One Last Berlin Autumn

We have the prettiest tree in our courtyard that brings the most vibrant colors each fall. Our balcony is eye level with the tippy top, where the only red leaves are. 

Over the years, the tree has been a marker of time for us. As soon as it started to change colors this year, I felt nostalgic every time I looked outside. This will be the last time we watch our tree enter autumn. The last autumns we've had in Berlin have been so different from one another. Completely different phases of life. I'm so grateful for each of them.

Next fall, we'll be in a new place with new trees to admire. 

As tradition has it, we went to the annual pumpkin festival on General Conference weekend! Two years ago, Justin and I went together. Last year, it was Logan and me. This year, Lynette and Nova joined Logan and me. I love them!! 

I'm reeeally glad Lynette suggested doing the car carousel because I have never seen Logan so animated and excited haha. He LOVED it. I only had a little bit of anxiety due to the lack of seatbelts and speed of the ride...

Logan and I took a few walks in Tiergarten while Justin was traveling. SO much beauty. I'm thankful I have lots of hours spent here over the years. I know I won't have any regrets about not appreciating the Tiergarten more. One of my favorite places in the busy city. 

Sweet Logan was such a champ. I wanted to do a little loop from the car but totally got turned around. When I pulled out my map, we were walking in the wrong direction. I thought we were almost to the car but we still had 0.9 miles to go. 

Little fig and fruit bars kept Logan's legs going. & the cute ducks in the pond. He was amazing!!

I was so sore when we got back to the car. Nothing like walking 90 minutes when you're 31 weeks pregnant!

Funnest date night with Justin's teammates and their wives. I love these people <3 One thing I'm constantly reminded of is that I haven't met all of my best friends yet. As life goes on, we will keep meeting more and more people who we love & who will impact our lives.

It's been a good fall. <3 Not pictured are the batches of pumpkin muffins and bars that we've been making around here!!

Dresden + Freiberg

As we've been a part of different teams & adjusted to living the basketball lifestyle, I've learned that our time isn't really ours. Life hinges on basketball & the schedules that are given to us. Whether something is planned weeks in advanced or comes up last minute, we have to be ready to adapt and go with it. 

Justin checked his schedule in October and found out he had two days off in a ROW! Unheard of. We took advantage and planned our next overnight temple trip. 

We headed to Dresden first and walked around the city. The sun was out and it was so fun to be in a new place together. I love my boys!!!

Logan was promised ice cream for being such a good boy in the car so we found ourselves at the golden arches.

I loved Dresden! There were lots of open cobblestone plazas, colorful buildings, and cute shops. I haven't been to many German cities outside of Berlin, so it was fun to explore more of Germany. 

We found a store called Weihnachtsland (Christmas land), and bought a Weihnachtspyramide. It had been on our bucket list to buy one before moving and we found the cutest one with Santa pulling his sleigh.

On our way to Freiberg, we stopped in Freital for a little pumpkin festival. I really wanted to do some sort of fall, pumpkin activity together and this was perfect!

I don't know if I'd call them mountains, but these hills we drove through to get to Freiberg were BEAUTIFUL. It was the funnest drive through lots of little German towns with the prettiest fall leaves.

We woke up the next morning and spent the day here at our favorite place. I love, love this temple. It will always be so special to us. I hope we get to come back here one more time before we leave Germany. 

Best two days off ever!!

Berlin Ward English Family

This month was spent with lots of our church family. I remember feeling so lonely our first week in Berlin. We arrived on a Monday and I looked forward to going to church all week long. I knew that we would be blessed to find people and form friendships that would carry us through the upcoming years. 

Here we are two years later, enjoying the blessings of those relationships. 

Dinner with our Aversa Family.

The Night Kitchen with Alex & Alex (Supper Club). 

Basketball with the Brobbeys.

Lunch dates with Timna when she come into the office close to our apartment!

We love having our missionaries over. Some of Logan's favorite people are the Elders.

Getting together with the Farnsworths. I love them!! Thanks to Stuart for making my first ribs ever. 

Ward Halloween Party

I can't imagine what life would be like anywhere in the world without a church community. These are our people who we love so much. We understand, serve, and uplift one another. It's such a comfort to be around people who get you and share the same values and purpose. 

Thankful for the October memories with our ward family!

My Rowley Family Came to Berlin

Never did I ever think this group of cousins, aunts, and uncles would make their way to our corner of the world, but they did!! 

A couple of days after arriving home from Norway, this group was finishing their Germany trip with a stop in Berlin. I can't describe how surreal it was to see them walking through the pink stucco archway into our little courtyard. My heart was so full seeing them here. 

They had been traveling for over a week in southern Germany and made their way up north. We walked to Schnitzelei for dinner. I just couldn't believe they were here with Logan and I!! 

Logan learned everyone's names right away and was pretty excited to have the extra family time too. <3

For the next three nights, we gathered in our apartment and played games and talked. It was so fun. Justin made it home late from a preseason camp and was able to join us while we showed them a few of our favorite Berlin spots. 

The most people we've ever had around our dinner table! 

Lots of Ito, Bank, Fruit Basket and I Doubt It.

It was such a fun three days spent with them. I'm so grateful when our family and friends take time to come and see us. It means so much!! 

I always get a distinct feeling when family leaves. It's a really profound longing to be closer to them. While it's hard to live far away, I'm grateful for that feeling because it means we love each other and have good relationships. 

We got a fun surprise in the mail this week from these certain visitors. It made our day!! A gift package full of love, candy, ranch seasoning, pictures, and inside jokes. We have the best family.