Christmas come and gone...

Hello Again. Time has quickly passed in the last 6 weeks, though it was calm and uneventful in our home most of Christmastime. It has been snowing a lot. Ever since Thanksgiving we've had a steady trickle of snow every few days. It is pretty and cold. We went sledding 1 time and Nathaniel has also enjoyed the backyard and his toy tractors anew with a slippery layer of snow. Josiah has decided he doesn't like snow pants and most of the time he refuses to go outside unless forced into his cold-weather-wear.

We enjoyed church on Christmas Eve and had a friend over to our home after the service. Esther is from Malaysia and has never celebrated Christmas before! She is a new Christian and she is studying at the university near our church. We enjoyed introducing her to our customs of Christmas. We were checking our Christmas tree and ornaments and enjoying the candle-lit atmosphere in our evening Church service. It was really special to think again and review why we celebrate the way we do, and to share it with someone who has only begun to see and know Christ Jesus. This year I have been doing a lot of pondering about the ways and the reasons we celebrate Christmas. We (our small family unit) are only just beginning to make traditions and we want all that we do to point to Christ, and not to ourselves - the gifts, the food, the pretty tree and ornaments - all are meant to shine the light of His glory!

We spent Christmas day with other doctors and providers from the clinic where Tom works. It was wonderful food, good conversation (a few moments to discuss the peace that only God can bring in uncertain times), Tom lead us in prayer, and the kids were pretty well-behaved all day!

Nathaniel had 1 1/2 weeks off from Kindergarten and Tom had to work every-other-day for the last couple weeks. We enjoyed having Daddy around a lot. I REALLY enjoyed his help with the kids and with the house. Most of you may have heard by now that I am pregnant - due in July again - and I am totally wiped out all the time! Tom is quite a good cook when he has the time to invest in it! We read lots of stories, built lots of vehicles with Duplos and other materials, watched a few family movies, and played games (as best we could with youngsters), and had a few crazy dancing evenings (you should see those boys Polka - very funny!) . The movie Mary Poppins seemed to make a big impact on little Josiah - he has been talking about "Chimedy Sweepers" for the last 5 days. We received quite a few books this year for Christmas - all of us! So we'll just keep on reading!

So, that is the month of December in a nut-shell.

Below is our family's Christmas letter (the first letters spell FROHE WEIHNACHTEN):

France—Tom and Sara celebrated their 10th anniversary in August with a weekend in Paris! F is also for fiercely independent. That is our Nathaniel. He has to figure out the world on his own terms. He has a brilliant memory, but he's so stubborn sometimes!
Relatives – We enjoyed having visitors in our home. It was a wonderful time to explore, talk, pray, and enjoy each other's company. Katzenberger Parents, kids, & spouses in January, Scholtens Parents in March, Tom's cousin Nick in June!
Overseas – Our time in overseas in Germany and on Active Duty will be done this summer, and we plan to move to Minnesota! A job and a place to live are still unknown...
House – We moved out of our apartment into a duplex house in February because Tom was promotable to Major! =) He “pinned on” his new rank in June. We're proud of him!
Extra – We have an extra bed and bedroom and we'd love your company as long as we still live here!
Winter weather – It has been very snowy this winter so far! It is more than usual for this area, but the main roads and Autobahn are well cared for. It is beautiful, but Sara's rides to bring Nathaniel to his German Kindergarten in the bike trailer quickly ceased!
Excited – Sara's brother Mark and his lovely Krystal were married in July. Our boys were very excited to be ring bearers and Tom and Sara were glad to sing! It was a joyful wedding that proclaimed the love of the Savior to all who were there!
International Baptist Church – Grace IBC is our church family here in Germany. We love to learn, fellowship, and sing praises with them. We both lead and plan the music for each Sunday. Sara teaches the teen Sunday school class. We love this group of students, military, and international families who meet each week to lift up the name of the Lord!
Health – Besides a few bouts with a 24 hour stomach bug and the common cold, we've been quite healthy this year, and we are very thankful.
Nathaniel - Our boy who loves to create with Legos, Duplos, Baufix, mud and shovels, anything...he just loves to design and build!
Ages – This summer Nathaniel turned 4 and Josiah turned 2. They celebrated their birthdays while at the Katzenberger's house, and Papa Gene had a big surprise 60th birthday party!
Capetown, South Africa – Our whole family spent 2 weeks in May helping with soup kitchens, teaching Bible school, leading Christian conferences, serving and being blessed by people from this lovely country. (We can't wait to go back!)
Huggy - Our Josiah loves to be held, loved, rubbed, and cuddled. He gives awesome hugs!
Talk – Both of our boys are very verbal. Both boys could speak in full sentences and make loud proclamations by 15 months! There is never a quiet waking moment in our household. They sing, chatter, giggle, tell stories, make up rhymes, squabble, sass, and talk, talk, talk.
Eat – We love German food! Mmm—we'll miss the bread, the cheese, the sausage and the Schnitzel. Now we'll have to learn to make our favorite German meals at home!
New Addition – we're expecting another baby in July!

Beautiful Bavaria

For the last 8 days we've been in Bavaria. Tom attended a medical conference at a hotel there, and the little guys and I just enjoyed the mountains and swimming pool at the hotel. The boys and I swam every day. We took a cable car up to a mountain peak and enjoyed the view from the top. We "hiked" every day, too. A hike with a 2 and 4 year old is more like a wander-back-and-forth, but at least we enjoyed our surroundings and could praise our God for His fantastic creation. The fall colors were nearly done, but there were a few trees still hanging onto their leaves. Together we contemplated the amazing possibilities about the ways God created mountains (were the rocks like play-do in his big strong hands or did He draw it with His finger and then it took on shape and form??). We enjoyed our time together. One day when Daddy was out of his classes earlier in the afternoon we took a fast ride down the mountain side on a rodelbahn (alpine slide). It was an exciting rush!

After the conference was finished for Tom, we went to stay at a farm near Berchtesgaden for a couple days. The boys enjoyed petting the cats and goats and maneuvering the toy tractors and trailers. We wandered around the barns, observed the cows, checked out the tractors and came to the conclusion that farming is a LOT of work! We also enjoyed the boat ride in the Königsee and a hike up and around peaks at the other end.

Enjoy the photos from our recent Bavarian adventures!

Getting Creative

With the cold days settling in, and quite a lot of rain, too, the boys and I have been getting creative indoors.

Nathaniel is not really "into" coloring or sitting for much time to create art, so he's been dancing and singing and making lava rocks of our couch cushions (jumping from cushion to cushion to avoid the hot lava on the floor). He's creative in his own energetic crazy way. I just have to take it and help him channel that craziness into something that doesn't destroy the house or his brother! He sings a lot, too. His singing is often an indicator of the mood for that day. He likes to sing all day sometimes - all his conversation in song - some days he wakes up and says he wants to have an "opera day" and then he just starts singing everything he says! He's been making up lots of new dance moves and asking me to watch his "dance shows." Very, very funny.

Josiah has been finding his own preferences and personality. While Nathaniel has been at kindergarten, I have been learning about and enjoying my little boy's humor and creativity. We've been attending the weekly story-and-craft-hour at our local library. Josiah is loving this! He especially enjoys anything with glue and talking with the other kids about their crafts. And he loves to play with play-dough! He's painted several times at home, too. While I have been working on a couple small canvas paintings to decorate the boys' bathroom, he's been painting right next to me at the table. It is fun to be near each other and just hear him chatter about his "creatures" he's painting.

I have been painting and sewing and baking, too. It has actually been a joy to have a few cold days, and it is good to sometimes slow down and stay home. I just finished a couple 8x10 inch paintings for the boys' bathroom - a water/pond theme - one has a lizard and one has a flamingo. They are just silly and not realistic - no great works of art - but cute nonetheless. And it is really fun for me! I have sewed and patched up about 5 pairs of jeans and took in the waist. I also sewed a horse mane and tail and ears on an existing sweatshirt for Nathaniel's Halloween costume. He has been galloping around the house for a fews days whinnying and snorting. The more I sew and paint, the quicker I get and the set-up and clean-up process becomes more efficient, too.

There have been many lonely days and the Lord is prompting me to pray when that lonely feeling nags in my heart. While I lay in bed between 6:30 (Tom is up, but not the kids yet) and 7 each morning I've been asking the Lord to review my day's to-do list for His plans. Nathaniel's anger and mouthy moments have lessened over the last 2 months. God is answering our (and your) prayers and I can see a little softening of his heart here and there with sweet conversations about our Savior.

I used to think that spending time doing "frivolous things" was not what God wanted for me, and staying home with children might be boring or not "big enough" to serve God. I have been realizing more and more lately that having a peaceful home, helping Tom whenever I can, working to discipline the children, working on peace in my stubborn heart, and creating a home with pleasant walls brings blessing to Him, as well. So, why don't y'all come visit us here???!

Happy Anniversary!

Today is our 10th Anniversary! 10 years ago today I stood with a happy heart and jittery knees to marry the love of my life. He's still the love of my life. He is kind and patient, funny and cute, and he has a sparkle in his eyes that I adore. He is a good Daddy and we are figuring out this parenting stuff together. He loves God and seeks Him on our behalf. I love you Tom and always will!

Summer Travels, achey hearts, and new friends

Hello Again Friends! Sorry for the delay, but we've been gone again. I guess that is why our blog is titled "Our Life Far Away" - because we are always far away from somewhere, usually from home. In June we enjoyed a visit from Tom's cousin, Nick. We did a few local travels and enjoyed having a German and French spokesman with us! Nick is quite the linguist and quite the super-babysitter. I was able to catch up on a dental cleaning while he watched the kids, as well as a few other errands. We enjoyed his stay with us. As I usually say, anyone is welcome to come visit and stay in our home!! We enjoy playing tour-guide =)!





















This July we were traveling in Minnesota, my former home, and hopefully our future home, too (after Germany, and before Heaven, that is)! My brother Mark got married to a super girl named Krystal. What a blessed and joyful wedding it was! Tom and I sang and the boys were ring-bearers. We also enjoyed time at a family reunion. And we celebrated my Dad's 60th Birthday with a surprise party. We spent lots of our hours outdoors- hiking, boating, fishing, and just hanging out at various playgrounds all across the Twin Cities. The flight was LONG (alone without Daddy), but our airplane neighbors were so nice and helped me with carrying the boys and the stuff when both of them were fast asleep and we had to stand in long customs lines. It was as though this one man was an angel placed in the seat next to us. He was never annoyed and played legos with Nathaniel and read him a story while I walked and rocked Josiah.

While in MN it was such a JOY being able to catch up with a couple friends from years ago, and made a new friend, too. Let me admit, that I am struggling with loneliness like never before in my life. I just cannot seem to grow close to anyone. Everyone is so busy, and kids are so demanding, and this is just a tough time in life. Many ladies have told me how the pre-school years are draining and that this phases will pass...and I know it will, but it is a lonesome place to be right now. It was so nice to have extra hands and hugs while staying by my parents, and less household responsibilities, too! I recently read a couple days of devotions in the "My Utmost For His Highest" book that admonished me to look out the world in need and to look up to God, letting go of my sin and constant self-evaluation and allowing Him to give the joy and the fulfillment. Yeah, tough to do. I am always introspective and pondering my failures, my hopes, my desires for my children....my...my...my... and I have a hard time letting go to look up to Him to rejoice in His great salvation!! Does anyone else feel this way? Do you have any stories or joys or a practical advice to share on how God changed your self-inspection to God-reflection?

Please enjoy the pictures of the kids and our travels in Minnesota. Thanks for listening (watching?) to my personal and spiritual longings.