Family Camp in Austrian Alps

Late August we spent 1 week at a family camp with our church and "German sister" church in the Austrian Alps. We had a great week of bi-lingual preaching, food, fellowship, and many activities; and the views were absolutely awesome!

Day 1: Exploring Kleinwalsertal/Soellereck

Nothing is too hard for these guys! Well, humility maybe!

A view from the top of the peak. Funny thing, we ski this area every winter, but it looks very different in the summertime!

A view from our room - it was great, there was only quiet for miles!

A restful view during our hike....

A preferred picnic spot.

Another breath taking view.

Highland cows along the way. It was amazing that you could hear their bells for miles.


Day 2: Kletter Course/Hochseilgarten in Kanzelwand

Ready for take-off....

"Mr. Agility"

Our group: friends from Holland

Here I am swinging from the trees! Did I mention this course is the highest in elevation in all of Germany?

"Little Miss No Fear"

"Enough with the photos!" This is what I get for relinquishing the camera!

Brad and Madeline enjoying a break and the afternoon sun!

A weary bunch!

Day 3: Hike Fellhorn


Another gondola to the top...but this time a hike down!

View of the Kleinwalsertal valley





1st stop

On our way down to the valley.

Another breath taking view...

Day 4: hiking the waterfall caverns

These pictures just don't do it justice.


See the kids? They're the tiny speck in the middle. This gives you an idea of how massive this area is.

Day 5: Farewell
Madeline was able to play an offertory piece that she has been working on for a few months with her teacher, Jerin. We had to say goodbye to Jerin as she was again returning to the states for school. Back to Skype lessons for now! I'm still trying to upload the video clip of Madeline's piece. Keep an eye out for it later.

Camping in the Alb

We enjoyed an overnight camping with some friends in the Swabian Alb. Notice the "Americanized" camp sight vs. the tidy European camper. We love the wide open space, the outdoors, let all 7 kids run and explore. The Europeans, however, love their privacy, quiet and solitude!

The Rest of Summer

So, here are the final pictures from the rest of our summer vacation to the states. A few months late - but better late than never, right? I have so many other current things that I want to post, so I'm just going to throw these photos out there...enjoy!

Both kids really master skiing this summer!
Looking forward to do it again next year!

Jack mastered skiing at Dale Hollow Lake, TN


The boys!

Searching for rattle snakes!

Watching USS Eisenhower coming into port in Norfolk

Golfing with Grandma and Grandpa (or is Jack playing Polo?)


Cedar Point - See the big kid in orange looking around? He thought we were getting on! Wrong!

USMC "Run A Muck" Quantico

WWII airplane hangar in Cleveland (Brad's Dad took a flight in the plane below)


The Cleveland Zoo with Grandma and Grandpa

Columbus, Ohio with long time USAF friends

Madeline turned 11!

Quote of the Day - by Jack Borke

Well, I know I haven't finished posting from our long summer vacation; but, this was so funny I had to post the quote of the day!

While trying to teach Jack something about paying bills and saving for college, he said the funniest thing:

Jack: "Why are you putting money into my college account?"
Me: "Someday you'll really be thankful for the money to go to college."
Jack: "I wish you'd spent that money on a new DSi for me."
Me: "When you go off to college someday you be glad you had the money to go and a DSi won't help you get there."
Jack: "Who needs college anyway?"
Me: "You do. Someday you'll need to be smart to get a job, to support your wife and those ankle-bitter kids of yours!"
Jack: "I hope the Rapture comes before then! I don't want to have a wife, or kids, or go to college!" (this said of course with the most serious face you can imagine!)
Me: Laughter.....still laughing!

Vacation - Part 2

So here's part 2 of our vacation. After leaving Chicago, we headed to Cincinnati to visit with my parents. The kids had a blast with fishing, bike riding, gardening, dogs, horses, farms, police stations, tornados, birthdays, and more. Here's a sneak peak at some of the fun....

Fishing at Mamaw and Papaws......

Jack wasn't too impressed with my "big catch"

Cleaning Your Catch 101...

After equipping Madeline and Jack with the proper tools (pliers & knife) they were able to clamp, scale, gut, chop & bone a fish in no time flat!

Madeline loves fish, let me restate that...to eat fish; so she was excited to get the fish clean and have it on her plate. Jack, on the other hand would rather keep the dead one as a pet than eat it!

Here's a photo of the kids with Grammy (my grandmother). She was giving them tips on how to best fry the fish. I loved hearing her share stories of when my Papaw would bring back the "catch of the day" and she would have to gut, scale and cook the little guys (the fish that is).

Jack earning his master filet title


Next, guns and arrows....

The kids enjoyed getting to shoot the bow and arrow along with the bb gun back in the woods. Turns out we have 2 sharp shooters in our midst.


Aunt Mary and Uncle Mike's farm...

Here's Madeline with the newest addition, Nickie. It's always a joy to be able to visit the horses and dogs. We love the country air! below: (Jack with Nickie and Tess)

Okay, funny photo. We had just come from eating lunch, and I simply asked if I could borrow a pair of boots so my white flats wouldn't be covered in horse poo. So, no problem, I rolled up the jeans and headed out, confident in my new look; only to be laughed at the entire way to the barn by my kids and my own mother! I earned the title "city slicker" that afternoon.

Madeline enjoying time with Sugar, who is a therapy dog.


Weather...here's a look at a funnel cloud we were trying to escape while on a bike ride. During our 4 weeks in Ohio, we had 3 tornado warnings and 2 alarms to head to the basement. Crazy midwest weather!


Happy 11th Birthday, Madeline!

Here's Madeline with her birthday cake. An idea by one grandmother, executed by the other! Way to use team work!

Birthday dinner with all the grandparents!


Left to Right: My dad, Brad's mom, Madeline, Brad's dad, my grandmother, me, Jack, Brad and my mom.

The Oxford PD....


My uncle works with the Oxford Police Department. So, we were afforded our own private field trip, behind the scenes!

Jack checking out the SWAT van

Being finger-printed

Being hauled away (I told them both, this had better be the only time they're in the back of a police car!)

Gardening...

The kids were able to help my mom put in her spring garden, not to mention getting a little dirty along the way.


Theatre...we were able to see Cirque du Soleil, Ovo for a Mother's Day surprise

Mother's Day...the perfect gift is her children


Stay tuned for part 3.......

Where in the World are the Borkes?

In case any of you have been wondering where we have been the past 2 months, well.....we've been touring the Midwest and east coast of good 'ol USA! Brad has been attending a school in the Norfolk area since April; so the kids and I thought it would be a good time for us to come and visit with family and friends.

Since the beginning of our trip, 21 April, to date we've traveled: 10,000 air miles, 126 miles by train, and 1,000 miles by car. With 3 weeks left on our trip be still have 1,772 miles by car, 8,152 air miles and 126 miles by train to travel. Whew....are you tired yet?

The Lord has blessed immeasurably with safe and smooth travels thus far. I expect that it will take me a few weeks to get all the photos and updates posted. But just for starters, here's a few photos of how we began this journey!

Let me first get you up to speed with what was occurring before we even left Germany. In March, Brad was called up to go work in London for an unknown period of time. It ended up that he stayed the entire month. He returned home for just enough time to wash clothes, repack and take a few days of R&R (see previous post, Bodensee), before jetting off to VA for his next duty. Meanwhile the kids and I stayed back in Germany finishing up school & soccer, preparing for my brother and his wife to visit and planning for our 3 month trip to the states.


Jack's soccer team was awarded a donation for new uniforms. Notice the tallest boy in the back...that's Jack!


During my brother's visit we came across this Italian market with the largest tub of Nutella I've ever seen. Jack thought we should buy it!


After 3 days in Virginia with friends, we headed to Chicago to visit Brad's sister and the twins.
Here we are at the Chicago Zoo.


I'm not sure if Madeline and Jack are getting their training for babysitting or zoo-keeping!

Here's Madeline, right at home with Gabriella and Filippo (18 months).

Stay tuned for the update of our next stop.... Ohio!