Meet Sophie and family, from the Baltic Sea of Germany

Meet Sophie (in the center wearing the white jacket) and her beautiful family from near the Baltic Sea of Germany She’s currently celebrating her birthday! She and her children are playing a wonderful little game this year! They each take turns choosing a lottery ticket and scratching it. They aren’t just any lottery ticket, they are special lottery tickets. You don’t win money, you get suggestions for adventures in the United States. That’s how this beautiful family landed on our doorstep, hiking up our hill, in a snow storm! (Don’t worry. We saw them and picked them up, and brought them up to their warm motel room) Sophie is a German diplomat that specializes in communication. She and her children are stationed in a different country every four years. They are currently living in New York City but they have also lived in China, Japan, and Taiwan. There is an older son not shown in this photo as he stayed home today. Sophie’s brother, in Germany, was unable to make the trip but sent his wife in his place to celebrate her birthday with Sophie and the children. Five years ago, was widowed and the children unexpectedly lost their father. Sophie says, “Although time marches on, things never get easier. We have just gotten better at adapting and overcoming. Life does not stop. You have to learn how to carry your grief a little at a time and always remember that this life is such a beautiful gift. My husband left me five beautiful children and every time I look at them, I see a little of him. What a wonderful blessing that is! Life will give us highs and lows. We must always look for the silver lining.” The one thing her children want to tell the world is, “Never give up hope. Always believe.” We couldn’t have been more blessed that you scratched off a ticket that brought you to our front door. We are the ones who actually won the lottery! Thank you so very much for visiting. Happiest of Birthdays Sophie. May this year be your best year yet!