fun celebrating the bride-to-be.

HOME!!!

We're in Utah!!

The day we left Berlin Justin arrived home from his roadtrip at about 3 AM. It had been a long four days without him and I'm so happy he was able to come with us to the airport and send us on our way. 

Our last family picture in our apartment. 

These two were such angels (and were definitely being helped by angels) during our flights. Flight #1 to Amsterdam went smoothly. When we arrived however, I found out days earlier a new rule was made that banned carseats and strollers in the airport. I wasn't going to have Emery's car seat with us on our 10-hour flight to SLC. 

I was so discouraged and began the long trek with these two and our backpacks to our gate without the stroller to carry it all.

As we were boarding, I began to feel so sick. The first three hours of the flight were miserable and I texted Justin and my parents telling them I truly didn't know how I was going to do seven more hours. 

I got a text back saying everyone was kneeling down and praying for me. More texts came in from friends who were also praying. After those prayers I felt a little better. 

I also had the impression to ask someone for a blessing. I prayed that I would be able to find a member of our church on the flight who could help me. 

About 15 minutes later, I was in the small airplane bathroom with a nice couple from North Ogden. As his hands were on my head and he was giving me the blessing, I felt a peace wash over me and the nausea and anxiety went away. I was healed by God's priesthood power and the remainder of the flight went smoothly. 

During those first three hours, Logan didn't ask for anything. I was too sick to even look over at him. He was such an angel boy and watched his show and didn't mind as I was out of my seat often. 

Emery was also such a good baby as she was passed to the flight attendant many times. 

After a 16-hour travel day, we landed in SLC and I was so relieved and grateful to be on UT ground!

And I was so emotional when I saw these faces waiting for us through the international arrival sliding doors. Everything was worth it for that moment to be together... and to finally meet Hadley!! He and Courtlyn got engaged two days earlier.

Logan was excited to sleep in his big boy bed. 

& first thing in the morning, these cousins got to meet!! 

It was a pretty big week with lots packed in. The main event being Natalie going to the Provo MTC. One of her last requests was a Zupas lunch date. 

Logan is in HEAVEN with all of these fun toys and family at Gigi and Grandpa's house.

We were able to attend an endowment session at the temple with Sister Rowley too. That was pretty special. I hadn't been to the temple since November. I had missed it. <3

Wednesday we had lunch together and drove below the Provo temple to say our goodbyes. 

You got this, Sister Rowley!!!!! I am so, so proud of her. 

Logan finally got to go on Grandpa's big blue boat. The weather and water at Yuba were great. It was such a fun afternoon being together on the lake. 

Sara and Joe, our friends from Berlin who now live in North Dakota, were in Utah for the weekend!! They were so nice to come to Santaquin & we got to catch up over s'mores in the backyard. I love them.

The best, best week. Just missing our Justin... who is doing amazing in the finals! Let's go, Alba!

So thankful to be home for the summer.