favorites

walking out on my balcony and receiving warm and friendly greetings from the sheep who live in the pasture next door

driving through one hill of Black Forest after another... and finding that the hills of the Black Forest really do never end

driving kilometer after kilometer on autobahn A2 and rounding that last bend to see the snow-capped Alps in the distance

standing in those snow-capped mountains and feeling a stillness and grandeur so powerful that my fast-paced heart really does begin to find its stillness

enjoying a seeming never-ending supply of goat cheese

wandering through Freiburg and hearing the faint sound of Pachelbel's Canon in the distance... following the sound and finding a brass quartet on a street corner... standing there and savoring the music... purchasing their CD... taking a piece of Freiburg home with me =)

being completely stopped in my tracks when I walk out on my balcony at dusk to find that the sky has turned a complete other-worldly shade of pink

getting more excited than I ever thought possible at the sight of a McDonalds... or a Starbucks!

...eating 2 times in 2 days at that same McDonalds... when do I ever do that at home??

standing on a hill and looking around me in every direction... and finding only vineyards as far as my eye can see

taking care of someone's plants, learning how to be a real gardener, and stopping for a few moments to actually listen to the plants as they drink in the water!

learning the hard way that the Black Forest trees really aren't such bad "facilities" after all (when they have to be!) =)

discussing the limitless possibilities of "Mr. South" ; )

opening the pages of a Henri Nouwen book and finding that somehow, he put into words all that's been residing in my heart for the past few weeks

finding, when you feel completely undeserving, that the still, small Voice really does whisper all around you, "you are my beloved... well done, child"

seeing with my own eyes that simple love really makes more of a difference than I could ever imagine

feeling the hankering for a salad... stepping out on the balcony for a visit to my borrowed lettuce plant... and returning with the makings of a great green salad!

hearing my phone ring... and answering the phone to find the voice of my mom on the other end of the line

feeling homesick, missing home... at the EXACT same time as when my best friend hops on Facebook and says "let's talk"

experiencing deep gratitude for the presence of latte macchiatos, eis kaffee, and Nescafe frappe mix... when there isn't a Starbucks in sight!

FLYING through the Alps at almost mach speed on a really fun scooter!

visiting old friends... and receiving the privilege of holding and cuddling their newborn daughter

receiving kindness, warmth, and friendship at just the right time and in unexpected places

hopping on bikes with a friend and soaring through the greenest fields I have ever seen

eating dinner at a cafe next to the Rhein River in Switzerland and thinking to myself, "is this for real??"

looking up into the night sky and seeing the same familiar site of the Big Dipper and Orion's Belt

finding that the familiar-ness of your iPod can be the most comforting thing in homesickness

realizing that in exactly one week's time... I will be HOME!!

a violin maker and a miniature horse

Sometimes, it's the little things that make life special... the little things that open up heaven for just a moment and give you a glimpse of God's smile.  Yesterday marked the 2 week point for me... in 2 weeks, I will be on a plane headed home.  It's hard for me to believe.  Time is flying by... the busier the days, the faster time flies.  I have a hard time keeping up... so I very much enjoy when the little things stop me in my tracks and help me to see.

I went to visit some friends for dinner last night.  On the way to his house, my friend wanted to pull off for an "errand."  I pulled the car over, followed him across the street and through a door, and found myself in a small shop belonging to a real violin maker!  It was incredible.  I was surrounded by beautiful polished, completed violins, along with many assorted pieces of violins still to be put together.  I just stood there, trying to take it all in.  My friend introduced me to all of the workers in the violin shop, and in halting English, they told me their stories about how they first became violin makers.  It was amazing... beautiful.  I left the violin shop, still trying to take it all in... only in Europe would I be driving through a little German village with a friend and land myself in a violin maker's shop.  I feel like I am in another world... and I love it.














After a wonderful time of visiting my friends, I let my GPS guide me back to the village where I am staying.  It avoided the main roads completely and had me driving through all kinds of winding roads through all kinds of farms... and vineyards!  At one point in the trip, I looked around me and all I could see were vineyards... every hill around me was covered in them.  It was beautiful... I love vineyards, especially German ones.  (Germans are so meticulous... everything is always lined up perfectly.  Makes the vineyards seem even more beautiful!)

















The road wound me past a pasture full of horses, and as I rounded a bend, I looked up and saw a miniature horse standing on the side of the road, completely outside the fence and the pasture.  All of the other horses were in the fence, but he wasn't.  There's a special place in my heart for animals and I haven't seen too many miniature horses in my life... so I just really enjoyed that one.  It was almost as if he was standing outside of the gate just so that I could drive by and see him.  I loved it.

















So... I went to have dinner with friends, and in the process, I met violin makers, drove through all kinds of vineyards, and almost ran into a miniature horse.  I love moments like that which take me completely by surprise.  Thanks, Lord, for beauty in the busyness.

this is my story, this is my song

One of the things that Jesus laid on my heart as I was preparing for this trip was that I need to take some time to write my story... write it all out, get it all on paper.  Why?... I'm not really sure.  I just know that I think I heard His whisper and I think that's what He said... and I think I'd like to do it.  I haven't started yet, but I hope I will... soon.

This afternoon, I was sitting out on my balcony... clear blue sky, sun shining, light breeze, the hills standing out there as clear and strong as ever... pretty much a perfect day.  And I stumbled on these verses almost by accident.

"Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk; I took them up by their arms,
        but they did not know that I had healed them.
  I led them with cords of kindness, with the bands of love,
  and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws,
        and I bent down to them and fed them."
                        ~Hosea 11:3-4


I almost shouted out loud-- that's it!  that's my story!!  that's what Jesus did for me!  So I think I'll start right there...

my German neighbors

To celebrate the completion of the final day of the second week of class, our group got together tonight for a meal of Turkish kabaps and a movie.  I left the movie early and returned home to find Konrad, my downstairs German neighbor, outside tending his gardens.  Konrad is an avid gardener and every beautiful flower on the property is completely his doing.  I enjoy his handiwork every day, and I take every opportunity I can to tell him so.  As I was walking up the path tonight to return home, he gestured to me and turned to say something to his wife Helga... he then motioned that I should join them in their yard.  As I did so, he pointed to his barbeque and asked if I would like to join he and Helga for dinner.  I had already eaten one dinner, but I could not and would not turn down this invitation!

So tonight I sat at Konrad and Helga's front porch picnic table and enjoyed a second dinner of bratwurst, tomatoes, and wine (they pronounce it "veen"... always cracks me up!).  It was both a precious and hilarious experience... as I sat there contemplating how I could force 7 sausages into my already full stomach (yes, they gave me 7 sausages!), and how I would manage to drink the glasses of red wine that they kept refilling for me!  Oh my, I can't usually drink more than 1 glass of wine in a sitting... but what can you do when you don't even know how to politely refuse in a language you don't understand?  It was hilarious.  Helga could tell that I enjoyed her tomatoes and kept telling me to eat alles... all of them--the whole plate!  I puffed out my cheeks, gestured that I was stuffed, and said danke schoen ("thank you").  They then invited me into their home and showed me all of their photos from their trips this past year to Italy and Switzerland.

It was beautiful.  I don't understand much German at all.  They know a bit more English than my German... but our conversation was still choppy at best.  But we're still God's creation, made in His image... and somehow as different as we are, we still get and enjoy each other.  I found myself sitting in Konrad and Helga's apartment, speaking in halting sentences, looking at all of their photos, and thanking Jesus for the opportunity to share this time with them.

I love my home and I love my friends and family... they are the nearest and dearest to my heart.  But tonight I have been struck by the fellowship available with people who don't know your language, your history, your heritage, your culture, or anything about your life.  They are just simple, hospitable, kind people who offer for me to share in their dinner of bratwurst, tomatoes, and veen... but yet I enjoy it and enjoy them so much.  The image of God is a beautiful thing.  It was one of those moments in which I wish I had my camera to capture it forever.

a day with Henri

Today is my day off... and it is wonderful.  I love days off.  It is now 11:15am... and I have already done two great things so far-- I have slept in (yes!!) and I have made myself a real omelet with eggs right from a German hen, tomatoes straight from the garden, and real Swiss cheese.  It was great.

But my best plan for the day is still to come.  I went through a hard time this past year and was surprised to find an old friend join me on my journey.  For Christmas, I was given a book called The Inner Voice of Love, by Henri Nouwen.  I immediately started reading the book and was astounded by the way that he seemed to understand my story, share my sadness, and offer me beautiful hope.  I have clung to that book for many months... and I have been thankful for the author of it.

Well, during last weekend in the Alps, I picked up another Henri book and began reading the first few pages of Life of the Beloved.  I was amazed to find that during the writing of that book, Henri lived in a small city in Germany called Freiburg... and guess what?  It just so happens that the closest city to where I currently live is... FREIBURG!!  So today, in this great day off, I am going to drive to Freiburg and spend the day with Henri.  I know he is now dead, but I'm going to imagine that he isn't.  I'm going to picture him walking those old streets and imagine what life might have been like for him during the writing of that book.  And I might even find myself a cozy corner in one of the 3 Starbucks in that city and read more of his book.

I really believe that Henri Nouwen walked with God... God knows that I want to walk with Him too... maybe if I go to the city where Henri Nouwen actually walked... well, it might be pretty amazing.  Who knows how God might just show up?

OK, I have some dishes to wash and clothes to put away... but then it's off to Freiburg for me!

begin with a Berliner

My last few days here have been flying by.  I guess days--especially busy ones--have a tendency to do that.  But in the busyness, I don't want to miss the little things... the things I love.  After talking with a dear friend tonight, I decided to start writing about those things... the goofy, special, fun, or whatever things... just the THINGS about being in another country that I especially enjoy.

So... here's # 1.  Tomorrow is my long day.  I take one day each week and work ALL day... and tomorrow is it!  But I have decided that I want to begin the day right with a cultural experience that I really love.  There is no Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks or Wawas here.  Nope... instead, there is a grocery store with a bakery right inside the door.  And they make the most amazing coffee su mit namen ("to take away").  I love it!  So tomorrow, to begin my long day, I am going to walk to the bakery and say "ein latte macchiato su mit namen bitte" ("one latte to take away please").  This bakery also makes the most amazing jelly donuts I have ever tasted-- called "Berliners."  I think I will order "ein Berliner bitte" as well.  I could be economical and eat my trusty bowl of Special K (I did find Special K here!!), but tomorrow is my long day... I think it's a good day for a Berliner. =)

Berliners taste so good that I could eat one every day if I let myself!  But I don't. =)  The last time I ordered one was on Saturday morning...  Myself and my two companions piled into the car to make our 2 hour drive to the Alps.  About 1 kilometer down the road, I bit into my Berliner (while driving), and the jelly shot out of the Berliner and into my hand.  And then somehow in trying to clean it up, I got it on my other hand too!  I learned that it's very difficult to drive a car with two hands covered in jelly.  So we weren't even out of town yet when I had to pull over and clean myself up... get myself un-sticky.  It's a funny memory. =)

So tomorrow to begin my long day, I will go to the bakery and get a latte and a Berliner... and I will be sure to have napkins nearby for when I take my first bite. =)

a twitching eye and a puffy eye

i'll be leaving on wednesday to go overseas for a little more than five weeks.  i prayed about a month ago that God would wave His big "peace be still" hands over my life for the next month... and let the planning for this trip be SMOOTH.  the past semester had been a hard and BUSY one, and i just felt too exhausted to handle anything beyond "smooth."

well, it didn't exactly happen!  there have been quite a few unexpected "bumps" during the past month...  i've done my best to navigate as best i can, but it hasn't been easy.  God, though, is funny.  at just the right time, when i'm ready to rip my own hair out (or someone else's!), He shows up in some way... and i'm reminded that i'll be fine.

today, though, i had enough!  i woke up from a nap this afternoon and i looked in the mirror... and i could tell that all was not well.  my left eye has already been twitching on and off for about a week... i think, because i just took a full 30 hour class in 3 days, on top of trying to get ready for a big trip!  (enough to make any eye twitch, maybe?!).  well, i woke up from my nap to find that not only was my left eye twitching, but my right eye was half-closed... very puffy and half-closed (i think in an allergic reaction to my friend's cat)!

i found myself haunted by images of myself on an airplane with big, puffy eyes... walking around overseas with big, puffy, twitching eyes!  i could feel panic rising... so i sat there and i looked up to heaven with my left twitching eye and my right puffy eye, and i talked to Jesus.  and i gave up... and i told Him that i would trust Him.  and i remind myself tonight that all is well because i have a really good God and a really good Father.  i continue to learn through unexpected ways that He really is entirely faithful.  so tonight i give Him my eyes... and i give Him my heart... and i give Him the next 5 weeks... i give Him all of it... because i know that He is worthy of my trust.

and He tells me now that it's time to put on a good movie and go to bed and give my twitching eye and my puffy eye a rest.  and i gratefully oblige. =)