First pictures from 2014.

First of all, Happy New Year 2014 folks! I'm glad to have the fresh start and 2013 behind us - last year was quite trying, hectic, and emotionally overwhelming. But God is faithful and showed His care for us amidst the storm clouds.

 I've enjoyed being busy in the kitchen making treats to eat and share this Christmastide!

 

 We rang the new year in with our Canadian and American friends with dinner, desserts, and drinks. At midnight we toasted with champagne and gathered on the balcony to watch the thousands of fireworks from the neighboring towns and Vienna - it was an amazing view with a slight war-zone ambiance; there were so many fireworks going off. I am truly thankful to have met such great people here; we have good friendships established already.

 

We didn't take many pictures that night...we were too busy enjoying the Biffert's lovely Austrian-style Christmas tree! Real candles!

 

Our first week of January was a little rough. Poor Michael had a virus with fever, runny nose and cough and was up a lot during the night. We kept the boys separated, and I made sure Andrew and I were strict with Vit. C and herbal remedy intake to prevent our catching it - I also added extra onion, garlic and fresh ginger to our meals. We also napped at least once a day which I know played a major factor in staying well. Michael was a trooper and kept that infectious smile on and his imaginative play going strong!

 Michael has seen Mama carrying Dominic in this carrier quite a bit lately, and he wanted to try it. He agreed to settle for carrying "Mr. Monkey" around instead.

 Papa took wonderful care of Michael, patiently keeping his nose wiped, dolling out medicine and oranges, playing with Michael, and introducing him to some orchestral music.

 Finally on the road to recovery and happy to be allowed out for a quick walk with Papa.

 

I discovered that the boys were dressed in red and green on the same day and so of course, had to get a few photos of my little elves.

Here children of both genders wear "strumpfhose" (stockings) under their pants during the winter. These are what Michael has on here.

 Michael picked up some sheet music and the end of the vacuum cord and said he was singing...

 Oops, that's not quite how we use a microphone...don't look Grandpa!

 Dominic has also been bonding with Papa and shows good recognition upon hearing Andrew's voice. This was a cute moment when Dominic kept trying to touch Andrew's face.

 

When Michael finally got over the worst of his sickness, we went out for a drive south of Trumau and into some higher elevation. It was lovely to get out from under the fog cover that has been premanating Trumau .We enjoyed seeing many vineyards, castle ruins and monasteries from the highway. It is always so neat to see a church spire in the center of nearly every village.

 We turned off into the quite little town of Seebenstein.

 Roadside shrines like this are not uncommon in Austrian towns.

 Getting ride to hike up to a castle.

 Excited to be back to hiking...7.5 weeks post postpartum! God is good.

 

 

 Burg Seebenstein. This castle dates back to the 13th century and saw much action when the Turks were trying to invade lower Austria.

 

 Looking upon history.

We'll be back in the summer to hike more of the trails here!

We send our love and prayers to each and every one for you for a blessed 2014! Thank you for your support, love, encouragement and prayers - keep 'em coming! I'm hoping to embrace this new life better and more to the full this year and delve more purposefully into my vocation as a mother of two now. I covet your prayers for those petitions. I came across the below quote recently and find that it suits my circumstances and the desires of my very weak will, well. May I be His trusting servant in everything this coming year!

"He has not created me for nothing. I shall do good, I shall do his work, I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of the truth in my own place-- if I do but keep his commandments and serve him in my calling. Therefore, I will trust Him. Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness will serve him; if I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve him. He does nothing in vain. He knows what he is about. He may take away my friends. He may throw me among strangers. He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me- still He knows what he is about- and I trust Him."

~ Blessed John Henry Newman