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

Austrian tidbits

Enjoy these last photos of the end of our week in Austria!

Thanks for being patient with me in catching up.  We had such a wonderful time, then had Tonio's friend Jordan stay with us... and currently have my good friend Leah with us.  My time has been spent doing more fun things with cool people rather than sitting in front of a computer screen ;)

This is the patio where we often ate meals.  Daphné really enjoyed this ramp.

It was such a blast to see this little peanut explore her freedom and her legs!!!  She only started walking July 10, so just one month.

This was a fun little toy Daphné enjoyed being pushed around on.

And the sand box is where we could often find her.

But the thing is, she doesn't like being sandy or dirty.... haha!  So I was often dusting off her sandy hands.

It was really amazing to be here at the castle with our daughter... such a story to glorify the Lord!

Lake background selfie.

Town.  So very Austrian.

To get her to sleep for her nap, I walked into town a couple times.  Sleepy little piggies.

Snuggles and giggles with Daddy are the best!

And of course, we had to check in with the cuz, Rowyn via facetime.

Hi!

Daphné was often surrounded by groups of girls like this... she loved it... they loved it... win, win!

And the obligatory lake picture.  Tonio made the bold move to come introduce himself to me at this lake 7 years ago in August 2009... a year and two months later, we were married in October 2010!  Thanks Tonio for being a real man and pursuing me!  I'm so thankful for you and for our daughter!

First time in Millstättersee!

She loved it.

Can you tell?

The last night saying good-bye to everyone.

Love Linz

Austrian bliss

These photos are a little collection of the first couple of days in Austria.  Enjoy!

This is where we ate every morning at our incredible Pension in town.  I highly recommend Villa Margarethe if you are ever in Millstatt, Austria =).  We were treated like royalty in the presence of the princess Daphné... haha!

A beautiful walk through the woods from our Pension to the Castle.  We did this walk at least once, sometimes twice or 3 times a day.  A few times, we walked it in the dark by the light of our cell phone flashlights.  ;)

As blurry as blurry can be (you're welcome!), we are sitting in almost the exact place we were sitting together when we started liking each other.  God writes the coolest stories.  I'm so thankful He is the author of the Tonio-Lindsey love story!

Here are my notes from the first session by Brian Brodersen.

A tranquil walk along the sea.

And through the forest!

Two very special ladies, Cathy and Nancy, who were wooed by the Daphné spell.

Dusk view of the lake from the main hall in the castle.

Our Pension, Villa Margarethe.

Daphné slept well in Austria.  It could be that it was much cooler and there were much fewer mosquitoes.  Here she is doing her dream yoga.

A gathering of faithful saints, young and old, representing numerous countries and various trials and joys.

Breakfast.  This particular morning, we woke her up to come downstairs with us.  Hence the pajamas.

Walk into town with my man and my girl!

Tude.

This picture is so special to me because... my sister and bro-in-law sent these little shoes to us before Daphné was born.  It's just so fun that they fit her now!!!

"Welcome to my Castle." - Princess Daphné with her Papi

Love Linz

Road trip to Austria

We began our road trip about 7am on Sunday, August 14th... left Nice, heading into Italy when...

Bam!  Flat tire!  Thankfully, God had His angels around the car.  Tonio was able to pull right over.  Tonio and Pierre fixed the tire in no time by putting on the spare, which was a legit tire.  We drove on it all the way to Austria!

Pit stop.

One of the many DIY things I brought to keep this chica entertained for 10+ hours.  You can check out the link here {velcro dot craft sticks}.  She did great on the "going" trip... we'll save another blog post for the return - another story.

Her bed head is just the best.

Stretching the legs with Papi.

Then a little stroll with Papa.

Naptime.

Somewhere in Italy [picture from Pierre].

Her favorite Baby Einstein video to buy us the last 20-30 minutes before arriving [picture from Pierre].

Gorgeous clouds and mountains.

We made it.  Our first view of the castle! [picture from Pierre]

And here we are by the lake!

Daphné and I hung out while Papi, Mamie and Daddy went to the castle for the orientation night.  Here, she is looking at little fishies that some guys were catching.

I LOVE HER!!!

First swan sighting.

Where'd he go?

There he is.

We enjoyed the sunset together before it started raining and we ran across the street to our beautiful villa pension.  We stayed here {Villa Margarethe}.

Kisses.

She's coming in to plant a wet one on her mommy!

On target!

I think she was petting me, not sure.

And the end of our first Austrian selfies together.

Stay tuned for more blog posts!

 

Love Linz