Christmas Greetings

... and a happy New Year!

2008 finds us ending our third year of life in Germany. It has been a good third year, as always it takes that long to get your feet under ones’ self after a big move. We find ourselves more at home in this different culture as new things are becoming our own traditions. Individually each one of us has found a spot to shine. Paul has begun playing with a Fife and Drum corps, across the boarder in Basel, Switzerland. All of the children continue to improve in their studies in the German school they attend. Vaden, 14, is a member of her school's Theatre group and made her début in a wonderfully written play about Kristellnacht (Night of Broken Glass - the night when hundreds of Jewish businesses and thousands of synagogues were destroyed, in November, 1938). She has also made a couple of student exchange trips to France and continues to be hard at work for an upcoming Ballet recital in April 2009. Stryker-Ann, 12, continues with her study of fencing and violin and has begun the study of music in school. Wils, 8, is an eager 2nd grader and doing well at what second grade boys do: playing Lego, running around outside with friends getting muddy, while also learning violin and making his début in a violin recital with “Oh Tannenbaum”.

Madge continues to learn more language every day and enjoy meeting all of the special people that are put in my path. Her first job is still “taxi mom”, but she is finding time to volunteer at the school to teach an afternoon a week, coaching field hockey or teaching contra dancing.

The picture above was taken on a bridge in Amberg, Germany. Paul is working on a mini-photo documentary of a Living Nativity in the Christmas market being conducted by volunteers. It was a wonderful experience as we observed, documented, and participated.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!