Some Song to Raise: July 2009

Friday, July 24

and more friends

Jeff and Linda Brown

lots of little kids to play with. Caleb begs to learn more German words from us so he can understand the boys at the German church.

friends from the church in Nuremberg

Just a few of them. We'd go back today if we could.

the flight

This was the little bassinet the gave us for Lucy. It snapped in to the wall in front of our seats. She slept in here for a couple hours. Caleb slept on the floor under our feet.

It snapped shut to keep her in in case of turbulence.

It was cute when she woke up and emerged like a cabbage patch baby.

She looks so sweet and happy here, but don't let that fool you! This was not the way the rest of the flight went. It felt like we ran a marathon trying to keep them occupied all the way across the Atlantic, but we made it! Lucy is on her regular schedule again now, and all over with jet lag.

We've been busy repacking and gathering our camping gear. Daniel is heading West in the van with all our stuff tomorrow, and the kids and I will fly to meet him in Seattle on Wednesday. He is camping along the way, and we're all going to try to fit in a camping trip at Yellowstone. It's kind of weird to pack all the kids' stuff and then not be leaving right away, but I think we'll be glad we did it when we can fly next week without much luggage and stuff to worry about. Pray for Daniel to have safe travels over the 2900 miles on the road. It's almost as many miles as it is all the way to Germany!

Wednesday, July 22

We're home!

We got home yesterday evening a little bleary-eyed, but we're home. Lucy cried half the night last night. I guess she's still on European time. We'll get through it though. Today I'm in the closet digging up clothes in the next sizes for the kids to pack for the next trip. I thought I was going to have to shop for a few things, but I keep finding exactly what their needing lying in some forgotten box in the depths of the closet.

The rest of the trip was wonderful. Sunday with the church in Nuernburg was amazing. It was hard to say good bye to the people. God has given us all green lights to go ahead and plan of moving to that area for the first 1 1-2 to 2 years of language training/learning from the Browns and their ministry.

Back to the clothes... I'll get pictures up later.

Saturday, July 18

our sweeties

Caleb's memories of Nuernberg

These were the highlights of the day as far as Caleb is concerned.

the Goernandts

We just had to stop in Halberstadt and see Daniel's cousin Rebecca and her husband Christian and little cuties, Martin and Olivia. Believe it or not, Olivia was only 5 days old and Becca still wanted us to come! You would have never known she had just had a baby. It is helpful to see how well Becca has adapted to German language and life. I'm planning on bombarding her with questions when we get over here.

more Magdeburg pictures

Evan Matthia taught Caleb how to do some pretty neat tricks on the little bikes.

at the Kings' home

and goofing around at the apartment we stayed at in Magd.

our friends in Wales

Maggie and Caleb

an afternoon out with Marcia

Back in Wales...

The dads watched the kids and Marcia and I escaped to a cute little town for a "cream tea." We walked along the river, nosed around the shops, and talked and talked.

This is the little place where we ate our tea and scones. Looks like a house-shaped bush.

I don't even like cats, but thought this one was pretty.

Friday, July 17

the Browns

We've moved on to Baiersdorf, Germany, where we are staying with Jeff and Linda Brown. They've planted a church in Erlangen which is now pastored by a German. Now they are planting another church in Nuernberg. We've been picking their brains, and Jeff and Linda are flowing with information and thoughts. We've all talked so much in the last two days, it seems like we've known them for years, and I feel like I'm in a college course on missions. All the missionaries we have spent time with on our trip are such faithful servants of God and dear friends, and we have been so encouraged to go finish up deputation and get back here!

Yesterday Jeff took us to downtown Nuernberg to visit a language school and see the city. Beautiful city, complete with fountains, a castle, and the old medieval wall. Very modern too. It's funny to see the old right beside the new. Since we only brought the umbrella stroller, Caleb has learned to walk. And yesterday I think he walked more than he's walked in months put together. With the exception of a few shoulder rides, he tromped all over those cobblestone streets without complaint - like a little soldier. It never felt so appropriate to buy him an ice cream cone as it did yesterday before we headed for home.