My Birthday According to my Sister

These came in all throughout my special day. Man does she make me laugh. 

It started at midnight my time. 

Then I woke up to this. 

Followed up by this:

This one made guff out loud. At a very inappropriate moment. 

It was and I loved each one.

Amen, oh amen. 

Sigh.....

Like sending me bunches of virtual postcards? 

Next year, my dear, next year. 

I love you too, Aunt Sally. 

XO

Now for Something Entirely New

And now for something entirely new: the Steinbach Clan is moving to Denver, Colorado at the start of May.

 

 

Based on the questions we’ve gotten in real life, it seems like these are some of the most popular questions:

We are all going.

I’m moving with my job.

The Mr. will be with the kids at the start to help the transition, afterwards he will be working. Or boarding.

 

Both kids are American. No additional paperwork needed.
We applied for the Mr's green card and expect to have it in the next few weeks.

The Mr. sending away one of many sets of documents for his green card.

 

My brother, his wife, two aunts, two uncles, and three cousins live in the greater Denver area.

 

Brother, beautiful and hilarious wife, and Ike

 

Germany has been great for a long time; this decision was a very difficult one to make; this has been a multi-year long process.

We are going to miss our German family a lot.

 

We are very excited and very nervous about the move.

 

We don't smoke pot and didn’t chose Colorado because weed is legal. 



I’ve been there a number of times; the rest of the clan hasn’t yet. 

Yes, I’m freaked out by the gun violence and have already joined the Colorado chapter of Moms Demand Action.

We are going to miss our friends, including those from Eritrea.

 

I will somehow continue to be active in the global refugee crisis.

We are not going to get a Mustang; a Dodge 4-door truck; or a dog. There may be a free-for-all on cotton candy and Reese's Pieces.

These are exciting times! What questions did I miss?


XO

 

 

Everything That Matters

Right here. 

XO

Good Picture Please

PJ and I had a mommy-son date recently. He is pretty reluctant to have his picture taken these days. I snuck this one and was pretty proud of myself. 

When he saw the result, he was not amused and asked me to take another "good picture please." Then he posed. The result were these. 

And finally :

He was finally happy with the outcome. Or the treat. Either way. What a cutie. 

I was finally graced with permission to take a "selfie".

Lucky lucky lucky mommy. 

XO

Little Moments

Are everything. 

XO

Summer Fun with Eritrea

The journey continues with our dear friends from Eritrea. As the refugee crisis continues throughout the world, we have had quite a number of little and big joys.

After a private donor funded more than 15 intensive German courses earlier this year -- THANK YOU, Angel! -- we now have 10 friends who are starting an education program for either professional or academic skills. We have a few starting an internship or apprenticeship. We have also welcomed three healthy babies.

All that and now our home is getting healthier. So I decided it was time to celebrate again.

There was food and drinks, music and dancing. Right before the party broke up, we managed a pictures. There are a good number of people missing, especially quite a number of our German friends who have done so much to ensure hope, climb mountains, and discover opportunity.

Our dearest, most engaged, most devoted is right next to me, on the right. She was born in Eritrea and grew up in Germany. She has moved mountains; created miracles; herded a ridiculous amount of cats; victoriously battled bureaucrats; and brought so much hope to us all in such different ways. Dear, if you ever read this, know that you are a role model and a friend. I am so thankful for you.

The struggles and the joys will continue. The dance of setting up new life will continue, two steps forward, one step back, a little twirl, sometimes a dip, and somehow it all comes together.

I am honored and so thankfully that we somehow stumbled into each others' lives.

Xo

Matilly, okay!

Recently Bean and I went to a small family party in a tiny village. There was a small cabin with a little kitchen right next to an extended batch of woods. After a short period of getting comfortable, Bean took off into the woods.

This was right when my foot was the worst and I could hardly walk, let alone chase an almost-two-year-old into the woods. I called out for her, asking her to come, to return.

Instead, she turned around, look at me, and yelled "MATTILY OKAY!"

Oh, this one, We are in for one heck of a ride. 

XO