Monday is Here.......

Guten Tag,

Well, Lennie and I had a wonderful week-end. The weather could have not been more beautiful for the walks and errands we had to do. It was a three day week-end for the military here. The General called for a training day so the families with school children could prepare for their return to school today. Than next week-end is a four day week-end. Lennie does not get any of these days off. He must take leave w/o pay if he wants them off. His boss does allow him and others to work at home if they want on these training days but they must work. So Lennie on these days works in his pjs!

On Saturday morning we got up and did our neighborhood errands and had a most delicious treat...cherry strudel. Oh, my, to Lennie and I it is better than apple strudel...it was down right delicious. So we enjoyed this masterpiece of a confection with our wonderful coffee and our tummies were delighted. By this time we decided we would just stay home for the day and later in the day we would go explore some more of our neighborhood. As we did this around 4PM we sensed fall in the air and the smell of autumn is beginning to take over the smell of summer. We noticed, too, that some of the trees are starting to turn color, which is certainly a sign that summer is at the backdoor. The village from 2PM Saturday's until 6AM on Monday mornings just becomes like a blanket of quiet. I really think there are times we could hear a pin drop if we really tried.

One of things we really like to do is walk through the Friedhof, cemetery, which are much different than our American version. They look like lush gardens with some of the most beautiful pieces of artwork for stones. Many are made out of ironworks than limestone. There is even a statue of a naked man with all his glory....hence I came into the world with nothing and I leave with nothing....and there is nothing left to the imagination. He is made out of sandstone and very "detailed" Lennie and I said kids must really get some giggles out of this! It is such a peaceful place. There are watering cans, hoes, rakes etc...for people to use to keep up the grave sites. We noticed some of the nicest ones were done by a company who must specialize in keeping up graves. That is the entrepreneurial spirit...where there is a need make a buck. Outside of the Friedhof is a memorial to all the men who lost theirs lives from this village in WW I and II. There were 13 or 14 people with the same last name lost between the 2 wars....this family really did give a sacrifice of life!

On Sunday we made the trek and ended up at the PX on Panzer. Did some shopping of those things "on our list" and Lennie got a new toy. I have a DS I love it....I mostly play Scrabble and lots of other word games on it. Now, Lennie, he loves, darts, poker, rummy, etc....and uses mine so yesterday I bought him his own. Now, I can play scrabble without having to make an appointment in the evening...ha! So Papa and Grammy have their own Nintendo DS's and love them! So than we had to buy him some of his own games he was like a little kid trying to decide what he wanted. He picked out two things that were for X-boxes and I said are we going to have to buy that next for you? We do have fun together. I am so blessed that I am married to my best friend. He is the cat's meow!

This past month I have been studying the Book of James. I must say it really has made an impact on my life. I have changed some things that needed changing and has me pondering on some other things that I have not pondered enough. I love it when God takes a hold of me and shows me new things as I read through His word. I think writing my book has really been an open door for a lot of this. This book may never be published but is has certainly been cathartic for me. I realized today as I was reading James 5:11, "As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy," that we are blessed by with compassion and mercy with our perseverance. Again, it shows me, God is NOT asking for perfection, He is only asking for our best. I say for myself, many days I do not put about my best, but He knows my heart, your hearts, and we DO get an "E" for effort topped with a huge dose of compassion and mercy. So if He can do that for me I must do the same for those He puts in my life. Perserverance means alot to God....it means do not give up...it means keep those eyes fixed upon Him and He will give us the desires of our hearts. He IS....full of compassion and mercy all the days of our lives!

This morning the kids were back on the school buses and the traffic is getting back to normal. The Landlord and his wife are home and they are working up a storm. They make me think of the ants God talks about in the Bible...they work work for they will be prepared for winter! So the neighborhood is back in "working" order and now they are preparing for Oktberfest and Winefest that every village in Germany will have in one way shape or form. Let the Autumn celebrations begin!

Tschuss,

Debby

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