Summer Visitors!

I was delighted to host two of my best friends from Virginia at the end of July!

We headed down to the coast (about an hour from here), and took a ferry across the water to the other side.  We even saw dolphins, but they were too quick for a picture!

As I had celebrated my birthday earlier in the month, they treated me to a mani-pedi

AND one was a HUGE BLESSING as I received 2 crates of peaches while they were here, and she helped with the freezing process!

My hubby helped, too

I also got a chance to spend an afternoon with my parents the week after my birthday when they came to my hotel for a short visit.

Another Hellfighter Event

In July, we went to celebrate the commissioning of a new Hellfighter.

We also got to meet his twin grandbabies, miracles that they lived through their mama's complicated pregnancy.  We prayed for these tow little people A LOT!

One of the best things about being HF supporters. . .what a great group of prayer warriors!

The wonderful guy commissioned and his family.

Facing Fears

On the morning of July 4th, I finally faced my fears, and got into a kayak on Lake Houston.

Since my hubby has been trying since we started dating for me to do so, he was thrilled.

It was a beautiful morning, not too hot yet because we started @ 0730

Our dear friends had MUCH patience with us as we were both beginners and they are seasoned veterans at this kayak stuff

Although my hubby did have a mishap and fell in the lake, and then had to be towed home (and me a bit at the end, too), it was a great day

At the end, hubby got to try out a kayak that is NOT second hand and NOT trying to tip you every stroke!  He liked it a LOT BETTER!

A Day at Titisee . . . and Then Some

We took a day on Saturday to drive up through Feldberg. . .

. . .to Titisee

We spent a lot of days/weekends off at this little lake hidden in the Black Forest.  It was fabulous to visit there again and enjoy the beautiful weather.

Our view for Kaffeezeith (coffee time)

I forgot how huge these bread loaves in the right corner can get!

This rhubarb cake was SOOOO yummy!

I made dad turn the car around at one point because I saw a glimpse of this view and had to go back and capture it!!

We then enjoyed dinner at one of my favorite childhood restaurants in Tannenkirch

The next day we had to get some Spaghetti Eis

Then dad and I walked home from Liel, the first place we lived in Germany 37 years ago

Our first home in Germany

Traipsing through the forest

And sometimes making our own path

Mom LOVES her flower garden!  She will miss this!

Insert:  the next morning I found out Len had been taken to the emergency room for food not "plumbing" correctly, and my heart was with him for the rest of the trip.  Thankfully, my original plan included leaving the following day so I was able to visit him in the hospital that evening.

After a long day the next day, he was released to come home with me that night!  We are thankful no surgery was necessary.

The day I flew back, the Swiss Alps were out in all their glory at the airport

Truly a blessed trip and so very glad I went