Tender Mercies

I'm really not sure if I ever thought this day would come. The day that I made it past 13 weeks pregnant without losing the baby. #miracle.  I know I am not out of the woods yet, and honestly, when are we really? I am just trying to live every day with gratitude for the life inside of me, living with hope for the future.  Part of me wanted to wait until next week, when I was past 14 weeks and officially in the 2nd trimester, but I couldn't wait any longer. I've been getting a little thick in the middle, which is getting more difficult to hide, and I feel like I haven't been able to be completely honest with friends when they would ask, "how are you doing?" All I wanted to talk about was how nauseous I was or how nervous I felt. So now, the news is out, whether or not you already suspected something was up.  Seriously though, the 1st trimester is not for the faint of heart! There were many instances when I thought I would lose the baby, but dee

Click here to see Part 1 about our Paris adventures! After 4 days of sight-seeing in Paris with my youngest sister and my parents, we all flew to Munich, Germany and then caught a train to Salzburg, Austria, where we spent the next 4 days and 5 nights. My mom had spent a bit of time in Salzburg 33 years ago as a missionary, and I am a huge Sound of Music nerd, so it was so fun to finally visit!! We had some rain the first couple of days in Austria and Germany, but that didn't stop my sister or me from making some priceless memories. Take a look at this precious gem:  Day 5: Travel Day & German lunch in Munich Eating an authentic German lunch in one of the top Biergartens in Munich was a perfect way to ease a day of traveling. It looked pretty bland, but I couldn't believe how much I loved my plate of warm sauerkraut and sausages! Day 6: Sound of Music Tour My Childhood dream of dancing around the "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" gazebo from t

The moment I heard my youngest sister was going to Europe after graduation, I knew I wanted to join the trip. I never expected to, and figured I would have to live it vicariously through pictures. However, my incredible dad came to my aid and surprised me with a round-trip ticket over the Atlantic for my birthday. While I probably should have been most excited to see old architecture and art and experience new foods and cultures, what I looked forward to the most was spending 11 days with my baby sister Kristina who is 8 years my junior. I left home when she was 10 and got married when she was 13, so most of the sisterly bonding happened between her and my middle sister. Phone calls, texts, and old-fashioned hand-written cards in the mail have kept Kristina and I close enough, but I wanted some time with just us two, as adults.  The time I spent with my sister in Europe from August 6-August 17, 2016 was everything that I needed and wanted. I hope these pictures can show how