Grames in Europe!

We've had this visit in our calendar for 7 months! 

The day before James and Gracie were supposed to leave SLC for Berlin, Walli happened to mention the Berlin airport was going on strike for 24 hours. Those 24 hours just so happened to be when Grames would be arriving... 

Man, I was SO thankful Walli mentioned the strike or things would've been a lot more complicated. After spending a few hours on the phone and messaging airline agents, we figured everything out. & this meant they were able to spend one of their days in Paris! 

As sad as I was to wait a few hours longer to hug them, I was so happy they got to see another city while in Europe. They even posed in front of the Eiffel Tower... with their BABY ANNOUNCEMENT! 

We didn't see that picture though until they told us in person. 

They made it to Berlin late in the evening and we were so happy to finally have them here!! A video disguised as a selfie with that same onesie was how we found out baby Rowley is on their way. We're so excited for them & for Logan's new cousin!

So proud of those weary travelers for navigating themselves around before finding us!

The next morning we hit the ground running, showing them the history our city holds. It was so surreal to walk the streets with James and Gracie! I LOVE them. I loved being with them for their Spring Break.

Logan has hit a new level of independence and will take every chance he can to be out of his stroller and on his own two feet. 

We watched Reagan together after showing them this plaque. Makes it way more meaningful knowing what happened in that spot. 

Thank goodness for Gracie's pregnancy cravings because the smell of currywurst was in the air and we had to get some asap.

Hit the essentials around Potsdamer Platz. Spaghetieis for the win.

I decided to forgo my half marathon training for the day and we hiked to the top of the Victory Column! Bless James for carrying that baby boy on his back all the way up. I think that may have been Logan's last time in the carrier. He's so big!!

Notice the bullet holes in the pillars from the war.

Got to see some Alba Berlin action! The bummer was Justin didn't play... Every game, one or two players has to sit out now that they have a full roster. Unfortunately, that night was Justin's to sit out. We still enjoyed showing them the VIP lounge, a yummy dinner, and cheering on our favorite Euro team. 

Logan was so happy to see his dad he didn't want to be held by anyone else after the game! Justin ended up taking him back to the locker room to celebrate the win with his teammates. I was a little nervous, but no tears were shed on Logan's part during the post-game talk. 

Phew!

We were lucky enough to celebrate James' birthday!!! 

We grabbed some birthday breakfast croissants at REWE.

Then headed to the historic Olympic Stadium built by Hitler for the 1936 olympics. It only took them two years to build this. So crazy.

It was incredible to be inside and take in that structure. One of my bucket list items for this fall is to attend a soccer game here. 

We visited the Plötzensee Prison Memorial. This is still an active prison today. The memorial is built next to an execution room Hitler built to murder more than 2,800 people with unjust sentences. One of the story's in the memorial is dedicated to Helmuth Hübener, a member of our church. He was 17-years-old and the youngest person to be executed. 

Soil from the different concentration camps was gathered and placed in this vase. There's a very sacred and somber feeling here. 

We had birthday dinner at our favorite German restaurant!! More schnitzel & currywurst. 

I had my longest run of my training scheduled & I did it!! 10 miles, holy cow. I was so proud of myself and my body. Thanks to my support team who called me from home a few times to cheer me on. It was chilly! See the frosty, sweaty condensation on my headband? Ha!

We spent a lot of time right here talking, laughing, and playing MarioKart & SkipBo. It was the perfect balance of being out & inside.

Another highlight was Sunday. We've shared experiences we've had at church & with our ward to our families since we moved here. For James and Gracie to experience it firsthand was special. 

In the last 18 months, our ward has had 40 baptisms. We currently have 4 senior missionaries, 4 elders, and 4 sisters all working to share the Gospel in the Berlin English ward. 

Then we blinked and it was time for them to get back to work and school! The days went by SO FAST. What a blessing it was to spend a whole week of quality time together. Logan's first visit after dropping them off at the airport was to their bedroom. 

We love you Grames!! 

The Secret to a Life of Joy

Justin and I were sitting on our couch listening to a conference talk by President Nelson. The subtitles were on the TV so we wouldn't miss a word when Logan started talking or racing his cars on the floor. I heard the phrase "... This is the secret to a life of joy."

I asked Justin to rewind it so we could hear the secret again. 

Here's what he said: 

Justin's teammates have commented many times how happy Justin is. How positive he is. Fun, kind, light-hearted. I always ask Justin if he tells them the real reason for why he's this way. 

This is it! The secret to a life of joy is... the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It's praying daily, reading scriptures, going to church, being kind and serving our neighbor. Being the Savior's hands and lifting where we stand. 

I know that Jesus Christ is coming soon. The most recent challenge our prophet has given us is to prepare the world for His return. Offering up our will and soul to Him is the secret to a life of joy.

And we get to hear from him again in less than two weeks!!!

Community

We've been lucky enough to form a pretty great community in the last year and a half since we moved to Germany. 

But I remember clearly, when Logan was a couple of weeks old, sitting at the kitchen table with my parents and Justin feeling pretty defeated. 

Justin and I expressed how hard it was to live in Berlin across the world from our family. We were just barely in our first season of basketball. Knowing we had more than two years ahead of us felt incredibly overwhelming. 

When we moved to Berlin, Justin jumped right into traveling with his team and I was too pregnant to walk more than 15 minutes outside. It was an easy excuse to stay in our comfy, peaceful apartment. Yet, after months of that lifestyle, it wore on us and we felt stuck. 

I'll never forget what Dad suggested we do. He told us to get outside of ourselves. We needed to serve. Reach out. Make connections. Invite people into our circles.

Our circles have grown & grown. We feel so lucky to have the amazing connections and friendships that form our Berlin community. Our church friends, basketball friends, kind neighbors, helpful doctors, moms I meet at the park, and everyone in between. 

Here's a few pictures from last week showing a little bit of our circle. <3

Beautiful Berlin!! I've slowly been increasing my milage during my Saturday runs. Only two more weeks until my race. I'm thankful for the beautiful views that have made the longs runs more enjoyable. 

I've been going on more walks with Marlies. I love her!! We've had good conversations about important things. We share what we believe & she even said she would come to church with me next month. 

If you look close you can see the purple crocuses from our walk. They're popping up everywhere in the city! Blue, white, purple, yellow. They look like they're sleeping in this picture since we had some cooler weather.

A new, red coat from our upstairs neighbors. Logan adores Kaya & gets so excited any time he sees her.

Ludwig & Marlies were excited to share their newspaper article with us from Justin's recent game. From Missionary to Professional Basketball Player <3. Justin talked about where we go to church near the Tiergarten & how important family time is to us. 

One of the highlights of Justin's home games is sitting by Norman and Birgit! They help keep this sleepy, restless boy entertained & we love them.

& going to our favorite place on our favorite day of the week. Our ward is incredible. You can't visit hoping to sit in the back and hide. You'll be found, welcomed, and feel pretty special. That's how I feel each week when I leave, whether it's a seamless Sunday with Logan, or we spent the two hours walking the halls of the building. We feel loved & we love them right back!

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry - Living Life Slower

I've started The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. It's helping me to put into words and practice what I've been pondering these last months. I'm only a quarter of the way through the book. Here are a few favorite quotes: 

"The solution to an over-busy life is not more time. It's to slow down and simplify our lives around what really matters." 

"If the devil can't make you sin, he'll make you busy."

"Attention is the beginning of devotion."

"Hurry and love are incompatible."

Lots to unpack and think through with those thoughts. I'm hoping to do that more on my runs and as I keep reading. How I can continue to train myself to take it slow? Give loving attention to Justin & Logan and eventually, eliminate hurry? From driving, walking, talking, thinking, living. 

One of my solutions to eliminate hurry is this boy right here! I remember I don't need to wait to check off my to-do list while he's asleep. He can help me vacuum, fill the dishwasher, make dinner, etc. I love that he helps me to slow down and see life through his eyes. 

We went on our first "walk walk", without the stroller. Logan walked all the way from our apartment door out to the cobblestone sidewalk in his shoes. Once we got out to the busy street he just stood there holding my finger for about four minutes looking around. It was like he had never seen cars, trams, and people before haha. He was pretty pleased to explore the world on his own two feet.

PHS Lions in Berlin! Jenny had a cool opportunity to visit Berlin and we got to have dinner with her during her free time. It was nice to see someone from home and give her a hug. <3

The fastest I've been influenced. Two big chocolate chip cookies made in a cereal bowl with a spoon. YUM.

I've been learning to enjoy my long runs more & focus on the nature around me while listening to some of my favorite podcasts.

Favorite view driving home!!

I forgot how much of a difference sunshine makes in my days. :') Thankful for good books + sun!!

More running views. 

Logan's favorite reading buddy. <3

We got to go for a walk with Marlies. She taught me a German nursery rhyme & I recited it to Ludwig before heading upstairs. 

Eins, zwei, drei, vier, fünf, sechs, seiben, wo ist den der Logan geblieben? Ist nicht hier, ist nicht da, ist wohl in Amerika!

Logan's new level of independence is sitting in a big chair all by himself! Especially in Sunday School with the adults.

One of my favorite nights to date! Justin had his first home game back after four months of recovery. He amazes me. He was MVP of the game and we got to share that experience with some of our best friends. 

My favorite, favorite, favorite snack/treat. Dates + peanut butter + melted chocolate & coconut oil + freezer = yummmmm.

Sweet husband taking dinner to a family in our ward. One hour on the subway each way. xoxo

More walk walks!

Lastly, some different views of one of my favorite Berlin streets, home.