Blessings...

Becoming wiser...

2012-01-21T16:26:00.002+01:00

Jesse receiving his certificate at the Awana Commander College in Anaheim this past week. Way to go Jesse!!
The whole group at the conference.

2012-01-12T22:21:00.001+01:00

Cell phone chatter...
Well fed babies...
Feeding the animals...notice the little truck in her hand.

2012-01-12T00:05:00.002+01:00

Toe inspection...

Toe inspection turned to tickling!

More tickling...

2012-01-11T14:25:00.002+01:00

She helped Opa fix the chair and then got to ride on it!

Mommy, I cleaned your purse for you!
She loves her babies...often heard around the house...oh baby! oh baby!
She loves her new bunny!

Rainy day in Seattle? Then let's pretend we're at the park!

Ballet lesson...

2012-01-10T03:48:00.003+01:00

Back in Seattle...

2012-01-04T06:24:00.002+01:00

The picture above was taken the morning after we arrived back in Seattle from Canada. It was an awesome sunrise taken through the living room window!

Graci really missed her dolls while we were in Canada...
A lovely sister photo???

Coco has a sleep over with Oma and Opa

2011-12-31T05:50:00.004+01:00

Yep! What fun to have Coco spend the night with us in our cabin apartment. Movies, chocolate milk and popcorn! What could be better?

Coco cuddling with her new bunny!...oh! and popcorn!

I had to take care of the animals while she took pictures!

It took awhile to get to this part of the sleep over!

2011-12-31T05:24:00.006+01:00

Movies with Oma...while the guys are watching football!
How do I look?
Playing games...

EARLY morning book time with Mommie...

2011-12-29T07:42:00.005+01:00

Coco a little surprised when her sled dumps her and leaves her in the snow! Good sport about it though.
Diane and Coco plowing through the deep snow on their sled.

Claire waiting for the right moment to grab a hand full of hair!

Sharing a little Christmas together! What a fun evening! Thank you everyone for the thoughtful gifts.

Having fun inside...

2011-12-28T07:14:00.004+01:00

Making Opa smile!
Putting together puzzles on the computer!
Watching it snow...

Fun in the snow!

2011-12-28T06:30:00.003+01:00

We all enjoyed a beautiful day in the snow!

Coco is ready to try out the skis. She did awesome!

2011-12-26T06:40:00.004+01:00

Graci with the new work gloves from Opa.
Stories with Opa all by herself...
The girls with the new 'couch throws' I made for them. They were put to good use this afternoon.
I think they were singing Fa la la...Ha!
Having lots of fun with our family and grand kids. Opa helped with the construction of the village of Bethlehem.
Puppet shows...(sorry you missed it!)

Coloring...
Doing our nails...

2011-12-20T07:22:00.005+01:00

Graci and her baby
Our Christmas project...

Bonding in the reading room...

Christmas baking...
The best part...licking the beaters!
Lots of fun frosting and decorating!

Christmas Market...

2011-12-08T08:36:00.003+01:00

Fun afternoon at our Ladies Christmas Tea

2011-12-04T17:49:00.008+01:00

Lots of goodies...

Live music...
These are three of the ladies in my Bible Study. Mary(center) played a big part in putting together the tea party. Diane and Myriam are keeping her company!
Heather, doing what she does best? smiling and taking pictures!
Special friends, Stefanie and Heather, helping me set up the table...or should I say setting up the table while I take pictures???

Some from our table, on the left, Melody(my niece) and Heather and right, Debbie and Shirley.
Ladies can sign up to host a table which means you also have to set it up however you like. It was a lot of fun just getting set up. The party was fun as well, hearing stories, playing games and singing carols. I am already looking forward to next year!

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas...

2011-12-02T07:31:00.008+01:00

Kandern is so festive at this time of the year! We love it!

Some of the shop windows...

One of the restaurants has all their windows decorated like this!
Rob and Matthew heading home with their tree! Notice who is carrying the heavy end!!

A bargain...

2011-11-29T17:20:00.005+01:00

I am always looking for a bargain. This is kind of an unusual one, but a bargain just the same. Eggs always come 10 to a carton here...well...
Today I found a bargain 12 eggs for the price of 10 or as they advertised it '10 eggs plus 2 free!' Pretty good deal if you ask me!

Oh and white or brown...take your pick. Actually, you never know what color they will be from week to week! An egg is an egg, right?
And they have an expiry date stamped on them...

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire...

2011-11-25T08:52:00.004+01:00

It is the time of the year for roasted chestnuts or 'Heisse Marroni' as they are called here. Stands are here and there through out the market place, streets, etc. When I first tasted a roasted chestnut, I thought it tasted a bit like sweetened mashed potatoes. You have to acquire a taste for them. I tried roasting them at home one time, which was a total disaster! Now I would much rather find a stand and purchase a few for a treat.

The lady above just emptied these into her big pan with the fire below. She will stir them occasionally until they are roasted/done.
When you purchase them, you buy them by weight and they are put in this bag, which also has a compartment to put them empty shells in. These bags also make great hand warmers when the chestnuts are hot from the pan!
This has nothing to do with chestnuts, other than it is a fall item on the menu. Jesse decided to try the 'pumpkin special' at this little cafe and we both were pleasantly surprised buy the neat presentation of the pumpkin/squash filled with seasoned rice and served with a generous scoop of relish and tossed salad!

Still doing yard work in mid-Nov...

2011-11-12T12:36:00.004+01:00

We still have a number of roses blooming in the yard. We love that!
For the past few Saturdays, Jesse has thought 'this is the last time for this fall'...well here he is again. Maybe THIS is the last time??
The Geraniums are still happy...
We keep getting tomatoes...
As you can tell...life is good!

11.11.11...remembering those who gave their lives for our freedom!

2011-11-11T14:04:00.000+01:00

Enjoying fall...

2011-11-08T07:23:00.002+01:00

Remembering Mom...

2011-11-05T08:07:00.010+01:00

Today would have been Mom's 96th birthday. I wanted to share the following pictures to honor/remember her and to show you how very talented and gifted she was with her hands. She loved knitting, crocheting and sewing. As we went through her things we were amazed at the collection of Barbie doll clothes and other crafts that were stored away. At one time she used to make things and sell them at Craft Shows. A lot of these items were from that time, all neatly stored away in multiple shoe boxes. The following three photos (Thanks, Sharla!!) are some of her Barbie doll clothes.

Sweater set for a small doll.This was hard to take pictures of because it is so small. The whole bassinet fits in the palm of my hand. Anyway, this little doll with her little blanket...
goes into this bassinet...
like this...
and then there is a drawstring that closes it so a little girl can carry it around easily.
Christmas ornaments that will long be treasured!
Some of my doll clothes from when I was little. I played and played with these and now realize how much time, effort and love went into making them.

Notice the loving detail, embroidered on the little dress.
One of Mom's doll dresses from when she was little...made from a sock.

More Seattle...

2011-11-02T16:37:00.008+01:00

Down by the lake...
Bottoms up!
ditto!
Learning jump rope!

Opa and his crew! All was well until Graci started taking leaves out of the bucket and spreading them back on the ground! She almost got fired by the assistant!!
Filling water glasses...such a big help??
Loving Opa!
Coco's 3 and 1/2 birthday!
Can't get them on my feet? No problem! Hands work too!

Time spent in Seattle...

2011-10-31T07:09:00.008+01:00

Coco rode her bike all around Green Lake without a complaint! I got a good workout trying to keep up with her!

Making donuts together and remembering GG.
Coco's mini donuts...made from her dough that was 'well used'.
Coco took this photo of us on our walk around Green Lake!

More family photos...

2011-10-28T15:53:00.003+02:00

My sisters with me. The two on the right are 'the twins'! We had such a wonderful time together but it was far too short!
These three guys are the 'in laws', our husbands!
Jess with me at Grandpa's farm. We had such a great afternoon sharing memories!

100 years...

2011-10-26T19:43:00.007+02:00

This bucket is an important landmark!!

It was 100 years ago in September that my grandparents immigrated to Canada from Germany. This is where they homesteaded. The place did not look like this back then but it does look great now, thanks to my Uncle and Aunt who lovingly take care of it.
Mom and her siblings(9) were born in and lived in this little house. The stories are endless about the good times shared in these tight quarters. How they ever survived the cold Canadian winters and everything else we will never know!!

The girls had their room upstairs...
The living, dining and kitchen area...
A 'new' house was built in 1940, the year Mom and Dad were married.
The outhouse...Ha!!

The barn...
This is where a country church once stood. Lots of good memories for me as my first memories of going to church began here. We have such fun Sunday School memories from this.
Standing in one of the wheat fields beside the farm.
The Canadian geese taking off south??

2011-10-18T20:02:00.000+02:00

Mom enters her Heavenly Home!

2011-10-18T05:07:00.006+02:00

Mom passed away on Oct 2, 2011. We had her service on the 8th of Oct. We were SO blessed to have a beautiful sunny day for celebrating a wonderful Mom. How we will miss her but are so glad she no longer has to wait! She is there with Dad and all the others who have gone on before her.
Sandee and I made this wreath in honor of our Mom. It was composed of wheat and greens from the area and fall colored flowers. My sister, Sherrie had the thought to add a few knitting needles from Mom's stash.
Love this photo of my brother comforting one of his grandchildren.
Me with my siblings,
With our spouses...

Fun with the grand kids!

2011-10-01T05:56:00.002+02:00

Waving through the fence...

Almost to bed...having fun getting there!

2011-09-28T20:17:00.002+02:00

My Mom with me, taken on one of her better days.
The streets in her little town are so pretty right now. Lots of memories here!

Apples on the tree in Mom's back yard.
Driving down one of the streets in town one day, I saw this moose. He spent the evening in Mom's backyard, munching on apples. I tried to get a better picture but he was too quick and I was a little apprehensive (more like scared!!) to get too close!

More summer flowers,,,

2011-09-05T15:09:00.000+02:00

Shots around town...

2011-09-03T14:26:00.002+02:00

Down our garden path...

2011-09-02T10:25:00.006+02:00

Thought I would take a few pictures while the summer flowers are still nice.

Baking done...

2011-08-31T18:14:00.005+02:00

150 choc chip cookies, 72 brownies and 7 loaves of bread - all done for the next event!

Opening day of school.

2011-08-23T21:35:00.005+02:00

Today was the opening day of school for 2011/2012. I was able to get a few pictures before I had to babysit for one of the staff. Each year the flags of the countries represented by the student body are carried in by the seniors followed later by the Roll Call of the Nations. This year there are 53 countries represented at BFA.

Not long ago, Amanda (on the right) was a little girl running around on our street. Hard to believe she is a senior! We are proud of you Amanda!
The class of 2023 being interviewed by our director. What are you looking forward to the most in school? Most popular answer was a toss up between math and learning to read. What do you want to be when you grow up? Most popular answer was a horseback rider!

Thinking winter in the midst of summer...

2011-08-22T12:49:00.001+02:00

So since it is so hot here, I decided to look at some winter pictures! Enjoy! It might help cool you down!

Amazing flowers...

2011-08-22T12:29:00.002+02:00

This arrangement of REAL flowers was displayed in the hotel lobby of the hotel Shawna was staying at in Zurich. It was HUGE! I would guess it was at least 3 feet high and covered a large round table that was 6 or more feet in diameter.
Shawna put her hand there just to try to show it's size and as usual, a picture really does not do it justice.

A visit to a nearby town ... Bad Sackingen

2011-08-13T08:42:00.010+02:00

We were able to spend part of the day with friends, Randy and Nancy, who will be leaving Germany next week. We drove about 45 minutes to this town and enjoyed a wonderful lunch and time together. We had never been there before and were surprised to know that this is so close. What a great historical place!
The local church...

This and that...around town.

The longest wooden, covered bridge in Europe. The original wood pilings have been replaced by concrete and of course, there have been other repairs as well. If I remember right, the bridge was built in the 1600's. It goes across the Rhine river. On one side is Switzerland, the other is Germany. A white line on about the middle of the bridge represents the border.

This local mailman brings a little color to delivering mail.

The park by the Trumpet Museum.

Note the trumpeter.

Another afternoon/evening at Adventure Camp...

2011-08-05T21:06:00.008+02:00

Working on the veggies and meat for 'hobo dinner'.
Making dough for 'dough boys'

Roasting 'dough boys' takes patience and skill.
It began to pour just as most were finishing making their dough boys and hobo meals. Nothing like a little adventure in the rain. This guy is using the downspout to wash his hair. The rain water was really quite warm.
Nice 'umbrella'...

View from the top of the hill where the tents are set up.

Train trip to a lake in the Black Forest

2011-08-04T19:29:00.003+02:00

I was happy to be able to get away for the day with a group of friends. We took the train to a near by lake and enjoyed walking through the town and sitting by the water. I am sorry we forgot to get a group picture. I think we were too busy visiting!

An evening at Adventure Camp...

2011-08-04T19:11:00.004+02:00

Thanks for your prayers for the camps going on right now. Every camp has amazing stories and all are going well!! I was able to spend an evening with Jesse at his camp this week. This is the area where they have their tents set up. It is on the top of a high hill that overlooks a most amazing valley. I could not get any pictures because it was too sunny. Maybe tomorrow night when it suppose to be cloudy.
Getting ready for dinner...
Jesse is cooking the spaghetti.

There are a few wild animals roaming around the camping area. Besides wild boar(in a fenced in area) there are goats and a wild bird refuge.
Kids were sitting on this rock, but jumped off before I could take the picture. I love the rock sitting in the middle of the camping grounds.

Doing what I love to do...

2011-08-04T19:02:00.004+02:00

This past Sunday my friend Lori and I had the privilege of cooking lunch and dinner for the new and returning residence staff (35 or so) as they began their orientation for the new school year.
Playing games and getting to know one another.
Fresh rolls and bread were on the menu for lunch and dinner...

Feeling blessed again...

2011-07-30T21:38:00.003+02:00

It was so fun to have former dorm daughters and their family come and visit us last weekend.
Milena and Monika were with us our very first years in the dorm at Liel.
Monika and Milena with their Mom.

The past two weeks...

2011-07-30T09:03:00.003+02:00

I do not have any pictures to post at this time but thought I would take a minute to update you on what has been happening the past two weeks.

Jesse has been taking classes at the Summer Institute at BFA and I did snacks and cooked some meals for them. It was about 20 or so people so not that big a deal. However, it kept me plenty busy.

Yesterday afternoon Jesse set up camp for the last Adventure Camp this summer. They have 18 campers and 5 staff. The camp runs through next Saturday. He would appreciate your prayers for sure!

One more day of cooking for me tomorrow...this time it is for the new and returning dorm staff. My friends, Kurt and Lori, are helping me in Jesse's place. Kurt will be BBQing the ribs and Lori will be helping me in the kitchen. We are getting ready for about 40 people.

I will try to post some pictures in the next couple of days. I have a room or two to clean where I have been cooking and then I should have a bit of free time...well time at home. There is lots to get in order here. Lawn,weeds,dust bunnies and laundry show no mercy!

A rainy Sunday...

2011-07-17T18:06:00.001+02:00

Lots of colors and lots of umbrellas outside of church this am. I love the assortment!

♫♫ Happy Birthday, Shawna! ♥

2011-07-14T11:22:00.003+02:00

Wishing Shawna, our dear daughter, a Happy Birthday today. She is pictured here with her nieces who love and adore her!

Please pray...

2011-07-13T08:34:00.004+02:00

PS Simi slipped into His presence on Wednesday AM. Please pray for her family.

I wanted to post the following pictures so that you could join us in praying for 'Simi' and her family. Simi is 1 yr old and has leukemia. She is in her last days. Please pray for her mom(a former BFA student), Dad and her sisters, 3yrs and 5 yrs.

Simi with her sisters at Easter.

Street party...

2011-07-09T21:14:00.006+02:00

We love living on our street! We think we have the best German neighbors ever! At least once a year we all gather together for the afternoon and evening and enjoy wonderful food and fellowship! They love it that we Americans join in the fun. Jesse is famous because of his BBQ ribs! All that was left tonight was bones!

These ladies are my best German friends. They go out of their way to make us feel at home. They love hearing about our children and grand children. I am glad I caught them at a moment when they were all sitting together!

To night Germany is playing Japan in soccer. You can't see it very well but there is a TV playing in the back ground and everyone is enjoying the game. So far Germany is winning!

2011-07-08T15:25:00.003+02:00

I got to visit with some goats today...we do not see goats very much over here.

I got a warm greetng!

Loved the little ones...

They were sad when I left!

Trying again...

2011-07-06T22:29:00.005+02:00

Adventure camp

2011-07-04T13:17:00.004+02:00

I stopped by Jesse's adventure camp this am to deliver some fresh baked chocolate chip cookies. They are enjoying beautiful weather and having a good time.
Learning to tie several different knots and then on to how to use a compass, etc.

A Walk in the woods...

2011-07-04T13:06:00.002+02:00

The sun was SO bright today that these pictures did not turn out very good. I might have to go back here when it is different lighting. Love this walk and seeing the flower boxes along the railing of the bridge.

My favorite stream

Sunday afternoon...

2011-07-04T12:56:00.003+02:00

Off to a party somewhere...

Enjoying the roses

2011-06-17T13:38:00.002+02:00

Select your roses and leave your money in the cash box!

New adventure,,,

2011-06-15T08:48:00.002+02:00

Jesse and I purchased a hanging cucumber plant in late April. What a fun adventure it has been! Jesse stopped counting at the end of May but up until then he had picked about 30 cucumbers (not counting the ones visiting children picked). This plant continues to produce like crazy. We will for sure consider another one or two for next year.

Playing dress-up over skype

2011-06-06T21:01:00.000+02:00

An award well deserved!

2011-06-03T08:43:00.005+02:00

Surprised and overwhelmed (as you can tell by the pictures), our good friend Cathy Schmidt receives the 'Master's Commendation' award at the BFA awards night. She is one special lady and well deserving of this honor! We are SO proud of her!
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Always something new and/or different...???

2011-05-31T17:05:00.003+02:00

Well, who would have ever thought one would see this walking down the street today? Notice(kind of) the guy following behind with the wheel barrel. Oh Boy!

Back home in Germany...

2011-05-27T09:52:00.002+02:00

I have spent the last two days working in the garden, planting, weeding, and watering...it is so dry here. Usually we are complaining about too much rain!

Our landlord has an archway of roses over the driveway of our house. Sure was nice to come home to.

More good times in Seattle!

2011-05-26T19:57:00.005+02:00

So thankful for the sunny days we had towards the end of my stay in Seattle. We enjoyed a number of outings along Lake Washington!
Enjoying that barefoot feeling...
Contemplating life after her long bike ride.
Goofy Graci!
Hugs freely given are not always appreciated!
And so it goes both ways!
Hugs all around ♥♥♥!... and savoring the moments!

2011-05-20T00:19:00.000+02:00

Playing outside...

2011-05-18T01:44:00.002+02:00

Fun! Fun! and more fun!

2011-05-11T23:40:00.000+02:00

Major construction in the basement yesterday resulted in a room-size tent...thanks to 'ShaTante'. After only a few rays of sunshine this am, the skies opened to rain and thus a video in the tent. FUN!
Graci does not miss much! Shawna went down stairs and closed the door behind her. Graci is looking for her!
Nosy neighbor? Every neighborhood needs someone to watch out for them!
Giving the report! Chase, the dog next door is barking and running around!

Love being a Mom and Oma!

2011-05-09T16:32:00.001+02:00

2011-05-06T23:24:00.001+02:00

Waiting to play Dutch Blitz.
Playing...
Trying to say 'Dutch Blitz'
Busy, busy Graci...
Caught under the table...
Early morning romping with Oma!

Sweet times in Seattle!

2011-05-05T19:23:00.001+02:00

So this morning my 3 yr old grand daughter leaves on a play date with her mother and as she is going out the door she looks back over her shoulder and says, 'Bye, Oma have fun with Graci! (sleeping) You can play with whatever you want!' Where do I begin??? She arranged this so I could play with her friends!

The Royal Wedding

2011-04-29T15:13:00.022+02:00

Today I was invited to attend a British Tea in honor of Prince William and Kate on their Royal Wedding Day. (If you click on the first picture you can read the invitation better)

This is for all you single ladies out there!

Dressing up and hats were required. This is a picture of our very gracious hostesses Heidi and her mom, Jan. They really put on a fun afternoon!

I am hoping to post pictures of everyone at some point. It will take a little time for them to be passed on, I think. Thanks for being patient!

Gotta love skype!

2011-04-26T18:44:00.003+02:00

I don't think this needs much explaining...so thankful for this technology!

Venice, Italy

2011-04-25T21:31:00.008+02:00

Venice is a beautiful city, built on the northern part of the Adriatic Sea. If you visit Italy, I would highly recommend spending some time in this city, rich in history and culture! It is a city of waterways and walking streets. We never saw any cars or buses. I do not even recall seeing bikes. If you need to go somewhere you either walk or take a water taxi. We did both!

The famous Ponte di Rialto (shopping bridge) on the Grand canal.
Pizza, of course! It was really good, too!
Yummy!
A boat filled with vegetables for sale.
Freight delivery.
Crossing part of the Adriatic Sea to get into Venice.

Sirmione, Italy

2011-04-25T21:18:00.004+02:00

Sirmione is on a peninsula that is on Lake Garda. It is built around a neat old fortress.

Cathy and Jonathan standing on the drawbridge going into the fortress.

Back yard photos

2011-04-21T19:02:00.002+02:00

The kids and I decorated the Easter tree today! One of the many traditions I love about Europe.

One of our Lilacs just covered in blossoms and it smells wonderful!
We tried to take a picture in front of the Lilacs but it was a little too bright.

Chiara....Birthday # 3

2011-04-20T21:08:00.001+02:00

2011-04-17T15:02:00.010+02:00

We were honored to be asked to join a group of friends from BFA who spent a week at a campgrounds on Lake Garda in Italy. It is our spring break time and thanks to some generous friends who blessed us on our 60th birthdays (and low season fares), we took the week off.
Our campsite...I know, I know there is no 'rough camping' here. It was very nice and it really paid to go off season, for several reasons...reasonable rates, no crowds and some of places of interest were free!
I'll be adding some pictures of Venice and Sirmione in the days to come. Lots of pictures to sort through!

Tuesday morning brunch all together...fun and delicious!

Jesse's Birthday celebration.

Enjoying fellowship with some of the group we vacationed with.

Lake Garda with the mountains in the back ground. We had lots of sunshine but the haze kept us from getting a clear view of the mountains.

Lunch on top of the world while driving through Switzerland!

Peggy waited for 3 years to see a bloom on this plant. It looked like it would bloom while she was gone and she was not about to miss it so she brought it along. I think she named it Ama.

Gelato and pizza...?

2011-04-17T14:35:00.005+02:00

French-fry pizza anyone? We actually never tried it ourselves...just snuck a picture of someone's. Ha!

2011-04-08T14:19:00.002+02:00

Looking our across our valley. Apple trees are blooming.
Our backyard...
Baby alert!

Skype pictures...so fun to see the girls in action!

2011-04-06T22:35:00.005+02:00

Chiara sang her own version of 'Happy Birthday' to Opa. (We will be gone on the 10th which is his actual birthday...so he got some early wishes!)
and she added a little dance...

Ever since Chiara was born, Jesse has told her every time he sees her "Chiara, Opa loves you very much, but Jesus loves you much more...Yay!" It is fun to see her doing it along with him now!
Graci trying to figure everything out and thinking the computer would be a great toy!

Secrets?

2011-04-04T09:09:00.002+02:00

Love this picture that Sharla took when their family enjoyed a weekend in the mountains. I wonder what these gals are up to...?

Back in Kandern, etc

2011-04-03T21:28:00.001+02:00

On our way back to Kandern...

2011-04-03T17:39:00.003+02:00

We stopped in Rothenburg on our way back home. It is an ancient walled city (from Roman times) It was fun to walk around and climb the wall there.
Coffee AND enjoying the beautiful sunny afternoon...
We ended our trip with a short stop back at the relatives. On Friday afternoon they treated us to a 3.5 hour long wagon ride...complete with coffee and cake on the wagon! What a great way to end this trip! Lots of memories, laughs and good times! I am so glad I got to go along!! Thanks so much Clint, Louise and Tina!

On to Germany!

2011-04-03T17:20:00.006+02:00

It must have been a relief to finally get to Celle where the family settled for a few months. It was a long, hard, cold trip by horse and wagon to this place...Jan 20 to March 1, 1945.

This is the house where A Louise and her family lived for about 9 months. It is also the place where their father found them after the war (He was in the army/POW during their trek and found them after his time was over.) What a joy to be united once again. Louise remembers being called out of school to go home and when they arrived there was their Dad. That afternoon they took the little wagon and walk about 4 k's back to the train station to get his suitcase. He had been a POW in TX and came back with candy bars. Of course, the kids were thrilled. They had never had such a treat! Louise says that her Dad was treated very well in TX.
A picture of the couple who took them in still hangs on the wall in this house. Louise says they were very kind to them...and a fond memory is getting a piece of bread with jam each day after school!
Is the outhouse still there?? Yup! Louise remembered this tucked away in the barn.

The farm where her Mom worked to earn money to help with expenses
Tina got to be a queen! We toured the palace in Celle...interesting and fun!

Poland at last!

2011-04-03T16:06:00.011+02:00

3 days in Poland and back to the German border where their family crossed. We have so much to be thankful for!!

The pillar of the gate to the entrance of the church
The church where Aunt Louise and her family attended...it is all run down, gutted, etc. The gentleman who translated for us told us it is for sale.

The pond on the farm where the kids played. (One of the brothers fell in head first and was rescued by his sister who grabbed his leg and pulled him out!)
Interesting finds around the farmyard...

The house
From the outside, the house did not look too bad but inside it was heart breaking. The people who lived there had not kept it up and it was not clean. We were able to take just a few pictures inside.

Aunt Louise walking down the old cobblestone road (still the same) that led to the school.
The school
The barn on their farm

The original front door of the house

The hen house
The front steps of the house (original)
Aunt Louise and her family had to leave their 85 year old Grandma at this place. She began the journey with them but could not go on. This building (a school) was a makeshift hospital during the war. They left Grandma in hopes that they would return for her...however, this has a sad ending...they never got to go back and they never knew what happened to Grandma. Louise and Clint went to the court house and were given the books to look through to try and find her name but there was no record of her name. In fact, there were no records for January to March of 1945.
The bridge into Germany and hopefully safety. When they finally arrived at this bridge they were stopped by German soldiers and told that it was not safe to cross as the bridge was loaded with explosives to hold back the Russians. Louise's Mom did not know what to do...if they did not cross they would be captured/killed by the Russian army. She made a decision and told the hired man who was driving their wagon to 'GO!'. They crossed the bridge and not long after if was blown up. But they were safely on the other side!

Poland trip...Day 2

2011-03-30T11:47:00.006+02:00

A few more pictures from around town before we drove close to the Poland border to spend the second night.
Having fun in front of these statues...ladies protesting paying taxes

A unique door handle
A touch of spring
We spent the first night on the road with German friends/relatives near the town where my grandpa was from. These kids loved the John Deer books my Aunt brought them from Canada.
Annelisa(playing the harp)and A Louise singing a few old hymns

A sweet couple...they know several members of our family

Trip to Poland...Day 1

2011-03-29T11:55:00.013+02:00

I had the privilege of taking a trip to Poland with my Aunt Louise, Cousin Clint and his daughter, Christina. Aunt Louise fled from Poland during WW2 with her Mom and three brothers, traveling by horse and wagon. We had the privilege to walk through this amazing story of survival with her this past week. Throughout the next few days I will post pictures and comments and try to relate the story as best as I can remember it. I thank God that Aunt Louise and her family lived to tell the story. She has lived with her family in Canada since 1948. Coming back to what use to be her home and country was truly a bitter-sweet experience.

Clint our safe and gracious driver

Christina was our navigator...she learned how to program the built in GPS quickly. We do not know how we would have managed without her and the GPS! Both made the trip so much more pleasant and enjoyable. We never really got lost...which is quite amazing for traveling the approx 3,200 k's on unknown roads and autobahns.
No comment~
Our first stop was the village where my grandpa once lived. Aunt Louise lived there for a couple of years after fleeing from Poland and before they immigrated to Canada. This is the house my Grandpa lived in for awhile. In 1890 his family moved to Poland (he was 4) and then in 1911 Grandpa immigrated to Canada where he homesteaded in Saskatchewan.
The following are all original pieces. The stone fireplace...
I love this picture. It was hanging on the wall in the living room.
The buffet...
The couch which was home-made by a friend of the family.
This old tree stump was used to shape collars for oxen and horses. My great-grandpa was a harness maker.
The front door...

This building that was the school when my aunt lived here. (It is a private home now.)
This was her house...it is now a restaurant.

Praying for the people of Japan...

2011-03-13T14:22:00.001+01:00

Psalm 46: 1-3 (ESV)
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

From The Message
God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him.
We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom,
courageous in sea storm and earthquake,
Before the rush and roar of oceans,
the tremors that shift mountains.

Colors of spring...

2011-03-08T11:50:00.002+01:00

I bought these pansies yesterday at the grocery store and since the daffodils in the yard are blooming I thought I would plant them in the flower boxes. I know it is early but our yard is coming to life! I love it!

Kindertag!!

2011-03-07T18:04:00.009+01:00

For approximately 35 years, Janz Team (Germany) has been hosting 'Kindertag', an alternative to the Fasching celebrations that take place during the month of February and into March. Today was the day! 240 children registered and had a great day of stories, food and fun.

The kids are fed a fun lunch at noon followed by homemade snacks in the afternoon!

Great program!

Jesse bought the food for the lunch and then helped in the kitchen all day. Ladies from the community made the wonderful snacks and here Jesse is cleaning up what remains...crumbs!

Out for tea...

2011-03-07T18:01:00.001+01:00

Special ladies...my Bible study group

2011-03-01T17:38:00.003+01:00

I was out for a long walk today and was hoping to find some baby lambs. I did enjoy watching these guys for awhile. They were quite content with a pasture of green grass! (The guy with the black head on the title page is sticking his tongue out at me...naughty sheep!)

Promise of spring...

2011-02-23T16:54:00.003+01:00

I walk in to our local grocery store and these green stems are lying in a cardboard box, bound together in groups of 10 or 12 by a rubber band. I am excited because for me these are some of the first signs of spring! They only cost .59 cents a bundle. I grab a couple to take home and put them in a glass of water!
Within a day or two they look this this!

Home Basketball Games!

2011-02-19T10:49:00.007+01:00

I am not great at taking action pictures...here are a few of last night's exciting evening!
I think these guys were trying to be cheerleaders...they sure were having fun!

Getting in the spirit...Katie is cheering for her brother!
Matthew is into the spirit as well...cheering for #10 and #32 (with a little ketchup and mustard thrown in!)
The Korean Konnection performing at half-time.

Pep-band...sounds AWESOME!...and a lot of 'hidden' talent has been revealed in our staff and students!

Honoring the seniors.

♥ Happy Valentine's ♥

2011-02-15T10:35:00.007+01:00

Valentine's Day was very special as I got to spread some love to MK's and staff from our mission. We served fresh brownies with hot fudge sauce over ice cream to about 65 people at lunch time at BFA. It was fun to hear all the responses to what little effort we put into it! Of course, along with the dessert, we had to create a little ambiance.♥♥♥

Look at that rich hot fudge sauce!
I have begun working part-time with Mary, on the left, helping them in their ministry of creating a 'Sanctuary' for missionaries who need a rest, are recovering from surgery or just need a place to spend a couple of nights. They have a great house for this and I am so enjoying coming alongside her to help wherever I can. Serving this dessert today was also part of that ministry! It truly is great fun!
Gifts received in our house!
Of course, I had to wear my Valentine socks!
Our Valentine's card from the Wilcox Family! Just love it!
The day ended with dinner out with my Valentine ♥! I am blessed!

Another beautiful day...

2011-02-07T19:39:00.002+01:00

I was surprised to find these little beauties in the backyard this morning.

What a wonderful way to end this beautiful day!

Feeling Blessed and then some...

2011-02-06T12:51:00.015+01:00

I woke up on the morning to this email from Shawna that left me with tears in my eyes...I am blessed to have such wonderful, thoughtful daughters!! Make sure you follow this post to the end!! (The roses above are from my wonderful husband!)

60 Things I Love About My Mom (by Shawna)

1. Loves God

2. Prays for me every day

3. Great cook

4. Loves others kids as much as she loves her own grandkids. . .well, almost.

5. Shows my roommates love and care every time she comes to visit me

6. Loves Dad

7. Delights in little pleasures, like making favorite meals/treats for people (Like Pecan tarts for Smid Boys)

8. Enjoys doing laundry

9. Gives me “My treat” moments in restaurants

10. Plays piano by ear

11. Finally accepted title of “Oma” and stopped dying her hair

12. Willing to speak truth into people’s lives, even if it hurts

13. Reminds me of promises of God when I need to hear them the most

14. Keeps up with my schedule of flying

15. Makes a point to call me or visit me every time I’m in Germany/Switzerland

16. Makes comments on my blog, even if she is the only one

17. Cuts my hair for free

18. Decorates her house seasonally, always something new

19. Gives great advice for decorating my own house

20. Enjoys gardening, and gives me advice about that

21. Encourages me when I’m trying to lose weight

22. Watches movies with me. . .until she falls asleep snuggled up in a blanket

23. Delights in Christian fiction, and doesn’t mind when I read the books I send first

24. Shares her books with those around her so they will be blessed

25. Can jump in at the last minute when there’s a hole somewhere in the dorms

26. I enjoyed singing duets with her for furlough

27. Can whip up enough cookies/breads to feed an army, no sweat.

28. Delights in getting “American” treats to share with others (Dr. Pepper, A&W)

29. Good listener

30. Taught me how to clean a house properly

31. She took time to read to me when I was growing up

32. She’s not afraid to drive large farm equipment when needed to help out

33. She has patience with kids and allows them to “help” her

34. She’s learning to maneuver the United website

35. She values time with family and makes it a priority

36. Takes time to write me snail mail notes every once in a while

37. Took time to braid and style my hair for me before school when I was growing up

38. Laughs so hard her eyes disappear

39. Jumps every time I scare her, which is quite a lot!

40. Shares her heart with me, even when she’s hurting

41. Values my input in conversations

42. She’s Canadian!!!

43. She gets excited when God answers prayer

44. When she gets together with her friends, she laughs ‘til it hurts

45. Motivates me to get a job done by her example

46. Makes a point to call HER mom and check in very often.

47. Sees the importance of dating dad

48. Allowing others to date in their marriage by taking care of their kids

49. Puts dad before herself (ie, date-night at Bauhaus)

50. Has a popular name. . .on Burgunderstrasse, that is.

51. Mends my uniform, or teaches me how to.

52. Keeps an eye out for things I might want/need in Germany

53. Makes sure she has the groceries to cook my favorite meals when I come home

54. Greets me at home with a welcome gift of flowers/chocolate

55. Spoils her grandbabies

56. Values keepsakes (ie, a wedding picture of her and dad as a gift)

57. Gives generously to me

58. She learns from her mistakes

59. She keeps me posted on world news, especially if it pertains to me

60. She’s a mom people are jealous of, ‘cause I’ve got it so good!

The Wilcox family (below is Sharla and Chiara) skyped yesterday to wish me a Happy Birthday and a happy day it was. They sang the birthday song complete with cake and candles. I got to make a wish and then Chiara blew out the candles and then got to lick the frosting off the candles. I am sure the cake was wonderful... am waiting for the report. I am so thankful for skype and being able to stay connected with family and friends! (The pictures were taken via skype!) Thanks Sharla and family for adding this special touch to my Birthday. What a fun memory to cherish!

I also want to thank so many wonderful friends and family for the cards, phone calls, face book/email/skype notes and e cards. In all I received about 70 greetings in one way or another! You all are very special to me and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am SO blessed!

Doing his part...

2011-02-03T14:30:00.004+01:00

Doing his part to get the job done...thinking of all our friends in the US who have been hit with another blast of winter.

2011-01-26T11:07:00.006+01:00

This morning I was walking by this table we have in our living room. I have an old hymnal displayed there (some of you may not even know what that is! Ha!). The words of one of the hymns caught my attention and I paused and read through them.

I love hymns because of the writer's God-gifted talents to pen meaningful words into songs that can be applied to our lives even today. With all the chaos that is going on around me, this hymn is what I needed to put in my mind for today, reminding me that I am 'The Child of a King'. (If you click on the hymn picture it will enlarge a bit so you can read the words better)

January 22, 2011 'Block Party'...outside in the cold!

2011-01-22T21:15:00.003+01:00

We are thankful for all the friendly people that live on our street. They love to get together and visit, eat, drink and chat. So what if it is the middle of winter...it's time for a 'Block Party'...a little chilly but hey, it is fun!

Some of the yummy German cakes.
The ladies huddled together in the gazebo enjoying Gluhwein (hot wine) and so forth!
The guys toughing it out around a camp fire.

Finally...pictures from the end of November 2010

2011-01-17T17:01:00.003+01:00

Okay...I have finally taken the time to share some of the photos from the last couple of weeks of our travels before we headed to Seattle for Christmas. Take a look! There may be more, we'll see.

Colorado Part I

2011-01-17T16:47:00.002+01:00

It was so good to be able to spend time with my sister and her husband (they moved from Germany to Colorado Springs this past summer) It was hard to say goodbye to them here but fun to see their new place and work in COS. Here is Tim coming out of the ACSI building where he works.

We loved visiting Compassion International!

Colorado Part 2

2011-01-17T16:30:00.003+01:00

Someone went to a lot of work to paint these fence posts in the middle of no-where.

A beautiful Colorado sunset.
Buddies...
Jesse took me to the homestead where his Grandpa Chatham settled when he put down roots in America. I had been there before, but this time it was so fascinating. Jesse has lots of good memories on this place as he lived with his Grandpa so that he could attend high school nearby. (his folks lived too far away) He would spend the week days here with Grandpa, go to school and help out with chores and then on the weekends he would go home.
The well house.
The old sod house. This is the house that Jesse lived in with his Grandpa.
Inside the house we found this old radio and a few other odds and ends.
Some of Grandpa's old boots.

Welcomed to Texas!

2011-01-17T16:05:00.011+01:00

This was our welcome to Rusk, TX. A touch of Germany, good friends and so much fun. What more could we ask for?

Our good friends, Ken and Marilyn, who together with their kids and families are like family to us! We had so much fun together!
When these four were together we never knew what to expect!
Some things never change! When we are together with the Fosters and gang...there is always something to celebrate!

Achtung! Njcht in die hand halten!

Micheal and Val
Micheal made his own 'home-made' firework! When he lit it,(and then ran like the dickens) it all went so fast that I did not get a picture! (We all stood back quite a ways!!)

Call 911...Catfish and hush-puppies and of course french fries -- oh and coleslaw