Weekend Adventure's Part I

So there was a crazy weekend full of new and exciting things. I will say that I made it..... early in the month too ! I went to another country well another new country for me. So happily I am 2 for 2 on my new year's resolution. Coming soon posts about Austria. Before Austria I have to begin with Africa. See a theme last month it was country's starting with S this month A. 

Sam has a friend and co-worker  named Moses. Moses is a great person and one who is always up for adventure and trying new things. Conversations are inviting and interesting, Moses comes from Morocco and speaks French, Arabic, Spanish and of course English. Moses is a translator and I always love to chat with him because you never know where the conversation will go. For two Friday's Sam and I have given up date night to go off on some adventure with Moses and his collection of friends who are always as interesting as his conversation. I am so happy we are considered his friends, because that means we are interesting :) 

Last week it was a jazz club in Stuttgart named BIX ( shout out to Aunt Nancy for the BIX Lives festival I always loved to go to near her house!) It was good wine and music the musicians were from Nebraska, New York, and Detroit which made for an interesting collection of songs.

This Friday we where whisked off to an African restaurant here in Stuttgart.

 I haven't eaten African food in over a decade, for those of you in Milwaukee there is a great African restaurant ( I recommend the peanut soup and the ginger beer) Near the river between Benihana's and Maders.....

 Moving on so I thought why not?  rumor had it the owner was from Ethiopia, and with Sam along I wanted to be sure to find out if I was having an "authentic" experience. Sam has been to Ethiopia. Tonight's group included some new friends from right here in Germany, they are German's from Stuttgart.  I had to laugh Biatta was wonderful and answered all of my pressing questions about German places, customs and things that make you go "huh ?" with a smile and lively explanations. Our table was small, the restaurant hot, and the food arrived 2 hours after we sat down and ordered ...which is very German. I loved the eclectic collection of artifacts, the decor was wild and this tiny restaurant had so many things to gaze upon.

 Sam tried crocodile for the first time.... I had tried it when I visited Dave and Liz at the Mall of America ( age 18) I thought then it tasted like clam ( now this was crocodile in Minnesota at a sports bar) Moses swears it takes like a pork chop and Hasan thinks we are all crazy, Biatta thinks  it is like chicken.... Sam looked at us all like we were crazy and just ate his crocodile. Sam says he never saw crocodile on the menu in Africa......I loved the fish I ate it was delicious... however I have to smile and laugh because in the center of this delightful african fish dish what did I find..... yes, you guessed it a typical German potato dish. I have no idea what the name of this dish is it is a dumpling cross sticky cross ball like thing that you have to cut with a knife. I know it is potato and it has a sweet vinegar after taste. There was the potato ball as I call it smack in the center of the dish..... Did I mention it sticks to the plate..as in you won't get it off it could be glued. The meal was good and Sam said it had African vibe with a commercial presentation. Wonderful for an African restaurant in Germany. The food was good the friends were better and the laughter was priceless. Biatta knew the owner, which came out during dinner. I met the owner a very nice man who indeed is from Ethiopia..... you just never know what will happen on a Friday night in Stuttgart.....

 The best part of the whole evening however was the trip to the bathroom. I feel like I am channeling from the Tongue and cheek blog  between bathroom sinks and taking pictures of bathrooms at tourist sites. It started when friends went there and didn't come back for close to 25 minutes. When they came back there was excited conversation about the tiny and I mean tiny little room with the roses..... I just had to see for myself ....so off I went and wow was it worth the trip. The bathroom was my favorite part of the restaurant. The bathroom itself is the size of a tiny closet in the US...no exaggeration. Packed into this tiny space is a ray of happiness and a delightful sink the size of a dinner plate that makes you stare.

  Rose petals and stones and cold water .... simply heavenly. There are even two sinks !!!! One is in the entry to the bathroom

 Then 3 feet away in the women's room is the other.... there could be a third but, I didn't go to the men's side.... I do have some limits.....:)

Pearls, Potty Training....and The New Look

Thanks to my friend Rachael I now have a new stylish background for my blog. As many of you remember that was one of my goals before spring, to have a fresh and personal look to my blog ! I made it and it is sooooooo easy. Thank you Rachael for the website to help, plus it has tips on how to make my own header and make my own background. I know baby steps, gosh you give a girl a new background and she wants to take over the job :)

Before spring I have to learn how to put a line through words and then I will have accomplished my blog goals for the winter, today backgrounds tomorrow perhaps the buds of spring will be my writing will grow.... a girl can hope.

Someday I just might have an amazing blog that many will read:)

Pearls and potty training do not mix..... glad you asked how I know this. I had yet another appointment for T today and because my day yesterday was soooo glum and awful I decided to actually get all dressed up to go do appointments and errands. Don't get to excited it means I decided to wear accessories and comb my hair. Ok I am kidding about the hair I always comb it but, the accessories are new. Long cream sweater ( one of my favorites) and my favorite black cowl neck top and my favorite jeans and my cute pewter naughty monkey heels..... it screamed for my long pearl necklaces...a bit much for an appointment and errand yes . Yes , my day yesterday was that bad. The sun was shining, now this is where I got into trouble last time with the trendy boots and the venti latte. I avoided boots and latte today and went the route of the pearls. Waiting for Sam to come home to watch the twins for me , s & P had to go "pee pee" as they say about 12 times, yes many are false alarms one of the many fun things about potty training. So of course I took them all 800 times. I did mention that I wore my long pearl necklaces..... yes well when I bend over to help with pulling underwear off and situating on the potty for S and helping P up on the step stool.... I

A. discovered why June Cleaver wore short pearl strands

B. nearly choked poor S twice.

Yes said pearl necklace, my neck, and S' head all became entangled.....

hence why potty training and pearls don't mix.......

P & S thought it was funny and potty training is still going well so in the end it was good . I wouldn't recommend mixing pearls and potty training though.

Switzerland

I made it.... just in the nick of time. I made it to a new country before the end of January, I just didn't make it to the blog before the end of January. First I have to say  I think colds can be transmitted via the blog. I have been reading several of my usual blogs and it would seem everyone has had a cold......and then it struck my house ! Yes, the entire family sick for a week. Then company came to visit for another week. I have not fallen off the planet or forgotten to blog. Now on to the important new year's resolution of visiting a new country once a month.....

I said Sweden or Switzerland and due to said cold and company Switzerland won out :)

It has been very cold here we had snow then it melted but the cold cold weather stayed.  I mean it has been like 12 degrees F. brrrrrrr So In honor of our company's visit we decided to head to Lake Constance.

 Lack Constance is the  largest lake of  Germany and to the south of us just beyond the Black Forest region. The city of  Konstanz and Meersburg are along it's shores.  The lake is bordered by three countries, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. How exciting is that! It is also on the northern edge of the Alps. The Rhine river and the Konstanz rivers feed this lake.

 On the German side the region is called the Bodensee. There are two islands renowned for their fair weather one has a butterfly house and another has botanical gardens with tropical plants.

The drive from Stuttgart is 2 hours through the black forest region, always a delightful drive filled with mountains and the forest full of snow. Our arrival to Lake Consatance was a bit dreary and overcast but the lake is still very beautiful. We took the car Ferry over to the other side of the lake to get to the Swiss side.

 The ferry ride is very short about 15 minutes but the lake is gorgeous. The Swiss town on the lakes shores is Kreuzlingen. I am sure all of these towns are much livlier in the spring and summer.

 Most of the business and shops are closed it loooks like a resort town closed for the season. Switzerland right across the border looks just like Germany. 

I am very anxious to go to Zurich and Zermatt and see the alps and the Matterhorn.  We stopped for lunch in Kreuzlingen, and now here is the funny part.....we had spagetti. Most of the resturants were closed so there weren't many options for traditional Swiss food. 

I was hoping for one of the famous fondue's ( yes that is traditional in the resturants of Switzerland)  We stopped at one of the few resturants open and all they had left from the lunch time rush was spaghetti. So one dreary winter day we went to  switzerland for a lunch of Spaghetti.  Now the running joke of January was diner and my mishaps... it is now February. My February resolutions are better dinners and lunches..... I am hoping this month to visit Italy or Austria. I have 28 days to make it to one of them for a better adventure.

The Real Gyro Recipe....

In light of my recent misadventure in dinner.... I thought I would share the recipe for Gyros...the real ones the original.

Yummy Gyros

1/4 C olive oil

1/2 C. minced onion

2 garlic cloves minced

1 1/2 pound of lamb ( if you can get ground great if not cut a roast or cut down to strips)

2 TBL lemon Juice

2 tsp Oregano

1 tsp Rosemary

1 tsp Cumin

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

pita bread

lettuce shredded

sliced tomatoes

sliced cucumber

 and Tzatziki

Heat 2 TBL of the olive oil in a large saute pan add onion and cook until translucent. Add garlic and cook together for about 2 minutes. transfer mixture to a bowl. Cook the lamb, lemon juice, oregano, rosemary, cumin, salt and pepper together. Then combine mixture from bowl with meat mixture and cook together until meat is cooked through. Cut pita in half add meat, lettuce tomato, and cucumber with Tzatziki. Eat ,enjoy !

Tzatziki Sauce

2 C. plain yogurt or greek yogurt if you can get it

1 large cucumber

1 clove of garlic minced

1 TBL olive oil

1 TBL lemon Juice

1/2 tsp salt

1/8 tsp black pepper

If you are using plain yogurt drain it first to give the sauce a thicker consistency. Take yogurt and grate cucumber into the yogurt. Combine all ingredients and mix well. Let sit for 30 minutes. Then serve chilled on Gyros.

New Adventures with Dinner

So in just two days  I will reach the point where I have lived in Germany for 4 months.... I know it seems longer but really just a mere mind searing 4 months. Now a month ago I had the vocabulary of a two year old in German, which is aprapoe as the twins turned two. I would give myself 2 1/2 now as the last few weeks my vocabulary has soared. I am understanding a lot more of what people are saying to me, and while I may still answer them in gestures and broken German at least I am actually understanding what is being said so I can attempt some answer. I can almost completely order at the Bakery in German. Although there is a girl who works there who will answer me in English with a smile she must be about 19. I can ask her the names of things though and she has increased my bakery vocabulary greatly. One thing I have yet to learn and every-time I go to a market I smack my forehead for not learning is " How much does this cost?" I am able to read far more than I can speak and by reading something I am getting about 1/4 of the gist of whatever I am reading instead of total confusion. 

Why am I telling you all of this...... glad you asked. I have been bold shopping more and more out in the world and I have in the last week.... Thank you very much hunted and searched for new things on german websites.  Not to give myself to much credit I have a translation widgit on my mac dashboard to help. ( I know could you have imagined me a year ago uttering that phrase:)  It started with the legend of a Real near my house.... Real ( say REE -AL) is a German version of a super Wal-Mart. Don't get to excited for me I said a close German version still nothing like what a Wal-Mart is. They have a wonderful and large Grocery store however as close to an American grocery store as I will get for years.

 

Ok so side story here one of T's teacher's just came back from the states and before we started a conference with other of his teachers we were talking about her trip home she mentioned how she went to grocery store after grocery store in awe her family thought she was nuts for going so often just to browse... how sad is this 4 grown women pump her for information like kids on how big the aisles were how many varieties of things did she see did she eat this or that and oh did they have this or that .... I mean seriously over groceries.....

Ok back to Real so through the Mom network at the bus stop I finally got a lead on the Real near us ( the other one is 20 miles away) and I found out there actually is an indoor swimming pool with slides etc for the kids near the Real...another good tip especially because in the next 2 weeks the kids are off 4 days. I found out the name and hit the web I hunted the Real site and the Fildarado site and found the address for both places and took of with the GPS...... YES ladies and Gentlemen I sought them out found out info in German only using the translator for tough words and found them !!!!!

So really it about Real now... beautiful produce and meats etc. I have to tell you though beef is almost non existant... the German's in my region live for Pork I mean picture Buba going on about shrimp and that is the million and one dishes for pork here. I can find Lamb however and that brings us to the real story tonight. I have a fabulous recipe for Gyros, the kids and Sam love them and yes the sauce too. I can't get lamb on base so I have to get it out in the world. Which is fine but let me tell you I may cook meat ( I am a vegetarian) But I so prefer it in packages and not hanging in pieces at the butcher. Needless to say I have had some adjusting and what really gets me going is when they hand me this bloody piece of meat very fresh.....very fresh.... wrapped in paper..... wow. Yes, I am ok but it is adjustment. so I am at Real looking for lamb to make Gyros this week and next when we have company.  Now they call lamb Lamn in German so it isn't to hard for me to find it. However, I am in the frozen food section of Real and what do I see but a box of meat with the word Gyro on it !!!! Oh I practically danced in the aisle way. Ok this should have been my first clue because the German's call Gyros Don Kebabs ( I could be miss spelling it sorry) But at the time I am so ecstatic I don't have to touch dripping fresh meat and it is less expensive than what I had been finding  I am in ecstatic coma in the store. Plus all the German's in the aisle are really staring at me hugging this wonderful box of frozen meat. Even H who was there was staring at me funny. I put 4 boxes in the cart very pleased with myself. Then I found Tzatziki Salat and was even more thrilled I wouldn't have to make it from scratch and it would probably be more authentic........

So remember last week when things went awry just about when I was feeling good........

Tonight all excited I crack open one of those boxes and cook the meat ....... now as I am cooking the meat I look at the box and only now do I see the title right under the word Gyros........

I see Schweinefleisch..... I think mmmmm this is very odd why would this be on the box Schweinefleisch is pork in German........ yes so I go to the computer and type in the sentence under Gyros.......  I got the literal translation of the fine print so to speak...... Pork cut in the style of Gyro meat. yes I bought pork instead of lamb 4 boxes of frozen pork instead of the lamb my family loves........ oh and it gets better the Tzatziki-Salat I bought ( thinking it was just German for Tzatziki..... was actually Vienna sauerkraut with herbs and cucumber........ Oh yes so my poor family had pork Gyros with Viennese sauerkraut......... I guess a German style Gyro..... not an authentic Don kebab..... or a true Gyro......

So while my German has improved I still have a bit more to learn before I confidently go shopping in a German supermarket.......

Stay tuned for Heather's other shopping misadventures and see what unique and bizarre dish I will make next........

I know you too will want pork with sauerkraut for dinner tomorrow !.....:)

A morning on the train.

So This morning I had an unexpected train ride. See it all started about 3 weeks ago when T broke the back door handle on the Sequoia.... so needless to say life has been interesting since we can't open the back door. I knew the day would come when I would have to brave going to the toyota dealership to get an oil change we were about due, and it is right next to where the boys go to school and it looks just like the toyota dealerships in the US. But, to try to tell them all the things I like and want with the language barrier oh.. I have been working up the courage. So I did what any good wife would do and before Sam left I made him call :) avoidance is sometimes good right :).....well that backfired Sam was sent to Africa..... Sam mentioned that the girl there spoke flawless english which she does. So today I took the plunge I went to the German Toyota Dealership to have the door fixed and the oil changed. Now I have to tell you that Sam called for an appointment then he had to take the car there for them to see it just to schedule this appointment. Which I would like to tell you is unusual for here but it isn't this is the way of things. You call to have the initial appointment for things even as simple as a new bulb for a light fixture. Then the come and see it and schedule you a new appointment to actually do the work. When I see one of my German acquaintances I will have to ask why this is.

So I arrived took a deep breath and stepped in the threshold of the service department. I greeted them in german and smiled ( as if they didn't have a clue I was American already).... They smiled back and I have to say the representative there was so helpful she even translated for me with the mechanic. It was just fine. However, when Sam made the appointment initial my guess is he had planned on having a co worker take him back to work because he made the appointment but set it for a pick up later. I was informed only one customer could wait at a time. Thankfully there is a U station only 5 blocks away..... so an unexpected train ride came to be.......

Now I have to tell you things happen late in the day here it seems nothing opens until 10 or 11 am and it all closes by 4 pm..... However I had never ridden the train at 9 am or on a weekday. I was in shock and aw, there were people my age and semi dressed for work.... Jacket and Tennis shoes...... But what I have to say was wow everyone looked so glamourous.... or maybe it was  the fact I felt scary.... no shower, hair pulled back and I was wearing my bus stop coat...... Which is bright blue and Michelin man esq. as I am usually standing at the bus stop with the kids trying to stay warm........ Lucky for me though I had put on my trendy boots at least. I have to say though this didn't stop me from almost staring gawking like at the wide variety of boots I saw. Is it wrong to covet other girls boots???? Wow there were so many cool pairs of shoes out there this morning it was so fun !!!!! Now I forgot how much I love to ride the trains and see the sights, all of a sudden this day was full of possibility !

I said why not..... so I stopped at the Main train station......which has a Starbucks.... now don't get me wrong I am sure German coffe is wonderful however finding decaf is impossible so I never get to try it out..... So Starbucks has not only decaf but it has soy milk ( unheard of here) And I can get a latte... I am a latte girl living in a cappuccino world. The Germans either drink it straight or as a cappuccino, at least here in this city.....  I have NEVER in my life ordered a Venti size from Starbucks I mean seriously you could swim in it...... Today the sun was shinning there were amazing boots a foot I was wearing my trendy boots which must hold super powers of sorts because I do crazy things when I wear them..... Like I ordered a Venti Decaf Soy Latte with sugar free hazelnut ( the only sugar free flavor they had) I know I know Sam tells me all the time why bother you took all the good stuff out.... HA it is perfect heaven in a cup.... ok Have I told you it has been months since I have had one...... I maybe crazy....hence the Venti ! Oh it was soooooooo wonderful I drank every last drop of it. I rode the train saw the views and drank that Venti completly...... Now oddly later in the day despite the decaf my Mother mentioned I was a bit more chatty than usual...mmmmmmmm

Well The sun was shinning I had to take the train back later in the day to get the car....another hour kids free !!!!! holy cow I had won the lottery... It really was the day of possibility. After quality time at home with the twins, stories, cooking, puzzles, cars etc..... I left for the train station. Now it is about 3/4 of a mile from home; I met a one star general and had a wonderful conversation, although he looked worried I was walking to the train myself? The sun was shining and the temperature hit a tropical level of 28 degrees !!!! I decided to seriously look for a literary agent I really need to get the books out it has almost been a year since I completed a few of them. I am going to get this accomplished..... I was cheerful. I had paid bills and had a little left over and was plotting where our new adventure would be.... Oh and did I mention I was wearing my trendy boots with super powers...... 

Now I have to tell you the road next to the train tracks to downtown I drive all the time on the way to the kids school so I see things and think OH that looks like a cool place I wonder what is in there..... Now the last 2 weeks I have made more trips to school  than I care to mention ( 20 miles one way) For some situation or another or some meeting about T..... So I have had even more time than usual to contemplate what is in these places than usual. So today filled with hope and a venti Latte with trendy boots I said WHY NOT !!!

So off we go... I even put on lipstick.... ok it wasn't really lipstick it was tinted chap-stick I found in the bottom of my purse but a crazed mom of 4 has to get glamour where she can....

First stop this very garishly decorated hotel I have wondered if the inside is as wild as the outside..... I missed the train stop and ended up walking 3 blocks to the next...... no worries..... I guess I will have to wonder a few more days.... Stop 2 I went into this antique store I see all the time and I have to tell you the windows are full of treasures I would love to bring home...I mean really cool eclectic things. Today however what pushed me over the edge beside the Venti latte and the trendy boots.... There was this ornate mirror full length with etchings that were so beautiful you could have stared at them for hours... ( see it isn't all about shoes) I was so bold and went inside I even asked how much it was ( 800 Euro)

 I found 900 things I thought I couldn't live without. They had an oriental tea set for four with a red dragon so subtle so ornate I could barley bring myself to put the delicate cup down I mean the porcelain was so fine it was translucent in the light, the dragon the most alluring shade of orange/red it could hold you captive. Then there was the divine glass vases that were so huge you could have fit P & S into them.

 Oh and when I turned the corner and saw the whole display of breathtaking Asian items I could have fainted.

 There where crystal chandeliers that could have made any room turn to a grand palace. I had to leave I had other places to explore. I tore myself from the store sighing how I could fill the house with all of the treasures there.

Stop 3 I decided that since the Venti Latte had worked so well before that a second one was in order..... Ok I realize this was ludicrous but, I had the trendy boots to back me up plus I had taken a shower before I left; seriously there was no stopping me. Now I think this is where the corner was turned how the day went from possibility to reality but I am not positive. I ordered it I drank it and it was as wonderful as the first one however it did not enhance my super powers. I REALLLLLLLLY pushed my luck next I ordered a nutella crepe at the stand next door. Ok this really was taking things to far, I can never finish one and every-time I get one I realize why I don't get them They are possible the most sugary thing on the planet. I mean 3 bites in you could go into a coma and I am not a sweet girl. Now this is where it started to go awry, no longer feeling super more lethargic really despite my trendy boots. The sun went behind the clouds for the remainder of the day. Kryptonite would have to be how I describe this. I was so lethargic I missed the stop for the hotel !

The Hotel yes yes. See I see this very modern yet traditional buliding close to where I turn for the school it has a big red sign that says ARCCOTEL. 

I understand this is a chain hotel here in Europe. The front has a modern twist but the sides

 look like an old stone building it is so intriguing. It has a wonderful it sign that says Bar

 and I wonder is there a bar like ours or does this mean something else in German. It looks like the kind of place you would go for a drink with friends to be trendy and suave... I had to see for myself. However the building is literally on the main road the door practically opens onto moving cars. So I never stop , time, the kids, the traffic no parking. Now I went back on the train one stop since I missed it. Reflex slowing. I walked across a gravel/dirt path in a construction zone in my trendy boots to see this hotel. 

I have to say the shell is better that the rest. Now it is nice and modern but it for the business crowd no pizzaz, no mysterious allure, no suave corner for drinks.

 Just a modern lunch cafe. Nice very nice but not the mystery it has been. I walked back across the gravel to the train.

I went to get the Sequoia.. I should have know... it was 3 the pick up time but it wasn't ready.... The wonderful girl was so nice so apologetic....apparently my husband hadn't read our warranty over completely..... Now you remember T snapped the handle it was a 2 inch part in the door......Well it was 100,000 miles OR ( key word here) OR 3/28/08..... well we don't have the 100,000 but as we all know 3/28/08 is long gone..... So I was charged for the part, the labor, and because it is in the door..... the entire door had to be taken apart and the back window removed and then all reassembled. 2 hours of labor and the part......and of course don't forget the oil change.....and the labor for that ( they have to remove a special plate related to the tow package).......

 Oh yes, things had definitely gone awry in the day of possibility. It became the day of reality. Now every parent can tell you a story about when their kid cost them an insane amount of money ...... ( I once had an insane phone bill that I thought for-sure my father would have a heart attack over back in 9th grade......$350.00 later and a month with no phone privileges....plus lost allowance) Well, I tried to remember this when I signed the bill for the car. The representative kept apologizing about the misunderstanding with the warranty, and trying to help me see the bright side we get to use VAT forms. ( VAT forms are this form that takes the value added tax off of huge purchases in certain categories. Value Added Tax here is 20%......... well, thank goodness someone could see the silver lining. The VAT form can only be used if the purchase is over 100 Euro...... I would have kissed the girl if it had been only 100 Euro...... remember plotting our next family adventure with the "extra" money........ yeah NO. You are all invited to dinner at our house it will be macaroni and cheese for a month..... ok just 2 weeks..... I love my son I love my son....... I am beginning to understand why I have gray hair and I am developing the same "grouchiness" my parents had during my teenage years.  

Yes the second Venti Latte was really just too much :) and while my trendy boots are wonderful... even they have limits to their superpowers.........Just as a Mom with 4 kids and an hour of free time can only get to the bottom of so many mysteries......Some places are better left to the mystery...and one Venti Latte is enough for a lifetime.

This day also sums up the week..starting with possibility and ending with reality

I can't leave you with out a silver lining...... when I came home there were 3 smiling little faces calling my name giving me hugs.

Weddings, Marriage & what it really means to love....

Some of us are lucky enough to have the storybook marriage where everyday is wedded bliss. Some of us have our ups and downs and some of us view our marriages as something that is a process we are surviving.

 I do not judge any. All are unique and should be respected for what they are. Sometimes I have read about couples who couldn't imagine breathing without the other's presence, or others who gain their strength from a partner, those who acknowledge they are better for their marriage. 

Some anniversaries I have thought our marriage is a dream others I have thought what do I know about love? Anyone will tell you that wether being a couple comes natural or a struggle, wether you have been married for a year, six months or 25 years; marriage is an evolutionary journey. Some couples make it some don't, some change some don't.

 There are times it is 40/60 and others it is 80/20. I know in a military community we all know but don't discuss the elephant in the room; the statistics are staggering for divorce. The Air Force at one point touted a 70% divorce rate.

 Some years are easy others aren't but at the end of the day when we lay our head on our pillow and we look back at it all if we smile then it was worth it. I know this last anniversary with Sam ( one of the few we have actually been together in the same place) was a different one.

 Our life was in the air we didn't know if we were coming or going and the shock of the process of moving overseas was at it's peak. Sam had only been back from Iraq for a month and he still was adjusting to being here instead of there. Was it filled with stars in your eyes romance and positive reflection.... not really. Does this mean it had any less significance or meaning no.... 

I think the days between the anniversaries are what the substance of the marriage is made of. Sam and I have been through so much in our married lives and we are still here still together still in love and still moving forward. 

Some days we marvel at how lucky we are and how wonderful each of us is, other days we have our head buried in the "wind" just trying to muddle through. 

Stay with me I have a point... when you are in a time of change or evolution you don't always want to hear how blissfully perfect other's married lives are. This is especially true if they are in similar circumstances as you and your spouse maybe but they are handling it better. Or so it would seem.

 I once heard 2 quotes I think ring true.... one is " what is on the outside could just be a show, what is in the home is real" meaning what we project may not always be the reality...and one of my favorites...which holds optimism within it's words something I always like. " Being married is falling in love with the same person over and over".... I personally think this one puts a fine point on it all. Somedays are better than others and marriage ebbs and flows. I do know that no matter what Sam and I go through once we come out the other-side we are stronger for it..a bit wiser. 

Now for the point of this very long post.... I was reading a post from another blogger about her own marriage of 21 years. I think this is the most real and honest account I have ever read about a marriage. I was so excited here is someone who loves her husband is in a good marriage and has been married awhile but is honest about it. Instead of sugar coating it all like we live in a dream world of perfection. I hope you enjoy this story as much as I did. It is full of all the things of great romance, truth, love, devotion,and a journey with a true love. so take a peek here at My Vintage Wedding Scrapbook