Hannah's Surprise

On Saturday we planned a surprise for Hannah for her baptism. We did this with help from our former exchange student Adrian. Adrian called on the Monday before the baptism to say he could attend the baptism and suggested that maybe it could be a surprise. Tamara set it up so the other children new about the surprise and Hannah knew that dad, i.e., me, was picking up the surprise on Saturday morning before the baptism. The surprise was arriving at the train station at about 10a.m.

When I arrived back home with "the surprise" Hannah was glued to the TV as she and the kids were playing Playstation 2 (we just got a Playstation after being without one for over a year, so the kids were understandably excited). We called to Hannah. "Dad is here!" "With your surprise." "Turn off the TV!" "Time for Hannah's surprise." But the pull of the Playstation was too strong. By this time Adrian and I were right behind Hannah and the other kids in the living room. All of the other kids had looked, but were silent - very well done I must say.

Hannah, while still looking at the TV said, "Well, is it wrapped." We all burst out laughing and Hannah turned around. She saw Adrian, and just melted in joy. She ran to him and jumped up into his arms. It was one of the sweetest moments of Hannah's baptism day.

Pears!

I love pears! I love them even more hear in Germany. In Germany, the pears are larger and have a more robust skin. This robust skin seems to allow the fruit to grow longer without being damaged, making the fruit and its sweetness exquisite.

Tamara found some at the store recently and they were phenomenal. I've also had some at work that are shaped like apples. They are equally delicious.

Ah, the Rhine

The Rhine is much smaller than the Mississippi as far as width goes. But there seems to be just as much activity on the Rhine as on there was on the Mississippi and Missouri rivers when I was a child.

Today while crossing the Rhine I noticed several barges in transit, some heading north, and some traveling south. What I didn't hear and missed a bit this morning was the horn of the barges. I don't often hear the horn when I am near the Rhine that I heard growing up near the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.

The barge horn I remember growing up sounds just like a train horn. So when I hear a train horn, or a barge horn, I always think of the barges on the Mississippi.

Crossing the Rhine each day on the tram is a great pleasure.

I Love Crossing the Rhine

This morning I got to cross the Rhine riding on the U77. Every morning and every evening I get to the cross the Rhine. The frequency of this event does not diminish it's significance for me. I love crossing the Rhine.

I'll have to write more on this later. I Have to get back to work.

Why Germany?

A post back to a friend who asked about our chosen place of residence: Germany.

Thanks for such kind words. My family is truly great. They've changed my life forever. I recently took vacation from work while Tamara and our oldest, Shantal, went to the U.S. Boy, did I miss the kids when I went back to work.

Why Germany is a question I ask myself pretty much everyday. It still seems like such a crazy thing to have done, as we have made a complete transfer to this country (we're not "expats" with paid trips to the U.S. every year, international schools, etc.). We are planning on returning to the U.S., but the when, how, and where do we land in the U.S. are all very open questions. We would like to return in the summer of 2013.

My desire to live and work in Germany started while I served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (90-92). After returning to the U.S. the desire only intensified. The movie link at the end of the message captures pretty well the love one develops for the area where you serve.



The movie referred to is The Best Two Years, which captures a few months of one missionary's service and it's affect on his companion, himself, and those he taught.

Why P.S.

Why the title Post Scriptum for a German blog? Why P.S. for a blog about living in Germany? Well, that is a good question? Or, at least a question.

It's mainly, because the real story of our lives in Germany can be found on Tamara's blog. I tell the rest of the story, like that guy, in America, who tells the "rest of the story", except perhaps that my post scriptum notes, a bit lest interesting.

By the way, how does one say P.S. in Germany - P.S., just like in English. The abbreviation is from a Latin word and German uses quite a bit of Latin in it's vocabulary.