Earliest picture of us together

On a date watching the Buzz.
July 2007

Kaiserin Elisabeth Hotel

Sissy is historically beloved. This estate was one of her Bavarian retreats.
He booked it as a surprise, unaware of Sissy's relationship.
She happens to be delightfully charmed by this princess and her legacy.
Even the 4 km walk in the rain to/from the train station was enchanted!

Cousins

There's more than a little resemblance here.

Distant cousins, united in Germany.

The Hunt

Positively painful and exhilarating all at once.
Our first apartment? Estate agent to arrange all unpleasantries? Guided tours of favorites?

No light fixtures?

No kitchen cabinets/sink/appliances?

Crazy 70s/80s tile in OTHER rooms (not just bath)?

Beautiful garden views?

Long halls adjoining rooms, with no flow between rooms?

Repeatedly seeing these features gave insight into Bavaria's standard of living costs: one of the highest in Europe.

Simplicity

Living out of a suitcase. 2 meals a day.
Crazy to finish our work each day so we can be together.
Simply blessed.
Heavenly Father is kind and good and we are grateful for His plan for each of us.
We have learned something of His timing and His wisdom.

Do you have a name, friend from the future?

The month before we married and moved to Germany, He flew to Bavaria to scout and prepare his employment and our homestead.
Incidentally, He took a picture of this in Kaufhof (department store) to set household expectations for me of what was to come after we married and I moved to Germany.


Used to be when I was a little girl, life was so simple.

A lot has changed.

where the time and space of OUR new life begins

He sees her. She doesn't spot him yet.

There he stands, with a huge bouquet and glowing eyes, but she does not see him.
Her vision is blurry with anticipation.

Let's kick to the punch!

Married. Honeymooned. He flew ahead of her. She moves out, wraps up life and work.

And

this (handsome face)

and

this (resort view)

await her.