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Monday, October 16, 2017

When Daddy Comes Visiting

My father came for the weekend on his way home to the States from Ukraine with his wife. After spending three days with him I now see where a lot of my personality comes from. You see, my father is outgoing and fun loving. He enjoys the thrills of life, good food, and less work. Well... that's me! I'm also learning to invite God into my personality and let Him change me from the inside out because every personality needs Jesus' love to mold them into a better person. What I'm saying about myself is that I am very selfish at my core and need Jesus.

Anyways, my dad's coming was such a blessing! Because his stay ended up being SO short we did a lot of exploring, shopping and eating in very little amount of time. It was a whole lot of fun to get to spend that time with him and my step-mom! The first day we spend it in Bratislava shopping until they were falling asleep every moment they sat down. It turns out they drove all night to get to the airport from one side of Ukraine all the way to Kiev. They blessed Tín with a new coat and loads of legos. It was beautiful to watch him receive the gifts with grace and not ask for more and more. He chose thoughtfully and carefully while being very thankful and happy. I don't know why, but in that moment I was proud of my little man for the way he handled all the lavish gifts he received.

The next day was spent doing even more shopping. My dad loved visiting our local market to see how we do our grocery shopping, comparing prices and checking out the vendors. Because he's so friendly an outgoing it took a while. Everybody loved my dad, you can't help resist his good looks and charm. I get that from him too, right? Kidding, kidding. We bought so much food and ate it as fast as it was purchased. Oh! He really enjoyed the cheese stall at the mall and walked away with less money and lots of cheese, lol. You should have seen the excited look on the tellers face as my dad ohh-ed and ahh-ed over the yummy cheese. You should have seen my step-moms beautiful face as she covered her face in embarrassment. I remember being in her shoes when I was a teenager. I've now learned my dad is a cheese lover. That evening we cooked up a delicious dinner with Momma Alla (my step-mom). She makes the BEST mashed potatoes too and I admire her love for a clean home. We had my in-loves over for dinner and enjoyed some fun games.

On Saturday we all woke up early, but didn't manage to leave early enough for a day in Vienna. It was another whirlwind of a day filled with food, markets, beautiful buildings of Vienna and long walks through the city. Vienna never gets old and it was so great to see it with my dad. Turns out when we migrated to America from Estonia we stopped over in Vienna for 11 days. I have very little memories of it as Italy left a bigger impression on my. My dad told me some stories about those days as we strolled through the market. 

My father's stay was filled with love, gifts and a beautiful time filled with so many great memories. I'm already missing him!

















Tuesday, October 10, 2017

A Few Simple Things

We live in so much beauty that goes unnoticed so many times. I'm talking about the beauty in our morning cup of coffee, those still quite moments that are rare and even the mess that shows the beauty of life. Beauty isn't alway that turquoise looking lake somewhere in the mountains or someone else's vacation pictures nor their clean home pictured perfectly. Beauty is the life we live right now.

I've learned not to take the little simple things for granted because loosing my two nephews and sister-in-law to murder puts life into perspective. I can't help but notice the mess and be thankful I have a child in the house to argue with, a child who makes a mess and makes his little self known. 
Like at this moment, he is in timeout and I am here on the computer with a thankful heart. What a blessing it is to parent him even in those hard moments where he says, "I don't like you!" This is a reminder to myself, one that I will be thankful for in years to come.

Its also about living small and not grasping for the big, the deceptive and the things that may look oh so glamorous to us. We were made to be small, to enjoy the small. So here are a few small moments that I enjoyed this past week. Looking back at the images I realize that they aren't that small, but make up my life. Add Jesus to the mix and life has the most beautiful meaning and purpose because without Him all this beauty is empty. I can go on and on, but I'll stop here for now.

I'd love to hear from you! What are some of your favorite unnoticed beauty? 























Tuesday, October 3, 2017

A Friend For Two Months

Slovakia has been a beautiful place, a place of rest, challenges, beauty and so much more for our family. For me, it's also been a place of loneliness. The kind of loneliness that comes while homeschooling a child, with no car and friends who live too far away for a casual visit. I'm struggled in this place, but am learning to find Jesus in it all and to make Him that friend my heart so desires. 

September was a month I've waited for far too long to come and here it is, finally!! With the turning of fall I have also received a friend that gets to stay with me for two whole month, my mother. This past spring when I realized I do not get to have my mom come in June I cried, I was so broken up about it. You see, my mom has always been my best friend. We have that kind of relationship that is rare and ever so desired by mothers and daughters. I don't have a sister so she has been my biggest blessing. Now she is here to stay till November. I'm already mourning that a whole week has gone by since she landed and November will come way too soon.

On Tuesday the 19th of September we drove to Budapest, Hungary and picked her up from the airport. First off, I had no idea Budapest was not just an easy 2 hours drive from our village. It's a for sure 3.5 hours, but that day it took us 6 hours due to my moms forever delayed flight. I now know it's a place you go for the weekend and not a place you go for a day trip. 

While in Budapest we only had time for a very delicious dinner and a drive by the river for a few beautiful sights. It's a place I want to visit and take time to explore and enjoy. I also had no idea how majestic that city is. 















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