Field Trip

My German class took a trip yesterday and aside from the unbelieveable heat (and that I'm pregnant), it was really fun! We went to a Kurbisöl museum (Pumpkin seed oil) which is one of the things that Graz is known for, a wine vineyard, and an orchard where we sampled every fruit drink they have made.

I went to the Dr. on Monday and everything seems to be going ok, my blood sugar was a little high so they re-tested it and an hour later it was back to normal, but I was still told to watch my sugar levels (basically carbs).

2 more days of school, woo-hoo!!

Krista

People in Pictures

Nathan likes to look at all the pictures I have around the house and I try to tell him who is in the pictures, especially those family members he's more likely to see on our state-side trips. Today he picked up a picture of my Grandparents in Texas. I told him that was Papa & GG (Great-Grama). He repeated it several times and pointed to who was who!!! He has been talking and saying more words so much more clearly in the last few weeks that it's been so exciting to hear him talk. Hope you had a nice weekend!

Krista

The Feistels

Let me try to explain. Being an MK (missionary kid) I met lots of people growing up. I have friends in many countries and feel blessed to have had the opportunity to meet and become friends with these people. One specific family is the Feistels, missionaries in Taiwan. I have never been to Taiwan, but on furloughs we'd go to camps or report to churches and sometimes other missionaries would be there and all of the kids would play and because of our life styles, we'd understand each other and become instant friends. When I went to BBC for college, an MK who knew what homesickness was like took me and another MK in (my roomie), and some othe girls, and just loved on us. Susan would feed us great Asian foods and we'd all pitch in from whatever Asian country we grew up in. Two years ago Susan died. It was a shock. She was visiting her parents in Taiwan while on a business trip and went swimming and got caught in an undertow. She drowned. Her husband was back in the states. Ever since then I have kept up with her parents, having never met her parents though, I do write her mom e-mails a few times. I pray for them often. Carol, Susan's mom, writes a blog and I've kept up with them thru that... Malcom, Susan's dad, began fighting cancer a year or so ago and they were in Missouri for medical treatment. He started battling even harder in the last few weeks and the time of his passing was soon. I got an e-mail this morning that said he passed away yesterday. I know he's now feeling no pain, he's seen his Savior, and seen Susan, but my heart still hurts for the family that is left behind. Please pray for the Feistels. If you get the chance, read Carol's blog. It's such an encouragement when she writes... read past blogs and read what she learned in her devotions. http://feistels-in-taiwan.blogspot.com/

Krista

Auf Wiedersehen Team USA

I don't know how closely you have followed the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals being played in Germany, but today the last two matches of Group E, the group containing the USA, Czech Republic, Italy and Ghana, were played. This was a very interesting group because, going into today's matches, all four teams had the chance to advance to the next level. The two games were played simultaneously which added to the excitement. In order for the USA to advance, they had to beat Ghana and Italy had to defeat the Czech team, which was ranked 2nd overall of the 32 qualifying teams according to the official FIFA rankings. Italy did their part and in doing so secured for themselves the top seat in the group. Unfortunately, the USA was unable to attain victory over the African team. That meant that Ghana, who most would have ranked 4th in the group, was able to advance to the next level in the number two seat. They will most likely face #1 ranked Brazil in the second round which should result in a get out of Germany early pass. However, anything can happen at this point and they did defeat the #2 ranked Czech Republic. Even if Brazil does knock Ghana out, they made it further than 16 other teams in the tournament, not to mention the hundred odd teams that did not even qualify for the tournament. If you get a chance, I would encourage you to tune in to a match and discover what sports fanatics from practically every other country of the world find so exciting.

Danny

2000 Hits

Just wanted to thank you all who check up on us and pray for us! Thanks!

Danny & Krista

Almost done

School is almost done! I have learned so much this semester, but I am SO looking forward to a break. I go for 5 hrs. tomorrow then break for the weekend. Next week I have a light load with Tuesday being Field Trip day. I'll post more on that after the trip, I don't really know what we're doing. I have met some really great people in my class. I've really been able to develop friendships with two girls in my class and I think we're going to keep in touch and have a long friendship. One is from Columbia and married to an Austrian and the other girl (whose wedding I attended recently) is from Taiwan and is married to a German. Pray for me to be a good friend and witness to them.

Krista

He DOES Have a Clue

It is very interesting to watch your children begin to grow-up and mature. Nathan is only two years old and most of the time we assume he has no clue as to what is going on in life. He continually proves us wrong. Last week, for example, he did something that surprised us both. As you may have already read in the previous post, we made a day trip to Vienna last Friday. As we were strolling down the "tourist strip" walking toward St. Stephens Cathedral (which, as a side note, is an awesome sight to see), and we noticed that Nate was pointing up at something and trying to get our attention. He, of course, was kicked back and relaxing in shaded stroller seat while Krista and I endured to the direct heat of the blazing sun. Ok, maybe I'm over dramatizing the story and getting a bit of subject. So, Nathan is setting in his stroller pointing up at something trying to get our attention. Krista and I both looked up and tried to figure out what he wants us to see. After a moment we realized what had captured his attention. Two floors up, hanging off the side of the building and in the midst of several other signs, were two golden arches. With McDonald's and Burger King being the only two American restaurants in Graz (well, we also have Hooters but Krista won't let us go there for some reason, ha ha), we visit them quite often. I know that it is so sad that he recognized the sign, but it really showed us they he is paying attention. Hopefully he is catching on to more than just fast food restaurants. Have a great day!

Danny

Vienna Day Trip

We tried to make a Vienna day trip last week when I had some days off from school, but Nathan & I had just got over being sick and Danny was fighting it off so we called the trip off. So today I had off from school again and we made it to Vienna (only a 2 hr. drive) for the day and had T.G.I. Friday's!!! I had a good 'ole Cheeseburger and Danny some Cajun chicken tenders (ok, maybe you're thinking, "So what?" But for us it was a big deal... aside from MickyD's/Burger King we don't have much of the "American" selection in Graz. We only miss it occasionally, they have great cafe's and bread shops here. We walked around for a while and realized, "we're not tourist anymore" and got bored very quickly. So we walked over to Subway in hopes to take some home for supper and it was closed!!! They've shut down or moved, I don't know which... so we walked some more and decided to go home... we really just wanted to get out of Graz for the day and eat at Fridays', but more importantly we, ok I, wanted some Starbucks so that was our ride home treat. We walked there and I got a wonderful, cold, refreshing Mocha Frap! Mmmmm!!! It was a gorgeous day, hot, but nice. So got back on the Strassenbahn (streetcar) and headed to the parking garage we left our car at and we headed home!! Nathan enjoyed the drive, slept most of both ways and in between played with his cars. All in all a nice family day.

Krista

Questions

Nathan has taken to asking us questions. I had to get on to him yesterday for messin' with the DVD player without our help and so after I told him to ask Mommy or Daddy for help he looked at me and said, "Why?". I had to keep my composure because he was honestly asking but I don't think he really understood, it was very funny. I've asked him questions while he's playing and he'll turn and say "What?". Ok, maybe you have to be here.... but because his vocabulary hasn't been all that big lately to hear him say new things is just so precious. I may regret this on those hard days, but I can't wait to see him with a brother ;) He'll be such a good big brother.

Krista

Baby BOY

Here is Baby BOY Caldwell. Coming around October 14th. The picture itself is not great, but it's because the Dr. had darkened most of the screen so you could see where the arrow is and our child "going to the bathroom". We though it was the funniest thing!! We are excited and can't wait to see him and hold him. Nathan isn't really aware of what is going on, though you ask him "Where's the Baby" and he'll point to my stomach, but he later pointed to his too. Soooo... we'll see how he handles the actual arrival! haha!

Krista

Prayer Request

A few weeks ago, [name withheld for safety reasons] finally received a positive answer on his application for citizenship in Austria. He came to Austria as an asylum seeker leaving a wife and a daughter behind in Iran. Now that he is legally able to stay in Austria he is in the process of trying to bring his family here as well. As you might imagine, this is a very complicated ordeal. They have been apart for a long time and are anxious to be reunited. Please pray for this dear family.

Danny

Not today...

Ok, so no Vienna today. Danny's been 'under the weather' and I knew having him drive us 2 hrs. was not going to be fun and I wasn't going to be able to talk him into shopping or much else... so I told him I have another few days off from school next week and we can go then. We were craving some Fridays' food real bad, but we've waited this long :)

I can't get over the weather here sometimes. It was getting nice and warm a week or so ago and then it started raining and with that came a cold front... cold enough to get jackets and long sleeves back out. But today is the perfect nap weather... I go back to school tomorrow so I'm resting up today. Danny & Nathan went do take care of some business and then to buy some groceries. The house is nice and quiet and I've gotten some laundry done today.

Please keep a friend of mine in Texas in prayer, Stephanie, fellow MK too. She is having brain surgery. Specifically a craniotomy, cyst finistration and insertion of a shunt tomorrow. She is just a couple of years older than me and has an adorable son, Isaac who is a couple of months younger than Nathan. I can't imagine the stress her husband and family is going thru.

Krista

Pfingstmontag (Whit Monday)

Today is another holiday (Pentecost) in Austria and so no school, offices, or stores are open. This is just one of many holidays that fall around this time of year. Today we rested and tried to just chill-out. Danny has been fighting something off and so it was a good day to rest. We did some yard work and I must say the flower beds look good :) This afternoon we did some baking... homemade bread, cookies: Cool Cookies or some call them No Bakes and then Snickerdoodle Cookies. It's a good thing that they don't have as many 'junk food' items here as the U.S. does, but some days it would be nice not to have to do all the cooking just to get a little snack! Although we are pretty good at it if I do say so myself :) ha-ha!

Tomorrow we are hopefully heading up to Vienna for the day. They have a Starbucks and T.G.I.F restaurant (Subway too) there and we decided to treat ourselves and get out of town for the day. I heard from a classmate there is a kid friendly aquarium or something there so I'm hoping we can find that, I'm sure Nathan would really enjoy that.

Have a good evening!

Krista