Celebrating One Magical Year in the Heart of Germany

Can it really be reality that one whole year has passed since I said my wedding vows?

The old saying, "Time flies when you're having fun," must really be true, because, cliche or not, it feels like just yesterday I was walking down the aisle with my Daddy, waiting to be given away to the most wonderful husband imaginable.

Team DeLeon, as we were named on our wedding day, has truly been on an adventure of a lifetime, all within our first year of marriage.  This blog tells of all the stories we have been through and places we have seen along the way.  God has blessed us and our marriage immensely by allowing this oversea adventure in Germany to be where our first year together took place.  Becoming husband and wife is no easy feat, but thanks to the Lord we have loved, laughed, cried, struggled, grown, and become the real TEAM we are today.

To celebrate such a fabulous first year, we headed to the heart of Germany, the Black Forest.  Our weekend started Friday night as we made our trek to Titisee (Lake Titi), where we stayed in an amazing hotel right on the lake.

The view from our hotel

We walked around the town and headed to dinner to being our celebration.

Rooftop dinner-Prost!

The next day, Saturday, we enjoyed the view from our room, had a champagne toast, and headed off to the town of Triberg for some Black Forest cuckoo clocks and hiking.

View of Titisee from our room

One year of marriage!

Black Forest "House of 1,000 Clocks" store

The start of our hike to Germany's highest waterfalls

The hike to the top of the Triberg waterfalls was not too difficult.  The views along the way were a great reminder of our powerful God.  The Black Forest and waterfalls were absolutely stunning.  Pictures do not quite capture the true beauty of this place.  Hiking the waters of the Gutach, which plunge over 160 meters in seven cascades, was one of the prettiest hikes I have every been on.

The lowest part of the waterfall

Black Forest background

Gazebo rest stop

Mini waterfall

Such a fun hike :)

After our hike, we had some lunch and then headed back to Titisee.  Once we were back to our hotel we laid out in the sun, played some giant chess, went swimming, and enjoyed the sauna.

Such a great view

I "let" Justin beat me ;)

Nice pool with the sauna in the background

We were very fortunate to be staying in Titisee this particular weekend, because a special festival called Nacht in Weiss (Night in White) was happening.  So we were able to enjoy live music (not all of it was in German), see some interesting body paintings (this was not so enjoyable), drink beer around the town, ride paddle boats and ferris wheels, and best of all, see a fireworks display over the lake!  We didn't get the memo that we were supposed to wear white, but needless to say, it was like Titisee knew it was our anniversary!

Great night for a fest

Prost

The fest behind us...

...the sunset in front of us.

Ferris wheel ride with the moon in the background

Fireworks display

The Nacht in Weiss fest was a success and a great way to enjoy our anniversary weekend.  The next day, Sunday, which was our actual anniversary date (July 21st), we headed to Lichtenstein to see the Lichtenstein Castle.

Entrance to the castle

Drawbridge

View of Honau

Front of the castle

An area in the courtyard

Wall of the fortress

Castle courtyard

After looking around the castle and courtyard we went to the beer garden for lunch before heading back home to Grafenwoehr.

A kiss in the beer garden on our anniversary

What a grand weekend!  Celebrating one year of marriage (I still need a pinch when I hear that) with my best friend, in the heart of Germany is more than I could ever ask for, and yet that's just what happened.  Here's to many more years and anniversaries to come!

Keepin' it real, one year at a time :)