Our Last Fling

We both find the underlying principles behind Bachelor / Bachelorette parties to be pretty sleazy...but as an opportunity to celebrate with friends our upcoming nuptials - we were all for it. The guys took Ralf out for an evening of bowling and tasty 3-course dinner. The girls surprised me with an oriental inspired evening, complete with new jewelery, traditional Arab food, hookah pipe, and belly dancer! Later both guys and girls rendezvoused at a nearby dance club.

Bachelor-Bachelorette Party

A Very Merry Christmas...and New Year's Too!

Over the holidays Ralf and I traveled to California, giving the family a chance to give him the once over before the big day in March, and Ralf the chance to peek closer into my closet before he signs on the dotted line. The result - everyone behaved (whew!) - so the wedding plans continue! All joking aside, we had a wonderful time and it was such an encouragement to finally have the informed affirmation of family and close friends. There was some question before our visit as to who would garner the most attention - Ralf or little Miss Elizabeth? In the end, it was Elizabeth's "Old McDonald" renditions that swung the competition in her favor... better luck next time, Ralf!

In between all too frequent eating sessions (Ralf noted after a week that he hadn't felt the sensation of hunger even once), we simply hung out with family and took in some of the Bay Area sights - the usual tourist ones and places of interest on the Julia History Tour.

SF Visit

My girls blessed me with a wonderful Bridal Shower...

Bridal Shower

...and the family went all out throwing us a Pre-Wedding Reception to celebrate with many of our friends that won't be able to come to Germany for the wedding.

California Pre-Wedding Reception

The Reception was held on our last day and was a wonderful culmination of our whole experience with family and friends. It was also a wake-up call that Ralf and I need to start some smile muscle training in preparation for March 24th :). God has truly filled our "cups" with joy that is running over...

The Big 30!

Why celebrate your 30th when you can celebrate 90? Helen, Hanna and I decided to go throw one big party to celebrate our birthdays. Our church was kind enough to offer us the sanctuary for the party. Each of us prepared food for the buffet and Ralf and I mixed the dance music with the help of iTunes. A good time was had by all. We all said that we probably wouldn't have thrown a big party - if we hadn't have had the chance to do it together.

90th Birthday Party

Later for my actual birth day - Ralf surprised me with tickets to Munich for the weekend. Then we turned around and surprised Steffi on her birthday by showing up at their place for a birthday brunch (cleared of course in advance with Roger!). Later along with Tanja and Ralf I experienced my first real Bavarian Brewery and we rounded out the day with some live Jazz at a local club. On Sunday, I went and busted all Ralf's plan by getting sick - having to pass on the sightseeing tour he had planned. I got a rain check for our next visit to Munich...

Birthday Trip to Munich

We're Getting Married

Vienna and Engagement

During August Ralf and I had the chance to spend a couple days sight-seeing in Vienna, around my trip to GEMs Annual Conference. I can't explain how, but I had a sense about two weeks before that he had decided to propose, I just wasn't sure how quickly it would actually come about. I was wonderfully ignorant as we walked through the city that he was carefully evaluating every location, looking for the perfect place to pop the question. One afternoon as we sat in the Burggarten, overlooking the beautiful Palm House, Ralf took my hand, placed it on his chest where I could feel his racing heart, and asked me if I would marry him. I didn't keep him waiting long with my "yes". We are planning for a small wedding in Germany at the end of March, with a larger pre-wedding reception in California in January. We are praising God for the wonderful gift of each other!