tomorrow, tomorrow … i love ya … tomorrow

i recently downloaded the movie annie from itunes, and we’ve been watching the bits and pieces that are piper / stella appropriate. tonight it was just about time for bed and i let the girls watch the opening scene, with annie sitting in the window of the orphanage, singing:

the sun’ll come out … tomorrow. bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow, there’ll be sun! 

just thinking about, tomorrow, clears away the cobwebs and the sorrow, till there’s none. 

when i’m stuck with a day, that’s gray and lonely … i just stick out my chin, and grin, and say … oh! 

the sun’ll come out … tomorrow. so you better hang on till tomorrow … come what may! 

my, but she was a wise one, that young girl! i love how simple yet profound this is. knowing there is hope and promise and another chance at joy tomorrow. that has certainly been a huge comfort during this whole adventure – when there is a sad or frustrating or overwhelming day or event, finding reassurance in knowing that something amazing is right around the corner. the downs make the ups that much sweeter.

the things i am loving loving loving about germany right now …

• our apartment. i truly never even allowed myself to daydream about a place that i love as much as this one. i promise to post some pics soon (we’re waiting for a painter to come finish a couple of rooms, which will allow us to finish hanging stuff on the walls, etc). i’m just so grateful for this sweet, small space that feels like home in the middle of this foreign, bustling city.
• our new normal. while i was / am craving adventure and newness, i also am loving that we are slowly establishing our routines and traditions. the past few weeks i’ve taken just one of the girls with me to starbucks on sunday morning – i love having this special one-on-one date w the girls, and wandering the alstadt while it’s so very quiet in the morning, and grabbing my latte and letting piper / stella pick out a muffin. we rarely did the one-on-one thing back home, and i’m loving this sweet time.
• running outside. i used to run outside all the time, but for some reason after we moved back from new york i traded the pavement for the treadmill. since we don’t yet belong to a gym here i’ve been running outside and i am actually loving it. my run takes me past the castle, through the city center and then out to a beautiful park. it’s awesome (and freaking hard – i forgot how much harder it is to run outside!).
• travel. i’m going to be a traveling fool for the next few months. i’m super excited and super freaked out and feeling super guilty about leaving wen & the girls but super thankful at the amazing opportunities ahead of me. on the calendar? paris, russia (moscow + some smaller towns in central russia), liverpool, berlin and istanbul. YEEE! * praying that wen can join me on the istanbul trip. please oh please let it work out!
• our german language classes. ok, this one is a lie. i am not even close to loving the german classes. but i’m trying to think positively, and by putting it on this list i’m willing it to come true. this language is HARD and as it’s been about 13 years since i’ve actually studied for something, i’m a little rusty. here’s hoping piper picks up the language quickly!
• the simple life. i love having one car, one small apartment, and just the things that we really need. i love that i can wear jeans and sneakers to work and no one bats an eye. i love that i literally have not thought about clothes since we’ve been here (no, really! it’s true!). for those that know me well, you know this is quite profound.
  
  i love that we have just one bathroom to clean, and just a small kitchen to keep up. for most of the people i’ve met here, there is much less emphasis put on STUFF – the focus is much more on travel and life experiences and adventure. i know i’ve made many purchases that i’ve regretted over the years, but can’t imagine i’ll ever regret experiencing something new and amazing with my family or friends. love that the simple life at home can allow us to invest more time and money in really living and exploring and seeing new & beautiful things.