Just when I thought I would be back in the routine of blogging (and catching up with pictures), I've fallen behind once again. A week and a half ago, my grandfather passed away. He had been struggling with Parkinson's disease and had suffered some strokes recently, so his health was poor. My grandmother died almost 3 years ago, and he has been ready to go since that time. We were fortunate to have this extra time with him and are grateful he's moved on to a better place.
Michael and I both made the trip back to Nashville for the funeral, and I'm spending a couple more weeks here with family. School is going well for Michael as he is finishing his first semester project. He has a break during the whole month of February, and we are going to travel! We are both very excited about this upcoming adventure...not only will we see more of Europe, but I also get his undivided attention!
At this point, it almost seems like the time to post pictures from the holidays has passed, but I will share them anyway...just not yet. :)
This is a glimpse of my time in Houston. These are the girls that I have grown to love, and I miss them dearly. I was fortunate enough to spend a few days with them before Christmas, and it was thoroughly enjoyable. We ate plenty of Mexican food and cherished the time we had together.
I have neglected to finish any picture collages yet, but I promise they are coming soon. Please keep checking--don't give up on me!
We thoroughly enjoy having David and Sara here these past week in Vienna. We crammed quite a few adventures into our time together, and it was well worth the lack of sleep. (Sara might feel differently b/c it usually took her a couple of hours to fall asleep). Regardless, we had our fair share of traveling and sight-seeing.
Here's a brief run-down:
We spent last weekend in Prague, and it was really, really cold. We piled on the layers and saw some of the major sights. I can understand how people say Prague is beautiful, but I agree with others that emphasize getting out of the "touristy" areas. All of the streets lined with cheesy souvenir shops are similar to Gatlinburg, TN...if you've never been to Gatlinburg, then let your imagination be your guide for that description.
Michael had class on Monday, so we came back to Vienna. The next day was full of museums and time in the city. Until then, I hadn't participated in many tourist attractions b/c I knew my visitors would want to venture out. I'm glad to have an idea of what people would really enjoy and also that which can be avoided.
Tuesday afternoon, David, Sara, and I went to Salzburg. Unfortunately, we had to leave Michael behind b/c of his project. This minor excursion was mine and David's opportunity to go skiing. As I type, my thumbs are still jammed from a tragic fall...let's just say I thought skiing would be more like riding a bike than it was. Lucky for me, I only fell twice. It should have happened several other times, but I'm sure God was watching out for me. If you would like more details, let me know. I won't impose them upon everyone though.
Last night we waited in line at the Opera House for standing room only tickets. For 2 Euro, we had stood in the highest section and were able to enjoy the Opera performance. Note to self, make sure to wear comfortable shoes, and be prepared to sit at some point. The interior decor was beautiful and orante, and I kept thinking about how incredible it is that Mozart performed in that very place!
We all feel more cultured after this past week. Now, I have time to gather my pictures and get them ready for you to see! [That is, assuming that people are actually still checking the blog :)]