Austria Pastors Conference

Tonio and Pierre attended the Pastors and Leaders Conference in Austria in January.  It was at the famous castle that will always be near and dear to mine and Tonio's hearts, since we met there in the summer of 2009!

I took this picture of the castle from a boat out on the lake in August 2009.

And here is the famous "we just met" picture.  I gave my camera to a gal that I was rooming with, and she pretended to just be getting pictures of everyone... I think her ultimate plan was to capture our initial flirtings.  HA!

Anyways, back to the conference...

January 23 - 27, 2017

Tonio took a few pictures on a walk he took one day.

I've only seen Austria in the summer.  The snow is equally as captivating!

The famous Millstätter See.

And here is Tonio meeting Pastor Chet Lowe, a man the Lord used in my life long ago in Montana 2005 at a little discipleship school called Potter's Field Ranch.  I love when my worlds meet up like this!

Here is a picture of me and Chet in Liberia West Africa in Decemeber 2005.

I'm thankful Tonio was able to go to this conference.  It seems like people working in churches are always going to retreats and conferences, but that's where the training and encouragement comes from to keep pressing on to "not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." Galatians 6:9  

Tonio compared this conference to being with a band of brothers.  He was greatly encouraged, and for this, I'm so thankful.

I look forward to April when I get to go to Paris for a ladies retreat =).

Love Linz

Happy Birthday Cricri!

Daphné's middle name, Christiane, comes from a very special lady, her Tata Cricri (Christiane, aka "Kikik")!!! And this is how we celebrated 75 years of her life! [side note : Cricri is Papi Pierre's older sister.]

January 24, 2017

First Daphné and I did some crafts to create her birthday card.

Coloring the "7."

Distracted by outlining our feet.

Now distracted by playing with crayons in our toes.

Seventy-...

...5!

A little bday sign.

Daphné is such a great picture-poser.

 

And voilà, the card.

A pop-out card.

Who wouldn't love a Daphné pop-out card?!

Decorations at Pierre and Nancy's.  [Note: Tonio and Pierre were gone in Austria this week.]

Hanging the signs.

Fun flags!

Me with the birthday girl!

Mamie, Rob, Cricri and me.

Rob helping Daphné with a project... she's always got one up her sleeve.

Rob, the bubble machine man.

Weeeeeeeeeee!!!!

 She plowed right through the wall of bubbles.

  

Enjoying a bit of January sunshine.

Drawing with Robi.

 The birthday princess with Mamie Nancy.

Daphné thought these candles were for her.

A very yummy cake from a local bakery.

Daphné is quite excited!

And Cricri let her blow out the candles for her!!!  What a joy!

Another angle of the decorations.

Watching some French nursery rhyme cartoons.  Cricri was singing right along ;).

We love you Tata Kikik!!!

We are so blessed by your life and your presence in ours.

Love Linz (&Daphné)

Beach and Ballet

The beach and ballet are 2 things very dear to my heart.  

I love the beach.  I grew up camping with my family on the beach every summer since I was a pipsqueak and grew up surfing with my dad since I was 7 years-old.  Ballet is also something I did as a small child and a bit here and there just for fun.  I tell people I think God created my body to dance.  It makes my soul happy!  So many things do, and  now I get to share these loves with my loves!

Daphné and I at the beach on windy day.

Rocks.

January coastline.

Welcome to the French Riviera in the winter.

Birds!

Seagulls will be seagulls.

They were playing in the wind currents.

My sweetums.

When did she get so big? 

Oh man, I love this kid!

Watching the seagulls.

Morning café and a pain au chocolat.

Trying on mama's heels.

She's back in them after her bath.

Mama getting ready to go to the ballet with papa.

She's such a sweet little tiny person.

And here we are inside the Théâtre National de Nice (TNN) where I actually danced in 2013 and 2014 =).  We saw a ballet rendition of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by the Monte Carlo ballet company.  It was lovely.

What else makes my soul come to life?

Dancing // dancing myself, watching others dance

Hiking // exploring God's beautiful creation 

Live music // playing it, listening to it

Singing // it makes me so happy 

Beach // just being there, surfing!

Traveling // flying, airports, new places

Tonio // sharing life's adventure with him

Daphné // being her mama, learning so much from her

Jesus // without Him my soul has no hope, I love Him so much!

He has given me life, my every breath.

If you don't know Him, I invite you to read how.

What makes your soul come to life?

Love Linz