2 years...

Last week we officially hit our 2 year mark here in Germany. It's so crazy to think we're almost done here! These next 12 months are going to FLY by. After we get back from Michigan we will have 10 months or less left here. Then my Uncle Hyatt and Aunt Jeanie are coming out shortly after that. When they leave in November is when we will find out WHERE and WHEN we are going next. Brad and I still can't make up our minds on where we should shoot for. Although, sometimes it doesn't even matter because the Marine Corps will always meet the Marine Corp's needs first. The only place I absolutely do not want is Japan. But, we are kicking around the idea of a few places... California, Hawaii and North Carolina...maybe Virgina?
After this we roll into the holiday season. That always seems to go by quickly just to spit us out into the long, dreadful, cold winter. I think this winter will be the least painful of them all because a) we will be counting down the days until we move... and it will literally only be days and b) we're kicking around the idea of taking a cruise to somewhere nice and warm. We'll call it a goodbye cruise. Canary Island anyone? :) But, that's just how you have to think around here to keep the spirits up because otherwise you will die of winter depression. Not really die, but you catch the drift.

On a side note, Happy 4th of July! I found out recently the Germans also celebrate the 4th. They have fireworks, hotdogs, hamburgers, face painting...all that good stuff. They do it to support American-German unity. Isn't that nice?
Hope everyone has a great long weekend!

What we've been up to...

Pools, zoo, parks, sandcastles, bike rides, sports, feeding ducks... and it's going to be more of the same until Miles and I leave for the States in 1 week!

Sweet, sweet summer

I just love summer! I love the smell of sunscreen and drinking ice cold lemonade all day. I love wearing flipflops and summer dresses. I'm really having fun playing with my camera these days. I've been lucky lately and catching Miles in tons of smiles.

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer too!

Prayer

Just wanted to put a little prayer request out there for the Guthrie family. (Brad's mom's side)

Brad lost his grandpa a couple days ago. It's so sad to loose grandparents. I wish Miles could have met him.

Sports

Our little guy is a sports-o-holic. Forget the playground, pools and friends. This past week we got Miles a new baseball and glove as well as a basketball hoop and ball and that is ALL we've been doing. He's also sat and watched every single USA world cup game. I don't know how much of a preview this is to his future but I definitely think sports is going to be a part of his life!

Summer is here.

Happy first day of summer! I'm always a bit sad on June 21st because it means from now on the days will be getting shorter. I never cared about this sort of thing until moving to Germany. But, I definitely wouldn't want to the days to keep getting longer! The sun already doesn't set until 9:30 which means it's not completely dark until well after 10pm.

While Brad's been at work, Miles and some friends and I have been doing a lot of pool. INDOOR pool. Saturday and Sunday were in the 50's. Freezing! It's funny because my parents are in Michigan right now to escape the Memphis heat. But, when Brad and I visit this summer, we're secretly hoping for some heat!

Now that summer is here and in full force. Here are some of the things we're looking forward to this season:

8. The 4th of July - we're always up for a party and the military is doing a HUGE celebration here in a couple weeks! We're going to let Miles stay up this year to watch the firecrackers. I can't wait to see his little face.

7. Finishing the last of my 'juice books" before school starts back up again.

6. Brad says, "Playing all the Modern Warfare 2' I can stand... when you leave for the States of course".

5. Seeing my parents...again. I love the little relationship Miles is starting to build with Pock and Grandma. Also, round #2 of babysitting.

4. Being in the USA! Gosh, I miss this place. Like last year, we'll be hitting up malls, Olive Garden, all that good stuff.

3. Seeing Jack (Brad's dad). He STILL has not met Miles yet. This is our top priority this year and is so so important to us. He has Alzheimer's and is just not doing well anymore. Also, depending on how things work out we might get to see Donna (Brad's mom).

2. Lots and lots of beach/boats/lakes/sunscreen/volleyball/cards. Everything that makes Michigan what it is. Every year that Miles gets older I feel the more he'll enjoy and understand. Michigan is like HOME to me because of how much I've moved as a kid and adult. It looks like Miles is unfortunately taking the same path due to the military lifestyle. But I take so much comfort in MI and its familiarity because it has always been a constant for me from a baby to adult. Hopefully it can be a place of home for Miles too! We get to enjoy it for 6 whole weeks this year!

1. Finally, I might, just MIGHT get to see my oldest best friends, Jessica and Angela! If so, it will be just like old times. Us girls and no guys! We're currently researching plane tickets. We'll see! It's going to be a very full year at the lake!

In the paper!

The magazine, Pentwater: This Week, will be publishing my story! Check it out.

Dear Oceana's Herald Journal,

This summer my family and I had the opportunity to have our photos taken at the top of the Zugspitze (Germany's tallest mountain). The thing that makes this photo so special is that 3 of us randomly brought our Pentwater sweatshirts to keep us warm. While we had a good laugh about this, we had several people stop and ask us where this Pentwater was and why we all had the same sweatshirts on. We were happy to tell them that we visit every summer and one of the must-dos is to purchase a sweatshirt from Hancock St. And to think all these conversations took place on the very top of Germany!

The people in the photo (from left to right) are Brad Lowe (my husband), Suzi Baker and Fritz Baker (my parents). We have been coming to Pentwater every year for my entire life. It is our piece of 'heaven on earth'. Pentwater runs as deep as my grandmother (Mariam Baker, 88 years old) who has been coming since she was 2 years old. I have now passed the tradition on to my own family, so much in fact that we are about to make the international trip for the second year in a row from Stuttgart, Germany. Whoever would have thought one's favorite childhood and adult memories all take place in one tiny town? We love you, Pentwater!

Kathryn (Baker) Lowe