Our first days in Germany

Jason and Jackson took the train to a football (it's soccer in Europe) game in Kaiserslautern with our good friend, Lon, who was transferred here a few years ago. Jason said it was unlike anything he has ever been to before. Jason said, "The fans were crazy and love to cheer on their team!" Grace and I didn't go, but the good news is I think we found a house for us to live in. I will be sure to keep you posted on any news. ;-) Lon took us to lunch at a quaint cafe just out of Vogelweh. Eating here really made me feel like I am in Europe. We ordered a meal plate which consisted of coffee, juice, a bread basket, salami, turkey, brie, kiwi and condiments. It was so good!

The inside of the cafe where the food is ordered.
A sign from the outside of the cafe. I know we are going to get our fill of carbs here! The bread here is baked fresh everyday and oh so yummy.
We are still in the process of getting settled. We have our drivers test on Wednesday. The test is very difficult and only a certain percentage pass the first time. So we have been studying and testing ourselves like crazy! Thankfully we only have to purchase one car because we shipped our other one from Okinawa. We know what we have in mind, but the problem is finding one that is reasonable. It is not like in Oki where the cars are very cheap! Let the search begin...
Our good friends Tom and Laura arrive in a few days, so are anxious to see them. Keep checking back here for more updates!

Full Circle

We are here! After an uneventful flight (we were upgraded to economy plus) we are happy to finally be in Deutschland after a fun filled summer with family. The kids did great on the flight. Thankfully they slept about 7 hours of the flight...yes, it was such a nice treat! Emma was so glad to see us when we landed. I am not sure how she did, but I don't think she will want to do another overseas flight anytime soon.
We fought the jet lag and stayed up waiting for our hotel to be ready to check in. Ramstein is very nice! They just built a new shopping mall, BX and hotel which is still in the opening process. Since we have Emma we can't stay there, but we do have a great place not far from that. It is pretty much a 3 bedroom apartment with a full kitchen and our own washer a dryer. It has a dog park behind us, which Emma loves! This is the place we will call home until we actually find a place to live. As far as the househunting process goes...it is a process. There aren't many "big" homes out there. As soon as they are listed, they pretty much get taken. So hopefully we will be the lucky ones and jump right on the listing as soon as it's posted. We are able to stay here at the apartment...errr....hotel for the next 60 days. So, we are able to take our time and look for exactly what we want.
Everyone is doing great adjusting. We went over to one of Jason's friends house who he met when he was student teaching here 8 years ago. Kelly is a mother of 3 and opened her home to us yesterday. She has a chicken coup with 14 hens, 2 roosters, and 5 baby chicks. The kids love seeing the animals! We had a great dinner and the kids played on the trampoline until almost 9! Unfortuntely, Grace is sick so we needed to get home and tend to her. She has a massive cold, fever, cough and just feels terrible! It's so hard to be in a new place, sick and miserable! I pray she starts to feel better so we don't have to find a pediatrician after only being here 3 days...
As to the title, Jason and I have come full circle back here in Germany. As many of you know this is a very special place for us...it's where we met! It is so fun to be back here together, married and with children. I only hope and pray that this place gives our family good memories, just as it did for the both of us 8 years ago.
I promise I will post some pictures. ;-) I will make it my mission today as long as Grace is feeling better.
Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we adjust to our new home. With so many changes still coming our way we are going to need them!
Auf Wiedersehen!!

Texas...been there...done that...and loved every minute of it!!!

We made it to the States the middle of June and were able to spend 3 1/2 weeks in Texas with my family. We had a great time!! We got to meet the newest member of the family, William John Bertram. He is such a cutie! The cousins loved spending time together doing all sorts of activities from riding bikes together, playing in the dirt, swimming, to painting rocks. They made some great memories. This is the one chance for us to get together with our families during the year so I soaked it all up. Even though the Texas heat was almost unbearable at times, we sucked it up and had a great time. Jason and I took Jackson to Schlitterbaun (the best waterpark!) and we all had a blast. The faster the rides were the better. He is definitely an all dare devil boy...which I am not sure is such a good thing! ;-) I can't believe how fast the time went by. I know is no time at all my parents will be in Germany for a visit then we will be back in Texas again. I would of posted more pictures...but I have so many it's almost overwhelming to know where to start. Plus, I just spent over an hour getting pictures up on facebook and I am spent for the night. I am going to try to be better about blogging now that I have a good internet connection here in Michigan. We are now with Jason's family and loving the 60 degree weather! I'll be blogging again soon...

Goodbye 2-7-14 Takahara Okinawa City

We have officially moved out of our house and will be living in the hotel here on base for the next 16 days. Yesterday was the big day where they packed out our entire house. I have been preparing for this packout/move for weeks! It seems that just about everyday I have been cleaning or organizing something. It's amazing how much stuff is accumulated after 5 years and two kids in a house. I got rid of so much stuff! From selling stuff at the flea market to posting items on Okinawa yard sales to throwing the rest away, it's nice knowing we are going to be settling into our house in Germany with the "basics."
The movers arrived at about 8 am on Friday and had our house completely in boxes by 4 that same day. It was amazing to see them pack and arrange all the boxes on the crates that were to be shipped to the other side of the world. They certainly have system to it.
Thankfully some good friends of ours kept Jackson for the day and night so he didn't have to be there during the whole process. After the movers were gone, Jason and I walked through the house one last time and I couldn't help but cry. As I walked from room to room all of the memories and emotions of the last 5 years of living there came flooding back to me. I could just see the kids playing and running from room to room, running on the upstairs balcony, coming down the stairs and so many more. As we were walking around, Grace kept on putting her hands up as to say, "Where did everything go?" It was so cute! I did take a video of our house so one day I will be able to show the kids what their house looked like when they lived in Japan. I know I will always have the memories, but it's just crazy that a simple place with walls can become your home and have such a sentimental part in your heart. I will forever treasure that house and what it means to me.
So...for the next two weeks we are living in a somewhat small hotel/suite room. We have some great facilities around us which I am thankful for. I will be sure to keep myself busy with the kids during our last two weeks here on the island. They are both doing great and adjusting to all these changes so well. As long as Jason and I stay upbeat and positive during all these changes I really feel it shows in our children's attitudes.
I have taken many photos and will be sure to post them as soon as we can get our laptop working in the room. So keep checking back! ;-D

Okuma Weekend

We went up to the beach resort in North Okinawa over the weekend for Jason's end of school year get together. We had so much fun! Out of all the times we have been up there (probably 10) we had the best weather yet. It was perfect beach weather! Most of our good friends were up there as well which made it so much fun. The kids had a great time playing in the sand and swimming in the water. Being our last time up there we soaked in every minute of the beautiful scenery. I wish I would of taken more group shots of everyone, but I never took the initiative to get everyone together. Anyway...enjoy the pictures! This is the view from our room. PERFECT! Jackson testing out the area when we first arrived. ...Grace trying to keep up with him.



Now...use your imagination in this one. Can you figure out what this looks like?
The answer will be at the bottom. ;0)
Jackson and his best bud, Molly. I don't know what they are going to do without each other!
It's beach time!! Grace with her cheesy smile.

So sweet!
My what big feet you have!Now Jackson's turn...
Grace sat there forever playing with the shells and coral. Such a trooper!


Isn't this picture perfect!?!



Jackson being, "King of the restaurant!"

My early riser was up at 5 am...yes, 5 am!!! So, I thought I would take it as it comes and get a picture of the sunrise our last morning there. It was a beautiful one!

Seeing the sunrise just reminds me of how blessed I am! I have a wonderful husband and two beautiful, healthy children...what a life!

**The picture looks like a stone fish kissing a rock. Do you see it?**

How big are you?