Well I had a pretty fun first weekend here in Germany. A coworker and her husband took me out to dinner on Friday night to a local brewhouse. Only 5 towns in Germany brew this type of beer and it kind of felt like a cool, underground thing. Zoigl beer is brewed at communal brewhouses and is brewed in turn, by one of several brewing families in each of the 5 villages, those families then taking it in turn each week to sell the beer at their home. When the beer is on sale, usually over the weekend, a six pointed star is hung out of a window of the house to denote that Zoigl beer is available. They sell it until it's gone. You kind of had to hunt for which place would be open and it took us a while to find the star. We were definitely the only English speakers there! We did try a few different types of German food too to compliment the beer.

Lyddane, Kali and I went out for a girl's night of manicures and sushi.  It was so fun- especially to see how excited Kali was to get her nails and toes done.  It was the cutest thing I've ever seen.  She gets this little sparkle in her brown eyes and flips her hair behind her shoulder like she is a teenager or something.  We took Kali to Target after eating to get her birthday present- she was having a hard time choosing between jewels (as she calls bracelets and necklaces), a purse or shoes.  Finally she choose a sparkly unicorn (or nudicorn as she calls it).  Ah- finally the 3 yr old in her coming out!

Well I've been back in Dallas since August 7th and man has it been busy!! The first day I got home, I started filling out my paperwork (like an 80 page binder full of papers!). By Saturday, I overnighted all my passport paperwork. Next, I had to do a complete background check with fingerprints, get a physical/TB test, and meet with my boss in Frisco to get released from my current contract. Amazingly all that was done by Tuesday, the 11th and I sent all that stuff in. By Thursday, I had received my travel orders from the Dept. of Defense- which makes it truly official!! Once I got those orders I could start the next part of my move- which is trying to get my household goods and car shipped and book my travel. Today I was able to schedule my pack up for Wed. and book my flight to Germany. By next Tuesday, I'll be a resident of Germany :) I'm having a few issues with my car getting shipped over- since I still owe money on the car, I have to have a letter from my bank giving me permission to take it over. The bank I have it with denied me so I'm having to refinance my car with USAA (thank God for companies who understand and will work with the military!). It takes a while to get that transferred and I don't think it'll be done by the time I leave next Monday. My sis should be able to drop it off for me once I have all the paperwork even if I'm gone. So all in all, even though I've been running around like crazy, talking on the phone a ton, I'm almost done and it hasn't actually been that bad. The Lord is just really blessing this time!



It's been so great to be home even if it is just for a short time. It's amazing how quickly you can just adapt back to the life even though I'd been gone for two months. It's nice to be able to drive again, have 10 pm Target runs and eat with such a variety. I think I've seriously eaten every genre (? is that the right word) of food since I've been home- thai, american, sushi, chick fil-a, cuban and mucho mexican! I've also watched a ton of movies- Julie & Julia, 500 days of Summer, The Time Traveler's Wife, GI Joe. I guess dinner and a movie are what I do with my friends :) I've had a great time hanging out with all my friends and family. This is going to be the toughest part of my move. My lovely sis is letting me stay with her and I've loved all my Tia time! Brittnee, Jacob and I hung out last week. They are great at pulling staples and even helped me pack up my classroom! Of course I had to promise them a pool date after that so we went over to Leslie's to hang out. Taylor even came up to Dallas so I got to visit with her too.

Ok- running up to Little Elm to meet with the movers and finish packing up my classroom!

Well, this summer has certainly been eventful, awesome and memorable! I'm so excited about the new chapter in my life that God has been orchestrating and am really looking forward to moving to Grafenwoehr. I'm leaving for Texas tomorrow and I can't wait to see everyone and spend time hugging and squeezing my precious nieces and nephew. And eating lots of Mexican food and Chick Fil-a :)


My time with MCYM has been great. The organization and people who work for MCYM are so awesome! God has shown me so much about himself and it's been powerful to see Him at work in the lives of people regardless of denomination or location. I think I can put God in a box sometimes and it's been so freeing to know that God is accomplishing great things, through great people everywhere! Serving as a leader at camp this summer in Italy was awesome! I loved the chance to build relationships with these teenage girls and share the love of Christ with them. There is an MCYM group on the base that I'll be at in the fall, so I will most likely volunteer with them once I get settled in.


Sean and Mary Campbell have been my gracious hosts this summer. I've lived with them for the past two months and I know they will be glad to get some privacy back at their house! I've traveled with them, watched Army Wives with them, worked along side them and really just enjoyed their friendship. Thanks for everything Sean and Mary! I'm so glad that our friendship will be able to continue over the next few years that we are in Germany together- even if I am an hour or so away. They have a baby due in October so you know I'll be in Ansbach visiting so I can get my baby fix and be a surrogate "Tia"!

What it's all about!!