Category Archives: Karsten
A Tropical Christmas Means White Sand Beaches
Journaling from Cebu, with my son. Three days, four beach resorts, plenty of fun.
Mommy on the Road: The Smallest Volcano
Karsten and I just got back from a delightful weekend-long trip to Taal in Batangas, and Tagaytay, a cooler city just an hour and a half outside of Metro Manila. Known for its tiny volcano (the world’s smallest active one!), I had been there many times, and also with Karsten last year. But this time, [...]
Saxony in September
We never had seasons when I was growing up. The tropics are only wet, or dry—and almost always humid. Coming to Europe for the first time in 2008 was a big change, and I finally learned why people talk about the weather! My son, who was born on a snowy winter’s night in Saxony, got [...]
First Discoveries
One of the most wonderful things about having a child is seeing the world through their eyes, and everything for a first time. Last winter in Germany, Karsten discovered that frosty thing called snow—and he wanted to eat it all. The sights, sounds, senses, are all new and interesting, and the familiar becomes amazing. Last [...]
No, You Don’t Forget the Pain
A personal note from another mom today, sharing her birthing experience, reminded me how much mine was all about realizing the limits of my physical capabilities, and being willing to trust—both in the Lord, and in higher science. In the months leading up to my son’s birth, I prepared as best I could, because I [...]
Holding Tight
My Karsten is now one year and three months old. I talk to him in both English and German, although my latter is still as basic as Kindergarten level. One phrase I often tell him is: “Fest halten die mama, bitte!” In my simple German, it means, “Hold on tight to mommy, please!” (Although a [...]
Still a Winter Wonderland
I’d wanted a White Christmas last year, but we were on a tropical island. Then February came, and we found ourselves back in snowy Saxony. My son is just old enough to enjoy—he tried to taste the snow, and I didn’t want to stop him. My heart melted at the sight of this little person [...]
Chatting Now