Another Monday...........

Guten Tag,

Well it is Monday again and Lennie is working late tonight. We had a great week-end and had some very hot days and it is continuing into this week. No, rain which is rare but thank God today it is a bit cloudy. We are having high humidity which is rare for here. I am missing my family much but look forward to Carrie and families visit soon at the end of next month

Yesterday, I told Lennie I was missing home a little bit. Than I said, no I think not, because once I am back there, I will realize "they" THE SCHMIDT clan is NOT down the street!!! Than he said, but that will just means we will have to plan that trip to Hawaii which means we are closer to seeing them...I love my man!!

Let me see what do I talk about first. There is so much going on this time of year.
Wine fests, the Oktoberfest begins in a couple of weeks, every town and city seem to be celebrating something this time of year. Of course Ramadan, begins on the 20th, so we shall be hearing and seeing our Muslim neighbors celebrating late into the nights. They will fast and pray all day and play all night! On Friday evenings I sometimes I feel like I am in Saudi Araba or Iraq...etc...so I wonder what a month of Ramadan will bring, ha

I got my first transportation pass so off I can go anytime anywhere I want to go I am legal on any mode of transportation. My number one mode of transportation are my legs and believe me my body knows. Thing I love about walking here is that there are some beautiful paths honed out for walking. Also, there are benches everywhere to stop and just relax and listen to the sounds and take in the beauty around you. We have scoped out some playgrounds for Maddie and Sam and I do believe we have found every backerei and eis store in walking distances of our house. No! we have not tried all of them! Were on the train, about 5 miles from home yesterday, and Lennie says when you were not here I would walk here from home. He is telling me this all the time. I feel bad we cannot walk as far but I know the doctor would not be to happy with me. I have found that I am doing very well, but it has been just 3 months since my surgery so no wonder I still have some pain after a long day of being out. I start tomorrow working out at the gym on the base...so that should help, too.

Saturday evening as we are walking to dinner I realized once again, Lennie and I have been given a wonderful gift of living here. Allowing that we are where we are in our life just makes us that more appreciative of what God has given us .......the desires of our hearts. One of the things we prayed about before Lennie retired was that God would continue to give us adventures and oh how He has answered this prayer...thank you Lord! If I had not had me knee replaced and knowing the other will be done soon....I do not know if we would have had or will have the pleasure of some of these adventures so I am thankful I live in 2009 where modern medicine is one of my best friends!

Yesterday down at the Summerfest in the Palace Gardens was delightful. Everyone enjoying the beautiful summer day and the "fruits" of the summertime. One of things that Lennie and I got to experience was a Catholic Mass being over and watching "all" the people come out of Mass. It made us have a sense that God is still alive in many people's hearts even here in Germany. What Lennie found interesting was that most of the people were speaking Slovic languages not German. Also, "religion" is trying to be sold here just as in America. One table of Jehovah Witness, another tent with International Bible Translators, a tent with "Dianetics" or Scientology as we call it in America. Than just around the corner, ready for this, at the Starbucks Cafe....the Mormons!" They know where to get the most business...ha!! They won't drink the stuff but they want the people who do! We really are quite a world, are we not?

On our trip to get our Doner yesterday and paprika fries...we saw alot more beggars than usual. Maybe it was because we were in and out of the train station? We also saw a Marilyn Manson look alike and he and his "friends" were sniffing who knows what and than on the other side of this coin we saw a little girl on a scooter and her brother on his bike and mom chasing them because they were out of control. They were so funny ....a little bit later we are on the train going home and at one of the stops we see mom holding the bike and the little boy asleep on a bench as they wait for the train. It was so cute and the little boy reminded Lennie and I of Elijah! Every kid reminds us of one of our grandchildren...ha!!

Time to put this one to bed and go read my book. Oh, I recommend "The Help" by Kathryn Sockett.....it was an amazing read.I could not put it down. The pictures this week will be mostly from our neighborhood....

Tschuss
Debby