Family History Update

~ Julie
Miss C with Otto’s camera in April 2016

I got an interesting letter in the mail a few days ago. It was from Berlin, from the official German archives agency that provides military and government documentation.

On April 17, 2016, shortly after meeting Martin’s cousins for the first time and reviewing all the photos and letters they shared, I submitted a formal request for military information about Martin’s great-uncle Otto, who fought in the Wehrmacht in World War II and never came home. He was killed in action fighting the Russians, and that’s about all the family knew.  Continue reading →

Favorite Brother

~ Julie



In the middle of the night, I was yanked out of sleep by this guy as he grabbed me by the shoulders and shook me as hard as he could in the dark.

“Something happened to the baby,” he said.

We raced down the hall together, and just as I got to the door, I could hear the baby’s raspy breathing. And as I lifted him awake, it rattled him enough to produce that distinctive bark. At some point after his bedtime and now, the croup settled in.

Fabulous. Continue reading →

Wynter is Leaving

~ Julie

After more than 13 months working as our family au pair, Wynter is leaving us. Long before the sun rises tomorrow morning, we’re making the trek to the airport to see her off as she returns to her family in Northern Virginia.

We’re not really sure what we’re going to do with ourselves in her absence.  Continue reading →

Sweet Life

~ Julie

Quarkinies are life. They are much denser than American doughnut holes because they are made with quark. No filling: just a sweet ball of fried dough sprinkled with sugar, and only made this time of year. Perfect — absolutely perfect — with coffee. Ahhhhhh.

They are so good, I sing three notes as I give them to the kids. Jaz asked why I do that.

“That’s not me. That’s a choir of angels singing their praise.”

My Little Piano Man

~ Julie

I got to sit in on Jaz’s piano lesson this evening. The three older kids all take music lessons in the same music school. This was the first time I was able to attend one of his classes, and meet his piano teacher.

She was so patient and kind with him. He was initially interested in the drum set in the room, and she went with it, explaining to him percussion and its role in music. Once they were  He was so focused and eager to show her what he practiced. Continue reading →