Ellie’s 5th Geburtstag

Our baby girl celebrated her fifth birthday (Geburtstag) two weeks ago!

On the eve of her birthday she went to sleep on the TOP bunk of the bunk bed in the hostel in Vienna and when she woke up she was 5!  Out and about in Vienna, she went to Café Central and the children's museum ZOOM with Brian and Francis.  

Apfelstrudel at Cafe Central

When she got back to Gaming, my mother (her NeNe), Isaac and I had her birthday cupcakes waiting!

The week leading up to her birthday she had off from school, along with all the other Austrian children, for ski week!  She and her friends went to ski school each morning instead!  By the fourth day she had mastered going down the bunny slope all by herself.  She's now a pro at keeping her skis in "Pizza Stück"!

A month before her birthday, upon her request - so she could look more like her friends at school! - I finally cut her hair!  She loves it and I love that washing and brushing it is much easier - it was sad to part with those baby curls tough!

More pictures from her actual birthday, February 10...

Her favorite present: PJ Masks dress-up clothes for herself, Francis, and Isaac!

Isaac is ready to join them as Gekko, but he'll need to get a little bigger, here he is on February 12...

A couple of days after her birthday, we celebrated with her friends!  Ellie decorated the cake all by herself!!

This past week we got to celebrate Ellie's birthday at Kindergarten!  It's amazing watch her speak in German to all of her classmates and teachers!  Thankfully, she still speaks in English to us :)

Ellie with her wonderful teacher, Ms. Regina!

Ellie brought chocolate chip (from America!) cookies for everyone!

She got to eat her snack next to her best buddy, Elijah!

NeNe got to be there for the special celebration!

Mom too!

We're so proud of our little Austrian princess :)  God bless you, Ellie!!

SENT Retreat - Wiesbaden, Germany

This weekend we were blessed to travel to Wiesbaden, Germany with SENT Ministries!

SENT (Student Evangelization Networking Teams) Ministries is an outreach ministry at Franciscan University of college students who plan and run retreats for middle school and high school youth - primarily on the East coast - but now also throughout Europe!

Brian and I (and Isaac) got to tag a long and see 7 amazing Franciscan students in action.  45 American youth from several military bases in Germany and Belgium attended the retreat in Wiesbaden.  While we drove 7 hours west for this retreat, another group of our study abroad students traveled 7 hours south to Vicenza for a SENT retreat there.  It's amazing to witness these college students "giving up" their travel weekends to bring the light of Christ to others!  We are so happy to be a part of this growing ministry in Europe!


Highlights from Wiesbaden included:

Mass & Confession with Jesus Christ :)

Friday night Adoration with Bishop Richard Spencer, Chaplain (Colonel, USA Ret) Archdiocese for Military USA

College students' talks and testimonies around the chosen theme "Rooted"

Small group discussions led by the college students

A lot of funny skits - one featuring my husband (wearing the wig) and our baby Isaac

Games!

Lots of new friends for Isaac :)

It was such a blessing to watch the Franciscan students in action - spreading the Good News of Rooting our hope in Jesus Christ no matter where life takes us!

A huge thank you to all of our wonderful hosts in Wiesbaden - and to all of those who gave their time, energy, and talents in making this retreat possible!