39 Cousins & Counting #ThanksNFP

There is a lot I could say about this past month in the USA visiting family. Loved ones passed away. Babies were born. Dear friends were visited. Swimming consumed most of the time.  And a lot of plane rides were taken (more than expected on the way home, leading to 30 consecutive hours of travel).

I don't have the energy to recap it all, but I will share some pictures of the kids with their cousins. It's due to the fact that they have 39 first cousins (and at least one more on the way) that Ellie has started referring to her dad as "Uncle Brian" instead of daddy. 

We are so blessed to have this wonderful, large extended family. We love living in Austria but we definitely miss all the family gatherings - sometime noisy and chaotic - but always filled with laughter and joy that make great memories. 

Because Natural Family Planning (NFP) Awareness Week is just wrapping up, I'll put in a quick, good word about it! It has greatly benefited both Brian and me, and our siblings and their families. Statistics show NFP is linked to stronger marriages, lower chances of divorce, and no side effects from hormonal birth control. But I think the greatest evidence for practicing NFP is the many, many happy times it produces among siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, godparents, and family friends. So to all of ours: thank you!! #ThanksNFP

Missing you already! Now come visit us :)