Mariazell Pilgrimage Fall 2020

We were blessed to be able to make a pilgrimage to Mariazell Basilica yesterday!

Normally the students go every semester, bringing their own intentions and praying for life.  Because the students are not able to be here this semester, we went with the prayer intention that they will be able to come to Austria next semester and other special intentions.  It was only my second time going without the students (last semester being the first), but others from our community have been making this pilgrimage many, many times!  It was a joy to be able to join them - and for me to do the whole hike!  

We started in the Nature Park and walked 17 miles to the Mariazell Basilica!  Brian carried Clare in the hiking backpack the whole time.  I never heard him complain -- I guess he's in pretty good shape because he ran a marathon by himself last week!  I was a bit sore afterwards, but I was happy to go and offer it up for all those I was praying for.  We prayed and mediated upon the four mysteries of the Rosary as we went.  It was an absolutely gorgeous fall day with so much beauty to take in around us.

Our Lady, pray for us!  

After about an hour of hiking, we saw the Otscher mountain - pictured in the background here:

About four hours later, here we are on the other side of the Otscher!

8 hours after we left Gaming, here we are at Mariazell Basilica!!

Biking Along the Danube River Again!

I think my new favorite family activity is biking on the Danube River :)

We spent another amazing after afternoon along the Danube River with friends!  This time we biked on the more popular (hence, also busier) side of the River.  We started in the town of Spitz and rode all the way to Durnstein--15 km away!  We stopped along the way at St. Michael's Church and at a Heuriger/Restaraunt where the adults enjoyed wine and the kids enjoyed the playground.  Upon arriving in Durnstein we had some delicious handmade ice cream and then headed to playground, with the castle ruins in the background.  The dads stayed with the kids and the rest of the adults rode the 15 km back to Spitz to get the vans and pick up the rest of the crew before heading home! 

So thankful for family, friends, and the beauty all around!

Ellie’s First Reconciliation

Our Elliana Therese had her First Reconciliation on the Feast of St. Therese!

She had been asking when she could go to confession, so after we got the go-ahead from our priest Brian and I started preparing her to receive the Sacrament for the first time.  We thought it would happen sometime within the next month, but when Ellie heard it could happen as soon as we knew she was ready she begged us to do the lessons with her.  So we did a mini-retreat weekend, where Brian and I took turns preparing her one-on-one.  The lessons took place in the church, the Keller, Anna's Cafe and the Byzantine chapel.  We used her Faith & Life book, Calico Critters and The Runaway Bunny :)

While helping her to make her Examination of Conscience in the chapel, it was pretty amazing to look up and see the painting of St. Therese--showering roses down upon her!  Her examination was very thorough and, although I can't share what she said, let me just say it was pretty sweet/humorous to hear the things that she thought were so bad.  During it all, I wondered how tenderly God must look at all of us, His little children.

The Thursday after her retreat, at 3pm--the Hour of Mercy--on the Feast of St. Therese, Ellie met Jesus in the Sacrament of Reconciliation!  Afterwards I asked her if she was nervous and she said of course not!  She posed for a picture outside of the confessional, after making her penance, and she was jumping with joy and gratitude!

May we always receive the Sacrament with such childlike joy & gratitude!

St. Therese, pray for us!

Hochkar Mountain Hike 🏔

October 1 was the ninth anniversary of our engagement!  Brian and I were able to count our blessings since that "yes" as we looked around at so much beauty a top an Austrian mountain!

About thirty minutes from our home is Hochkar mountain.  We drove up, up, up and then parked and hiked about an hour up to the top where there is a 360 degree look out point.  Although I was a bit nervous crossing the suspension bridge (due to my fear of heights) it was well worth it to enjoy the awesome views!

Brian and I have been so blessed to have been able to enjoy his time not working as much (due to the students not being here this semester) out in nature, with one another.  For a few hours each day it feels like retirement--with a baby in tow :)  

When I said yes to Brian asking me to marry him, I never could have imagined what God had in store for us.  And I still can't imagine what the future holds.  But I'm growing more and more confident that with Him by our side we have nothing to fear!