German Living

After a five week wait, our household goods arrived on June 24th and we spent that next week unpacking and setting up.  The house has worked out great.  We have lots of room and everything we brought fits! 

As when we lived in England, there is no air conditioning, though we bought a portable one to set up on extreme heat days.  We've had pretty nice weather so far with temps mainly in the 70's, however, this week we are getting our second round of 90 degree days.  We have screens in most windows put on by our predecessors who also had cats. Ebony is doing great, by the way, and has adapted to her new surroundings.  The kitchen has worked out okay, still trying to figure out the oven and using conduction heating for stove top.  We got a washer and dryer and refrigerator from the base to use while we are here.  I love this time having my piano here!  

We've been here now almost 3 months, had our first visitors.  I'm learning the bus and train system, though rarely venture out on my own.  The language is sometimes a barrier and I find it hard to be by myself and not be able to communicate well.  We have a couple real nice grocery stores and a local just down the road for quick stops.  We enjoy our local coffee shop also in walking distance from the house where we can get a coffee, drink, quick meal and enjoy some live entertainment on weekends.

John convinced me to join the gym and it's really more a health club...they have everything!   I've only used the circuit weights and treadmills, but John also loves the spa area.  We right now still only have one car so I go when he can come get me and on weekends.

We've met a couple neighbors and are hoping to get to know them all better. Hope that it will help my German!  We are going to try to find a church that is in English.  There's an American Protestant Church in Bonn though that might be a bit of a drive every week.  So, for now, we've been doing church online with Crosspoint.

The house is ready for visitors.  So, if you have considered a visit, let us know to be sure to get you on the calendar. 

 

Moving Again!

We've moved again!

This whole new adventure started last July when John came home and said there are a couple of jobs open in England and Germany.  Before he even said, "I want to apply," I was shaking my head no with tears in my eyes.  I, honestly, at that time thought there was no way I could do this again.  Leaving my home, my family, my kids, my friends, my grandbaby would be way too hard.  We talked about it and he convinced me to just let him apply and see where it went.  You know, in my mind, it was well if he doesn't get either job then God didn't want this for us.  So, he applied and we waited anxiously through the interview process.

I was convinced he wouldn't get either of these jobs as we'd already been to England for the same job.  Well, he didn't get offered the England job, but he did get offered the Germany one.  He called me, sounding like a little boy excited about Christmas, to tell me he'd been offered the job as I was on my way to the Women's retreat, thankfully driving a dear friend, Diane, to the retreat with me.  She was a great support as I just about had a meltdown in the car.  Had she not been with me, I'm sure I'd have turned around and gone home, but God had other plans. 

I had to work through a lot during those couple days.  And I believe God gave me reassurance that this was His plan and so after more discussions, John accepted the job.  I had a lot of fears about leaving.  But it seemed everything was falling into place.  The kids were being taken care of (marriage and new homes), our house sold quickly and easily in 2 days.  One thing remains that makes me regret and that is the new grandbaby on the way.  My heart breaks to be so far away.   

Ari and Jerret are settled into a condo in the St Louis area and Jerret recently got his promotion.  Beki and Canaan got married, got pregnant, and bought a home...all very exciting!

 

As I said things have fallen into place pretty nicely.  I've decided to resurrect this old blog as a way to document the next 3 years and all the adventures I'm sure we'll be taking.  One thing has not changed and that's John.  His love for travel and his energy have not changed!