< Happy New Year! >

What a year! We sure kept ourselves busy this year. We started 2013 in Seattle on our Christmas vacation here in the States...and here we are ending it in the same spot. We had a great last few months living in Switzerland and we have had a great 6 months living here in the States. We are still soo soooo happy to be official residents in Washington.

This year I learned a lot about patience and faith. I think those were my top two lessons of the year. We have seen many blessings because of our faith. Phew ;) I know that if I trust in the Lord and in His timing, all will work out for the best. One example of this is--we were hoping to leave Switzerland to be back in America by the 4th of July...we hoped and prayed that Jachen would get his Visa interview by then. However, it didn't work out that way. We received an interview date for after July 4th, I was furious. I have never been so disappointed. Later, I became grateful for this because Jachen and I were able to spend a week and a half living with Jachen's dad and we were able to bond with him and I think that is why Heavenly Father blessed us with a later interview date. It was more important to spend that time with his dad then be earlier in the States. I have learned this trust and faith in Christ and Heavenly Father once again and I hope I always keep this special experience close at heart.

Umm and hellooo we saw Phoenix, Head and the Heart and Vampire Weekend this year! Big time score. Good job 2013.

I can't wait to see what 2014 brings. It will be our first full year living in America together!

I wish you happiness in 2014!

2012|2011|2010
>>>M

< Zurich Outing >

I swear Jachen is not that white...just really sunny out.

We were up on that cement wall where there's a great view of the city. {below}

Yesterday afternoon Jachen had his physical for the VISA process in Zurich, so we decided to spend the morning and afternoon up to the appointment in the city. I LOVE Zurich! When I was an Au pair in Switzerland in 2010 I would spend most of my days off in Zurich. It is such a pretty and large city. Yesterday I was able to see more of the city I hadn't seen before and OH MY. I had no idea it was THAT beautiful.

We walked around enjoyed the sites, went into the Grossmunster{the famous double tower Munster, was pretty lame inside...def NOT a pretty/gody church like you would normally see in Europe. We were surprised}. Did a little shopping{I say little because Zurich is CRAAZY expensive} and then got some lunch. We then headed to where the doctors office was, but got there an hour early so we walked around looking for some ice cream, found some. It was CRAZY hot out...luckily there are tons of water fountains around to cool our bodies down. By the time we got to the next fountain we were dry from the one before. Jachen had his appt and passed, clearly...he is one healthy kid. While he was getting checked out, I cooled off and slept in their waiting room. I couldn't help it, I was sleepy from the heat we walked in all day. 

A great little outing in Zurich and one step closer to getting the VISA for Jachen to live in the States.

>>>M

< Day Trip To Scuol//PART TWO >

After we left Scuol, we took a train to Zernez to visit Jachen's grandma's sister who is 90! It was just a quick visit and then we headed back on the train for a 3.5 hour ride back to Landquart. The train ride was long, but as you can see very beautiful. There was a point in the train ride where we were going through switchbacks. I literally was running back and forth to both sides of the train to see the sights.

In Landquart we got off the train, Gunter and Luise stayed on and then Jachen and I drove home.

See part one of the day trip, HERE and the video that goes along with it.

This house below, with the arched doorway, is where Jachen's dad's father lived once upon a time.

>>>M