My son turned 7. That in itself is blog-worthy and quite frankly, I'm kinda ticked at myself for not posting a huge banner on this blog to commemorate that event - so shame on me! Here's a pic or two (after the fact) to show just how big a day it was!!
Thanksgiving. I know that in the States, you will not celebrate Thanksgiving Day until Thursday. Well, we will too, but we already had a big family-style Thanksgiving this past weekend. Three family units (four including us) gathered for a meal and fellowship on Sunday afternoon. The other families are related - a couple from the same Gemeinde we attend, her sister and husband (who is French) and the parents of the sisters. Of course, a lot of kids of varying ages running around - the obligatory "kid's table" and enough food for leftovers (even though we all consciously toned down the amount from last year). We had the traditional turkey and stuffing, the traditional yams (with marshmallows) the traditional rolls and green beans - and then we also had the non-traditional appetizer: pickled mussels in cream-cheese, which was delicious!! After a completely satisfying meal, spiced with fun conversation, we settled into games - the kids opting for Zug um Zug, the ladies for Canasta, and the rest of us (a couple of older kids and the gents) for Siedler von Catan. For the non-German speaking audience out there, Zug um Zug is "Ticket to Ride", a really neat train game where you try to connect cities and complete your route for points. Canasta is the same in any language, no? Die Siedler von Catan is also known as "The Settlers of Catan" and is another "connect the city" kind of game, but has more twists than a Corkscrew Willow - really really fun!
Taught English in a German school. Okay - so maybe I was not really "teaching", but I was making an English presentation to the 8th grade class at my daughter's Gymnasium about 18th Century life in colonial Virginia - something that I know just a little bit about ;-) It was rather fun to talk about 18th C. fifing and drumming again, and to demonstrate just how loud a fife really is (hehehe) and also to show just how little I really know about rudimentary drumming! At any rate, the kids seemed to like it, and the teacher was appreciative. From his perspective, it really makes more sense for an American-English-speaker to talk about a subject dealing with American history - the words and phrases are a little more advanced (although I tried not to make it too complicated, but these are smart kids - Gymi-level - so they can handle big words). They want me to come back, because we had onoly begun to talk about the society levels (lower, middling, gentry) when time ran out - so I have that to look forward to :-)
I read this little bit this morning (from my Charles Spurgeon daily commentary). in light of all the neo-political stuff going on back home (with work and with the US in general) I found it very enlightening :-)
Morning:
"Avoid foolish questions." --Titus 3:9
Our days are few, and are far better spent in doing good, than in disputing over matters which are, at best, of minor importance. The old schoolmen did a world of mischief by their incessant discussion of subjects of no practical importance; and our Churches suffer much from petty wars over abstruse points and unimportant questions. After everything has been said that can be said, neither party is any the wiser, and therefore the discussion no more promotes knowledge than love, and it is foolish to sow in so barren a field. Questions upon points wherein Scripture is silent; upon mysteries which belong to God alone; upon prophecies of doubtful interpretation; and upon mere modes of observing human ceremonials, are all foolish, and wise men avoid them. Our business is neither to ask nor answer foolish questions, but to avoid them altogether; and if we observe the apostle's precept (Titus 3:8) to be careful to maintain good works, we shall find ourselves far too much occupied with profitable business to take much interest in unworthy, contentious, and needless strivings. There are, however, some questions which are the reverse of foolish, which we must not avoid, but fairly and honestly meet, such as these: Do I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ? Am I renewed in the spirit of my mind? Am I walking not after the flesh, but after the Spirit? Am I growing in grace? Does my conversation adorn the doctrine of God my Saviour? Am I looking for the coming of the Lord, and watching as a servant should do who expects his master? What more can I do for Jesus? Such enquiries as these urgently demand our attention; and if we have been at all given to cavilling, let us now turn our critical abilities to a service so much more profitable. Let us be peace-makers, and endeavour to lead others both by our precept and example, to "avoid foolish questions."
Have a great Thanksgiving week!
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