A Very Quiet Thursday Outside My Window!

The kids are all out of school, there are less busses, and it is just plain quiet outside my window this morning. The weather is amazing. A light breeze, beautiful sunshine and a cool 72 and this is the warmest it is to be today. I can handle that on the next to the last day of July. I love hearing the conversations of the people at the bus stop outside my kitchen window. I wish I could understand all that they are saying. A German scholar I am not, ha!

I was thrilled yesterday afternoon. I got to visit with Miss Maddie and her momma on Skype. What a wonderful invention this is for Grammys who are missing their prize possessions!!! Casey also sent me quite a few pixs today from her phone...wow...these modern times. Maddie was very happy to talk to me but about every other word was "where is PaPa" she sure loves Lennie. I am chopped liver most of the time oh well that is okay. He is a pretty good guy to love.

Last night we got on the 65 bus and headed for our Italian restaurant. It was a perfect evening to sit outside and enjoy our delicious meal. I had one of my most favorite appetizers, prosciutto and melon...yummy! Lennie and I shared that but NOT our pizzas. He had his favorite, quattrostaggioni, and I had my favorite, margharita e funghi.......yummy! Lennie had a dunkel with his and I had a glass of Lambrusco with us sharing San Pelligrino fizzy water!! We had such a quiet wonderful time eating, watching the people and enjoying the pleasant warm evening. The people who own the restaurant know Lennie so well they know what he orders and what kind of beer he wants. They were very kind to us. They also own the Eis place(ice cream shop) where we go so we will keep them as our "friends":) They laugh at me because Spaghetti eis is considered a children's dish in Germany but that is what I always want...so someone of us never grow old in heart? Right? I must branch out but I so love Spaghetti Eis!! It looks just like your eating spaghetti with red sauce and Parmesan cheese but oh it so much better!

Right now outside my balcony window I can hear two Frau's talking over the fence. They are discussing the issues of the day and they are so adorable. They both have impeccable yards and they both are two of the Frau's who get down on their hands and knees on Saturday mornings and scrub their curbs, sidewalks etc. Our landlord's mother does the same thing...Maria is here right now cleaning. Lennie says not to feel guilty that he is paying for this but she is such a wonderful woman and I just want to help but she will not allow it! She points to my knee and than points to the chair and tells me to sit down. I wish I could carry on a good conversation with her I think we could be good friends. She is about 5 years older than I and her smile just lights up a room. She is very lovely with pure white hair and the bluest of eyes. Her grandson is with her today, he is 12, but he looks about 16 because he is a big guy. His mom is from England but is African and of course his dad is German with Croatian parent's ...wow what a world. So Tyler has skin that looks like a latte. Tyler LOVES to play basketball and wants to be a professional basketball player. His hero is Shaq!

I am going to run over to the Penny Markt and get some Balance. It is Jacobs coffee half and half and I thought I would give it a try. They do not carry it in the commissary. Also, I need to get some more cucumbers and cheese. The best cheese in the world has to come from Germany. Tonight Lennie and I are going to have the rest of our pizzas. There is no way we could eat them all last night. So I will fix a salad to go with and we will have dinner.

Received my two Italian cookbooks yesterday that I sent over. So I am going to go to the huge Italian market this week-end and get some supplies for making some of our favorites. It is nice to be able to get the ingredients fresh and authentic. I can even get Panna ...a special cream that come in a cardboard box and REAL mozzerella deBufla...yummy!

Please pray for me as I look for other things to keep me busy. Lennie says it is the perfect time to concentrate on that book I want to write. So let us see if that comes to fruition. I seek the Lords' desires for me and not my desires and that is really hard for me at times!

Until the next time....

Tchuss,

Debby

Thoughts from my backyard window!

Guten Tag,

These flowers are behind our house are they not beautiful? I just watch out my windows all day long and look at the beauty of this time of year no matter where we are.

Things are going to start getting very quiet in the next few days as everyone goes off for vacation. When Lennie went to get his dry cleaning yesterday the Frau reminded him they would be closed the first three weeks of August. Europe goes on holiday in August. As Lennie said, they charge expensive prices all year long so they can go with their families and enjoy their family vacations. Because the whole family goes including opa and oma!!! I remember one year we had some friends who were so excited that they got the deal of the century to go visit Italy in August. We told them we hoped they had a good time trying to eat, sleep and seeing anything because everything would be closed or on a very restricted schedule. Even the Pope is gone from Rome in August! Such is life.

I am getting to know some of the "characters" of my neighborhood. One little boy about 2 and half has become one of my favorites. He gives his mom fits but he is just adorable. He gets on his push firetruck and goes like a wildfire. He reminds me of Elijah! The other day he was all dressed in white including his hat, which was askewed upon his head, and I could just invision what he looked like by noon!!!! Today I saw a little girl about Maddie's age NOT wanting to do what her mom said. Such as get in the stroller! Well, she was not going to have anything to do with these orders. I thought the teens waiting for their bus was going to lose it. They did not want to laugh at the mom who was disciplining, but it was just so funny, how dramatic the little girl was. As they went off into the sunset they were still at a draw and the teens were finally laughing! So was I all the way back to the memories in my mind of my little girls at that age.....and even myself. Now, I was not stubborn by no means and I listend so well, well, I might be stretching the truth just a bit...just ask my siblings sometime!

Well, tonight is Wednesday night so that means it is dinner out. Tonight we will go to our favorite Italian Resturant. I have not been there since I got back so I am so excited. I will have a margharita pizza e funghi...mozzerella, tomatos, basil with mushrooms........yummy! A wonderful Salada Mista and a good Dunkel(dark beer)...than we always share a trimisu!! Did I say life is good and I have gained no weight....so far!! I cannot afford to so I must continue my walks and watch what I eat when I am alone!!! That is dangerous for me.

I am counting the days until at least 2 of my grandchildren will be here to visit. Maddie and Sam, yea!! They will arrive at the end of September for 2 weeks. Please continue to pray for Kevin and Casey and the house situation and for David starting school next week! He is excited but I think his mommy is a bit sad. I cannot believe our first born grandchild is going to be in middle school!! Life just zooms, zooms...zooms.

It is time to read my book and listen to classical music on the radio. Also, I need to download some more tunes for my IPOD. I cannot believe the things I have learned out of necessity, ha! I sure wish my dad would learn how to e-mail etc...it is so hard to stay connected with him. He is on my mind so much. Both of our fathers.

Well I think these words about ready to be put to bed and I will see you all another day...real soon!!

Tschuss....

Debby

WATCHING AND OBSERVING

I cannot believeit I wrote all my thoughts and they are gone....I will someday get use to this laptop!!
So today is I love you all ....miss you all....and will write lots tomorrow....must have not been important....ha!

Strolling Stuttart on a Saturday Morning!

Blessings,

It is almost the end to another Sunday and a beautiful week-end. We had a very relaxing Sunday and enjoyed fellowship and Eis ((ice cream) at our favorite Eis Cafe.

I told you yesterday that I would share pixs of these beautiful sunflowers. They were so beautiful. I could not buy any because we had so many places to go that they would have been wilted by the time I had gotten home. So next Saturday morning I am going to the flower market to buy flowers and come home. Also, in side the gourmet market is REAL Mozzerella de Bufala so I will be getting some of that, too. Guess what we will have for lunch next Saturday...I will tell you all about it!

As I said today was a lovely day and I loved being with my sweetie for a whole week-end. Now it is almost the start of a new work week and I pray it will be another good week. The Lord has His plans and I pray that I will be wise to work within those plans. God has really been laying upon my heart about love and hate. In the middle of the night last night God woke me up and I heard Him say that Sarah's manipulation of Hagar and Abraham could be what finally destroys this world. I ask God what He meant exactly....and He said the HATE that has come from this action is only getting worse and worse by the minute. I knew He was speaking to me because I live in a neighborhood where there are lots of Muslims and I shop with them, ride the bus with them, eat with them in resturants etc...I am called to love not to hate or be afraid of what is not like me or I am not certain of. God created all of us and I am praying that I will not allow my fears to become prejudice that will create hate and bitterness in my heart. I pray for wisdom, knowledge and understanding and truly believe that was what God was showing me when I was awaken early this morn. I shall pray for my enemies as called and commanded in His Word and TRUST that as He says as long as I have Christ in my life I HAVE HOPE!!

So when I look at these beautiful "SON" flowers I am again reminded that He is in control and that I must not be afraid but remember perfect love casts out ALL fear! The world is changing but that does not mean that the Truth of the Lord has changed ....it says in His Word....we shall NOT add or take away from His Word and the Truth shall set us free!! Amen from beautiful Deutchland.

Tschuss,

Debby

Frohlich Samtag!

WOW! What a day. Lennie had me everywhere, the train station, buses, Kelly, Patch and Panzer, downtown to the flower market and a wonderful German breakfast at a lovely Cafe across from the Gourmet Market. I did not want to come home but the body said it was time. I will post pictures tomorrow after my camera battery is recharged. I know I live in Kansas but I have NEVER seen SUNFLOWERS like I saw today. They were truly some of the most beautiful pieces of creation I have ever seen!! I should say for those not in the miltary or familiar with this area, Kelly, Patch and Panzer are military installations here in Stuttgart. Lennie works at Kelly but the Commisary is at Patch and Post Exchange or Base Exchange OR Navy Exchange is at Panzer. We had American food .....subs and fries. My first American food in over a week. I really do not miss it. Well, maybe a steak :)

After eating we went in to the PX and loaded up on supplies. Had to get more hangars, got a docking station for my IPod, and other odds and ends such as more adapters etc. Lennie is beginning to live in his house since Miss Debby is here...ha! You should have seen us coming home. Lennie has shopping down to a fine art using back packs, cloth bags and than my big purse. We even saw people take their suitcases and fill them up as a way to carry things back and forth. I am truly amazed how many people do not have cars here. But really there is no need and if we want to go off for a week-end, a week or something special we can rent a car. Very simple and I love the train and the bus. It is so relaxing. There is alot of walking but it is good for me just as long as go slow and try not to win a race. Which I have been know to want to do!

The weather today was almost chilly. When the sun was shining it was nice but there was a wind and it rained off and on. But I am not complaining. Last week's heat wave is just a memory right now. So we had sunshne, rain, wind and clouds that is called a full weather day. It is just Germany. Everyone is packing and getting ready to go on vacation. Our landlords are going to the beach in Croatia. They came from Croatia in 1964 and go back often. As I am writing this I can hear Frau Maria shutting the rouladens! I always know when she is up in the morning by the rolling up of the rouladens. There are children outside playing as the night is coming on and things are starting to quiet down. But as I look out my window I still see young and old lovers alike walking hand in hand this lovely summer eve. It will stay quiet like this until Monday morning, just like I remember it, when I was child growing up in the 50's and early to late 60's it is to bad everyone had to get in such a hurry in America.

Well, I am about ready to turn in for the evening. I promise some wonderful pictures tomorrow. Tomorrow is the Lord's Day so let us rejoice and be glad in it! And we continue to keep you all close to our hearts and in our prayers. Today I bought Rachel her birthday present in the most wonderful German toy store and I thought, "oh, Lord, I wish I could see the excitement of her face when she opens the gift!" Than I realized tha is what God wants us to have, that same excitement everyday for the GIFT He gave us on the Cross!! Happy "SONDAY"

Friday in the Village.....

Guten Tag,

Well, my first week has in Germany has arrived. I really do not know where the time went but again I am so thankful to be here with Lennie. We are looking forward to our first week-end together and doing errands and some fun things. Life is good.

The last three days I have been reading Psalm 18. I absolutely love this Psalm it gives me hope, courage and most of all it gives me peace. I know God is in control no matter what. As a Believer in Christ Jesus as my Lord and Savior He deserves this trust each and every day, not as I pick and choose, which I have been known to do from time to time. Yes, ME!!! I was the kid who was given an inch and she would take a mile and than receive the consequences of her actions. Most of the time I deserved every punishment I received. The Lord has been reteaching me about His reverance and reminding me that it is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge and of long life! I think one of the reasons I have been allowed this time in Germany is ALL the time I have alone in a wonderful, quiet place where I can really give new thought on some things I have left by the way side. It is said in the scriptures we must be careful as we grow old not to forget the Lord and let our hearts become hard. I have found of late this takes work because as I grow older I do not have the fellowship or the accountability I had in my early days of Christianity. I have become lazy. I guess this day I am thinking out loud thank you for listening to my thoughts.

As I write this I hear all sorts of conversations outside my window. I wish I could understand them all. The teens are breaking for lunch and are standing at the bus stop to go home for lunch. When a bunch of the guys met this morning I noticed they all hugged and gave hand signs to each other.....some things are not different no matter where we are in the world. Also, I hear bicycle bells telling people to get out of the way. I hear the wonderful church bells ringing in the afternoon and of course the proverbial BMW racing down the street, ha! The doctor's office across the street is very busy today. Everytime I look out the window people are coming in and out. I also smell the baking of bread, the cooking of cabbage and all the delightful smells of Germany!! I guess I am ready for lunch. I had my favorite breakfast, museli and yogurt mixed together, oh there is nothing like it. For lunch I will have my last piece of pretzel bread with mustard, some cheese and a pear. Yes, life is good.

Must scoot...I will take lots of pictures this week-end and post them on Monday. I love writing this blog and I sure wish you were all here to enjoy this wonderful gift I have been given.

Tschuss,

Debby

Thursday in Deutchland!

Guten Tag,

It is almost Thursday afternoon in Germany and life continues to be good. Thought that it was going to storm when I got up this morning but now the sun is shining and a bit humid. It is to get very warm here again today but tomorrow it is to be back in the 70's. I feel a bit odd sitting here posting these thoughts when our most precious landlord's wife is cleaning my house. But she insists since I am still on the mend. I am in lots of discomfort today. I do not know why but Jeff, my doctor and friend, said this would happen from time to time as I continued to heal. So today is just one of those days.

The picture on the top right is from our bedroom window and is some of the backyard. It is so lovely here this time of year. Everything is so vibrant and color everywhere. Flowers of sorts I have never seen in the States. Last night we went down to the Schlossplatz...that is the Castle Plaza...and had dinner. There were people everywhere enjoying the warm summer evening. We had the most delicious meal and I had the best dark beer I have ever drank in my whole life! On Saturday we will go to the same place for the farmer's market and flower market.

We brought the scenic route back and traveled by train up on the rim of the city. It was just so picturesque and once again making me realize God is an awesome Creator!! I think it is probably human nature that none of us humans understand what God has given each of us in our own special part of our world. German's probably have no idea how blessed they are to live in such a visually spectacular country but on the other hand it is probably the same for Americans, too! I again, have been blessed, because I have been able to travel so much of the world and have been able to see and understand this. God could only create the beauty, so much of it unique, and give us such splendor and awe when we look at it or sit amongst His Creations! He is an Awesome God!!

Well, just want everyone to know the door is always open and our "B&B" is very cheap! So do not be afraid to wonder over. Lennie told his boss yesterday that once my other knee is operated on and healed that we are willing to come back. But he also found out there is a new contract coming open in ...guess where....Hawaii!! He already knows when he gets back to Leavenworth that he is going to be working on a PACCOM contract...God is good!!

Well, that is enough for today and I do sign off with love and joy!! I also thank God for the love of ALL of you!!

Tschuss...

Debby, Wife, Momma, Sister and Friend and most of all child of God!

Guten Tag,

The picture is from my kitchen window. Looking onto the village, the Penny Markt and Backerei, my little world. I am beginning to feel more and more like this is home and must now find some interests that will keep me from getting bored. I think this week-end I am going to go look for a arts and crafts store and get some paints and start painting. That does sound like a plan.

I have been up early this day. Lennie will not allow me to take a shower on my own because his shower is a little tricky. I am still a bit on the shakey side so I got up before he left this morn to take my shower. He sure likes taking care of me and I am blessed. We have decided Wednesday night will be our dinner out night so tonight he is taking me to our first new place. It is downtown so off in the bus and the train. It is so much fun. So I will be waiting, childlike, for him to arrive home from work and sweep me off for dinner.
He has a plan for the week-end but has not fully discussed it with me yet. I think we might be going to the Ritter Sport Factory....I think we better walk to and from....ha!!! Again, I am so thankful I am doing so well with my knee.

I have spent the morning watching movies of my grandchildren. I wonder if I will ever stop missing them? I hear their voices, their laughter and see each of their unique personalities in my mind. David is going to start school in a couple of weeks. He is so excited this is what he really wants. Casey will homeschool the rest for this year. Next year the Schmidt family will go full force into the public school system of Hawaii! Our precious Samantha was 6 months yesterday, where does the time go?

I cannot wait to go to Chapel on Sunday. This quite a jaunt but to be with other Christians and fellowship, the jaunt is worth it. I am doing a bible study on the Proverbs right now. I am really enjoying it, always learning something new.

I was watching out the window at all the hustle bustle of people shopping, getting on and off the buses, going in and out of the doctor's office, I even have a Doctor of Physical Therapy across the street :) I loved watching the people taking the time to talk to each other. There were two very elderly women who probably have known each other their whole lives. As I watched them they reminded me of two school girls just so enthralled with the "news" of the day!!! As they left each other they hugged and kissed each other as they waved good-day to each other. I saw a mom with her little toddler, riding on the back of her bike in a child's seat, and her handlebars and basket and hands were full of shopping bags. Life in a German village.

Well, that is all for now from my faraway land....God bless and love to you all this day!

Tschuss,
Debby, Grammy, Sister and Friend

Guten Tag,

It is a beautiful morning here in Deutchland. It is to get very warm today, they are saying 86, that is HOT without air conditioning. But I am not complaining there is lots of cross draft in this apartment. German's are very efficient in that way:)

Slept well last night without anything to help me sleep. I am in the German sleep pattern now, yea! Lennie gets up and goes off to work by 6:30 and I am out of bed by 7AM and listen to the village come alive. The children are still in school but next week they begin their 4 to 6 week break. Even the buses cut back on their schedules during August. German's are off to all parts of the world, mainly the beaches of Spain, Italy and Greece.

Lennie found out yesterday that the first case of swine flu has been documented in his headquarters. So please keep us in your prayers. We do not want to get sick. It is not that serious I guess but we just want to stay healthy God willing!

Drinking my second cup of coffee and thinking how blessed I am. I am trying to stay close to the Lord and I must say during the day I have plenty of time. For sure I am off to get my library card tomorrow. I have much time to read and be still! Tomorrow I am going to get on the bus for the first time by myself and go meet Lennie for lunch. Than I will go get my library card and pick up a few groceries. Only what I can carry. My knee is doing great and it still amazes me how there is NO more pain. Now, I wish I could the say thing for the right knee but it won't be long now!

This is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it! I sure miss my family but I have much to rejoice in. I continue to pray fervently for a house for Casey and Kevin!

Deutchland!

Well, it is Monday morning and Lennie has gone to work. The best thing, I am here with him, and tonight he will walk through the door and I will not be alone! As I grow older I find being alone is not always fun. Now do not get me wrong, I love to read, hang out on my computer, spend time with the Lord and read His Word but God said we were not to be alone. That is why He created US because He did not like being alone. I bet there are more times and not, of late, He wonders if that was a BIG mistake. But I see a world that seems to enjoy being alone more and more. Oh, I know we have many ways to "see" the world, "connect" to the world and even "talk" to the world but most of it seems to be done "alone" behind some sort of machine. I absolutely LOVE getting mail from my mailbox, it is such a joy. To know someone took the time to look for a card just for me, or sat down and took the time to write a letter just to me and did cc or bc 10 other people, that is nice. Also, they spent the money for the stamp and even took it to the mailbox. Yes, there is somethng very warm and comforting about that.

I have a friend, one of my bestest and oldest friends in the whole world who MAKES my cards by hand. Beautiful, lovely, keepsake cards that are not just cards but a gift! That is why I like magazine subscritptions, each month it is like getting little presents, that I can take a cup of coffee and just sit down and relax with my "gift" that came in the mail, just for me! Life just seems to be so hurried today and no time for others or that special relationship that only comes once in a lifetime. I am as guilty as the next person about this but as I grow older I am beginning to understand why God slows us down and that is good! I am finally learning to take time to smell the roses and enjoy the wonderful love, gifts, health and surprises that God has in store for me. I wonder how much I have missed out in my life because I was in such a hurry?I get that honestly, my dad to this day, he is 82, is still in a hurry, thank God I learned before 82, ha!!

Now, I am in Germany and I plan to make the best of the moments I have here. Another gift I really did not think I would have again. I have had such a blessed life. When I was little and would read book after book and dream of all the far away places I would love to go someday, I have now been to most of those places, WOW, this little girl from 903 Walnut Street, North Manchester, Indiana, USA has lived most of her dreams. And now here I am again, in one of my most favorite countries in the world, and my famiies homeland, not alone but with my sweetie...yes, Casey, my HUNNY BUNNY! What would make it perfect if David, Jacob, Jordan, Hannah, Rachel, Elijah, Malia, Maddie and Samanatha were here with me...than life would be perfect....but hey.....God never promised perfection on this side of Heaven!

I promise to have a blessed day and try to live pure and honorable and be a good example those I come in contact with in my world. Thank you Lord for never forsaking me or leaving me alone!

Guten Tag!

A Good Monday

I truly am blessed in having a husband who I love and adore so much. Our flights went well and I only had to wait less than 10 minutes before he walked up to me at baggage claim 6.I felt like a school girl seeing my MAN walking towards me. We were glad to be together. We had a wonderful dinner Saturday evening which included one of our favorite wines we tasted on our Napa Valley trip a couple of years ago. Nothing like crab cakes.

Went off to the Holocaust Museum yesterday and was quite affected by it. No matter how many times I see this, ready about this event in history I just cry and ache for these people and what they had to go through all in the name of HATE.Now that is a HATE crime. The one thing that really got to me in the Museum was the exhibit of ALL the shoes.Shoes of every size, cost,all that was left of a precious humans being that God created for Hispurpose. Oh, Lord forgive us for all the stupid and horrous things we have done in the name of good.

Lennie is off to work and I am getting ready to take my shower and throw a few things together and go stay the day and night with an old friend. I pray for a good visit.

Today I thank the Lord for His Soveriegnty and know He has it ALL under control. And a special pray for my dear friend, Martha, who will be having her knee replaced tomorrow. I pray God will watch over her and give the docs wisdom. May the peace that passes all understanding pass over Martha and her family.

Thank you Lord for this day that you have made let us rejoice and be glad in it.