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I wish I were…

Written by: Amanda // Category: Writing Challenges

This week'sWeekly Writing Challenge asks bloggers to answer the phrase "I wish I were..." This phrase has so many different meanings. Age, appearance, knowledge, locations, languages...there are so many ways you can answer this question. What do I wish? I wish sometimes that I could be 'there,' not 'here.' Hold on with me for a moment while I explain what I mean. I never realized how big the world was until I took that 36 hour trip over here to South Korea from America. It's the moment when you realize...hey, there are things that I'm gonna miss out on because I can't just board a plane and be to my destination within one day. It's an absolutely terrifying thought sometimes. There are a couple, quite significant, events that I ... Read More

Big

Written by: Amanda // Category: Writing Challenges

For most people, when they think of the word 'big' they're thinking about the biggest ice cream cone they've ever seen, the biggest race they've ever won, the biggest steak they've ever eaten. On an normal day, during a normal week, I'd be thinking along the same lines. But I'm not. It's big news that has spurred on my inspiration to write/blog about this week's photo challenge subject. What is big to me? It's the moment when you hear about something that touches down to your very soul and you can't help but want to react. This is Mr and Mrs J, with one of their many grandchildren. I have known this family since before I could remember. I grew up with their children, worked at their non-profit Christian camp (Sagrada Scholarship Bible ... Read More

Colors of change

Written by: Amanda // Category: South Korea, Writing Challenges

Red, yellow, orange, pink. The colors of fall look quite a bit different on this side of the world. I'm used to the vibrant pink and yellow leaves of maple trees, the bright orange cheery glow of pumpkins that are for sale at a nearby grocery store, the clever reddish/brown fall pattern on my 'to go' cup of my delicious spiced latte. Fall looks different here. Blue, gray, white, green, purple. I stare out at the blue ocean bay that only hopes to change color by reflecting off it's surface the colors of the sun. I walk through the tall gray and white buildings that have been here for less than 30 years, but from the looks of it, they have not fared so well. The dark green silhouette  from the pine trees on the mountains remain the same ... Read More

Top ten

Written by: Amanda // Category: Writing Challenges

I've decided to take the advice of Wordpress' 'Weekly Writing Challenge' and make a top ten list. I've always wanted to do this, especially when it comes to traveling. As some of you know, I'm probably one of the most indecisive people out there. It's hard for me to make up my mind when I have lots of choices in front of me, but eventually I settle on something. Today I am conquering the 'top ten' places/countries I would like to visit in the world. Preferably sooner than later. I'm writing this as a challenge, because I'd love to get back on here and cross off my list. No greater sense of accomplishment than that! Yes, i'm a list person. Enjoy. Top Ten Places/Countries to Visit: 1.Australia (Great Barrier Reef, Sydney) 2.China (Great ... Read More

Currently on Instagram

Our adventures may be few and far between nowadays Our adventures may be few and far between nowadays, but the ones we get to take are oh so sweet. 

My daughters are now 2.5 years and 6 months old. Life never slows down, but only gets faster with each day we’re blessed to live. Social media may not be a part of my life how it used to be, and instead I’m working on living life intentionally each day as we raise our girls during these crazy times. 💕
2020 has been a year has it not? As much as I love 2020 has been a year has it not? As much as I love social media, I found myself taking a break as the things we were all going through made social media so insignificant to me. 

In January/February I had a miscarriage. It was a horrible way to start the year, and little did I know it was just the beginning of it all. 

Even with the loss, hardship of moving back to the US in the middle of a global pandemic, and navigating our new lives here, we were given many blessings. The greatest of those was finding out I was pregnant again in March.

It’s a scary time to be pregnant right now, especially after a miscarriage, because doctors visits are very minimal. Also, Derik was never able to come to a single visit. I was terrified something would happen and I would be told bad news and have to face that alone. But God was gracious to us. 

We kept our special little secret to ourselves, and it wasn’t until our third trimester before we told immediate family and close friends. My pregnancy was very private for me, and a special time to bond closely with the babe growing inside me.

Our sweet little girl arrived November 30, and yes I had to deliver with a mask on, but she is perfect and I truly feel our family is complete. 💕🌈
 
“When a rainbow appears, it doesn’t mean the storm never happened or that we are not still dealing with its aftermath. It means something beautiful and full of light has appeared in the midst of the darkness and clouds. Storm clouds may still hover but the rainbow provides a counterbalance of color, energy, and hope.”
I am in love. As I’m sure every other plant/mons I am in love. As I’m sure every other plant/monstera collector is when you get to behold such a beauty in real life. If there were ever #plantgoals, this is it. 

Since moving from Germany, it has been a long and slow process getting our life back to normal. All of our belongings have yet to arrive so we’ve literally been camping in our house on an air bed and camping chairs for two months. 😂 All that to say, having to start my plant collection over again here stateside has been so much fun! I will miss the plant prices if Germany, but the selection here blows my mind. Anyone else obsessed? We’ve lived here for almost 8 weeks now and I already have 11 plants 😂😬😬😬. I don’t have a bed or a couch, but by golly I have greenery. 😂🤦🏼‍♀️🌱
Oh my heart. I’ve been trying to figure out the Oh my heart.

I’ve been trying to figure out the words to say about our time in Germany, but my fingers can’t seem to type out how to express my love, gratefulness, thankfulness, sadness, and heartbreak I feel about leaving. Every country we’ve lived in has taught us something and has given us so many beautiful memories, as well as opened our eyes a little more to different cultures and ways of living.

But Germany was special. The first time we stepped foot into Germany was in 2015, and we loved it so much we stayed the extent of our travel visa (3 months). I was able to visit again in 2016, and then we officially packed everything and moved in 2017. Germany has always had my heart: the people, the festivals, the food, wine and beer, the immaculate home landscaping, and even all the rules that every resident is just expected to follow to a tee (like recycling every tiny scrap of trash). Our family grew from two to three while in Germany. Bringing our daughter into the world, and raising her for a year and a half in a different culture, will be one of the most beautiful memories of my life.

Our move was impacted by the COVID pandemic, and it took three long months of delays, red tape, and countless phone calls to get everything together so we could actually get on a plane and have our stuff packed and shipped to our new home. 
I am breathing a sigh of relief to know all the stress of everything is over and our new adventure can begin. I am mourning the loss of leaving Germany. I am in a weird transition right now trying to grasp it all, but here we are jumping into new things head first! We are back in the US for a while, in the beautiful state of Tennessee, and look forward to many new memories, travels, friends, and being able to spend time with family! 
Photos from my sweet and talented friend @juliejayphotos
I feel like I failed hard this year at Christmas m I feel like I failed hard this year at Christmas markets. We went to a total of ONE market, which is exactly 19 less than I told myself I would go to this year to make up for not going to any the year before 🤦🏼‍♀️(I was 40 weeks pregnant and not feeling crowds). I will say, it was a great one and the weather was so nice, we stayed out until the market shut down.

If there’s one thing I will miss most about Germany when it is our time to move, will be the sheer enthusiasm this country has for Christmas, and I’m not talking about consumerism. Food, laughter, friends, family, music, dancing: celebration. Also, Germany shuts down for not only one day, but THREE. Stores are closed, mail is not delivered, people aren’t out and about. Everyone is home enjoying time with family, and I love it. However, I may have gone into full blown panic mode Christmas Eve when I realized I had a total of 8 diapers to get us through until the 27th. 👀
We spent Thanksgiving back in North America: Whist We spent Thanksgiving back in North America: Whistler, Canada! A 10 hour flight from Germany , and I can’t say this one was better than the one we took over the summer on our trip to Alaska, but we survived! Entertaining a 11 month old for that long is much harder than a 6 month old, especially when they aren’t into sleeping on the plane AT ALL. 🤪

Whistler was beautiful despite the lack of snow, and we enjoyed our time with family, the delicious food, and as much sightseeing as one could do with a jet-lagged baby. 
This was actually my first trip to Canada ever, (unless you want to count the move my parents took up to Alaska from Arkansas when I was two. 😂🤷‍♀️ ) and I loved it! We would really like to take a big Canadian road trip someday and explore more of the country! 😍😍🇨🇦
Being a mama may mean I don’t always have time t Being a mama may mean I don’t always have time to put myself together, but I would rather spend the extra moments making special memories with our daughter that she can cherish forever. I doubt that she will look at this picture and see a tired, messy haired mama that’s barely had time to wash her face nevermind carefully apply makeup, but am hoping she will see a mama that never tires of carrying and cuddling her, or sharing new experiences with her. 💕
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