Normal life in Starbucks (But I had to save my money to buy my coffee!)

I’m hanging out at the mall this morning - specifically Starbucks. And I feel I need to make this little disclaimer. I love ... LOVE the Austrian coffee culture. There is nothing that gives my heart more rapture than to sit in a typical cafe and slowly sip on my black, yummy goodness. However, most that I have discovered do not have internet. Thus, I am forced to sit at Starbucks and sip my tripple grande vanilla latte I've saved all week to purchase!

Although I’d say I’m a self-proclaimed home body, I do enjoy a good morning to myself, with a cup of coffee by my side, drinking in the flavor of the beverage and the day. I have no real plan … other than go to the post office, go to the health food store, pick up girls, throw in a load of laundry while waiting for the older girls to come home and then I’ll start making dinner. It’s just so nice (what a lame word) to sit, feel comfortable in my skin and surroundings and chalk it all up to a normal day!

So, what’s the big deal about a “normal” day? Nothing. Only when it seems your normal was a long way away … and you wake up one day realizing normal has been a state of mind for awhile – it’s noteworthy!

So, this is what my normal looks like this week:

* Addison has play practice (she’s in “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown”) M, W, and Thursday after school.
* Parker empty’s the dishwasher before heading off to school (my favorite child! and is riding public transportation by herself since Addison has practice.
* Libby get’s picked up from school most days at 1:00. Then we “hang out” until the older girls come home.
* This week Chris was out of town all day on Monday and then left Wednesday to go to Johann and Romana’s house (the parents of our friend, Hans-Georg) and will return tonight.
* Tomorrow Addison has practice and we have Austrian friends coming over for American hamburgers.
* This week we are also host to two wonderful young ladies, Mia and Alana, while their missionary parents are at a conference. So, while Chris is drinking coffee and being served Martha Steward equivalent meals (I’m not bitter!) I get to play Mom to not my normal 3 girls … but to 5 … and loving every minute of it! (Last night we finished our day off by playing foot tag and Go Fish.)

Something that has also become normal is Austrian holidays. Yesterday was Fasching. According to the urban dictionary (a website I goggled) here is a definition of Fasching:
1. n: German; a week of partying leading up to Mardi Gras. Anything goes this week. During Fasching I went to 18 parties, was hung over six days, and had 248 alcoholic drinks.

That pretty much describes the holiday.

Wikipedia says: Carnival is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent.

The day gets celebrated by school children by dressing up and having no schoolwork and a big party.

Funny how it’s become normal to see more enthusiasm put into this “party season” than any other time of the year. More participate in dressing up and party making than attend any type of evangelical experience.

… and that’s why we are here. To make a ripple in the lake of Austrian life … to make an eternal difference. And if we have to party a little to make it happen (like in good partying … you do know what I mean!) … let the festivities begin!