Canada to Germany to Austria

We left one week ago for this month-long tour in Europe. Right now we're enjoying a great time in Austria on a retreat with the Navigators. It's a small group of about 24, which has made for some wonderful opportunities for conversation and intimate fellowship.

Here are some pictures from the week!

Here we are in Canada! Okay, so it might just be the Toronto airport, but it's about as close as either of us has come to visiting this particular neighboring country on our continent. The sunset was lovely! And they have nice planes, too.

Dan's good friend, Ryan Robart, who's been stationed in Germany for 4 years. He's about to PCS back to the States.

I thought Dan could sharpen some of his people skills. So I gave him this book I found. ;)

Dan played a house concert at Baumholder. These are the hosts, Brad and Debbie Ellgen. They've known the Meyers for years through Cadence International.

Here we are in Austria. This is the view across the lake into the town of Millstatt. Can you believe people actually live here?

The castle where we are staying in Milstatt - called Schloss Heroldeck.

The lake just after it had snowed. Kind of reminds me of Narnia, before Aslan.

Skiing on some slippery slopes in Austria. It was icy because they have had a lot of sun and warm weather. We did have fun, but we've been a little sore.

Another bakery. They're as common in Germany and Austria as McDonald's is in the States. It's as dangerous as it is wonderful. Dangerous... as in, many opportunities to "enjoy things you've never had before," ergo many opportunities to pack in the calories.

I end yet another blog entry with a coffee picture, because it's one of the best things about this Europe place. This is an "after" shot of an Illy Coffee.

These are a few of my favorite things...

Being in Austria gets me thinking about a few things...

1. I'm in awe that God made mountains that look just like a postcard.

2. Maybe recycling isn't such a bad idea.

3. My favorite things, Maria style.

Dan will tell you that I'm not a very excitable person. I take after my dad in that way. Dad is actually a very passionate person, but you'd never guess from his collected exterior.

Even so, sometimes it's the simple things that get me "excited." And the majority of things that get me excited, I'll admit, are edible.

These are in no particular order. Because they are, after all, my favorite.

California Pizza Kitchen deliciousness

Vanilla Rooibos Latte (Starbucks does a great job)

Great lyrics from Thad Cockrell's album, "To Be Loved." My iPod may just get stuck on this album if I play it one more time.

Anne of Green Gables movies, and the fact that my wonderful husband will actually sit down and enjoy them with me. (Now that's a man!!)

Servant Group International

Fish tacos from Bonefish Grill

Smart Wool socks

Eternity in Their Hearts, by Don Richardson. I'm not finished with this book yet, but I've read enough to know it belongs on my current favs list.

Christ's Supremacy

A little entry from my journal this morning on Ephesians 1:20-21.

"[God] raised [Christ] from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come."

The Christian's comfort in this day and age, when it seems every nation is vying for supremacy and when government becomes bigger and more intrusive, is that God IS and WAS and IS to come. Never changing, Christ reigns supreme. All all is subject to Him and His authority. And He will one day make all things new. And until then, no one has the power to remove God's hand of grace from this world except God himself. And I am secure in the righteousness of Christ - because He intercedes for me. Praise the Lord!

One Year

We officially entered our second year of marriage this weekend. To celebrate one whole year, we took a little walk down memory lane. (Sounds kind of like we're an old married couple now!)

1. We watched our wedding video and laughed at all the quirky things that we never realized happened.

2. We ate part of the top tier of our cake, which was still pretty yum.

3. We took a walk at Radnor Lake (the spot of our third date - and where I first realized that Dan was the cutest boy I'd ever met).

4. We visited Covenant Pres, where we were married. (Unfortunately, it was locked, so we just looked at the outside of the building. That was okay.)

5. Lastly, we ate dinner at the Capitol Grille (located at the Hermitage Hotel, where we stayed the first two nights of the honeymoon). The onion bisque with a toasted brie sandwich is aaaaamazing.

Patty did a wonderful job preserving the cake!

Of course, Dan made lattes - he makes the best!

Apparently, it was no good at all...

Radnor Lake is one of our favorite quiet spots in Nashville. It's a great place for dreaming and scheming... for us, that might be a little dangerous!