May: The Little & Big Things

We had the best month. & I feel like I'm always saying that. Lots of things to be grateful for, especially my Justin & Emery & Logan. I'm thankful that whatever life throws at us, we're sealed for eternity. 

May was great!! Here is what I want to remember from our last full month here: <3

I love not having screens on the windows! Every morning, I make my way through all of the rooms and open our windows. It smells like summer mornings. 

We had our Elders over for dinner! Missionaries are incredible. I'm grateful for Christ's church that allows us to serve as missionaries. & I'm grateful for the young adults who choose to give of their time and money to do it. 

We think about these Elders often as Logan prays for each of them by name twice a day. We love you Elders Burton, Grantham, Lucas, & Ellis!

Miracle!!! Logan's whole life, he has has clogged tear ducts. For over two years, we have had cotton balls on hand to wipe the sleep from his eyes. We've said lots of prayers and Logan had a blessing about 8 months ago.

We knew that it would take time and one day, Justin and I looked at each other and realized we hadn't wiped Logan's eyes for about three days. They've been clear since and I'm sooo thankful.

Natalie gave her missionary farewell talk & we got to watch it on YouTube at 10:30 PM. I am SO proud of her. She knows she's supposed to serve her mission and is truly choosing the Lord's will over her own. I can't wait to hug her in just a few days before she heads to the Provo MTC.

It feels like basketball has taken over our life (even more) recently! It's playoff time and we've loved cheering on Justin through the quarterfinals. Go Alba!

Alice, Nyah, & Victor Brobbey

After coordinating a couple of dates for family pictures, the weather warmed up & the sun came out on the morning we had scheduled. I loved our photographer & making those memories with our little family at Museum Island. 

&... as we were driving home from the photoshoot, the sun went away and it started to rain. The good weather earlier was another miracle and answer to prayers. God is so good!

"Mama get in crib with Logan!"

Tabi & Timna came over for a french toast brunch while Justin was on a long roadtrip. My day felt lighter and brighter after they came. I love them!

Park & splash pad for these two. <3 Logan never actually went in the water, but he loved watching everyone else!

My second to last Sunday was our ward's farewell potluck. We have quite a few families that are moving this summer. It was nice to have everyone gather for a group goodbye. This is our amazing Relief Society presidency!! I'm so grateful for the opportunity I had to serve in RS. 

Tiara, Alice, Claire, Naïma, Ejiro

Goodbye to the Farnsworths. Well, not really goodbye. Just a see you later. Darren will be at the Provo MTC the same time as Natalie! He's going to Johannesburg, South Africa. This family made the last 10 months so special. They took us in & ministered to us many times. 

Claire, Logan, Jenny, Claire, Stuart, Darren

A trip to our favorite gelato shop on our street. Logan made sure to eat every last bite of his ice cream and cone. & even some paper. Ha!

Breakfast with Talyn. <3 Thankful for my Alba girls!

Tabi had a birthday & we got to celebrate with dinner! This was the hottest day of the year we've had so far. I forgot most buildings don't have AC. I was ready to find a lake and jump in.  

Last September, Sister Stephens introduced themselves as the new senior missionary couple from Logan, UT. Without even knowing them, it was like having a piece of home here. Now, after getting to know them, they feel like family. 

They must be the most fun grandparents because they're some of Logan's favorite people. We're excited to see them in Cache Valley when we're all back in Utah.

More morning gratitude walks. I love going early enough to beat the morning commuters. Very peaceful & happy.

Alba made it to the semifinals and won game 1!! The Aversas came and I couldn't help glancing over at everyone multiple times during the game. I'm so happy and grateful for these people.

Then, on May 31, we went to church as a family for the last time at our Berlin English Ward. Logan and I went to Rewe the day before to get treats for his nursery teachers and friends, Matteo & Janice. He was so cute giving them their gifts. 

It didn't feel real walking to our car afterwards and pulling out of the parking lot for the last time. Many, many memories in that building. I felt lots of emotions on Sunday, the most frequent one being gratitude. 

I don't have any more words! I just feel so blessed, happy, and thankful for what I experienced this May. 

Celebrating Three (almost) Years

Today was our "family celebration day" for our third basketball season (almost) ending! Justin's team won their quarterfinal round of playoffs so we had a spontaneous off day together. 

I wanted to see the Brandenburg Gate and H&M one more time. :')

My favorite place and favorite view!! 

Our celebration day ended with takeout for dinner, homemade cookies, and a Marvel movie. <3  

Last Relief Society Activity

I've planned Relief Society activities for almost 2.5 years! Today was my last one in our ward. It hasn't always been my favorite thing, but I'm grateful I was able to serve in that way. I love to gather & I have loved getting to know our sisters better. 

Latina Culture event! 

& Hadley came with me! I love being with her. & I loved that we showed up in the same outfit. I'm going to miss her.

More Gratitude Walks

My morning walks have turned into gratitude walks. I've tried listening to general conference talks while I walk, but I become too distracted by the memories that come up. 

So I switched my conference talks for Phil Wickham, and can't help but feel grateful for the memories these streets hold, while listening to my favorite Christian music.  

I love, love, love you, Berlin. <3 We're enjoying & making every day count.

HGFD!

While Father's Day is still a month away in America... Germany celebrated this month! So Happy German Father's Day to the man who does it all, truly. Justin's job is pretty physically demanding but you wouldn't know it. 

As soon as he walks in the door from work he is 100% in dad mode. Justin can't take his shoes off without Logan poking his head around the corner asking, "You want blue ball?" while holding out a basketball for Justin.

He's constantly playing, reading, changing diapers, and taking care of our kids. I love him. He is the best dad and he loves Logan and Emery with everything he is.

A little Sunday dinner while watching him play in his first playoff game of the season. 

Love this spontaneous, positive, silly, kind, hard-working, German dad. 

Gather & Gratitude

I've been trying to schedule and plan and gather while we still have time with the people we love here. Walli headed out on her big annual trip to the U.S. and we got to have her over for dinner before she left. 

She was my first friend in Berlin. Her's was the first home we visited when we arrived. And over the last three years, she has been the one to consistently check in and stay in touch. She also lives the closest to us out of our ward family! Thank goodness for the M10. 

I admire many things about Walli and I'm so thankful for the memories we share - many of which are documented here. <3

But dinner wasn't really goodbye, because I had a lunch the next day with these ladies! Some more best, best friends. I'm so thankful for Alex & Timna too. Full of selflessness, faith, optimism, and joy. 

Dinner then game night with our Aversas. <3

I love them! & I love how games always bring out the competitiveness in everyone. Ha! Lots of laughing with Bank.

& one more trip out to see Norman, Birgit, Anneliese and their family. I feel so confident & at peace going to Justin's games alone with the kids because I know they will be there to help me & Logan loves them so much. 

So, so grateful for all of these relationships that have developed.

Ezra Taft Benson said, "Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can."

I know that these people and relationships didn't just come out of nowhere. I've been seeking & praying for friendship and family ever since we came to Berlin. These people are just a few of the answered prayers I've received. <3