FOGGY TUESDAY MORGEN....

Gut Morgen,

Well, fall is here just by the foggy mornings we know this. You think London is foggy let me tell you about Germany. I had almost forgotten about this. I am just thankful I do not have to be on the Autobahn driving in this stuff. It is starting to burn off and by noon it should be a beautiful Autumn day.

Tomorrow this time we will be in Paris and enjoying our time with Pete and Sondra Smith. The last time we visited them in New York, we talked tongue and cheek, that someday we would drink wine by the moonlight in the Eiffel Tower, well it will be a reality tomorrow evening. They are on their way to meet up with a boat to take a Med Cruise....God is truly good to us!

We have been so busy and I am getting braver with each week where I am venturing out by myself. I went to the doctor yesterday on Patch Barracks and was given a great report. I believe being with my husband in Germany is very good for me! The doctor was so impressed how my new knee looks and how much it has healed. He was so surprised that it has not even been six months and I am doing what I am doing. Again...God is good! The "bad" knee is doing okay for what I have to work with, ha! I just hope and pray that I do well in Paris. Me, Lennie and my cane we will be just fine.

As I write this I am listening to K-Love on my laptop. It is so wonderful the world we live in. I can listen to Praise and Worship music all day long thanks to modern technology. This is good very good.

A week from today and Miss Maddie and Miss Samantha will be with us........do you think I am excited? Yesterday I talked to the Hawaii crew...every time I get off I have a cry and than praise God that I have them in my life no matter how far away they are. So thankful to hear Tom and Jean are probably spending Thanksgiving with them. Great-Grandma Thula Mae and Great-Aunt Mary are going to visit them in October. God willing and the creek don't rise we will be there for Easter. They will may be far but we will NOT allow them to forget us...ha!

There are fests going on everywhere. Never know what to do next. German's love fall and celebrate, as I have said before, harvest unlike I have ever seen before. But so much of it is pagan related but we don't think about that and just enjoy the best of it and "fruits" of this wonderful harvest. I guess this was a good year for the grape harvest so that means GREAT wine! I wonder how the hops did? We just found out that what many believe is the best Christmas Market in Germany is just 5 miles up the road........oh, I cannot wait. I am so thankful we get to stay here through the Christmas season...this is such a fun place to be for Christmas.

I just wanted to connect because I have not blogged for a few days. I have had alot going on in my heart. I am doing a great study on Jeremiah that is really making think. I do it on line through Precepts. I wanted to say hello before we leave tomorrow morning at 4AM. We can sleep on the train to Paris. Hope the fog is not to bad so I can see some beautiful landscapes. Until Sunday when I will be full of stuff to share...God bless and know you are all loved and missed.

Tschuss,

Debby

IT IS WEDNESDAY....HUMP DAY!

GUTEN ABEND,

Not much to say today but that I am battling loneliness. It is just this time of year. I will get through it and in a couple of weeks I will have lots of children's laughter in my life. I might allow Matt and Carrie to go home but I might just have to keep the girls! I am getting so excited.

I have been spending lots of time on my book and God is giving me new direction. So a lot that I have written will to be reformatted but that is okay, too. I am thankful for friend's like Carol who ministered to me with good words this day. Thanks Carol. Because of the weather I am really struggling with eating issues...I just want to eat out of comfort,boredom and it is fall! I must remember to run to the Word and not to FOOD! It is hard when I smell the smells of the backeri across the street, even with the windows closed, ha! Run from temptation!

A week from today and we are on our way to Paris so that is something to really look forward to. It will be so good to enjoy this favorite city with such dear friends. My favorite place in Paris is a place alot of people have never been to. It is Saint Chapell...it is truly an amazing place with the most magnificent stain glass I have ever seen. I love Norte Dame but Saint Chapell takes the cake for me. It is much, much smaller and I love the walk there. I love the Renoir museum to. It is like walking into the land of "THE THINKER" they are everywhere in every size, shape and form. Sondra and I are having some health issues so are main plan of operendi is to drink lots of caffe at a street cafe and people watch while we allow Pete and Lennie tag along.

I just got done reading "Olive Kitteridge" it one the Pulitzer Prize for best fiction last year. I liked it but I didn't if that makes sense. I am still thinking about it but it was in some ways a very sad book, about alot of people without much hope...it was a very worldly book. But I have to say Olive reminded me of my mom. I do not mean that in a disrespectful way either...but Olive and Jane sounded alot alike. I love the way the author wrote the book. You began to wonder as you read the next vignette where Olive would pop up. I sure wish I could like the author, she has a way of writing you just hang on to the words. She describes emotions and moods so well. Yes, it was a good read. I am now reading "The Other Queen" and it is quite good but such a different writing style. But I would recommend it to. I love having all this time to read. I am reading about 6 to 7 books a month..I am keeping Amazon, Books-a-million and Christianbooks.com and the library very busy!I give all my books to my niece and I have two boxes to send off in the next week.

It is soooooooooo noisy now that all the kids are back to school. I swear there are 100's of kids getting off the bus in the morning between 7:15 and 7:35...and they all go home at 1:15 for the day. I went to the market today to get autumn flowers for the house and I was meeting them everywhere. There was a lady at the market who is famous for her strudel. I guess there are lines waiting as she arrives. Well, I just by chance got there when her daughter was bringing a new and fresh batch. So Lennie and I are having soup and strudel for dinner. Also, I went into the backerei for our bread and I was having trouble with my German, what is new, ha! The girl behind the counter said, "you can talk English." I said thank you and she started talking to me and was just a precious to me. She said they all get a kick out of me because they have never heard me speak English unless I am with Lennie. They like the way I try so hard. But she said, "my dad was born in North Carolina and I go back often. So when I am in here please speak English to me." They said they are amazed how well Lennie speaks German. Until I came they thought he was German! My neighborhood is becoming more "my" neighborhood daily. I saw my hairdresser in the Pennymarkt and she smiled and said hello Deborah...it is nice!

Well, this is it for today....I am thinking Lennie should be walking in the door any minute. I love to see him each day! Bis bald....(see you later...)

Tschuss,

Debby

A CLOUDY AND OVERCAST MONDAY...

mid-20oth century couple!


1600's house down from Desiree's

Stone wall on the path of the monestary grounds

Gut Naben,

Evening is upon us in Germany and it has been a very chilly and cloudy overcast day, a typical German fall day. I am waiting for the arrival of Lennie coming home from work whichI know he will be tired. We had a long but wonderful day yesterday.







We left the house yesterday morning about 8:30 and arrived home last night at 11PM on the dot. I must say, as I have said many times before, trains are the best way to travel. We went on the ICE...the bullet train, and went at speeds of almost 300 mph, and were to Desiree's in less than 3 hours. What a wonderful delightful day we had. Desiree, is the wife of Damien Marts, they took over the ministry that Kevin and Casey left as Youth Ministers at the Leavenworth Post Chapel. Desiree is like another daughter to me. When she was married a few years back, her mother and stepfather stayed with Lennie and I and we became fast friends. Desiree is getting ready to go home tomorrow after being home for her best friend's wedding. So yesterday we went to visit "old" friends. Such hospitality with much eating drinking and laughter...just like Solomon says we are to enjoy life! I have posted lots of pictures on Facebook and will post new ones all week on my Blog. So I got to sleep in this morn and Lennie had to go to work. Poor baby!






Did I tell you all we will be here until January 15th. We are so excited because we truly did want to be in Germany for one more Christmas season...I here the ching ching of money being spent at the Christmas Markets, bazaars at Stuttgart, Heidelburg and Ramstein and Kathe Wolfurts! Gluwine and the most wonderful Christmas pasteries and other specialties of the season. We truly are thankful God gave us this opportunity! And two weeks from today two of the most beautiful little girls in the whole world will be here...yea Maddie and Sam....mommy and daddy, too! I am so excited!!


The plank and stucco house in the picture is just down the street from where Desiree grew-up from her teen years on. This house was built in the 1600's...is it not amazing. The old couple are from the mid-early 20th century...are they not adorable? ...the stone gate just talks for itself! It is part of a wonderful monestary that looks out on the seven hills where the story of "Snow White and Seven Dwarfs" took place. Oh,such magic of Germany.


It was a good week-end even if it did take 10 hours to do 4 loads of laundry! Europeans iron everything and you would know why if you saw the little dryers they have...everything comes out wrinkled. Oh, such is the adventure of life.


Have a blessed day and Lennie and I plan to have a warm cozy evening as the rain that just begun continues to fall.

Tschuss,
Debby

THE TREE OF LIFE....

Gut Morgen,

It is very quite this morning outside my kitchen window. I continue to feel Autumn in the air and the smells of this time of year. I look and I see the hints of yellows and reds in the trees and I notice that acorns are falling everywhere. The one thing I do not see here are squirrels. At home they would be scurrying up those acorns to get ready for the winter ahead, but no squirrels here...hum...I wonder where they are?

I just got done doing my Bible study and had some powerful verses today. I am reading Isaiah, definitely one of my favorite books. He was so brave, well most of the time, and was so obedient. He was willing to be sent and speak for the Lord, how often have I heard God say that to me, and I just turn to the other ear and pretend I do not hear? I must admit more than once because I have been afraid of the confrontation and the uneasiness the situation might bring....not trusting God that He would NOT send me without the proper tools, words and wisdom. I am learning but I sure still have alot to learn. The one thing I was reminded of yesterday was how Satan disguises himself as an angel of light...I think we are seeing many of these kind of disguises in this day and age ...I pray for wisdom and discernment each day.

I want my TREE OF LIFE to grow continually in the LIGHT of the TRUTH and the only way I can be assured of this is to pray daily for my family and each of their personalities and bent. The one thing I have here in Germany is plenty of time. Yesterday I was getting uneasy and restless and started to eat mindlessly, and I realized that instead of eating....I should be praying...I have so much time to pray here. To be still and and listen for and to the voice of God. I ponder about the family that went before me, maybe generations ago, that prayed for me and my family...I am soever grateful for their perseverance and desire for me and my loved ones to know and walk with the Lord. I wonder if they were my German family members even while they still lived in this country not far from where I am writing this blog right now? Yes, there is something everyday I can do...Pray!

I am waiting for Maria to come up and clean the apartment. I always feel a bit guilty as she cleans away for me. I am very blessed that she does this for us. My prayer this morning was that I would always be kind to her and never allow her to feel like I think I am better than she. She is such an amazing lady...she reminds me of a squirrel, she is always busy scurrying to finish one thing and starting a new thing. She is so German, she reminds me so much of my great-aunts...want to hear their names...I love them...Benita, Lily, Mada, Frieda, Nettie...these women were some of the most precious role models in my life as a child. They spoke only German to each other when they were together and when they were with us they just pinched our cheeks and kissed us all over...ha! They were the best cooks in the whole world...and I taste, smell and see them everyday as I look out my kitchen window...the TREE OF LIFE CONTINUES......

Tschuss,

Debby

Gut Morgen from Heumaden

Gut Morgen,

Have not been blogging for a few days. Our week-end ended up being mostly at home because my knee was not doing well. I must say stairs are my nemesis!

I think the thing that Lennie and I enjoy doing more than anything is sitting down in the Schlossplatz (Castle park), having a cup of great coffee and watching children. On Monday, Lennie and I went on our expedition to get our Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte. Walked into both Starbucks in downtown Stuttgart and they said, "many Americans have come in to ask for this drink, but we do not have it, sorry." So at the last one we ordered a very good cappuccino with our lemon pound cake, they do have that, and children watched. We saw a set of twin boys, about 2 that were having the time of their life with an outside elevator. They discovered the buttons and it was like the best toy mom and dad could have ever bought for them. Dad took them for a ride and when they came down they wanted to go again. Well, in the meantime, mom and dad saw some friends and started talking. As the twins are still playing with their new "toy" we were just waiting for them to go inside and the door closing and up they would go as mom and dad watched. Well, darn it anyway, this did not happen but what did happen was hilarious. At the top of the stairs where the elevator would come down to where the twins were was an elderly very staunch German Frau! The twins could not see her but they were just playing up and down, up and down with the elevator as the Frau above is getting more frustrated by the minute because she wants to get in and come down. She was trying to get the attention of the parent's but they were just talking away. As we are watching this Lennie and I are taking bets if and when she gets down will she say something. I said no because she has to be an Oma and understand and Lennie said yes, but before that she is German. Well, let me tell you when she finally got down those twins and their parent's and everyone else in listening distance got an ear full. She was very, very angry and let the people know that they were very bad parents and that the twins were going to grow to be hoodlums...it was so funny. Of course, as usual Lennie won the bet....I will let your imagination guess what the bet was!

People watching is so interesting. Sometimes my heart just aches at what I see. For instance, we saw a girl, about 18, who was pierced and tattooed from head to toe. Around her mouth it look like a drawing of dots that were all holes. When I see this my heart immediately thinks, why does she hate herself so much. She does not smile and I just want to run up and hug her not judge her as I am trying so hard not to do. Sometimes people watching gives me much opportunity to pray and reflect on where I have come from. I realize we live in another time and place but I just will not ever understand why they want to degrade their bodies in such a harsh way? I guess that is what people think of me and my battle with gluttony...oh what a tangled web we weave!

Fall is really in the air. It got up to 86 yesterday but by night fall the cool air was upon us and down in the 40's in the late night early morning hours. I love fall there is just something marvelous about God's paintbrush this time of year. The artist in me love all the shadows of the different times of day bring. Things sound different in the fall, at least to me, and everyone seems to be rushing to get everything prepared for the long winter before us. German's love to party and of course Fall is their party time ...Oktoberfest is upon us and you can feel the excitement in the air. I smell things baking with the smell of cinnamon, nutmeg, yeast and meats that are slow simmering and cabbage...could not be in Germany if we did not smell cabbage cooking somewhere in the neighborhood. I plan to enjoy fall in Deutchland knowing I might not get this chance again.

Only a couple of more weeks and we are on our way to meet Pete and Sondra in Paris. We know being with them will bring us laughter and joy...they are good friends. When we get home...the NEXT DAY Princess Maddie and Angel Samantha will be arriving...oh...with their mom and dad, ha!! We cannot wait. Also, upon us is Mr. Elijah's 2nd birthday....oh how we miss this little man...he is such a busy fun loving human being! Those are about all my thoughts for today...oh...I have started reading a really good and interesting book..."Olive Kitteridge" it won the Pulitzer Prize for best fiction....it is really a good read. So I am signing off and going to go read.

Tschuss,

Debby Dearie

Feels Like Fall Thursday

Guten Naben,

Lennie will be walking in the door any moment and I am not sure what we will have for dinner. If i was home this might have been the first night for my famous potato soup. Fall is in the air today it is truly a "fall" day not a summer day. I have the windows 0pen for the fresh air but I have a sweater on to penetrate the bit of chill that is in the air. Oh, what a good night for sleep!

This is a four day week-end but Lennie will work tomorrow until noon. I will go meet him and we shall go and get my Visa and than I will belong and cannot be kicked out...yea! That is IF all goes the way we hope it does. You never know about these things. If that goes well I think we are going to hop the train Saturday morning and go to Auschwitz and on the way back stop in Dresden. We shall see how tomorrow goes. If not definitely Saturday we will go to the State Art Museum where they are having a special show of Picasso and Dega along with all the other wonderful art.

As I look out my kitchen window this morning I thought I saw Chancellor Merkel...I did! Her poster is across the street for re-election. It is election time here but they can only campaign for like 6 weeks or not more than 2 months.....wish we had the same rule in America. There are signs for people wanting "your" vote and they will do all these wonderful things that ONLY they can do for you. Some things are not different, ha!

Not much to say today. I would ask for prayers for direction on my book. I sense God directing me another way and I am not sure what or how to do it. So I have chosen to continue on with what I am doing until I get a clear answer. I know I am to do this and have been dragging my feet the last week or so. I think as winter comes closer it will be easier to write each day.

Be blessed...

Tschuss,

Debby

FIRST WEDNESDAY IN SEPTEMBER!

Guten Tag,

I cannot believe the last quarter of this year is here. That in three weeks I will be on my way to Paris to meet much missed and adored friends from the North Country and than MADDIE AND SAMANTHA arrive! Think Papa and I are anxious, not a bit...ha! The time just seems to be flying by. That is bittersweet. For many reasons it will be good to get home but for other reasons....maybe this will be my last time here and that does make it bittersweet.

You, know when I was a kid, I would walk almost 3 miles one way, just to go to the library. I started doing this when I was five years old and was old enough for my first library card. That card was like a ticket to a world that would allow me to be lost for a hour, hours, weeks, depending how long the book was. The first book I ever remember reading and bringing home from the library was "Blueberries for Sal" and it just so happened to be one of the first books I ever bought for my 1st grandchild. I LOVED and still LOVE this book. From there I graduated to Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, The Bobbsey Twins and anything else I could get my hands on. As the years went by and the books became more and more my world where I could run away, dream and hope and wonder if I could ever go to these places that I only had gone to in books. When I landed in Italy in 1990 I had tears of joy in my heart from knowing after 40 years God was giving me a chance to "live" and "see" those things that had only been dreams! I cannot imagine not knowing how to read it truly is a magnifcant gift we take for granted. A few years ago I met someone who was just learning to read at age 20 and that is when I, realized for the first time in my life, this was something else I had taken for granted most of my life. Reading has brought me so much joy and happiness. I think about just the hours I have spent reading to my grandchildren and picking out "the" book for them. Without reading I do not believe I would have the walk I do with the Lord. I cannot even fathom not being able to read the Holy Scriptures...the precious Truth that has helped me get through the worse of times and the best of times!

When I read Heidi all I wanted to do was someday go to Germany and see where Grandfather lived. After I read Madeline I could not wait to go to Paris. When I was in Corrie tenBoom's house seeing the "Hiding Place" I could not believe how small it really was. How many books have I read about Italy....every spot was better than the next. When I first saw the Alps that I had read about in "Hannibal" I could not imagine people besides elephants going over these majestic mountains, by foot! Seeing where Paul supposedly wrote some of the Letters of the Holy Bible, as we strolled the Forum, and seeing "the" prison that He might have literally wrote these words. Eloise, what can I say I am still waiting to go to the Plaza but I will get there if "god willing and the creek don't rise!" I think you get what I am saying today.....all those books came alive but even if I had never seen any of these places for real I had them all in my imagination and for many that is all it will ever be and that is okay, that is the very reason we have books, oh to take us to the places we may never go! Yes, I do love books.

I have truly been blessed beyond measure and every thing from here on is cream on top! I said this a year ago this month, when we took our whole family to Disneyworld.....I still mean it....every thing from that moment on has been and is a special gift from the Lord....the biggest gift so far a NEW knee and the other one will be here soon!!

Have a blessed day.....

Tschuss
Debby