Random thoughts today

Guten Tag,

Today has been a very lazy day with fog, a blustery wind and now sunshine with only an hour left of daylight I suppose it could still rain? Whatever I am waiting for Lennie to arrive home and we shall begin the week-end. We got some new movies from Netflix this week so we get to watch at least one movie this week-end. When we lived in Kaiserslautern we had a great Kino, movie theater that had all movies in English, but there is nothing here like that in Suttgart. Well, I must  say there is but it is two buses and a train ride away. So Netflix is the way we go. Oh, have the movie theaters at Patch, also, but again very hard to get home fr om if we chose to go at night. Lennie and I love movies and I must say that is probably the thing we miss most about being home in the states. Again, there really have not been that many good movies this past year in my opinion. I think my favorite movies this past year have been "UP" "Gran Torino" and "Defiance."

I have read more books this year than watched movies. I am old fashioned when it comes to books. I was thinking about if I would like a Kindle and I do not think I would. One of things about reading a book is holding it, being intimate with the written word, cuddling up with it. I do not think it would be the same with a Kindle. Does anyone else have any thoughts about this and if you have a Kindle do you like it? I have gotten into some authors this year that I have never read and have made myself read some classics that I have only seen the movies and not read the book....or read the cliff notes once upon a time...ha!

Must share a funny with all of you. Maria, our landlord's momma who lives under us and cleans the apartment every Thursday did a real funny yesterday. I have told you how good she is at cleaning, just the normal German who does nothing half way, everything MUST be immaculate...well I caught her vacuuming the table cloth on top of the kitchen table yesterday! It was hilarious I am still laughing about it when I think about it. Now, friends, I have been known to be OCD about alot of things but never have a I gone this far. When she saw I that I was watching she started laughing and finished the job.

I think that is all for another day so I will wrap these thoughts with a nice red bow and send them off to you with lots of love ............

Tschuss,

Debby

Thursday, October 29, 2009 ..the Sun IS Shining!

Guten Tag,

Well, today is another beautiful day in my German neighborhood. Yesterday when I went over to get fresh brochen my dear friend gave me a couple of extra cheese pizza pretzels...just what I needed. I said, "you are sweetheart and I am certainly going to miss you when I am gone, you have certainly been a blessing to me." She smiled and I swear she had tears in her glistening eyes. Friends, I hear God whispering in my ear more and more.....be a LIGHT and love as I first loved you! This really is harder than it sounds and I am seeing it more and more. Thinking I am so full of love but it is easy to love the lovable but I know I have also been called to love the unlovable and that is the hard part but I am trying, I really, really am....more Grace dear Lord, more Grace.

The week-end is almost upon us and I do hope it does not rain all week-end but it probably will, ha! Have a couple of fun things to do IF my sinuses calm down but just plain uncomfortable at the moment. Thankfully it is JUST sinus and nothing worse...amen. Yesterday we found a dear friend was hospitalized after many many days 0f fever and flu-like symptoms now they have found out she has pneumonia. This flu seems to really like children and young adults...please, please take care of yourselves. I was reading and article about this flu and people who are older, like "moi" they believe have built up immunities, another good thing about growing older, that is protecting us! I sure hope so.

I woke up this morning found that our President had signed the "defense/hate crimes" bill now we shall see how this will REALLY affect our lives. We are told it will be good for all of us...not to good if the pastor cannot speak the Truth that the Lord has called him to speak. We live in some very, very interesting times. That is enough you all know how I feel about this, ha!

I am missing TV! I am so wanting my Survivor, Amazing Race and NCIS and Top Chef....but to no avail. Was trying to watch Dancing With the Stars on YouTube yesterday and it would not allow me...that was a first. I think Kelly Osborne is just adorable....she has a very tender heart and I sense dealing with alot of pain and shame from some of her bad choices but she seems to be on top right now and I must say I pray for her! Must admit I am doing just fine without TV...must say there is really nothing on but junk...same here in Germany. They LOVE travel shows and must have everyone of our obscene reality shows dubbed for their viewing!! It is terrible. I asked Lennie, "why does everyone want to emulate the worse of America," and He said, "I do not think it is about America it is about who most of mankind, at this moment in time, is looking to for guidance!" I think he is right! This is really a very dysfunctional world right now because we ALL lack obedience to the truth. Which in turns brings out the worse in mankind....reminds me of the times before Sodom and Gommorah were destroyed. We must NOT stop praying for this country and world!! We have been commanded to do so.

The kids are out of school this week so the neighborhood has been really quiet..i.e. my bus stop out my kitchen window. They are celebrating the Wall coming down, All Hallowed Eve and Reformation Day.....this week...so they let the kids out of school. Just for your info, German's now celebrate Halloween big time and they even trick or treat! Their favorite to dress up as is a pumpkin or a witch....and of course vampires! Next week, if it is like when we lived here before, the Christmas trees will go up in houses and decorations will start being seen. I am serious. And the day after Christmas every thing will be gone. But until the day after Christmas we are in for a big celebration with the Christmas markets, parades, etc...

Really did not say much today. I am off for a walk. It is so beautiful I think I will take a walk to the park and sit and enjoy the smell, the chill and beauty of Autumn this day. I will pick up a cup of coffee on the way and that will make it really enjoyable. God bless and love you all..........

Tschuss,

Debby

October Is Almost Over.....

Guten Tag,

I wonder where the time goes? I think I have said this numerous times, but it just seems like it was September and waiting on Carrie and family to arrive. Now it has been almost a month since they came. I honestly can say it will be Thanksgiving and Christmas before we know it!

I am doing an online Bible study through Precept on the book of Jeremiah. I am loving it and cannot wait from day to day to get up and do some more. I am learning so much that I did not know and being refreshed of other things that maybe I "conveniently" forgotten. I seem to have a thirst for God's Word of late and I have no excuses not to spend time with Him, lots of time. There is absolutely nothing to be afraid of in this screwed-up world if we remember where our treasures and future lay. The one scripture that keeps going through my mind that Kay Arthur is constantly repeating from Jeremiah 12:5, "If you have raced with runners and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in a peaceful land, what will you do in the thickets of the Jordan?" WOW!! Makes me think about what I am doing here and now for the fight that could be ahead. The answer being, as I see it, knowing and burying the Word in my heart! And remembering the battle belongs to the Lord and His Throne is not here on earth but in heaven where our eyes and heart should be! I think I am falling in love with the Lord in a way I have never been before and quite honestly it is because I have the time, or should I say, finally taking the time, to know HIM more intimately here in "my" German retreat!

I have 15 bean soup on for dinner and the only thing I do not have to make it complete is corn meal to make cornbread. I cannot find cornmeal in the german grocery. And the commissary is always out of it. Otherwise we will have one of our favorite soups this night. Lennie is so tired when he gets home. He has been working on this huge paper and it wears his brain out. I continue to pray he will get the opportunity to go to Africa before we leave, it really is a heart desire for him. Lennie took a group of teens into Africa many years ago for a mission trip and ever since than, he and Carrie both have a spot, for Africa and the people, in their hearts.

I am missing all my friends. Today when I saw on FB that Heidi was going to be doing the devotional at PWOC I was so miffed. I so would like to be there to hear what God has put upon her heart to share with others. I am so proud of her! She has come so far from the first time I met her now over two years ago. And I miss the laughter of my friends, and their hugs, and most of all their fellowship. And I think about friends who have returned since I have left and I get to see their smiling faces when I return. Than I have concern for those I care about who have lost loved ones, who are ill, such as Jan, I love her so much and yes, the marriages and the births, Oh, I do have lots to look forward to in January. Oh, let you in on a secret...we are coming home in January, God willing, via Hawaii. Lennie and I cannot wait until after I have recuperated from next knee surgery. We must see them ASAP and January will be it, again hope this is God's plan, too!

I think I am done for the day. I must run over and get some warm brochen. I have become very good friends with the ladies at the Backeri. They have my phone number and call me when warm fresh bread comes out of the oven. Before it got cold, and my windows were open, they would hollar across the street, but now they call on the phone. It truly is a blessing to think we can hardly speak the same language but I made relationships with these precious ladies. One is Turkish, one is 1/2 American and 1/2 Turkish, 2 are full German and than there is me....the funny American lady who will talk to anyone if they make eye contact and treat me nice, ha! I will miss them. They have made my life much easier here and I feel like I "belong" to this neighborhood. I pray I am being a "light" ...I so pray I am!

Tschuss,

Debby

Monday Again............

Good Evening,

Today has been foggy, cloudy, sunny and now as 6PM is upon us it almost dark and chilly outside. Lennie should be coming through the door any moment and we will settle in for another evening in Germany. We are going to make our arrangements tonight for our trip to Dresden, Krakow and Auschwitz. I have all this Polish pottery and have never bought a piece in Poland I will soon change that!

Maria is closing the rouladean's downstairs which means it must be dark outside. She is truly a creature of habit. I have wanted to let her know how much I appreciate all she does for me so the other day I wrote her a letter on the computer and used the translator. I gave it to her with a bouquet of flowers and she was so humbled she did not know what to say. She really is a precious lady. She must think I am this haughty American lady who just sits at her computer or reads books all day long. That is what I do when she comes and cleans if I am not gone. Speaking of at my computer I now have 100 pages of my book done. I cannot wait to see where God takes me with this book. It is an adventure.

Our week-end was fun and relaxing. Friday as I told all of you we went off to do errands in the afternoon and got them all done. No more exchange for another two or three weeks. On Saturday we just hung out and did laundry, which takes all day, and read and went grocery shopping across the street and to the backeri to stock up on brochen for the week-end. We got our apple strudel for breakfast and came home and made another pot of coffee. What a lazy day!

On Sunday Lennie wanted to take me to his favorite Italian Ristorante that I had not been to yet. So off we went. We had quite a journey because we missed our bus after we got off the train because of my slow moving body! Patient husband I have thank God. So back on another train and 3 stops down and we were a few steps from Ristorante Positano. I asked Lennie why we just did not do that in the first place, "he said he wanted to show me a new bus route," I swear friends he loves these trains and buses. I sometimes just wish I could get in a car and go but that is not going to be happening anytime soon, ha! The Ristorante was fabulous and the food was AMAZING! I had risotto w/squash and Gorgonzola and he had a funghi and artichoke pizza ...it was like sitting in Italy. So we made a decision this is going to be our Sunday eating place if we are in town. We cannot wait to try something different the next time. Well, we get done and Lennie says, "let us get on the S1 and go to Oberturkheim to our favorite Eis place ...ice cream shop ....for Eis and cappuccino" okay off we go on another adventure. Well, we get there and just cannot wait for some spaghetti eis and cappuccino and it was closed for remodeling! God did not want us to have any more food at that moment in time...ha. So on the bus and home we came for the rest of the day! So last night we had ice cream bars and popcorn as we watched our movie!

Well...that is all for now...Lennie is home and dinner is to be made...

Tschuss

Debby

Frietag and on my way...............

Gut Morgen,

It is Friday and I am getting ready to get on the bus and meet Lennie at his work. From there we will go do our errands at Panzer which is a long bus ride from Kelly Barracks where Lennie works. He is taking the afternoon off so we can go take of business and not waste our week-end with this kind of stuff. Tomorrow we want to go check out the Christmas Market downtown and it is Saturday so it is fresh flowers day and Illy day and whatever else we might decide to do. On Sunday we are going to a festival at one of the old castles so on Monday I will have pixs and maybe some stories?

I woke up this morning to some very sad news. The Senate had passed the Defense Bill and attached the Hate Crimes bill to it. I know some you think this is wonderful but I just call out to God and ask that we shall return to HIM!! I do not hate anyone but I am sorry but I agree with the following. "The final report of the Baptist Union of Western Australia (BUWA) Task Force on Human Sexuality states “that a person becomes a homosexual ultimately by choosing to be involved in same-sex activity… This is in contrast to innate characteristics such as gender and ethnicity.”7 The report affirms that “the Bible is clear that sin involves choice, and it unequivocally condemns homosexual behavior as sin.”7  Hating is wrong and can honestly say I do not hate anyone but I do hate what many people chose to do with their lives. I believe this Bill will bring even more persecution to those who are NOT like minded with the government. That means me for sure a person who wants the world to be a perfect place but I know that will only happen when Jesus comes back. So for right now I will try to love my neighbor as my self and not hate my enemies but pray for them. Now I ask for the same in return...that is what I am concerned about....for some reason I think this will be a one way street! We shall see and I do hope I am wrong. Enough...thanks for letting me vent!

I cannot believe it has been over a month since we met Pete and Sondra in Paris. We had so much fun and I wish we could do it again.  I am still waiting on her pixs from their cruise and Rome. It is fun when you find people you enjoy to travel with. Paul and Vicki and Joe and Carol are others we love travel with and hope there are more times for us. Again we are blessed beyond measure.

It has been hard this week and last knowing both of my daughter's have been under the weather and I was so far away from them. A mother's work is never done and when we are sick it makes for a rocky boat. Is not interesting how we all seem to survive but it is just not the same when mom is the one down and sick. I, to this day, cannot forget the love my mom gave me when I was sick. She made me feel so special and I loved having "our" time together. Tea and soup always taste better when made by a mother's hand full of love!

Well, it is about time to get ready for my Frietag adventure. Love to all and I sure do pray Noe will have a blessed day tomorrow. She waited upon the Lord and got her heart's desire!! What a promise we have been given!

Tschuss,

Debby

A Chilly Tuesday in Deutchland!

Gut Morgen,

The morning is almost over here in Heumaden. I thank God for another day of good health. Lennie and I had our flu shots last week and have had no complications. The frost is definitely on the pumpkin in the mornings now and always fog with no doubt!

I am beginning to put my thoughts together for Christmas and looking at cards and the time frame I must have everything sent. This week-end the Christmas Markt starts here in Stuttgart. Last Saturday when we were down town they were putting everything up. First cup of hot gluwein is only a few days away! Anyone want to come and join us? Almost every week-end until Christmas we have something special planned. We love going on the USO tours....they are a wonderful gift we have here. We made our plans and we are going to go to Rome for Christmas. This will probably be our last time we will have this chance...so off to Italy for 5 days and going to go spend one day in Bella Napoli and Sorrento.  I am so thankful for my good knee which helps me greatly to get around on the bad one.

A question I would like to ask a florist when we get home...why are flowers so expensive in America? The flowers here, as most of you know who have lived here, are cheaper than dirt! I mean I can get a gorgeous huge bouqet for less than 10 dollars AND they last forever. Every Wednesday I go to my village market and get wonderful flowers! Oh the little things of life that make me so happy. I have come along way from the girl who never was happy with anything, I always wanted more! God has truly changed my heart in this way.

I have a big chicken in the crockpot cooking for chicken noodle soup. We love the cold of winter because Lennie and I love soups and I love creating them. I must run over to the store and get some rosemary and peas and carrots....if they do not have them I will call Lennie and he will bring them home from the commissary....he is a keeper....yes he is. Something about those Edwards men, they love to go to the grocery store! My friend Tricia taught me a trick that I am so surprised I had not been doing, she adds a can of cream of chicken to her chicken noodle soup, it gives it more flavor and just adds depth....that is what friends are for! She definitely is one of the best cooks in the whole world....as is Jean. There is NOT a better pie baker, after my mom, than Jean Schmidt! Yummy! I miss these precious people! Oh, my sister-in-law Sheryl is the best dessert maker ever....she is NOT afraid to try anything new no matter how difficult. Enough about food, ha.

Yesterday Kevin gave us the most wonderful gift, a video from Hawaii, that was 12 minutes long!!! It was pure heaven. Ask me how many times I have watched it since yesterday morning....at least 5! I never get tired looking at these precious gifts that warm my heart beyond measure. Than Carrie had her new posts on her blog from Maddie's 3rd birthday party. That cake was amazing! I am so proud of my daughter's they are good moms and LOVE being moms! I was never as creative as they are. But there was not a mom who loved do things for her kids like I did. I am so grateful I got to be home with my children. I do not understand women who work who do not have to. Their time will come again, even if in the middle of all the havoc of a bad day, it seems it will not. The time goes so fast. My hats off to all of you who have made the sacrifices to stay home, I promise you, you will not be sorry when you look back someday in not the so far future. What I would give for one of those special days back.

Well, I have rambled enough today. I have a couple of things I must get ready for mailing and than get to my book. I love my afternoons, tea and good book, and just maybe a nap, ha I sound like a lazy old woman! I promise I am not...I know things will change when I get back to my "normal" life. Not looking forward to my knee operation but once it is done it will finally ALL be behind me, God willing!

Tschuss,

Debby

RANDOM THOUGHTS......

Good Morning from Deutchland,

This week has been a slow one but something I needed after the past three weeks of going and going. I forgot how dreary it can be and I try to keep my head above the gloom! I always have to remember that I am very blessed to be here and that in a few months I will wish I could be back here! So I WILL keep my head above the gloom.

The neighborhood is so busy. It is always to my amazement that German's never let the weather conditions from doing life! The streets are just as busy, rain, snow, sleet or sun....they just keep going like little worker ants.

Yesterday I spent the day reading Nicolas Sparks new book, "The Last Song" ...I could not put it down. It was pretty predicatable as his books are but always a beautiful love story. This love story was a wonderful love story between a father, son and daughter, I really enjoyed it....read almost all of it in one sitting. For sure this man is a romantic. I wonder what he is like in real life with his wife and children? I know he is a man of faith and that is one of the reason's I enjoy his books but he sure can get the tears a going, ha! I suggest this book for a rainy or snowy day and a pot of tea and or coffee and a warm blankie, I promise it will be worth it.

 I cannot believe how much I DO NOT miss TV. I was a junkie of TV and truly do believe that is one of the reason's God sent me here! I have returned to my love of books that I have loved forever. Also, I cannot wait to paint and draw each day. Learning to be happy with self has been good for me. As I have said before in this Blog....I have also been blessed with so much time with the Lord that my relationship has gone to another level, something I had been praying for for along time.  I was becoming lukewarm, not being challenged and lonely. Friends, beware of lonliness...the devil preys on it!..................................

Tshcuss.....

:: Christian TV ::

:: Christian TV ::

Mittwoch in Deutchland

Where to I begin?

It has been a couple of weeks at least since I have blogged and today I just knew I needed to but just have the blahs. I have had a wonderful few weeks since I have last blogged. To Paris and than home for a couple of days to rest before Carrie and family came. We had such a wonderful time.

Lennie rented a 9 passenger van for the 10 days they were here and boy did we put the miles on it. Carrie and Matt drove to Heidelberg the first couple of the days they were here to see some of Carrie's Club Beyond friends. Than we drove to Garmisch and drove all over the beautiful Bavarian country side. I have said this before and I will say it again...I could live there the rest of my life. Much of my family came from this area so I truly do think that is why I am so comfortable there. It always seems so familiar. The peacefulness, beauty, tranquility, and the majestic presence of the Alps are indescribable. It really is something you must experience yourself. When I am there Romans 1:20, "From the creation of the world, His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse." Each night as we were lying in our bed, with the window open just enough for the fresh Alpine air to seep in, we went to sleep hearing sounds of church bells and cow bells! Up in the meadows above us they were feeding in the quiet of the night and each time they bent down for another piece of grass their bells would gently ring into the night. Lennie and I agreed that no one who lives in the Alps should have high blood pressure. It was like listening to a personal lullaby from God Himself. A blanket of quietness, solitude and serenity given to us as a free gift just because we are His!!

Maddie just could NOT believe she was at the REAL Princess Castle. She had so much fun. She saw pictures of the princess, being born, taking a bath, kissing her Prince and even getting married....she was so full of joy. Everyone around us knew Maddie had come to see the Princess Castle. The only sad thing...."Where was the Princess?" My 4 oldest granddaughter's love Princesses....I cannot remember being so enamored like this about Princesses but it truly does make them so happy!

The greatest pleasure of the whole 10 days was just being Grammy and Papa to two of the sweetest little girls this side of heaven. There are times Lennie and I pinch ourselves because we cannot believe God has given us such wonderful gifts in our grandchildren. Our heart's do have an emptiness in them when we are not in their presence. But thankfully, we have wonderful, thoughts and memories of them all and God willing many,many more ahead.

So now we are back to being Debby and Lennie but we have some fun things planned for ourselves before we must go home. We were coming back from lunch on Monday afternoon, and Lennie looks at me and says, " I am going to miss this place." We have a peace and simplicity here that we do not have at home and we have made a plan to take it back with us. We do live so simply here. The only thing we both miss is Christian fellowship and that we miss much. I do not know what I would do without the computer. Daily I do my Precept Bible study with Kay Arthur, do my One Year Bible reading on line, listen to K-l0ve and Calvary 88.9, and Dave Ramsey, too! Thank God for facebook...because this really is how I get alot of fellowship. What a technical world we live in....and it has been a blessing to me being so far away from the things that are important to me.

Well, I have spoken enough today. I am back on track......

Tshuss,

Debby