Pause, rewind, and...play!

I lied.  I definitely did NOT post as much in February, and then not at all in March.  Well.  That is how life goes sometimes.  Now you just get one huge post bursting with photos and stories and who knows what else.

(Quick side note - I realized that when I said "rewind", I was thinking of a cassette tape.  OLD SCHOOL)

My month of February finished in a whirlwind of trying to figure out a new German class (skipping two levels ahead of where I was!), getting ready for a friend to visit, and praying for winter to finally end.  We enjoyed a couple weeks of warmer weather, and then just as Jamie arrived, winter hit again in full force.  We froze in Salzburg, but braved the weather to see the city and go on the oh-so-touristy but once-in-a-lifetime experience of the Sound of Music Tour.

Snowy "Spring" Reunion

After our time together, I had one weekend here at home alone, while the family was away to celebrate the grandmother's birthday.  It was a VERY quiet, relaxing time, but of course, as I always do when I have free time...I fill it up!  Cause that is what is for, right?  ;-)  So I hung out with friends a lot, and got to know some of my new classmates a little better as well.  As the weather warmed up again, the girls and I spent more time outdoors.  Carlina started demonstrating how fast she could ride her bike, and I tried to teach her how to use the brakes.  As Easter approached, the family prepared for their vacation, and I made plans with Marisa to make our Paris and Berlin tour.

Spring in Paris

I suppose I have always been a little bit cynical about Paris, simply because I have heard so many people go on and on about it.  I wasn't expecting anything that special, but I couldn't help it...I absolutely fell in love with Paris.  We thoroughly enjoyed our time there, and then had a relaxing visit to Berlin, and then enjoyed the sunny weather here back at home in Waiblingen.  After delivering her to the airport, I continued on to a retreat with my church over Easter weekend.  It was wonderful to take some time away, relax, enjoy time with friends, and focus on the meaning of that weekend, from the quiet, meditation of Good Friday, to the rejoicing of Easter Sunday.

Now we have entered April, and spring finally is here indeed.  The weather continues to waver between warm and cool, but the flowers and trees all heartily declare that the new season has begun.  My favorite part is the Forsythia - these have always been one of my favorite plants to see blooming in Texas, and I was delighted to find them here as well, throwing bright splashes of yellow across the gray and green landscape.  (Thus, the new blog color scheme as well.)  We took a trip to the zoo, and thoroughly enjoyed seeing the different animals.  Check it out here:  http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=171739&id=652306217&l=8b4500882d

That wraps it all up for now.  Time for me to get to work, study some German, and put together an updated resume.  More to come soon.