It was another busy week; one that held both the heaviness of loss and some celebrations. In between the usual routines, we spent a lot of time reflecting on my grandfather and his passing. Those moments came in waves, sometimes quiet and sometimes emotional.
The week began cold and gray, the kind of weather that seems to linger a little too long. But by Wednesday, everything shifted. The air softened, the sun came out, and we were suddenly in the middle of the most beautiful spring days.
By Friday, we leaned into something a little lighter and met up with friends for the Stuttgarter Fruhlingsfest, or, Spring Fest. It was a long-standing plan, and with friends visiting from out of town; there was no way we were going to miss it. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect; warm, sunny, full of energy. There’s just nothing quite like being at the Fest on a beautiful spring day, surrounded by friends, laughter, and good food.
The Fest was a fun night out. The best part of the evening though was Brooklyn picking us up from the train station afterward! It’s a whole new world having a child with a driver’s license; equal parts surreal and incredibly convenient.
Saturday brought another small but welcome milestone: we got to sleep in. Ryan had stayed at a friend’s house and caught a ride to his games, and Brooklyn drove herself to hers. These little moments of independence are starting to add up, and it’s both strange and exciting to watch.
The day was packed with games against Stuttgart’s biggest rival, Ramstein High, and once again, the weather showed up perfectly. We started at the softball field, where Brooklyn was pitching. Ramstein jumped out to an early lead, but Stuttgart fought hard and started to close the gap in the second half. They didn’t pull off the win, but by the end, Ramstein didn’t look nearly as confident as they had at the start.
From there, we made the 40-minute drive to Robinson Barracks for baseball. Ryan was out in right field, giving it his all. The baseball team came up short in both games, but the day still had one more moment waiting for us.
Not long after Ryan’s second game wrapped up, Brooklyn called—crying, but this time with joy. They had won their second game against Ramstein. It was a huge victory; the first time Stuttgart has beaten them in the four years she’s been playing. Hearing that kind of pride and excitement in her voice made the whole day feel like a win.
Saturday night was Prom Night! As soon as the games were over, I rushed Brooklyn to her friend’s where she was getting ready. Then about an hour later we met her and her friends at Schloss Solitude for a photo session.
After pictures, a friend’s parent took the kids to dinner in downtown Stuttgart and Matt and I returned home so I could finish getting ready for the trip ahead.
On Sunday, the tone shifted again as I flew back to the U.S. for my grandfather’s services. As difficult as it was to leave, being there to honor him with my family and say goodbye properly was something I knew I needed to do. Unfortunately, the kids had too many school obligations that couldn’t be rescheduled, so I made the journey alone. I didn’t fully realize just how heavy and lonely the trip would feel until the moment my first flight lifted off, but I suppose that’s just the way these things go.
Gilcrests Abroad 