The Good & Bad Be PRAISED!

~The Good~

I've mentioned my friend, Anna, in previous posts.  She and I met in graduate school, which she attended as an international student from Germany.  At the time, she was dating a high-speed Special Forces guy and both he and Malu were deployed at the time.  Thus, we bonded over that and homework and became the best of friends.

This was us a few years ago in the late Spring of 2009...

 She and her SF guy had been married a few months and Malu was home for R&R.  At that time, we were child-free and just waiting to become moms.  That was the last time we'd seen each other, but we still kept in touch via email and Skype.

Fast forward to now....our daughter will be a year old next month and Anna and her hubby are expecting their little boy this fall!  She and her husband are stationed in Belgium and a friend of Anna's decided to throw her a surprise baby shower near Heidelberg (this past weekend), where her parents live.  I decided to join in on the surprise and boy, was she excited to see me at her parents' doorstep.  It was just Sina and I (Malu was at drill) and it was quite a reunion.

I couldn't believe how anti-social Sina was being that day.  She was so out-of-character, not wanting to look at, be near, or be held but anyone but me.  We think she missed her daddy.

Here's a picture of Anna with her hubby.  Don't they look like they're going to be great parents?

Getting ready to open gifts!

The happy couple!

It was my first time meeting both Anna's and her husband's parents and they are as sweet as ever.

Praise the Lord...

...for protecting Sina and I on the road and getting us there safely.

...for allowing me to see our dear friends again.

...and for granting these two wonderful people the gift of a child and allowing us to share this special moment with them.

We can't wait to meet Baby Vincent!

~The Bad~

On the way home from this lovely event, Sina and I were involved in an accident on the autobahn.  We were side-swiped by a driver entering the highway.  We had moved into the far left lane to give him some room to maneuver.  The driver, obviously not looking (and didn't make any signals either) crossed all three lanes and into our truck.  I pulled over as soon as I could, but never saw the guy who hit us.  I waited for half an hour, eventually gave up, drove home (scared) and immediately went to the MP station to file a report.

Praise the Lord...

...that we were in our big truck (that I used to complain about being too big) and barely felt it move upon impact (Sina didn't even wake up from her nap); I never lost control of it

...that the only damage that was done to the truck was a long scratch (and minor dents) to the rear passenger side of the vehicle and the removal of the rubber trim off one door.

...that Sina and I made it through unscathed and made it back to Stuttgart safely.

Thank you Lord for all the things you allow us to experience--both good and bad; and for your bountiful blessings upon us.

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

{from the song, Blessed Be Your Name by Matt Redman}

Amen and amen.

Have a blessed Wednesday everyone!

To Anna With Love!

How cool is it that I have a BFF named Anna who lives in Belgium?  Anna and I met in grad school at Colorado State University-Pueblo over two years ago (and I can't believe it's been that long already).  We completed the MBA program together.  At the time, she was engaged to Mike, an Army SF guy who was deployed--and Malu was deployed as well.  So not only did we bond over school, but we shared the difficulties of being without our loves--and had so much fun in the process.

Anna is actually originally from Europe--she came to the states as an international student from Germany.  She not only speaks German fluently (because she grew up there), but she is Italian and Portuguese (and speaks those languages too--I think).  She and Mike are now married; they have a cute dog named Howard and are stationed in Belgium.  I sooooo can't wait to visit them when we get to Germany.  They're only 4 hours away!

Anyhoo...Anna and Mike were so kind as to send Baby Vaiosina a package with tons of goodies!

LOVE the lady bug onesie and the shorts and plaid shirt from H&M!  Too cute!  And Anna definitely knows how much I LOVE German chocolate.  She sent me tons of it! 

So Anna and Mike...thanks for thinking of us!  We love you and will see you soon!