The Family I Left Behind!

Fifteen years ago this month, I hoped on an airplane with my husband - a US soldier, kids and dog and left the land that I grew up, where I found my love, where I married my love, to start my final overseas move to Lakeland, Florida from Mannheim, Germany.

I have been back to my hometown Kemnath, Stadt (Bavaria) many times over the past years where I celebrated most of my family's birthdays in June, especially my mother's birthday on June 24^th. I have six brothers and one sister; all of my siblings are older except for one of my brother, who is only about two years younger.

I love spending my time in Germany in June, the weather seems nicer and cooler than here in Florida and the daylight lasts until 10 o'clock at night. We usually sit outside to eat and drink and enjoy each other's company. And there are a lot of Bierfests going on around this time.

I was really looking forward this year to fly to Germany, but things happened and I had to tell my family in Germany that it is really not financially feasible for us to make the trip with my husband, one of my daughters and her fiancé. I probably could have gone by myself; however, due to my husband's injury that he received in 2006, I did not want to leave him behind.

Yesterday, I phoned my mom and wished her a Happy Birthday and told her that I was sorry that we could not be there this year to celebrate her 85^th Birthday, whose health has been declining a little bit, seeing the babies born the past two years. All she said that she wished that she could come to see me and my kids this year again. She is a very strong willed woman, despite her strokes and recent illness. And with God's will, she will be here in Lakeland, FL visiting with us this fall.  I also have twin brothers, whose birthday is today and one of them has been ill the past few weeks. So talking to the both of them today, makes me miss my family even more.

The picture below was taken five years ago at my mom's 80^th birthday.

So Happy 85^th Birthday, Mutti (mom)