Day 6 - I am Thankful for the AM

Yes I am truly thankful for the AM..... Alan, Annaleise and April Mitchell that is!

I already told you all how thankful I am for Alan, but I have two other A M’s in my life.

Annaleise started dating Michael when they were Juniors in High School. They married as Juniors in College. She has been such a blessing to us. And just this fall she gave birth to Isabella our newest granddaughter!

April met Sean at a difficult time in his life and over the last 3 years has helped him get back on track. She has taken Ryan under her wings and is helping to shape her into a young lady.

These ladies are so special to me. They are helping to balance the all boy environment my family has been until they arrived. And they are taking such good care of my sons.

Yes I love the AM’s in my life and am so thankful for having them in our family~

Day 5 - I am Thankful for my Children

Proverbs 4:1

Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.

These boys are so very special to me. They have such different personalities but are so much alike. They are both very loving, caring, and giving individuals. They didn’t come without flaws (I’ll just say placemats, first day driving and of course speeding tickets) but they are learning as they grow how to be husbands and fathers (I see traits of their father in both of them). They would drop almost anything and come to the aid of their families and proved this more than should have had to this past year.

Yes I am thankful for my children!

Day 4 - Thankful for the Fall Weather

I am thankful for the change in seasons. I love the fall weather and watching the trees come alive with the warm fall colors of yellow, orange and red. I have chronicled the hillside vineyards across town through pictures and marveled at the changes over the past 12 months. But it is the fall pictures that are my favorite. Nearing the end of life these fall leaves flourish in grander hanging on until just the right moment to fall gracefully to the ground. But this is not the end of life; I know new life will appear again next spring. This change in seasons reminds me of Ecclesiastes 3 : 1-13.

Ecclesiastes 3

1There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under heaven:

2a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

4a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

6a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

9What does the worker gain from his toil? 10I have seen the burden God has laid on men. 11He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. 14I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.

Yes He makes everything beautiful in its time... and this is just a sample of the handy works of my God. I am thankful of this change in seasons!

Day 3 - Technology vs the Horse and Buggy

While here in Germany, we have managed to stay in touch with family and loved ones and get around Germany with technology that just didn’t exist 20 years ago. While 20 years ago they did not have to rely on a horse and buggy there is nothing like riding through a German town via horse and buggy. But some of the advancements are really worth it.

We have email, internet, skype, google video chat, free long distance phone calls back to the states, magic jack Voice over IP phone. Carry an Iphone around with us so we are connected at all times. We watch TV via a slingbox hooked up to cable box back in the states. We have GPS with Europe maps that allow us to get out and “never be lost”. I can watch sermons from my home church over the internet! Keep up with friends and family, share pictures of our travels via Facebook.

Yes, I am thankful for the technology that allows me to stay in touch, stay connected and allow me to venture out seeking new adventures while in Europe! But I do enjoy getting back to the good old fashion things too!

Day 2 of Thankfulness

I am thankful for the “things" I have here in Germany that remind me of home and my extended family.

I have some wonderful wooden pieces that my father carved, a clock my parents gave me years ago, a peanut pillow my mother made to rest my head upon, the Bible my husband got me for Christmas in 1994, a blanket to cover me on a chilly winter evening that is screen printed with photos of my children and their families, a circle of friends candle holder given to me by my daughter-in-law, a photo album my niece got for me for my 50th birthday that I am filling with pictures of our adventures, a coffee table my in-laws got for us a few Christmas’ ago, a Delft Blue Pig plate clock, a salt and pepper shaker and a very special Sisters candle holder from siblings. All of our furniture and collectibles all made it over here in one piece and are helping to make this dwelling away from home “our place” for the next 14 months. I look around and see all the “things” many that are irreplaceable, granted they are just things in the big scheme of things and I can’t take them with when I depart this world but....

To let you know why “things” comes to mind ....today we found out the storage warehouse located here in Stuttgart where all household goods are stored for deployed Service members and civilians until they find housing was destroyed by fire. 106 families have lost EVERYTHING except what they packed in their suitcases for their flight over here. Many of these families are young service members living on limited incomes and are now faced with the daunting task of starting over. The ARMY Garrison community is already reaching out to these families in this time of need. And over time they will be fine, but I can only imagine what they are going through right now.

So yes, my things are just that things.....but they are treasures given to me by those I love and I cherish the memories of the giver as much as the gift!

Thankful for My Husband

This man sold off almost everything and followed me half way around the world so I could take a job in Germany. He is my BEST Friend, my partner, my companion. He loves me when I am at my worst and cares for me when I am feeling sick. He looks out for me, holds and comforts me when I am hurting. He has cheered me on as I forged my career, he takes a back seat when he thinks I need the limelight but he knows I need him to be strong and takes the lead steering us along. He can read my face and in an instant know how I am feeling. He is a GREAT father to my children and a WONDERFUL son to our parents. He puts FAMILY before everything, but makes time for himself and his passions. I love the way he gets excited about his sports and can hear this same excitement in his voice as he talks about our children and grandchildren. HE is one of the most generous men I know and loves to do for others.

This day and always I am thankful for the man God put in my life so many years ago. We met at church camp during the summers of our youth, reunited in the summers of college and married young. We have raised our children and now are enjoying watching them raise their children. I am happy to be turning gray and growing old this this man!

Halloween Dinner and Shows at Frankenstein Castle

It was a 2 hour drive and we left at dusk, but got to see some pretty fall foliage along the drive. The climb up the mountain on a 1 lane road was in pitch black darkness except when an oncoming bus caused us to pull aside and let them pass.

The castle itself is in ruins and is now in Nature park with admission only charged 3 weekends of the year centered around Halloween.

Our dinner menu is below as well as the shows on the main stage. We had VIP passes, which meant our table was reseverd for the evening and we could come in at any time through out the evening and partake! This was a big plus as the lines outside were very long

Frankenstein öffnet Das Tor zur Geisterwelt 2000 Uhr Halloween Büffet Kürbissuppe mit belebenden Gewürzen Auswahl von frische und angemachten Salaten Geräuchertes Pangasius filet an Preiselbeeren Sahnemeerrettich Gebratener Lachs mit Kräuterschmand Frankensteiner Festags Braten vom Oden wålder Weiderind in würziger Rote wein sosse Oder: Würzigen Schweineschinken mit leckerer Grill sosse Knuspriges Brathähnchen mit Kürbis Chutney Kartoffelgratin, Kartoffel-Kürbis Gemüse und Gemüsenudeln Rote Grütze mit Vanillesosse Schokoladenmousse Variation von Dessertcreme Hauptbühne Burg in Flammen Henker Show im Anschluss Aufstand der Orks Hexen vs. Werwölfe Inquisition Haus des Schreckens Monster-Tanz Classic und Finale 0100 Uhr Letzte Busfahrt zu den Parkplätzen!!

OR IN ENGLISH................

Frankenstein opens the door to the spirit world in 2000 Clock

Halloween Buffet

Pumpkin soup with invigorating spices

Selection of fresh and dressed salads

Smoked catfish fillet

of cranberry horseradish cream

Roasted salmon with herb cream

Frankensteiner Festag roast Oden Forest grazing cattle

in a spicy red wine sauce

Or:

Spicy pork ham with tasty BBQ sauce

Crispy fried chicken with pumpkin chutney

Potato, potato-pumpkin and vegetable pasta

Red fruit jelly with vanilla sauce

Chocolate Mousse

Variation of dessert cream

Main Stage

Castle on fire

Show executioner after uprising of Orcs

Witches vs. Werewolves

Inquisition

House of Fear

Monster Classic Dance and Finale

0100 Clock last bus ride to the parking lot!

At the end of the night the bus picked us up for the 2 hour drive back to the post. It was a great evening. But I want to go back during the daylight hours to see the park without all the Halloween decorations.

Happy Fall Ya’ll....