Giving credit where it is due. A hematologist called this morning and was so kind & helpful. I am truly grateful. I was overwhelmed and frustrated yesterday, but now we have a plan for my child. Bleeding disorders are so tricky and no regular ER doctor or Hausarzt can help.

2 truths that coexist: 1️⃣ We have excellent doctors here in Berlin & I never have to worry about the cost of healthcare. 2️⃣ I miss the availability of American doctors. One of my kids has had an urgent issue hematology issue today. I’ve called/emailed everyone. No response from anyone. 😭🙃

If you're looking for an honest review of Berlin’s Stranger Things “Christmas Market” (which is really a pop-up experience), I wrote up everything you need to know—the lines, the Demogorgons, the 80s nostalgia, and whether it’s worth it. 🎄🧇 l.travelpirates.com/ujqf1

I put this list together with help from my amazing colleagues, and now Montenegro is officially on my must-see list for 2026! I’ll also let you guess which destination was my favorite personal contribution. Hint: it may or may not involve puffins. 🐧🤣 l.travelpirates.com/ujpz9

Our twins are 14 today! What an incredible gift it is to be their mom. This year, I couldn’t physically hold them both for our annual photo, so they held ME instead. It looks like we have a new tradition! 🤗

With around 20,000 castles, Germany’s not short on fairytales. 🏰 I asked some German friends (and Germany lovers) for their favorites and created this list. It looks like I’ll be busy traveling throughout Germany for the next few years. 😆 l.travelpirates.com/ujlQr

I’m going to write an article this week on the top 5 döner locations in Berlin. Do you have any suggestion? I have a few in mind, but I would love some feedback from my fellow friends living in (or really loving) Berlin!

Such a perfect October day. 😍🍂

Our family loves Legos. We sadly couldn’t ship all of our sets when we moved to Germany, so we put them into storage. My husband flew in from the US today & surprised our boys with two of their favorite sets. Legos for the win!

My husband returned from the US today and brought back the essentials: Peanut butter M&Ms, peanut butter cups, and books.

My ancestors were on the Mayflower and sought religious freedom. America should be a place where people feel free to be practice any religion. And yet, I have felt judged my entire life for being raised LDS (in the Deep South). In Berlin, people could care less. Thoughts like this are not a thing.

My family and I attended church today in a chapel like this. Just moments after arriving home, my daughter saw the breaking news. She looked over at me and matter-of-factly said, “So schools, restaurants, grocery stores, and even churches aren’t safe.” 🥹 That about sums it up.

I had a DVT due to a condition called May-Thurner Syndrome. I had a stent placed. It worked for a few months, but my leg goes numb like it use to, tingles, & randomly bruises behind the knee. I’ve been in twice to have my stent checked. But it’s another night where I’m bruised & my leg tingles. 🙃

My husband is in the US cleaning out our storage unit. We would like to ship our books to Berlin, but it looks as though media mail isn’t an international thing (from what I can see online). Any recommendations from people who have mailed boxes of books from the US to Germany?

I’m on the bus & a girl is speaking in English to a friend. She asked her friend, who is presumably American, “How do you say it? Running around like a decapitated bird?” Her friend just stared, & it was SO HARD not to say, “That’s an expression! You’re so close! A chicken with its head cut off.” 🤪

Last night, my work Oktoberfest party in Berlin was evacuated at midnight due to an undetonated WWII bomb that was discovered that afternoon. This morning, my coworker (jokingly) let us know the keg from last night still needed to be finished. It felt like a very German series of events. 🤣

Finally feeling human again after weeks of packing, moving, painting, & unpacking. Our little house isn’t close to everything like our old apartment, but I love it. I walked downstairs today and felt super lucky for this space. I am glad no one is underneath us (& banging on the ceiling).

My husband cut his hand open (with a butter knife) while opening up a mattress this evening. It was deep enough that he definitely needed stitches. The triage nurse saw his wound, and immediately asked (in German): “Why did you do this on a Sunday?” 😝 (Also, going to bubble wrap my family. 🤣)

I’ve been at the ER due to a blood clot, and I’ve bonded with the people in this waiting room over the last 7 hours. My husband took the train here from Rostock & showed up with warm clothes for me, chargers (for my new friends), a bag of Snickers for everyone, and some drinks. He’s a hero.

So many kids were late today (the second day of school!) thanks to S-Bahn delays. My younger kids always leave extra early for school because of S-Bahn anxiety, but my daughter played her luck a little and lost. Excited to be fully in our new place & not reliant on the S-Bahn for school.

Our daughter, who’s at B1 level, was walking through IKEA with me when an announcement played. As I tried to figure out the translation, she said, “That was weird. I realized it was in German a few seconds after it ended. That’s the first time that’s ever happened.” What we’ve been waiting for! 🥹

After two years of living in an apartment that was newly renovated but has no insulation under the floors, we walked into our new house today. No downstairs neighbors. 😀 My daughter immediately started dancing. It's been so long since she could dance at home.

We spent our day moving (after filing a police report about our stolen license plate…thanks for the help, everyone!), and we are all exhausted. Going up and down 74 stairs with heavy items is hard work! I managed to get a picture at 100 flights of stairs. 🥴 We will all sleep well tonight!

This is our second week having a registered car in Berlin. Today, we realized someone had stolen our license plate. No clue what the next steps are, but I guess it's time to dive deeper into the world of German automotive bureaucracy. 🫠

Updating my phone after 5 years. 🙃 Any feedback on the iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 16 Pro? I use my phone primarily for work (capturing photos/videos for travel content). Reddit says there isn’t a huge difference between the two, but I’m looking for some firsthand feedback.

It was 12:30 AM, and we realized it was our last chance to have Taco Bell before flying back to Germany. No regrets.

I’m in a family of giants.

Me to my son, “Have you done everything you wanted to do while we’ve been in America?” 10 year old: “I want to go to Costco.” A hot dog with a drink is still $1.50 there! 🇺🇸

America, I’m proud of some of the decisions you’ve made. Coke is back at the Costco food court. 🫶

My son, explaining German sidewalks to his cousin (who actually has grandparents from Germany): “If we were in Berlin, there would be a bike lane & also a lane for pedestrians…and you should stay in your proper lane.” His entire sense of justice is offended by bikers who use the pedestrian walkway.

My nephew just spent the last 20 minutes telling us the rules of pickleball, and I now realize I have absolutely no desire to play this game. 🤪 I am happy I have never had to discuss pickleball with anyone while living in Berlin. 😝 There has been no peer pressure to play at all.

My nephew asked what the weather was like in Berlin during the summer, so I opened my weather app to show him…and man, it is definitely shaping up to be a cool (and rainy) summer!

Skipping rocks. The record was 7! 🪨

Sunset game of cornhole with cousins. All of the kids think we “need to make cornhole a thing in Germany.” I don’t know if I can see that happening. 😝

Found some gluten free donuts. 🍩🫶 I forgot how many gluten free foods exist in Utah!

Did a tour of the Kennecott copper mine. It was really informative, but my 10 year old couldn’t help himself and loudly asked, “So how much is this destroying the environment?” 🙃🫠

Spent the afternoon at BYU yesterday. This continues to be my favorite place on campus. 🌈

I turned on “Cheri Cheri Lady” by Modern Talking while riding in the car with my husband, and he listened for a bit before asking, “So is this Chappell Roan?” And now I don’t know if we can be friends anymore.

On a walk, and I kept noticing people glancing at my chest. Finally, I looked down to see if something was on me. I forgot I was wearing my shirt with Sauron, the Dark Lord, embroidered onto it. 🤣 Hopefully, some of these people appreciate LOTR.

One of favorite places in Utah. 🦆

I’ve stopped drinking soda, but I WILL make an exception for a McDonald’s Coke with ice while in the US. Amazingggg.

My in-laws’ backyard in Utah vs. my dad’s backyard in South Carolina. Two totally different views. 😍

Two flights to travel from South Carolina to Utah. Nearly 8 hours from one grandma’s door to the other grandma’s door. When we exited the plane, the kids were so excited about the “short trip.” Transatlantic flights help put things into perspective!

Update: On our second flight, and he has TWO windows.

Made it to the airport at 4:30 AM & went to the self check-in kiosk. We soon realized my youngest didn’t have tickets displayed with our family. Trying not to panic, we went to the counter & my husband said, “We may have a reverse home alone situation.” Thankfully, it was just a computer error. 🙃

When you were promised the window seat, and this is what you get. 🤣

The best part about the new Superman movie was the incredible sound system and these luxury seats. (Am I allowed to dislike this movie that so many others love? It felt disjointed & like I walked into a sequel. Love the dog. Love the suit. Dislike the script.)

Watching a movie with my mother, and a preview for a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle movie played. Immediately following the preview, she (loudly) asked, “Those are still a thing!? Why are they still a thing!?”

A successful day looking for shark teeth at Pawleys Island. My son says there are teeth from a lemon shark, bull sharks, sand tiger shark, and a goblin shark. I haven’t fact checked him, but he’s so excited.

There’s a song I grew up singing that says, “Nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina in the morning.” As a kid, it was just a song. I was always in South Carolina, so it didn’t seem too special. 🤣 But after living my adult life away from my home state, I’m thinking those words this morning.