Ich bin ein Berliner

We had the opportunity to go to Berlin a couple weeks ago. We spent about 3 days in and around the city. We were blessed to meet and to stay with new friends who are missionaries to college and university students in the city. They welcomed us, fed us, and we enjoyed wonderful encouraging conversations getting to know one another and recognizing the work of God in each other's lives.

In case you didn't realize, a Berliner is a jelly-donut but also a way to say you are a citizen of the city of Berlin. So we enjoyed a good little chat about that word while we were there. Nathaniel is always interested in puns and funny words. President Kennedy spoke the famous words "Ich bin ein [I am a] Berliner..." when he visited the city.

While in Berlin, we went for several hours to the Legoland in the newly built Potsdamerplatz. (Nathaniel thought he was in heaven!) We also saw the typical historic tourist sites: remains of the Berlin Wall, the Reichstag building with the grand glass dome, Gendamerplatz, Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church (this also has a new glass prism-like structure built around the bombed original church), the Brandenburg Gate, and the Rittersport Chocolate factory/museum. Berlin is a well-restored city. What hasn't been restored was torn down and replaced by lots of shiny glass modern architecture. It was uncommonly sunny during the days while we were there. It was hard to imagine that it was ever a cold, grey, communist, war-torn city, as it is so carefully and beautifully built up.

We certainly enjoyed our time in Berlin and the boys have been asking and pretending with various vehicles to drive back to Berlin again!

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!

Advent Calendar

I have been looking for a couple years for a simple way to count down the days to Christmas and look forward to the joyful day of celebrating Christ's birth. Most everything I saw in the stores involved candy as a part of the count-down. Not a good idea if this calendar is to be used a bedtime! Then I found this cute magnetic Advent Calendar. I ordered it and it came to us in about a week - perfect timing!

Here is our daily reading to go with it (adapted from Noel Piper's advent calendar readings, since her calendar is no longer available for purchase). I hope it will be a wonderful way for our family, this year and for many years to come, to count down and look forward the day we celebrate our Savior's birthday!

The item in bold each day is what will be put on the calendar.

Jesus is the greatest Treasure of all. This is the story of how He came to us. Long ago, God made a promise about a little town named Bethlehem. He said, “O Bethlehem…from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel.” Jesus is the King that God promised to send.
1) One time, a long time ago, in Bethlehem there was a place called a stable.
2) In the stable there was a manger
3) filled with hay for the animals to eat.
4) Animals like a sheep…
5) and perhaps a cow.
6) There was also a donkey who lived in the stable.
7) One day the animals had a big surprise. A woman came to stay in the stable. Her name was Mary, and she was glad to rest in the stable with the animals, because she was going to have a baby, very soon!
8) Her husband, Joseph, was with her. Before they traveled to Bethlehem, an angel of God told him in a dream that the baby was God’s son. The angel said, “You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” The baby was the King God had promised.
9) Mary and Joseph could not find a cozy inn or a warm house to stay in because the emperor had commanded all the men, women, girls, and boys to go to their hometowns and sign up for paying taxes.
10) Little Bethlehem was filled with people (lady with basket), so there was no room for Mary and Joseph. Their baby would be born in the stable with the animals.
11) It was a very busy time in this little town, many people were hustling and bustling around with their luggage, running to get water or food for their families while they were staying in Bethlehem.
12) Out in the fields near Bethlehem, there was a shepherd.
13) …taking care of his sheep…
14) …under the trees, outside in the hills near Bethlehem.
15) Maybe there were other shepherds with him….
16) …to help him take care of the sheep.
17) Since many shepherds cared for their flocks in the hills surrounding that area.
18) That night God also sent a very special star.
19) Far away, a wise man saw the star and said “This is the sign that a special king has been born. I must find him and worship him. I’ll bring him a royal gift of gold.” So he got his camel ready to travel.
20) …and he brought along another wise man who had a gift of rich perfume, called frankincense, for the King.
21) He brought with him a third wise man who prepared a gift of precious oil, called myrrh for the king. When they had packed their baggage on their camels, all the wise men set out on the long, long journey to find the king that God had promised.
22) One night, an angel, of the Lord appeared to the shepherd. And the glory of the Lord shone around them. They were filled with fear. But the angel said, “Fear not. I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly, there was a multitude of angels, praising God and saying “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
23) Then the angels went away from the shepherds back into heaven. And they said to one another, “Let us go into Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
24) And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.
25) And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby Jesus lying in the manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
When Jesus grew up, he died and rose from the dead to save us from our sins. He is our greatest Treasure!

Halloween & St. Martin's Day

We celebrated Halloween again this year with the chapel "Hallelujah Festival". We enjoy the non-scary atmosphere and free supper, and the boys adore the big jump-house! Josiah dressed up as a mouse and Nathaniel was a horse. Fun was had by all!

On Nov. 11, Americans celebrate Veterans' Day. Tom gets a day off from work and we love an opportunity to relax together with no destination to rush off to. Germans celebrate that day, too; it is St. Martin's Day. St. Martin was a Roman soldier in Germany (long ago) who was kind to the poor and gave away his own belongings. The children celebrate by making lanterns and singing songs together to commemorate St. Martin's good deeds for the poor. Nathaniel's kindergarten held an evening gathering and processed around our town with their little lanterns. Nat, Jo, and Mom made paper lanterns for this event (a monster truck and an owl)- they were cute and glowed quite well in the dark night! Nathaniel did a great job learning German songs and his class even sang songs the next day at a nearby nursing home.

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!

Luther Sites

We had the opportunity a couple weeks ago to visit Eisenach and Erfurt. These cities are about 2 hours northeast of here, in the former East Germany. The cities look different (eastern Germany is still poorer and less built up than west) and language is a little different dialect, too. We stayed at a nice little B & B and stretched our German skills over breakfast small talk. Nathaniel enjoyed trying out a few new German phrases he's learning at Kindergarten. He likes to travel to new places and especially likes staying in hotels. He's got the travel-bug =)

These are cities where much of Martin Luther's life and ministry occurred. We read and re-learned about his powerful ministry here in Germany. It was a rainy day, but we hiked up the big hills all over the town anyway. The leaves were bright and splendid. We visited the Wartburg castle where Luther hid away and translated the bible - and where he supposedly threw the inkpot at the devil. We enjoyed the castle tour. The castle has been beautifully kept up. There are many different eras of building and decoration and preferences of the Dukes and Duchesses who have resided over the course of the last 900 years! We saw Luther's childhood home (which is now a museum). We attended a music festival/church service on Sunday morning while in Erfurt and enjoyed some nice choral and organ music at the Thomas Kirche and played on the playground outside the church. We ate some good schnitzel, delicious soup, and during our journey we stopped to let the kids play at McDonalds. (yes, even in east Germany...)

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???!

Off to Kindergarten...

Nathaniel went to Kindergarten today. He was up and excited at 6:45 this morning! We packed his McQueen backpack with a few snacks, pencils, pens, his new chapstick, and a couple pictures of our family. He brought his rain coat and boots and rain pants, too (required for German school). I took the boys in the bike trailer and we rode off to kindergarten. German Kindergarten is more like pre-school. There is more emphasis on play-skills and social-skills than on structured academics. There were lots of great activities: trains, Legos, wood blocks, markers, pencils, sewing, weaving, kitchen and home-making toys, microscopes with lots of real insect samples, and large outdoors play area. The teachers can speak some English, but instruction, including bible time at the nearby church, singing, and stories are all in German. I stayed with him for about an hour. Josiah loved the time we spent there, too!

I left him there for the morning. I prayed for him as a rode away. I felt a little teary-eyed, but confident that this is a good thing and good place. The only time he whined or fussed was when I came back at lunchtime. He wasn't ready to leave yet and he didn't want me there! He said he'd like to go back again this evening, but he'll have to wait for tomorrow morning. Right now he's fast asleep for a nap.

I am glad he enjoyed his first day. I hope that he will learn German and learn to love others and share. I pray for opportunities to love others and share our lives with other families, too. Please pray for us!

Biker Boys

Nathaniel learned to ride a bike without training wheels last week! He was so proud. He didn't think he could do it (actually, neither did I), but Daddy had confidence and patience. They just kept on trying. By the end of an hour he was pedaling down the street with a big handsome smile! He has been riding a few times since then, and he continues to amaze me. Nathaniel is not very good at steering straight - so we try to ride where there are not cars parked nearby...



Josiah is starting to ride Nathaniel's Laufrad ("running bike"). He walks along the sidewalk and all around the yard. He feels big and he likes that he can ride a bike like Nathaniel. He can't run with it, but running and balance will come with time!



Enjoy these videos of the boys in action!

Happy Birthday Josiah!

Today, August 12, is Josiah's 2nd birthday. I've included a slide show so you can see what a wonderful little boy he's become.

Josiah loves to giggle and chatter. He tells silly stories and funny jokes that make Nathaniel laugh, too. He charms everyone at our church because he remembers names and says hello to them each Sunday. He brings such joy to our lives and to the lives of many around us. He gives great hugs. He comes to my bed every morning for a couple minutes for a snuggle after Daddy's gone to work and before Nathaniel has woken up. I cherish those quiet little moments with him. He is tough, too. He argues with Nathaniel about anything and everything (recently heard from the bathroom : "No! No! No! It's not! It is my turn to go potty!!"). He likes to grab other children's toys and make a run for it. He usually succeeds with this method with other children in the nursery because he is quick. He is able to quietly and quickly open doors and escape. He gets roughed up a lot outside and just keeps on truckin'. He likes to climb high and run fast. He loves to dig in the dirt. He is learning to ride a trike and a laufrad and enjoys these "big boy" activities. He's growing up very fast. Only his chubby cheeks and chubby thighs reveal how much of a baby he still is. Otherwise, he is all BOY! Happy Birthday Sweet Funny Josiah! We love you! (If you're curious to see Nathaniel's 2 year old slide show, follow this link!)

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

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.