XXIV

With every birthday, I think my life can't possibly get better. My family is so supportive, loving, and they never make me feel forgotten. My friends Facetime at crazy times, message me, and try so badly to follow all my stories with new people, places, and situations. It's like they need Spark Notes for my life. And can I just say- my dad has talked to me at 10.00 am my time while I had my coffee, while it was 4.00 am  his time!?!?! Pretty amazing!

Every year I think- can it get better? And then God continues to allow me to see more of the world... I continue to get to meet more awesome, wonderful, and caring people and still stay in touch with the ones I love. I'm just so incredibly lucky.

As I'm sure you know this year has been no different. My birthday weekend was so so wonderful. It started Saturday morning. Petra picked me up to get my cupcakes and cake. She is so sweet to wake up early and drive me! (Awesome friends #1!) We enjoyed a coffee before I headed home.

Later on, I had to get out of my house because it smelled so delicious! I was sure to scarf down a cupcake or two. So I took my time walking around Litcherfeld West. I just wandered in and out of the little shops.  In the evening, on my way out to the restaurant it decided to pour! I couldn't believe it. There we were- Carlie and I huddled together with one umberella, my cake in a cardboard box, and my new heels. Luckily, everything made it out OK. We had dinner at my favorite pizza place and went to an old brewery down the street to have a beer.

The next morning, Carlie showed me a little gem in Litcherfeld West. Oh I'm so excited to now know of this place. We had breakfast at the cutest cafe with incredible outdoor seating. I'm totally in love and can't wait to find an excuse to go there again. It reminded me of Common Grounds or Cherry Alley at home. Plus, everything is super fresh and mostly healthy!

Afterwards, we headed to the Checkpoint Charlie Museum where we were to meet up with Elpida. Our time schedules didn't exactly match so... Carlie and I had coffee with my friend, Luca. Afterwards, we meet with Elpida for about 15 minutes. We even got our picture taken at Checkpoint Charlie thanks to Luca's connections!

By 15.00, we headed to Mauer Park. We did a little flea market shopping and had some homemade fries. Plus, some serious delicious wine. It was like the icing on the cake kind of birthday gift. We walked into the park and there was my favorite wine stall that's usually only open on Saturdays at a different market. WOO HOO!

So I was a bit behind schedule and I missed my teams last field hockey game. I'm really a bad fan at times. I just want to play; I'm hoping in the fall this can happen. I need to ask around. Anyway, I took the first bus I could with my two trays of cupcakes and made it in time for the BBQ. It was so awesome! I didn't know anyone knew it was my birthday but they all wished me a happy one. One friend even made me a cake! How sweet! And seriously, it was so good! I came home with all of it and now it's Tuesday - the cake is gone.

Then Monday came... my students sang me Happy Birthday. I received beautiful flowers and a special gift from my colleague, Meta. Throughout the weekend, I had small, sweet reminders of home. For instance, passing Tiger Lilies on my way home from breakfast Sunday morning. I can't wait to see these lining the front drive of my Aunt's house. Tomorrow is July... we are so close! 

Thank you for all the wishes and sweet messages! 

XXIV

xx