Ladies Retreat

My amazing husband let me leave on a five day, four night getaway to Paris, while he watched our sweet little bundle.  I'm so thankful.  It was refreshing and inspiring and fun!

Bye bye Nice.

Hello forest in the outskirts of Paris : Écouen.

Exploring with these ladies.

Corinne and Marie-Christine.

Le Château d'Écouen.

Panoramic view of the courtyard.

Took this one to send to Daphné and Tonio.

No crocodiles.

Groupie.

BAM.

Hi! (My earring is falling out - ha!)

Must be nice to have this as a backyard.  Royalty.  Wow.

Panoramic view from the castle.

The sleepy little town of Écouen.

My favorite tree EVER!!!

From underneath.

Cathy Taylor from Calvary Fellowship teaching how we are God's work of art.

Some of my notes.

A visit to the local church.

Spring!

I like the aqua colored bricks.

On a forest promenade with my friend Caroline.

Nature.  God's Creation.  It just makes me feel alive.

I'm a sucker for old French cars.

The outside of the church we visited a few pictures above.

My room.  I had 2 really cool roommates, Rachel and Caryn.

Inspired to finish a song I started in 2005.  Thank You Jesus.  I'm still not done.  I'd like to write a bridge.  One of the gals said, "Please don't wait 12 more years to finish it."  HA!

Cathy, Nancy, me.  Thankful for such a wonderful time being encouraged in God's Word.  I just can't get enough.  Good thing I get to read my Bible everyday.  God wrote us a love letter, and it's ours to read.  I feel so privileged and loved.  Because I am.  [And you are too!]

Love Linz

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