Blessings...

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Baking...

I found the recipe for this Maple Twist in a Mennonite Cookbook published by Jesse's Mennonite relatives in Kansas. I have made it quite a few times. The past couple of weeks I have been baking for one or two of the dorms. Yesterday I made 4 of these for one of the boys dorms. They are fun and easy to make.

On January 25th, the Stemples received a phone call that their brother-in-law, Kurt, had suddenly died from a heart attach. Kurt was only 41 years old and leaves behind his wife and two young boys. Sam and Jen flew back for the funeral and to spend time with this shocked and grieving family. We took care of the Stemple children for the weekend. Below, Matthew and Jesse are showing the poster Matthew made for school. Uncle Kurt took him fishing last time they were there and Matthew caught a cat-fish. I guess you could say that this poster is in memory of Uncle Kurt. Jesse and Matthew had a great time doing this together. I feel bad that I do not have pictures of Ellie and Jordon. They were so great the whole weekend we were together. This time however, they were busy... small groups, play practice and they spent one night with friends, so they were gone a lot.

Katie was a great helper!! and a good one at that. Here she is setting the table. (She even does bathrooms!!)

Matthew doing homework and keeping me company in the kitchen while dinner is cooking.

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Winter wonderland

110 careful steps to the bottom

A frosty Sunday morning!

Looking out our living room window this morning.

Shawna flew to Zurich yesterday so we took a little road trip down to see her. Most everywhere you go in Switzerland, you have to pass through at least one tunnel. These photos are all taken while driving which was a bit of a challenge...and did we take any pictures when we were with Shawna?...No! I guess we were enjoying ourselves too much!

We tried to catch the train but it was going too fast! Ha! If you have ever driven in Switzerland you know better than to break the speed limit.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

A beautiful sunset completed a beautiful day here today.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Back home in Germany!

Jesse and I have returned to Germany. Jesse arrived home Saturday evening and I arrived home this AM.(Monday) on the flight Shawna was working. Once again, our flights were made possible because of Shawna's job as a flight attendant. Yeah Shawna!!

Coming this way is always hard for both of us. The time change is a killer and jet-lag seems harder the older we get. I am trying to stay awake even as I write this...ugh!

It is snowing and cold here, but it is good to be home!

Friday, January 8, 2010

Shawna and Emily's tree which they left up for us to enjoy.

Woke up to a thin layer of snow this am which caused schools to be temporaily closed and everything else slowed down.

Winter Olympics in Vancouver

Driving into Richmond on our way to see one of the Olympic sites.

The tunnel under the Frazer River.

Jesse and I had the privilege of seeing the arena where the speed skating will take place for the up-coming Winter Olympics in Vancouver. We could not get into the building because of pre-olympic preparations, but it was great to get a couple of pictures looking through the fence.