Just odds and ends...........as it snows!

Guten Tag,

I will not be able to say that much longer. But as it snows outside and I drink my coffee I felt like writing.

I wanted to say I have almost 200 pages of my book done. So this time here has been good for for than one thing. I still am not clear where God wants me to go with this but I will keep writing and see what happens. I am not done I know that. At first I was really, really disciplined and than I began to fizzle out, ha. We shall see what happens once I am home. I will have plenty of time when I am recuperating.

The picture was taken on Christmas Day at Peitro's Cafe down the street from St. Peter's Basilica. We found this prime spot and settled in to watch the Christmas morning come alive in The Vatican City. As we sat there the Christmas Day Parade of Caribenari Police marched right in front of us. It was amazing because they had their dress uniforms with plumage and all. I got a great video of this. They marched right into St. Peter's square and announced the Pope for his Christmas Morning Blessing. We had to much caffe, to many sweets and enough fizzy water to float away but what a wonderful Christmas memory. As we sat there people we knew from the tour would stop and join us for awhile, get up and someone else would stop and have caffe with us. Lennie said he felt like we were holding court, ha!

Lennie and I celebrated our 38Th wedding anniversary the next day. I really must say it has gone so fast. What puts it in perspective. Lennie's mom died when she and Lennie, Sr had only been married 37 years. I am not ready to give this man up and I understand now when Lennie's dad said, after Anna died, I did not have enough time with her! He continues to this day, after 24 years, he still talks about her with tears in his eyes!

Let me tell you about our best Christmas gifts. We received 3 photo albums made by very special people. Sarah's and Tom was all handmade and just just beautiful. Carrie's and Sondra's were made by shutterfly or blurb, whatever, and of the memories they both shared with us while we lived here in Germany. What cherished books they have become already and have been looked at at least a dozen times since received! I love homemade gifts they are the best. Kevin and Casey taught our family this. They have given some of the neatest gifts that have come the heart and mind of their creativity as a family. What more does a 61 year old lady need? Hey....the last season of MONK...ha!!! I missed it. I have not said so far how blessed I am .........I am blessed:)

Well, it continues to snow and snow. The village looks like a fairytale and it is very, very quiet. What is so funny our landlord has shoveled not once or twice but three times already today. The other day I went to the store and as I came back he had a hand vac in the bus stop cleaning it! German's they are truly an amazing group of people. I shall miss them. Tomorrow I go get my haircut one more time by Sondra, my hairdresser. It seems everyday I am saying goodbye to someone else. She has been a real blessing to me. She cuts hair amazingly well. She was a gift from God because if my hair is not looking good I am not doin good!!! This morning I ran over to get some fresh brotchen and my friend's in the backeri asked if this was the day, I said no, and I would be sure to say good-bye. They have been rays of sunshine to me as I have gotten to know them. Lennies' good-bye last night was very nice and I think I had the best schnitzel I have had to date. The gravy was delicious! They said all the things I knew about Lennie. What made me so proud of him, how many of the officer's said he had become their mentor, and did hope it could continue even as he leaves. In His office he and his boss had a joke between them that they lived in the Land of Pooh. Last night I met them all...Eyore, Piglet, Pooh, Rabbit, Roo, Tigger and .. Owl...my Lennie...I could have told them that! I love my Owl!

I said enough for today. I will settle in and read a book a friend recommended. Have some lunch and wait for my "wise old owl" to come home so we can start packing!

I am baaaaaaaaaaaaack!

Guten Tag,

Not many more days in this country and I am feeling bittersweet. I am ready to go home and back to my friends, family and routine of life and most of all Church!! I have missed my church family beyond measure. I have missed, almost as much, fellowship. God has given me such a wonderful group of friends in Leavenworth and I am so excited to laugh, play, pray and worship with them again!

My heart begins to ache when I think that when I get home that just down the street and around a couple of corner's there will not be a family of 9 that I so love. But thank God Lennie will be home and my heart will not ache near as much when I have his arms and shoulder's to lean upon. God has shown me there are many other's that need Lennie's and my love and so God here we are. Only 6 more days and we will be in literal paradise loving and enjoying those nine precious people. We will take each moment given to us. We shall take every hug, kiss and conversation given to us in those 10 days we are with them, and make them last until we see them again.  Yes, bittersweet, but that is part of this journey called life. We have no complaints. I was just thinking today, God forbid something happens to our plane...one way or the other we will be HOME!

I am so glad I came to be with Lennie. It has been a joy and like a second honeymoon. We never imagined we would have this opportunity and that is why we ran with it. We have loved being in our little nest and just being free to do what we want to do, when we want to do it, and just relaxing and seeing things new and old. Literally in every sense of the words.  It has been a special gift from Heaven and we thank God everyday for this time we have had. I know Lennie would stay if I did not need to have my next knee replacement. In a marriage there is give and take and He said it is now his time to give. I thank Him for that because I am ready for this last knee to be new again!! I want to run, at least in my mind, and not have any pain! Ha! Hey, have I said it enough...I am blessed.

I say this often because I do not deserve any of this. I am would be a fool if I thought any different. The love and mercy that God has shown me in this walk down the road called life truly humbles me and brings tears to my eyes. ME....God are you sure...He is ....He does not make mistakes. I read in Spurgeon yesterday how when we think the light is out in our hearts...God can still see it ...why...He IS the Light and He put the Light there.........that gives me hope and courage.........that He knows me so much better than I know myself, especially when I walking wounded. This past month I was wounded by words. Words that I only can forget by running to God almost everyday and saying take this from me! I must remember that I am a creation of the Potter and all cracks can be repaired, ha! amen!

I do not know if I will be back on before I leave. We have much to do, but if it is going to snow a foot, than maybe I will have plenty of time, ha! Tomorrow night is Lennie's going away. He will be missed. I do not think I know anyone with a better work ethic other than my father and Lennie's father. They wanted to give him a gift....nope....he cannot receive gifts, it is a "rule" and so with Lennie it is about integrity...his boss could not understand it but Lennie just said, "boss this is something I cannot do with a peaceful heart." That is my Lennie. God knew what kind of man I needed one to keep me walking the straight and narrow. Someone who would put up with me for 38  years. I just hope we will have 38 more. Those are things that only God knows. But one can wish, hope and pray about.

I have rambled enough. Did I say, I have been blessed? :)

Tshcuss,
Debby