Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany.

Here is the thing about living in Europe. There are days, many of them in fact, that just aren't glamorous. Most days are filled with daily routines. Eating, sleeping, cooking, cleaning, essentially the same life for most stay-at-home moms around the world. It is easy for the mundane to take over, for the bleak winter days to lead to complaining about the size of the apartment or other trivial matters. (When really we should just be happy to have a roof over our heads at all, right? Preaching to myself here. Moving on.)

 And then there are days that we get a bit of a break from the routine.
    

Days were every. single. detail. just seems beautiful.




Moments when I feel like I have to pinch myself because I just can't believe that we are here. Europe. Germany. Rothenburg.



Moments where I watch my Kaleb run up and down stairs of an enormous church in a walled city and think "he has experienced more at age two than many do in a lifetime."



Not that he will remember it. But, we will always have these photos. And stories to tell.



Stories of when we packed up the car and drove longer than expected to get to a beautiful city to explore for the day.



Rothenburg ob der Tauber- you had us at hello.



Lured us into every single nook and cranny, begging us to meander through your cobblestone streets and alleyways.






Made us stop and reflect. To make memories- as a family.



















There are so many places in this world to explore. We just have to be intentional about finding them and also be willing to get lost in order to explore. The end result is worth it. Every time.

Sanctity of Life.

The past few days I have been more keenly aware of how precious life is. What miracles I have been blessed with. As I nurse Isaiah I remember when he was still just kicking away inside of me. As Kaleb strings new words together I stop.


Pause.

Reflect on my bundles of joy growing so quickly before my eyes.

That said, there are thousands of miracles each day that are never able to take their first breath.





Mothers and fathers who will forever wonder what their little one would have looked like, when he or she would have first cooed or laughed, taken that first anticipated step, or gotten a first haircut.



We can't turn the other way and pretend as though it weren't happening. Because it is. Let's do what we can to be a voice for these sweet babies. Let's love single mamas well, be their community. And let's pray. Pray that life would be chosen over convenience.

Please- take three minutes and read this article written by John Piper.

No more, dada.

Have I told you lately how much I love the stages my boys are in? Because I do. I just wish I could freeze time and stay here forever.

Last night my little Isaiah went 12 straight hours without eating! (I wish I could say sleeping, but alas he was up for a bit in protest.) Still though. I will take it. I didn't even have ONE cup of coffee today and still have energy. Amazing what some sleep will do for a body! He is simply too cute for words. He has a new little fake smile where he squints his eyes, almost closes them, and then gives this cheesy smile as his chubby cheeks look as though they may burst.

And my Kaleb? He turned two and a half yesterday. Sigh. That boy just melts my heart. He can be so ornery yet is so sweet and gentle a majority of the time. Our quiet boy is starting to put more words together and use them in different ways. Today? Straight comedy from those dear lips of his.

 

 I will set the scene:

John: (Singing loudly.)

Kaleb: (Said with a touch of sweetness and innocence.) "No more dada."

 Oh my, I lost it. Too funny. And not one hour later....

 Me: (Dancing around in a quirky sort of way.)

 Kaleb: "No mama."

I just couldn't stop laughing.

Tonight I tucked him in, pulled the shades down and heard his sweet voice say, "Mama?" To which I responded "Yes, Kaleb?" "Mama go nigh nigh too?"

Melt. My. Heart.