The challenges of compassion
Posted: April 29, 2012 Filed under: Brice's thoughts, Project Compassion, TCK, Youth Compass | Tags: Project Compassion, Romania, Youth Compass 1 Comment »It has been a few weeks since I returned from Project Compassion, the annual Youth Compass service project. The week was filled with joy, pain, and exhaustion. There were over 50 high school students and adults in our group. The students who came attend schools in Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and The Netherlands, but make up a sample of the world in their passports and experiences. Most of us spent 24 hours riding a bus to Romania to serve the Roma people.
The Project Compassion week has two pieces: serve the poor and introduce high school students to Jesus. I had an incredible time serving alongside my high school friends. We worked hard during the day and in the evening had “club” with lots of laughing, dancing, singing and listening. Our speaker, Mason Rutledge, worked alongside kids during the day and shared the news of Christ’s great love and full life with the room full of teens every evening.
We worked with Networks Romania in two different locations: a camp in Taut (used for reaching out to those in the community) and in the Roma community itself near Siria. We accomplished a lot during our time by working on projects that will provide life-giving food, water and shelter.
There were some incredible challenges throughout the week, the least of which were physical exhaustion and an overdose of bread and nutella for breakfast each morning.
On morning four we had our leader meeting, just like every other morning. Mason told us that he would be sharing that night about sin being a condition of our heart and our separation from God. Having been to a few camps, I know that there can be challenges as kids process that information and I felt myself mentally preparing to deal with anything that arose.
Our kids working in the community that day witnessed two disturbing events: one Roma child strangling a puppy and another child killing a puppy with a large hammer. In an effort to address what had happened with the whole group, one of the Networks staff shared why they work with the Roma people. I’ll paraphrase: In this community there are some really good people and really bad people. People who steal, who abuse and people who mistreat animals. We work with the Roma, not because they are good (moral) people, or they deserve to be helped, but because Christ has called us to love them, clothe them and feed them.
I found myself being challenged, knowing I was going back into that community to serve these people. I was being asked to show love to some who seemed unlovable. It’s easy to say we’re no better than someone else, that we’re all sinners, far from perfect, some of us “perfectly forgiven” (or whatever Christian bumper sticker you’d like to quote), but to realize that God extends His love and grace unconditionally — and that he wants to do it through us — isn’t easy. God’s love and grace is poured out equally upon me and a young boy with a hammer.
Mason shared that night about our broken world and over the next couple of days about how God is rescuing us from that brokenness. Kids responded, continued to serve, and encountered Jesus through the Networks staff and other leaders who daily extend the same love and grace that God extends to each one of us. At the end of the week some kids started a new life with Christ, and all kids were drawn nearer to Him.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. -Romans 5:8
Castles! (sigh)
Posted: March 2, 2012 Filed under: Castles, Germany, Julie's thoughts 4 Comments »As you may have guessed from the title of the blog post, Julie is writing this.
The first movie I ever saw in a theater was “Sleeping Beauty” (circa 1979), and I have loved castles, knights, and princesses ever since! Thanks to my music education, I also developed a love for all things Medieval, Baroque, and Renaissance. Brice and I have visited Neuschwanstein (in Bavaria, Germany) and the Fortress in Salzburg (Austria) separately, but were able to visit three gorgeous castles together when we toured the Loire Valley of France with my parents in 2005. I hope my knowledge of geography, history, and “castle life” (yep, I typed that) will increase, but for now I’m just soaking in the scenery and loving it!
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One Saturday night in early February I told Brice that it was high time we saw a castle up close. We have seen a few turrets from the car window on our drives from place to place, but that just wasn’t enough. And, in true Brice fashion (going “all in” on a moment’s notice), he suggested we go to the castle in Königstein the very next day after church. Yes, please! Königstein is a small town very close to us. The day was extremely cold, but we would not be deterred! Frostbite, I’m not scared of you. We’re going to a castle.
Here is the information posted just inside the gate of the castle: Welcome to Castle Königstein, built around the year 1200 — age of Staufen. It is one of the largest castle ruins in Germany. Castle lovers call it the most interesting one, regarding its three eras — it is atypical. (I corrected a couple of grammar mistakes from the original information.)
On a Saturday morning several weeks later, as I ate breakfast, I realized that we had a free day and hadn’t seen the castle in Bad Homburg. (Bad Homburg is the next town over, and I’ve only been there in the dark.) I woke Brice up with that request, and he came into the living room several minutes later with another suggestion: ”I think we should drive to Heidelberg.” We were out the door in an hour with our German guidebooks in tow.
We considered this our “preview” trip to Hiedelberg, and we were very impressed. We’re excited to go back and pay to have a guided tour so we can enter the castle interior! We saw other kids Will’s age taking guided tours (that was our main reason for not taking a tour this time) and they seemed to handle it well. This was a fantastic Saturday outing! I’m sure we’ll make it to the castle in Bad Homburg soon. 
Lots of maps!
Posted: February 26, 2012 Filed under: Brice's thoughts, Project Compassion, TCK, Youth Compass | Tags: high school students, middle school students, Project Compassion 1 Comment »It’s been a wild couple of weeks involving a sick child, the paramedics, a German hospital that had cutting edge dial-up internet (reassuring), my own illness, working at the school bookstore, basketball games, castles and temperatures above freezing!
I started this blog post at McCafe — I came for the internet which never seemed to work. By the time I was ready to post, not much was relevant. I was in midst of all of the above and planning what I would share with the students we would get to see that week. I shared the about the characteristics of God with the middle school students, and the high school students shared with us a little about themselves.
Both groups engaged in great discussions as they asked questions or shared about their lives up to this point. The high school students drew road maps of their lives and then shared them with us and each other. There were lots of transitions, near-death experiences and interesting encounters — among other things — that have shaped who they are, and I think it gave me a better idea of how to connect with and care for each one of them.
Some of the "Life Roadmaps" from the high school students.
We’ve all recovered from illness, the paramedics were nice, they’ve asked me back to the bookstore, the castles still stand and we’re still warming up! This coming week kids are on ski break. Then we return with only a few weeks before I take high school students to Romania to serve the poor and hear more of the Gospel during Project Compassion.
It’s an incredible privilege to share the greatest love/rescue story of all with these kids, and it’s going to be a memorable spring!
A month on the ground! Investing in the community.
Posted: February 9, 2012 Filed under: Brice's thoughts, Expat, Germany, Oberursel, Project Compassion, TCK, Youth Compass 2 Comments »
Kids "going bananas" at Youth Compass Club
“I want you so close that I can put my arm around your shoulder. I want you to sense the excitement rushing through my veins. You should stand near enough to hear me breathing. Why? Because I want you to know for sure that I am human, just like you. I want you to know that what has happened to me can happen to you.” – Reinhard Bonnke, Evangelist
Julie, Will and I just returned from watching basketball in the FIS (Frankfurt International School) Sporthall and it feels like time for a ministry update.
We have not only jumped into life in Germany, but also into our ministry roles in this community. Here’s a little of what’s been happening and a few things on the horizon.
We have middle school Youth Compass ”Club” meeting every other week and we’re hoping and praying for more leaders to join us as time goes on. We had a great group last week – the number of kids almost tripled. We had a good discussion about creation, which followed several CRAZY games involving bananas.
As of right now, High Schoolers are meeting once a month and we’re receiving registrations and deposits for Project Compassion! At the very end of March I’ll travel with the high school group from Frankfurt as we join international teens from Dusseldorf, Brussels and Switzerland to serve the poor in rural Romania.
I just had a great meeting with the Athletic Director at FIS and will most likely be helping out with the Track and Field team this spring as well as working in the school bookstore every other week in an effort to build relationships with kids and parents.
I’ve spent time meeting with Youth Pastors and Pastors in and around the city of Frankfurt to see how we can work together to reach international teens in this area. I have also traveled to Brussels and will travel to Berlin in March to meet with volunteers and churches who are working to reach teens in their communities. I have had some great conversations and look forward to furthering relationships with some great people spread across this city and continent.
There is a lot to be done and I (we) appreciate your prayers in these endeavors. We have been so blessed by your support, prayers and words of encouragement so far! We feel privileged to serve in this role.
We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 2. Corinthians 5:20
Thank you for standing with us!
FIRSTS
Posted: February 7, 2012 Filed under: Expat, Germany, Julie's thoughts 3 Comments »- Will’s FIRST booster seat was a bargain at the local grocery store! Don’t worry, he meets the weight requirement and this car seat is approved by the German government. Best of all, this sleek little number is much easier to manage in our two-door coupe. Will’s plush, beautiful car seat didn’t leave enough room for his feet (behind Brice’s seat) or anyone else’s rear end in the back seat with him. Will is quite proud and we are quite relieved!
Will is sittin' pretty in his new booster seat!
- Our FIRST family train ride, to downtown Frankfurt, was documented in an earlier blog post. Here is a picture of Brice and Will, ready to leave our apartment building on that day.
Leaving for our first family train ride!
- During that first family visit to downtown Frankfurt, I saw a dog in a mall for the FIRST time. This was not a service dog! It was just someone’s pet, walking on a leash … in the mall. I saw two different dogs in the mall that day.
- I did laundry in the basement for the FIRST time – there’s a laundry room where all tenants in our building keep their washers/dryers. I found laundry soap, but there wasn’t a dryer (nor was there fabric softener) for a few weeks. It was my FIRST time line-drying every bit of our laundry! There’s a warm “drying room” in the basement with clothes lines for all to use. Our clothes were a bit crunchy those first two weeks, but it was no big deal!
- Our FIRST snow in Germany was on a Saturday morning. Brice took Will outside while I read and drank coffee (5,000 bonus points for Daddy). Will loved throwing snowballs at Brice – hilarious! They walked downtown on the walking path and discovered the Saturday market.
Will walks in our FIRST snow.
- Will’s FIRST play date in Germany was in the nearby town of Neu Anspach. Will and I set out on their own, making five train transfers during the total trip … and we survived! Our new friend from church and her son were excellent hosts, and we had a great time. Here’s Will at the train station (waiting for our last connection) on our way home.
Will waits for the train, eager for his FIRST play date in Germany!
- I survived my FIRST time driving our car in Germany. Did I mention that our car is a stick shift? Special thanks to my Dad for teaching me to drive one at the age of 16. I think I impressed Brice, who didn’t know I could drive a stick. I drove to the grocery store … then I killed the car on the way home. Boo! In my defense, it’s also really hard to tell whether you’re in first gear or third, and nothing lights up to show you. So, you think you’re in first gear (after waiting at a stop light) and you prepare to go, but … something’s wrong … awww shoot – you’re in third. Seriously, come drive the car and you’ll see! I know we’ll learn to “feel it” a little better as time goes on. I’m just glad that I can get myself to the grocery store and back!
- The FIRST Kindergarten we visited seemed absolutely fantastic. We put Will on a waiting list, visited another place a few days later, and then the FIRST place called with a spot for Will! We were told there wasn’t much of a chance of getting him into that school before summer, so this is truly exciting! He starts in a few weeks.
Will (and Mommy and Daddy) loved the FIRST Kindergarten we visited!
- Our FIRST road trip in Germany was excellent! Brice drove us to Dusseldorf, about two hours away, to visit another Youth Compass family. We hope to spend lots of time with them in the future! Thanks to the Colemans for delicious food, comfy and cute accommodations, great conversation, and lots of fun play time for Will!
One of the many reasons we had a great time with the Colemans in Dusseldorf!
- We decided to give Will his FIRST cathedral visit on the way home from Dusseldorf. We drove into nearby Cologne (Koln) – thank goodness for the GPS – and toured the famous Cathedral. Will was very interested in the stained glass windows depicting familiar Bible characters and stories. It was truly beautiful. Two thumbs up for spontaneity!
Koln Cathedral
Inside the Koln Cathedral
- Will got his FIRST taste of a German McDonalds across from the Cathedral in Koln. Can I just say that the customer service there was fantastic? Seriously, we need to call and give the man who helped us a glowing review. He was so helpful and kind, and his English was fantastic (although he apologized for it a couple of times). Also, why don’t all McDonalds locations have curry sauce for their nuggets/fries? Oh yeah … so Julie can stay in the same size jeans. I don’t even like French fries, but that sauce was GOOD.
Yes, that's a McDonalds right next to the Cathedral.
- When you are very cold and have a long car ride ahead, you just need a little pick-me-up. ‘Twas the perfect time to experience our FIRST German Starbucks. Will sipped a hot cocoa, I had a caramel macchiato, and Brice ordered a mocha. Ahhhhh.
Mmmm.
- Our FIRST experience at a German school was an “Open House” at Marion’s daughter’s school in Neu Anspach. Her daughter performed with a school singing group, and most of you know that’s right up my alley! We watched the performance, toured the school, spent time with Marion and her kids at their home, and enjoyed a delicious lunch of homemade Kartoffelpuffe (our FIRST — served with Apfelmuss and Mirabelmuss from Marion’s garden) and scrumptious cake and coffee. Will had a blast playing with Marion’s son’s Star Wars LEGO collection. Yes, a 14-year-old let a 4-year-old play with his toys! Glorious. I also played piano for the FIRST time in a month … and it was the first time I’d played “classical” piano in years!!! I’m excited to brush up on my rusty skills. I’m accompanying Marion at a church event this weekend – she is a wonderful flautist.
- During Brice’s FIRST trip to Brussels, I had my FIRST driving experience on the Autobahn. Where did I drive, you ask? Why, IKEA, of course! Again, thank goodness for the GPS … and the fact that IKEA is right off of the Autobahn exit.
- We chose a very cold day for our FIRST family walk to town. I love the beautiful scenery and I can’t wait for it to warm up a bit so I can feel my fingers along the way. Here are some horses grazing in a field next to the walking trail. Before we made it to our lunch destination …
Pferd!
… Brice pulled a child from an icy stream for the FIRST time. The stream wasn’t as frozen as the boy thought! He was right next to the back gate of a house (his, we hope) and he had a friend with him, thank goodness. He sat there, stunned, after falling in (the water wasn’t very deep). Brice pulled him out and asked “Are you OK?” He didn’t seem to speak any English. He swore in German (I think), stood up, and started crying. His friend encouraged him to walk inside the gate. I’m not sure his friend would have been able to pull him out without falling in himself, so I’m very glad we were walking by them at that very moment!
- On that same walk, Brice wore Will’s stocking cap for the FIRST time. Wearing your four-year-old’s hat? That’s how you know it’s cold. (In case you’re wondering, Will has a really warm coat with a hood, and he prefers just wearing the hood sometimes.)
Wearin' Will's beanie
- Last week we received our FIRST package that wasn’t something we ordered or mailed to ourselves! How exciting!!! Thanks to Holly, Brian, and Cooper Johnson for the absolutely perfect kitchen towels/rags, goodies, and Valentine’s Day love. We are so blessed by you!
Thanks, Cooper!
- Will earned a toy reward and of course chose a Star Wars LEGO set – his FIRST in Germany! I think his Daddy helped him choose … this particular set is really cool (and new) and was on sale (!!!) at Real.
Will and his Landspeeder LEGO set
- Our fantastic upstairs neighbors took us on a local excursion a few days ago: the Saturday market, our FIRST trip to the Oberursel library, a Turkish grocery store (where he bought us fresh parsley & dill), their favorite coffee shop (where Will had his first Schokokuss), and our FIRST bus ride – they have annual bus passes and can take guests on weekends. Hooray for friendly neighbors who want to show us around town!
Out and about with the neighbors!
- Our FIRST family castle visit was a huge hit – we are planning an entire blog post about this! Here’s a preview.
FIRST castle for Will!
- I saw a 9-year-old drink a cup of black coffee (his choice, rather than tea or hot cocoa) for the FIRST time! You have me beat, young one. (Special thanks to my new friend Delilah who brought us some flavored coffee creamer from the Commissary at Weisbaden yesterday! Yum!)
- You’re going to think I’m making this one up, but … today was my FIRST time seeing a monkey (wearing a diaper) on a man’s shoulder. They were just walking around town. Hello … you have a monkey on your back. Literally.
To Brussels and back in 22 easy steps, a photo essay.
Posted: February 2, 2012 Filed under: Brice's thoughts, Expat, TCK 3 Comments »I traveled to Brussels, Belgium to meet with Youth Compass volunteers and thought I’d document my trip in photos.
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Unfortunately, I don’t have any pictures from the meeting itself or the wonderful dinner prepared by some North Carolinian members of the YC Board. I’m grateful for dedicated adults that want to help reach the international teens in their communities. I’m also thankful for a great host, a place to sleep (on the battlefield where Napoleon was defeated) and my new friend Steven from Sri Lanka.
The picture above is my favorite. As soon as I took this picture I was approached by a young woman and her son and asked (in French) if this was the train to Brussels Midi (Main Station). I said yes (in English) and I asked her where she was from. She was from Romania and I told her I would be in Romania in April and that it was a beautiful country. We continued to talk. She had only been in Brussels for about a year; her husband is a software developer. She was headed into the city to see a doctor (I think a psychiatrist) because her 4-year-old son was having a hard time adjusting to a new culture. My heart just about exploded — an incredible reminder that TCKs need support no matter the age. We talked just a little longer and were split up as we boarded the train. I smiled and waved as I departed at Brussels Midi and prayed for her and her son the entire trip back.
Weekend Update
Posted: January 21, 2012 Filed under: Expat, Julie's thoughts, Oberursel 4 Comments »
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Our first Friday in Germany was very eventful! Fed Ex delivered two boxes, Will slept in until 9:45 AM, and Brice’s coworker Marien (who is German) came over to help “show us the ropes.”
As well as a wealth of information, Marien brought a box of LEGOs and a cute toy bin for Will to use. She gave us a garbage/recycling tutorial, showed me how to use our washing machine (step one: clean it), and took us to the Oberursel Rathaus (City Hall) for our registration papers. Registration is required for opening a German bank account, getting a German drivers license, and registering Will for Kindergarten. Let me just tell you, we would not have been able to complete this paperwork without Marien! I don’t understand a word of spoken German. (Marien will be helping us get into a German Assimilation course soon.)
Our next stop was the bank, where we completed paperwork to open our German bank account. While waiting for some of our forms to process, we ate lunch at the bakery in Eteca, the grocery store next door. Marien walked through the grocery store with us and gave us some pointers – she also helped me find (almost) nonfat milk! Yahoo! We returned to the bank to finalize our account, then headed home to put Will down for a nap.
Brice made a beautiful meal Friday night (Lemon pepper chicken, salad, and spaetzle with cheese) and then cleaned out the washing machine. My hero! I took some time to catch up on correspondence, write my first blog post, and make some “flash cards” for the house. (Yep, we now have index cards on many of our pieces of furniture, showing the English and German words! It’s like living in a preschool.)
Saturday was gorgeous – cold and clear – so we decided to head out for some adventure after a few loads of laundry in the basement. (I will definitely dedicate an upcoming blog post to laundry, so stay tuned.) We found a wonderful shortcut (walking trail) to the train station! This is great for so many reasons, one of which is the fact that Will can run/walk/jump freely on a trail, as opposed to holding on to my death grip when we’re on a sidewalk next to a busy street. The walk took about 13 minutes, which is great with a four-year-old!
We ate a picnic on the train into downtown Frankfurt and bought treats (baked goods …. yum) at a bakery in the train station. Next, we walked to a park that Brice found online. It stretches on for quite a while – you have to cross streets between sections of the park. We first came to a rather sketchy play area … and then a really great one. Will had fun on the slide, see-saw, and “spinny thing” with some German children. (See picture of the “spinny thing.”) We ended our time in Frankfurt at MyZiel, a five-story mall (similar to Pacific Place in Seattle) with a LEGO store!
After riding the train back to Oberursel, we decided that another trip to IKEA was necessary. (We just didn’t have enough hangers. Seriously.) The store was crazy crowded on a Saturday, but we toughed it out to eat dinner and buy hangers and a rug for the living room.
Back at the house, the boys played “Mario Kart” on the Wii (the power cord arrived from German Amazon that morning) and I did more laundry! I met one of our neighbors, Christina, in the laundry room. She is warm and friendly and speaks English very well. There’s a bonus to using a communal laundry room – getting to know the neighbors!
Sunday was another gorgeous day, so we walked to church at ICF (International Christian Fellowship). The walk took about twenty minutes, and much of it was on a walking trail. We had a great time at church! Kids stay with their parents in the sanctuary for the first part of the service (announcements, music, prayer, children’s sermon), so we’ll be prepared for that next time! Will was able to doodle in my journal and make a new friend (the boy spoke mostly German, so they were just making each other laugh through the opening in Will’s chair) until it was time to go to “Sunday School.” I walked Will to his classroom, but he didn’t want me to leave. So, I spent the rest of the time in the 4- and 5-year-old class! The teacher was the pastor’s wife, whom I met briefly in October, and she was great with the kids. I was able to spend a bit of the time chatting with the helper, Konnie, and we exchanged phone numbers after church. I love the part of Konnie’s story that I heard so far: she is originally from Berlin, but met Christ as a high school exchange student in the US. Hopefully we’ll meet for coffee sometime soon!
Will and I attended Marien’s daughter’s handball game at a school in Oberursel that afternoon while Brice went to a Youth Compass Board meeting. We all had a great time! Will watched the first part of the game very intently (handball is like a cross between soccer and basketball), went down on the court to practice his blocking skills during the break, and looked at his LEGO Star Wars book during the second half of the game. I’m certain we were the only Americans there! We both really enjoyed Marien’s company, a cake she brought to share, and a totally German experience!
We had a soup dinner at home that night, and Brice and I watched a few American sitcoms on the computer before bed. (It was nice to laugh at good ol’ Dwight Schrute again.)
Well, I think that ends the play-by-play description of our first few days in Germany! By no means did I stay within the “acceptable” blog post word limit, but what’s done is done. 
From now on you’ll get summaries of our adventures, topical entries, and pictures! Thanks for reading. These are times I never want to forget.
Teensy Forks
Posted: January 18, 2012 Filed under: Expat, Germany, Julie's thoughts, Oberursel 4 Comments »Two of our boxes were delivered on Thursday, our third day in Germany. I was happy to reunite with my non-metric measuring cups, spoons, and food scale! After breakfast, I spent some time washing and organizing things in the kitchen. Have I mentioned that I love the kitchen?
Early that afternoon, Brice drove us into the downtown area of Oberursel in search of a park. We found a nice, small play area where Will could swing and run around (see picture). Afterward, we walked into the town center and visited the toy store. Will was very excited to see Star Wars LEGO sets! Those sets are quite a bit more expensive here than in the US. (If you’ve ever priced one in the states, you know we’re talking expensive.) I’m so glad he’s content just to look at a toy and tell me he wants it “on his list!”
Our next stop was Edeca, another grocery store near our apartment. This is a different grocery store from the one we shopped in on Tuesday. Edeca is a bit bigger, has more selection (the produce looks great and there’s even a small Mexican food section), and seems to be a tad more expensive. There is also a bakery/deli just inside the entrance. We bought a few grocery items and then I got a sandwich at the deli … and the girl behind the counter kind of laughed at me! I don’t know exactly what I did wrong — probably everything — but apparently it was humorous. Oh well, at least it wasn’t a really mean laugh. She didn’t command me to stir my yogurt or anything. (If you don’t know the “you’re supposed to stir your yogurt” story, just ask!)
Brice and Will bought french fries from a man selling them out of a truck in the parking lot. Wow … that sounds so sketchy! Don’t worry — it’s the kind of truck you see at a fair, with an open counter on one side. Get this: the fries came with a teensy fork! That’s what I’m talking about, Germany! If you’re going to give my son french fries, make sure he uses a utensil instead of getting his paws all greasy. I approve. We also spotted some FIS (Frankfurt International School) students at the french fry truck. We may spend more time there than we realize! (Factoid: Julie Johnson doesn’t like french fries … but she loves teensy forks.)
We enjoyed a great meal with the Schmidt family that night! Tim (YC Frankfurt Board Chair — he picked us up from the airport, if you read my previous posts), his wife Amy, and their three kids (in 9th, 6th, and 2nd grade) invited us to their house for a delicious dinner of lasagna, salad, and cupcakes. Will was elated to find out that the Schmidt boys have Star Wars LEGOs. I hear that he also “played” a dance game with the kids on their Wii … and I never had the chance to warn them about his dancing. Oops. (Perhaps I should post a video example?) It was so nice to relax with new friends.
We are so very blessed by the ways each of you have encouraged and supported us. We have a long road ahead, of course, but the beginning of this journey has been extremely positive. Thank you for praying and reading the updates!
And don’t forget to stir your yogurt.
Gummi Bear Tales
Posted: January 17, 2012 Filed under: Brice's thoughts, Germany, Oberursel, TCK, Youth Compass 2 Comments »Just a quick post from Brice: We had our first middle school event tonight!
We had a small group of kids and played several games. One involved Gummi Bears, which were inhaled at an alarming rate by all, including our 4 year old, who “really likes daddy’s new job!”
I shared with the kids from John 3 when Nicodemus approaches Jesus after dark to get his questions answered.
At the end of our time I had the kids each write down 3 things. Here are the questions and some of the highlighted responses.
1. What do Brice, Julie and Will need to know about living in Germany?
A: German Pizza tastes different.
A: Germans stare at you a lot, sometimes.
A: Don’t drive too slow on the Autobahn!
2. What do you love to do with your friends in the area?
A: Shopping
A: Play sports with friends
A: Get pizza with friends
3. If you could ask God one thing, what would it be?
A: Can you get me a Lamborghini?
A: Can you give me a life?
A: Are you real?
A: Will you bring Chick-fil-A to Germany? (Coincidentally, I ask God this daily…I love this kid.)
Meatballs
Posted: January 15, 2012 Filed under: Expat, Germany, Julie's thoughts, Oberursel 5 Comments »
Our Adventures on Wednesday (Disclaimer/note from Brice…Julie has promised not to blog everyday.)
Will and I both slept in past 10:00 am, which was quite necessary since we were awake until 3:00 am! It was nice to have a leisurely morning in our new home. After “breakfast” (it was more like brunch), we had a Skype call with Julie’s parents and made plans to head to IKEA. (I’m laughing right now at the fact that I thought I could wait an entire week before going to IKEA … wait ’til you have enough clothes to fill two closets and only ten hangers!)
I was nervous about Brice’s first drive on the Autobahn, but I really wanted hangers. So, he made sure he knew where he was going (we are so thankful for wireless internet in this apartment), we got dressed and ready to go, then set off for a German/Swedish adventure.
Have I mentioned that we are driving a black, two door, hatchback BMW? Will helped me name it Darth. It’s awesome. (Well, getting Will into his mammoth car seat in a two-door coupe is not awesome, but it will be awesome when he’s in a sleek little booster seat. We are planning to fatten him up with weinerschnitzel.) So, we piled into Darth and were at IKEA in less than ten minutes with no traffic violations or wrong turns. This IKEA is rather glorious, let me tell you. It’s a two story building (blue, of course) with huge glass windows on the top floor. We figured out how to get to the main entrance from the parking garage, couldn’t figure out how to get a shopping cart upstairs, and decided not to put Will in the kids’ play area until we feel a bit more comfortable with him in German-speaking situations. They have interesting things in IKEA anyway, so we knew he’d be fine.
I know I don’t have to go into detail about a trip to IKEA – most of you have been there and done that – but it was an important part of our assimilation process. So, we enjoyed a delicious lunch of meatballs and mashed potatoes (Will loved it) and enjoyed the beautiful view out of the huge glass windows. The eating area in this IKEA is pretty fancy! Parts of it look like a swanky club … and then there are little play areas for the kids. Will was especially impressed with the conveyor belts that took our trays away.
This shopping trip will go down in history for many reasons, one of which was the eager, relaxed demeanor displayed by my husband, who is usually anti-IKEA. (Psst … wives, take your husband to IKEA on a Wednesday around 1:00 pm. Hardly anyone else will be there.) We strolled leisurely through the place, picking up necessities such as a step stool (Will couldn’t reach our sink faucet), hand towels for the bathroom, plastic plates & bowls for Will (almost all of ours are glass, and the floors are tile/laminate – yikes), a hand broom/dustpan set, a tall broom & dustpan set, a candle, and six sets of hangers. (Home décor will come much later … if ever.) We also bought Will a stuffed puppy, which he eventually used as a pillow. He named the dog “boy,” and it’s now the son of his most-loved stuffed animal, “Puppy.” Maybe someday he will get into his mom’s habit of naming things with silly names (ie. Mr. Boom-Boom, Dirty Jennifer, Ninja, and Miss Jackson), but it’s just “Puppy” and “Boy” for now.
We didn’t get on the Autobahn correctly on the way home from IKEA, so we got a bit lost. We ran into some closed roads (although the signs showed that they usually take you to Oberursel), figured out that we were lost in Bad Hamburg, and Brice was able to get us back home by looking on his phone at the last screen he loaded from Google Maps at the apartment. Will was asleep in his car seat by the time we got lost, so it wasn’t very stressful. Whew!
The rest of the night was spent sweeping, organizing the closets, Skyping with Brice’s parents, and eating an easy dinner. (Brice made ravioli from a can, which we ate with our yummy loaf of bread from the grocery store.) I’d say that our second day in Germany was a great one, even though it was also quite Swedish.
