one journey ends

 

{Us, right after we were dropped off. 12 pieces of luggage to check and 12 pieces of carry on--oh.my.gosh!}

 

We are home. And it feels so good, so familiar, so comfortable. Can I tell you just how wonderful it is to walk into a store and chat with the sales clerk? Or pick up anything with writing on it and be able to read it? To finally eat some of the foods we love and were such a regular part of our life? Ah yes. So good to be home! It's these little things that you take for granted until you are in foreign land. I know it's cliche, but there really is no place like home.

For all my praise of home, there is much that we will miss about living in Germany. Of course, most especially the people who have become a part of our lives now. As we drive around here I'm starkly aware of how few and far between bakeries are. In Germany there is one on every corner almost. In Germany, where one eats very little with their hands, I found myself a little lost at a recent party when I needed to eat my pineapple chunks without a fork. I really wanted a fork. When we introduced ourselves to the people we didn't know, we proceeded to shake everyone's hand before we remembered that not everyone does that here. We reminisced how we liked that the Germans acknowledged everyone in that way, and have laughed with affection at watching them shake everyone's hand in a extra large group! There will be much to miss about our life there, and I have no doubt that as the days go buy more and more memories will tap on our thoughts and bring a warm smile to our face.

The flight home went off without a hitch. Can I just brag for a moment on how well Noah did? By the time we arrived at the Portland airport it had been about 26 hours since our journey started (starting from the time we got out of bed the morning we left) He slept only for the last two hours on the plane. Not a complaint out of him, and a happy attitude during the whole ordeal! Wow. We were looking forward to a three hour layover in Chicago to stretch our legs and move around, eat a leisurely meal, grab a magazine etc...but it turned out that we needed every minute just to get through customs and security again. We arrived at our gate with only five minutes to spare before boarding. I felt a little like crying but with Noah as my example I decided to suck it up.

It really has been such a joy for me to keep this journal, and the icing on the cake is that you wanted to read it! Thank you, so much. I have read every comment and daily felt thankful that you took the time to share your thoughts and send your greetings. I'll say it again, Thank You--to each one of you, whether you commented or not, for coming here and being interested in our life. It really does make me so happy.

Some have asked that I keep this blog up, and really, that is so sweet. It does cost me monthly to do that and I'm not so keen on paying for a blog that I no longer contribute to. It was a personal time in our life that has come to an end and, though I enjoyed sharing it with the public during the journey, it feels appropriate to me that it ends now. I think I will give myself a couple of weeks to store all the content on my computer and then Waking Up in Bavaria will become a book for my family to remember by.

If some of you want to continue following my blogging adventures you can bookmark my new blog, 

Porridge.

I will continue to ramble on there about life and all things creative, because well, I'm a blogging addict. I'm actually very excited about this new venture! I hope you'll come along.

I'll say goodbye now! It's been one happy adventure with minimal bumps in the road. What a gift and what an experience!

Comments

[A Flourishing Perspective]

Glad you're all home safely. I can definitely imagine that you're all missing Germany..I know I would!

It's been such fun following your blog and seeing your family's happenings while you were in Germany.

I will definitely be following Porridge! :) Such a cute name by the way.

You have such an adorable family. :)

With love,
Rachel xx

[Lorrie]

I've thoroughly enjoyed following your year in Bavaria. Your photos are beautiful. I'll be following Porridge.

[Lissa]

Welcome home, and thank you for sharing your journey!

[Yvette]

Gosh, has it been a year already since you went TO Germany? Time sure flies.
I will be following Porridge from now on ... being back home will be a whole new adventure. You will be looking at everything from a totally new perspective and I look forward to 'hearing' about it.
Hugs and welcome home!

[Laurel]

Thank you so much for sharing you life! You have no idea how much your journey has inspired me and brightened my day. This has been a cozy little spot for me to come and visit during the week and it'll be missed, but I've followed you here from simple sparrow and I'll continue to follow you over at Porridge.

Welcome home!!

[Robin]

Welcome home and back into the US! I am not sure how you feel, but I think your time in Germany flew by. I have enjoyed every blog that you have shared and your photos are beautiful! I look forward to following you at Porridge.

your friend,
robin

[nicole]

welcome back to california. yeah for porridge.

[ruthi]

i too will miss this blog, Waking Up In Bavaria. it has been so inspiring and something i enjoyed very much. looking forward to porridge!

[Sarah]

I have loved your blogs for a while. We are a homeschooling family in Minnesota (3 daughters ages 7, 8, 10--were in Waldorf school). We love to travel so your year was extra fun to follow as we adventured around the US. I have often wished I could chat with you and hear some of the ways you have done things with your children. They shine in your pictures. What a once-in-a-lifetime year you all have had!
Thank you for sharing your experiences. For inspiring me in my own family many days. Welcome home!

[Joy]

Blessings to you all! I cannot believe how much you did and the wonderful friends you made in one short year. Feel like I'm still a flailing about after 8 months. So glad you had an overall good adventure here in Germany. Thanks for sharing with us!

[Stephen Gordon]

Dear Toni,

I stumbled upon your previous blog and followed all your journey in Germany. I really enjoyed reading all about your European adventures. You are an amazing photographer and a great writer. My favourite picture is one from your previous blog. The post was titled "All my ducks in a row" or something like that. It was really really special. Your children are beautiful.

I can't wait to follow your adventures back in the US.

Regards,

Marie-Claude
Quebec City, Canada
(writing from my husband laptop!)

[John Snider]

Just a thought for you that I've had a number of times while checking in on "...Bavaria" - a coffee table book of your photos and experiences. The quality of your photos with some commentary with the right publisher might be the next $24.95 Costco special... a little funding for the ministry you do...

We have loved vicariously sharing your adventure... thank you so much for including us all.

the Sniders

[Simone Schermann]

It was great following you for the last six months! You pictures were stunning and what I liked most: it was very intersting for me as a German to see my country through your eyes! Thank you!

[KG]

I am really sad that this blog stops. I am a German expat in the US and a little bit, well, actually - pretty homesick... It always gave me a homey feeling to read your posts. Thanks a lot for that!

[Christina]

Glad to hear you came home safely. Thank you for the pleasure of seeing my home country thru your eyes.
Like everyone else here, I'll be eagerly looking forward to how Porridge will unfold.
Christina

[Tabitha]

I have followed you since you were the Simple Sparrow and I love reading your blogs. So glad that you are home safely. I have enjoyed seeing Germany through your blog. Enjoy what the next few weeks hold with the marriage of your son. That's an exciting thing to come home to!

[liza]

Welcome home. That's one happy family!

[Elizabeth Mackey]

OH how I loved your first paragraph! After living in France for two years, I remember thinking how nice it will be to pick up the phone and talk to a repairman, the doctor...really anyone and not have to search for the words. I remember also thinking about how scary it was to try and read medicine bottles, and hoped that I wasn't going to poison myself!
But yes, there are the things that we miss too, like all the patisseries, the elegant formality, the love of taking the time to eat food, and enjoy it.
I'm so happy to follow your new blog, and the up coming wedding :)

Welcome home!!

[kristin]

welcome home.
xo

[Kay]

I've enjoyed this blog alot. It surprises me how fast the time has gone by, for your readers anyway. Thanks for putting it out there.

[Haley]

Toni, it was by chance that I came across your Porridge blog a few nights ago. I then started clicking around and found this blog. Within a few hours I have read the whole year's worth of posts and started to read the linked blogs as well. I've fallen in love with your adventure and your family (I hope that doesn't creep you out!). Your pictures and stories mesmerized me and gave me the excitement/inspiration I was looking for. I'm planning on going to Germany next year as an Au Pair. Thank you for sharing this incredible experience with the world, I look forward to following Porridge!

Haley

[Toni]

Hello Haley!

Wow, such a nice comment. Thank you! Im really, really, blessed that what I share through my blogging can have such a positive effect on people. Its so great, and makes my efforts so worthwhile.

I wish you the very best in your upcoming adventure in Germany. Its a wonderful country in so many ways. And Ill look forward to seeing you around over at porridge.

Thanks again for sharing a little bit of yourself :)

xo,
Toni

To: toniweberphotography@live.com

[Pam Boudreaux]

I discovered your blog during the time I was planning a trip to Bavaria for summer, 2010. I have since returned from my trip and just wanted you to know how much I enjoyed reading your blog and admiring your beautiful photos. Bavaria was more beautiful than I ever expected and I found myself wondering (all the time) how amazing it would be to live here, if only briefly, as you did. Thanks for sharing.
Pam

[Todd Thomas]

Reading this blog over the last year has been a welcome habit. I spent a year in Switzerland when I was a teen, and seeing your photos and hearing your stories reminded me so much of what that was like. Thanks for the effort and the exposure.

[Kristen Sandel]

I just wanted to say thanks for the wonderful photos you shared here; I spent a few years in Switzerland as a kid and seeing your pictures was deeply nostalgic for me and brought back so many memories I thought I had lost. Also, they're just really lovely.