Austria

As many of you know, we often go to Austria for a week every August for a church conference. We were really excited to be able to go this summer! Some of our good friends from California were coming too, so we were double excited. Enjoy some pictures!

9-hour road trip… these kids are champs!

Meet our driver, my amazing husband and incredible papa to our kiddos. Tonio and I met in Austria in 2009, so it’s always fun to go back and remember our roots as a couple =).

Tonio took this fun wide angle shot of the kids in the back. I was blessed to get a new iphone 12 this summer in California, and I’m so stoked on the camera features!

Here I am driving. Don’t worry, I only looked at the phone for a second.

We made it finally to the beautiful Millstätter See.

And our final destination, Schloss Heroldeck, the castle where I met my prince 12 years ago. Awww… it’s ok if you role your eyes. HAHA!!! I’m so thankful for the story God started writing and is still writing through our relationship.

Almost immediately, our sweet Daphné headed to the swings. It was 8pm at night.

View from up in the castle. You probably can’t distinguish them, but Daphné and Django are somewhere in that kid huddle.

The lake is the main attraction, and this boy had so much fun!

Outdoor family worship night. Me and my bud with the beautiful Schloss Heroldeck in the background.

Tonio got to play cajon with the worship team.

Django crashed in papa’s arms. So much swimming in the lake made for some tired kiddos.

A friend of ours took this picture of me worshiping Jesus.

Tonio takes Django out on the lake in the kayak.

I sure do love these two guys! Doesn’t that water look inviting?!

I got to take Django out too. He was pretending to fish with the noodle.

Our friend Michelle took Daphné out with 2 other little friends, Vivia and Evalyn.

One night was story night, recounting the faithfulness of God in how He started the 3 churches that these men pastor: Nice, France; Mallorca, Spain and Roma, Italia.

Just one of the many fun things the kids got to do in kids ministry. We were so blessed to see how much God’s Word was poured into their hearts and lives.

Another family worship night. The kids shared some fun songs they learned. Can you find Daphné?

I’m observing Django playing “ball game” (said with the cutest little Django voice) from a window up in the castle.

I got to cruise across the lake with the kids, so Daphné could go tubing.

There she is in the middle. Her first tubing experience.

She’s hooked!!! She and I went again for another round.

Some pretty sweet girls. It’s been a blessing to see Daphné make so many great friends who also love Jesus.

And this picture is taken from our bedroom. The green and being in God’s beautiful creation breathes life into my soul.

I would love to finish here with a beautiful prayer from the book, “Every Moment Holy, Volume 1” by Douglas Kaine McKelvey. It’s a prayer about arriving at the ocean, but it ministered to me with this lake, as well.

“We have traveled this day to the bounding sea, O Lord, to the far edge of the habitable land, as to the utter end of our own measure and ability and strength, to find here reminders of your limitless presence extended immeasurably beyond us.

In this place may we recall our blessed smallness.” Amen.

Love Linz

Last days of Summer

Toulouse