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