Surrogate Family

Sometimes in life God puts people in our lives who are not family, but that love and treat you as family. Here in Germany we were blessed my being friends with the Muckelbauer family who have been just that, in a sense a surrogate family. We love them like we love family. We are so thankful that Beccy and Barrett have shared Beccy’s family with us. 

 Gunnar and Ryker have been loved like grandchildren, and Kyle and I felt as though we were loved like their children. Manfred and Regina are two very special people and we are so thankful to have had them in our lives these last few years. They made being away from family so much easier. 

Not only were we blessed with Manfred and Regina, but we had Beccy and Barrett, Florian, Helena, Daniela, Udo, and of course Gunnar’s buddy Sina. AND let us not forget all the cousins, aunts, and uncles we had opportunities to get to know too! 

We spent Friday evening with them as a chance to say goodbye and then today Beccy, Regina, and Manfred joined us at church for Ryker’s dedication which was very special for us. 

Not everyone is as fortunate to be blessed with family away from family. We look forward to seeing them in the future, and hope not too much time passes before our next opportunity. 

Gunnar with Jaeger.

 My great friends Helena and Beccy with Ryker.

 Regina playing with Gunnar. She is a complete Grandma with him and lets him break all the rules.

 Manfred and Gunnar playing cars.

 Beccy, Regina, and Manfred at Ryker's dedication.

 Outside the Chapel after the dedication.

 Playing 'Sorry' after church while waiting for dinner to finish cooking. We finally got to treat them to a meal after Regina has cooked for us MANY times.

*side note: It appears that I have more to blog about than I have time. I think I will do a short blog with pictures of a run-down of other happenings...then hopefully later today get the video of Ryker's dedication posted for the grandparents. But for now, I am off to pack suitcases we will be bringing with us. and figure out what we want to come in our small, but fast shipment as they come pick-up our stuff tomorrow.