Sylvester is not the person - it is the event. New Years eve in Germany means the two things near and dear to every boy's heart ... staying up late and fireworks!
Even the dog is looking forward to it!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Gifts, Goose and Guests on Christmas
Good things come in itty-bitty packages, if you can only unwrap the tissue.
Dog treats anyone?
DVD's are always a hit.
Paris is her favorite city!
..and she will be on the runway in Paris!
our goose begins.....
... 3 hours later is cooked..and was yummy!
..and our lovely guests!
Colmar Xmas at -13 C !
A quick sweep up of the walkway before we head out to the Market.
ATTACK!
We arrive...and it is cold... the bank temperature sign read -13 C. We stayed long enough to get some warm crepes , a few mementos and some shots of the market...enjoy the scenery:
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
our Highlander!
During the Christmas week, some friends of our hired a hall and invited all who would to come out for a few Scottish dances and turns around the floor. We were not going to miss this chance to enjoy a few steps and called dances. It is just what we do! and what a great reminder of how much we love to do this and just how much we had missed being able to dance together!
Here is Wils the day after the gathering. One of the dancers came in his kilt, so Wils was inspired to don his. But woe to the person who calls him a girl, I tell ye!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
3rd Advent, end of the day
Our Sunday is nearing it's end as Paul is playing his flute and whistle at a local German Baptist Church. It is the first of a new evening service delivered all in English, called "The Second Sunday". Paul played his two carols beautifully and after the service there were Christmas cookies to share.
Had the chance to be greeted by one of the "Omas" or "Tantes" of the church. These kind of greetings can be short and sweet with the kindly double peck on the cheek and all is over or they can be pleasantly intense. This lady is one of those that wraps you up in her eyes with warmth and love and looks right into you and knows you and she also lets you know, she knows. It warmed me through to speak so breifly with her, it was as if I had known her for years and we had just come back from a long trip. What a beautiful soul.
Very nice ending to a very full day.
3rd Advent, late afternoon tree hunting and gathering
"We MUST HAVE A TREE, DADDY.....today or it will be too late!"
So off we go to the Kreiterhof to find our tree.
It has been so wet, that instead of having tree seekers tramping up through the fields and woods, the "Bauer" must have decided to cut them all and have them here for us to pick out. Works for me after last year's muddy slipping and sliding. So Paul is searching knee deep for the perfect tree.
And one is found!
Bagged and delivered by our trusty tree lifters!
3rd Advent, Sunday School
We did make it to Sunday school and church service this Third Advent! The girls and I worked in the Children's Worship and small group. Vaden led the singing and even taught them a new song! SAM was with the younger kids. And I got the boy group!
Below are some Creches the children's group have made. Here in Germany we use lots of nature (ie. moss, bark, twigs) in all of our crafts. The examples are very typical.
3rd Advent, handball
The Sunday morning (early) of this third Advent found us at a Team Handball game. Our guy here taking a practice shot on the goalie during warm ups.
It does go in!
running up the court, again...
playing some tough "D", with a final winning score of 11 to 4! Yeah Team!
3rd Advent, Class party
Four o'clock found us beginning to enjoy a classic "Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus" play. The third klasse preformed with song, script, and superb acting the wonderful story. Our talented actor was an inn keeper and the one who finally found room in his stable for the Holy family to find rest. After, we all enjoyed each other's shared Christmas treats.
3rd Advent, morning at Christmas Market
Our third Advent weekend began with Paul dropping SAM off at her class Obernachtung (overnight) then off to help the Rümmingen Kinder Kulture Klub (KKK), kids' club, set up a tent for the Weihnacht Markt (Christmas Market) at the Bruchrainhof. Every year we have a craft tent for the shoppers' children to hang out and make fun Xmas items. This year there was something new and different for the Germans to experience...stringing popcorn. During my Saturday shift I had the chance to teach a couple of girls this new thing. The stringing seemed to be going well when I left. Another craft they offered was dipping or rolling of beeswax candles...quite a favorite of folks over here.
And of course we had a visit from St. Nikolaus.
Our tent...warm but rather smokey!
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Bald kommt der Nikolaus, December 6, 2009
Wils and our neighbor friend got a visit today from the Man in the red dress, Saint Nikolaus and his buddy the Krampus or Schwartz Peter.
Bald kommt der Nikolaus
Im Winter, wenn es stürmt und schneit
und's Weihnachtsfest ist nicht mehr weit,
da kommt weit her aus dunklem Tann,
der liebe, gute Weihnachtsmann.
In seinem Sack sind gute sachen,
die braven Kindern Freude machen.
Doch auch die Rute ist zur Hand
für Kinder, die als bös bekannt.
Das mag wohl früher so gewesen sein,
heut gibt's nur brave Kinderlein.
Die sagen schnell ihr Sprüchlein auf,
Knecht Ruprecht macht den Sack dann auf.
Und Äpfel, Nüsse, Pfefferkuchen,
darf gleich das liebe Kind versuchen.
Knecht Ruprecht aber fährt geschwind
davon zum nächsten art'gen Kind.
(unbekannter Dichter)
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
all covered
While standing in line at Penny Mart last evening, with my bread, milk and eggs, I noticed a young woman in front of me with her three items: White twinkle lights (only white in Germany), red stump Advent candles (ascending in height), and an Indian style statue of the Buddha (only for deco, right?) . Is this an incongruousness or normal living? It struck me as a girl searching for answers on three different paths: one of material goods, one of Jesus and one of Buddha. Which one will she choose? I know for which one I'm praying.
As she was finishing her checkout she glanced up and smiled at me. Did she know what I was thinking, had she heard the conversation going on in my head? I may never know, but I know that she is covered.
As she was finishing her checkout she glanced up and smiled at me. Did she know what I was thinking, had she heard the conversation going on in my head? I may never know, but I know that she is covered.
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Happy First of Advent!
Christmas started here this weekend with our Rümmingen community craft day! Over 70 kids participated in the making of presents for loved ones. We made necklaces with pearls and felt, shaped wonderful smelling soap, painted and stenciled boxes and clay flower pots, crafted a choco cookie train out of cookies and icing glue, all to be wonderfully wrapped at the end of the day. And ate the traditional Kradimann (need to check spelling) for snack!
Vaden, Paul and I were helpers while Wils had a great time with friends. SAM found herself at matinee of "New Moon". (and all she said was that it ended abruptly).
Vaden, Paul and I were helpers while Wils had a great time with friends. SAM found herself at matinee of "New Moon". (and all she said was that it ended abruptly).
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Our Thanks List for November:
As the American celebration of Thanksgiving approaches this week I thought we might share from our list of thanks. At the beginning of the month we taped a piece of paper to the side of a cabinet to encourage written "Thanks" . Here is what we have so far:
Monday, October 19, 2009
fall photos'09
While on a bike ride, Paul and I snapped some photos of a local
pumpkin seller. There are so many more varieties to chose from here,
as most are used for cooking of some sort of cake, soup, sauce, chutney or pickle and
not just for carving or decorations.
But they do grow them big!
and even carve their name in them so no one will mix them up at the local pumpkin festival weigh-in!
This one says "Von Rosey"...so this must be Rosey's pumpkin
Our School, the FES, Freie Evengelical Schule, had its Fall festival this past weekend and celebrated their 20th anniversary. Three days before the Festival, the students had to pick a project. Here is Stryker-Ann and part of the project her group made, and then presented. The main project was an audio CD of what it might be like to live in the Middle Ages. She was a cook and had to write her script, complete with sound effects. She also made some Middle Age type spice cookies for her group to try.
Vaden was in the 3 day Project Tag group "English Poetry Anthology" . They had three days to write (in German, English or French), print and bind a collection of their poetry. It turned out to be quite fun as the group had an over night the Wednesday before this Saturday to get them started. Here is Vaden, in blue, with some of her friends as they sell their books of poetry.
Wils and Vaden!
Wils' part in the FES Tag was to help his class in the children's games area. His class was to help teach this jumping game with a "Gummy Twist".
This is a gummy, elastic band and you jump in and out and cross and, and, and all to a song or songs. It is like jumping rope, except the gummy twist gets higher and higher up the holders' legs the more successful you are.
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Alone time at the Bad
Friday was a new experience for me. I went somewhere by myself! While I do go places by myself these days, it is usually to go grocery shopping, on an errand or to pick up or return from dropping off kids. This day all of the kids were being taken care of by Paul and I truly did not have any responsibilities other than to be alone with myself at the Thermal Baths. I had even taken care of supper by throwing a chicken in the crock pot on low. So there I was, ahhhh.
So now what? what does a person so used to running in fifth gear do with herself. Fortunately the baths take care of that by proving a relaxing warm environment to think, people watch and contemplate the future. This day I had a plan and that was to read : "How to Hear from God" by Joyce Meyer, the book my small group is reading at the moment. Life for us has been so fast and crazy these past three plus years that best we try, to hear God has been tough. So this day I was going to be quiet and open and read what God, through this lady, might have to say.
After an hour of swimming and soaking and then a nice lunch plate special, I settled into my reading for the next three hours or so, occasionally dosing off or listening to the birds, train or what ever language that caught my ear as my mind relaxed and wandered; and I must say that the book is interesting, somewhat thought provoking and good to ponder through. It is a positive read, which is something I have needed.
One of the biggest things I came away with from this time alone is how do I discern God's voice and leading from all of the other voices running around in my head? This book pointed me in a good direction without telling me what to do (thank goodness), and for me I discovered: God will not rush the answer and if it is from God, than it will be the same answer over a period of time, perhaps hours, days or weeks and longer.
I also, came away with the feeling and an answer that I do not need to push at life so hard. I have been trying to do and to be and to push in all directions to get "it" all at once, so that I am exhausted and running on fumes. My mind has a image of me in a paper bag hitting and batting at the sides, frustrated that, while I know the sides are just paper and should be able to be broken through, they seem to flap , crinkle and reverberate harsh sounds each time I swat at them. So, this day of pulling back, let me see that pushing harder as things and life get tougher, more hectic, more demanding may actually be making them tougher, more hectic and more demanding. If I relax and concentrate on hearing from God and let my life flow towards the most imported things He has for me to hear and do than the result for me is: the paper bag feeling melts away and I can rip much the sides more easily instead of punch then out.
In closing, ( a month and a half later, 24.11) this day has lingered with me and continues to give me strength. I am looking forward to my next Spa Day!
So now what? what does a person so used to running in fifth gear do with herself. Fortunately the baths take care of that by proving a relaxing warm environment to think, people watch and contemplate the future. This day I had a plan and that was to read : "How to Hear from God" by Joyce Meyer, the book my small group is reading at the moment. Life for us has been so fast and crazy these past three plus years that best we try, to hear God has been tough. So this day I was going to be quiet and open and read what God, through this lady, might have to say.
After an hour of swimming and soaking and then a nice lunch plate special, I settled into my reading for the next three hours or so, occasionally dosing off or listening to the birds, train or what ever language that caught my ear as my mind relaxed and wandered; and I must say that the book is interesting, somewhat thought provoking and good to ponder through. It is a positive read, which is something I have needed.
One of the biggest things I came away with from this time alone is how do I discern God's voice and leading from all of the other voices running around in my head? This book pointed me in a good direction without telling me what to do (thank goodness), and for me I discovered: God will not rush the answer and if it is from God, than it will be the same answer over a period of time, perhaps hours, days or weeks and longer.
I also, came away with the feeling and an answer that I do not need to push at life so hard. I have been trying to do and to be and to push in all directions to get "it" all at once, so that I am exhausted and running on fumes. My mind has a image of me in a paper bag hitting and batting at the sides, frustrated that, while I know the sides are just paper and should be able to be broken through, they seem to flap , crinkle and reverberate harsh sounds each time I swat at them. So, this day of pulling back, let me see that pushing harder as things and life get tougher, more hectic, more demanding may actually be making them tougher, more hectic and more demanding. If I relax and concentrate on hearing from God and let my life flow towards the most imported things He has for me to hear and do than the result for me is: the paper bag feeling melts away and I can rip much the sides more easily instead of punch then out.
In closing, ( a month and a half later, 24.11) this day has lingered with me and continues to give me strength. I am looking forward to my next Spa Day!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
SLOW UP.ch
On September 20, the 3rd Basel-Dreiland slowUp ride was held. It was a ride composed of three loops through the three countries here in the corner of our world. The total loop was 59.4 km divided into a West, Mitte, and East loop. Paul and I rode the western most route, 21.9km, plus the mileage of getting to the starting point and back. So it was a nice day with stops along the way for food and music. real party scene.
Here I am just after crossing from Germany into France by the World's Longest pedestrian and bike bridge in the World! (source: Guinness)
More bikers crossing the Rhine and enjoying the day.
the off ramp, weee, fun
heading towards home....
..and dogs ride for free!
kool logo shots.
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