Life in the Petri Dish

We've been here four months now...more than four months...and it's similar to the feeling when you have a baby--when you know that they're still brand new and really have only been around a short amount of time, but somehow, you still can't remember what life was like before them--that's Vienna right now.  Life in the states seems eons ago--like God plucked us out of our home and put us in our own little petri dish and said: "Hey, watch what happens--this is going to be cool." And it is.  All of us are changing in radically different ways--hopefully for the better--and it is astonishing to say the least.  Any time I try to form it into words, I fail.  I'm guessing that's for a reason, so don't be surprised if things on here leap back and forth between light what-we've-been-up-to updates and confusing, overly-dramatic fits of retrospection.  I'm going through some growing pains and unfortunately you will all be privy to my mental disarray (like that's news).

So, without further ado: what we've been up to!

Just chillin' like Rockstars

John was on a business trip in the Czech Republic for a few days last week and the girls and I kind of hunkered down and had as much fun as is humanly possible without Papa around.  John and I have always been big wussy babies when it comes to spending time apart, so we were proud of ourselves for making it through three days.  (All military spouses may now feel free to slap my face.)  It was a little weird not having any back-up, but we managed quite well.  Needless to say, our weekend was one giant celebration of John's return.  We kind of like him--he's tall and makes the best Evil Mad Hatter voice this side of the Atlantic.

Running circles in Heldenplatz

Back to school!

Now this week, Audrey is back to school...on a Thursday. Going back to school at the end of the week just seems odd to me, but we enjoyed spending our last few days of summer together--out of the house, at the playground, in the sunshine--focused on spending time together.  I've been feeling a really deep peace with my role as Mama lately (which usually means the other shoe is about to drop), but for the moment, I'm just really grateful that I feel genuine joy in the time I get to spend with my kids.

Can't beat Hot Cocoa at The Demel

Here in our petri dish, that's all I really have: my sweet girls and my best friend.  For some people that might not be enough, but knowing in the depths of my soul that this is where we are meant to be--greeting each day as a challenge to see how much more we can love each other...well, my meager words can't do it justice.  Simply being still and loving might not seem like a lot, but for the moment, it's the entire world to me.