So our new blog, is www.gkbascom2.blogspot.com just sou you guys get the updates. :D

Homeward Bound

After much deliberation, we have decided to make the trip back to the States six months early. This is due to another fact we haven't really shared with everyone that may read this blog. So, surprise! I'm now in my second trimester--pregnant, again! We're very excited about this baby, and this pregnancy has been MUCH different than the last one--as in, not as many cramps, but SICK, SICK, SICK. I didn't throw up all the time (four times the whole pregnancy thus far), but I was ill all the time, and could eat hardly anything at all. Graydon really stepped up to the plate and took things over for us--he's started early working to be a great dad! He's done everything now--cooking dinner, washing dishes, hanging up laundry, and even his least favorite thing: sorting the trash. :)

Anyhow, this is necessary to explain, in part, or reasons for coming home. It was a very hard decision. Our insurance right now covers everything--all I need to do is pay ten Euro every quarter. In comparison with the States, this is Manna from Heaven. We're looking toward very unsure waters right now, especially with rumors of budget cuts to the medicaid program. But we're putting our little family in the Lord's hands and he'll take care of us. Another reason that almost kept us back was our relationship (and responsibility towards) the people we've just met and our callings. Our family here, the Vogt's, were so excited to share the experience of the birth of our baby with us--we could actually see Gabi's heart breaking when we told her, and it killed me. I'm also working with a boy on his English, Ruben. We love spending time with he and his family, and I feel terrible that so short a time after we have started working with him (which was just in December) we have to leave him to the sharks, so-to-say. We've both just recently received callings in the church, and I feel like I was expected, and expected myself, to contribute more to my calling than just a few months will allow. But we're trying our hardest to accomplish as much as possible before the time comes to leave.

The reasons that finally convinced us it was time to come home were also many. Our cost of living every month in German consisted of 450 Euro for the apartment, 95 Euro for the utilities, 60 Euro for insurance (really not that bad--I'm sad we're leaving it...), and the killer was the 300 Euro it cost us to get Graydon to Heidelberg and back every day for school. All in total, and converted to dollars, we were losing between 12- and 1500 dollars every month. We tried to get Graydon transfered to Stuttgart for this upcoming semester, and when that didn't work out, we were bummed. To add to the pain is the fact that neither of us can find good jobs for the time we are here, due to our visa restrictions. 

In short, we decided to go home, work, and save, instead of stay and spend, spend, spend.

The other big reason we decided to come home was simply that the baby is due on July 23rd, plus or minus ten days. If it came on time and healthy, we would have had no problem at all getting back to the States in time for school to start. If there were complications, however, they would have kept all three of us back and made the prospect of the new school year quite bleak. We decided it was better to go home, find jobs and an apartment that we could be settled into when the baby came, instead of pushing the time limit, then coming home with a newborn and no money to speak of and trying to settle into somewhere. 

We're very excited to come home. Of course we are! It has been hard, very hard, though, to 'let down' the family and friends we were leaving behind. I think it was easier to leave Utah, because we knew we'd be seeing our family again in a year. When we leave Germany, we don't know when or even if we will ever see some or any of our friends again. I have no real attachment to the country, or the food, or the system. I have a real, strong attachment to the people we have become acquainted with and really fallen in love with. And it really kills to have to think about saying good-bye to them. 

Anyhow, Graydon posted a picture below of a few of us at Gabi's 70th birthday party. It was really great! I wish he'd taken a picture of the food/set-up, but we were afraid it would be considered rude. Now I still wish we'd done it. It was a very posh italian restaurant. When we walked into the dining area, I was taken aback at the three forks and three knives around each plate. I told Graydon, "I don't even know proper etiquette in the States all that well, what are we supposed to do here?!!??" It turns out it was really easy-Start from the outside and work in, and eat like a German. We did alright! That means, of course, that there were three courses. And dessert. :) The dessert was actually my least favorite part. It was also very drawn-out. We arrived at six, and got home at 5 to midnight. The only reason we got home so early is because the bishop gave us a ride, and we were really the first group to go. By 'we' I mean the mormons there. :) Everyone else was still dancing and partying it up. I'm so not up to that! 

Anyhow, a quick review of the courses:

Course 1: Sort of a meat sampler. There was ________ (that means I can't remember the name, but Graydon can). It is beef that is deep frozen and then cut very thin and served. Yes--raw meat. I was worried about the baby, but said a quick prayer and seem to have made it safely past the danger. The meat was under parmesan and...something else...a fresh spice of some sort. Then there was a tomato with wet mozzarella the Germans love, and a fresh basil leaf on top, then there was salami wrapped around olives (my favorite part) and then there was a pork or chicken or something that was under a sauce with another spice on top, and then there was a smoked meat--sort of like bacon. It looks uncooked (and probably really is), but it was okay. It was draped over a piece of cantaloupe. 

Course 2: It was a plate with three big pieces of triangular-ravioli things. My description doesn't do justice to the deliciousness. There was a light oil-spiced dressing that was over the top of it. It was really good. 

Course 3: A big piece of steak. The only real steak we've seen in Germany--Germans only have veal because they don't let the cattle get old enough before they slaughter it. Graydon things this cut was Filet Mignon. It was delicious, but medium-rare, and I couldn't eat all of it. Graydon and I traded plates.

Dessert: Weird gelatin stuff. Graydon will have to describe it. There were four different things per plate--a chocolate mousse that I thought was ice cream at first (okay, this may be the real reason I wasn't to impressed with it...:) ), then a lemon/citrus mousse, then a weird gelatin thing that was harder than jello and probably didn't need to be refrigerated to keep it's shape, and then the best part, whose name I can't remember. Sorry, everyone. Graydon knows the name. It one of his favorite desserts. 

Well, my time is up for now, I need to prepare a VT lesson and get ready for class at two. Know we love you, everyone!!

Claudi, Juergen, and Katrina at Gabi's 70th birthday bash.

This is sadly the best picture we have of us. I made a bad choice for a picture-taker; Leor. He got this one and another even blurrier, and then took two picture of himself holding a water glass. Goofball.

This is the egg game in Zwergenland.

"Innere Bruecke, Pliensaustrasse. We waited for the ZL's under that sign. I also saw a pretty long-haired German Shepherd there and asked to pet it, and they let me! I explained I had one of my own back home, and I missed her very much! Give her a love for me, you guys!!

Here are the entrances to Zwergenland and a building in Esslingen that is absolutely beautiful and historic, without a doubt. It was wonderful! I think we met the Elders by that huge tree, too...:)

Weihnachten Just Wouldn't Be the Same without It's a Wonderful Life

That's right, folks! The film I(Katrina) always thought was so boring has now become a family favorite. We can just all add it to one of the many ways Graydon has made me a better person. :)

On Thursday I went to my visiting teaching appointment. I met Sister Benitz at our normal location at the train stop, then we both walked up to the Gierschke's apartment. We teach Marion and Melanie there, they are wonderful and we love them. Marion is the one I think we wrote about, who found out we were in Feuerbach and dropped a delicious cake by the apartment a day later. Mellie is a few years younger than me, I think, but I'm not sure and I do love her!

Anyhow, as I was walking with Brigitte up to their apartment, she talked to me about life in general, and I found out her son was struggling a little with his English. I told her I could help, if they would like, and that I had actually been an English tutor in the states! Yesterday she let me know that we could try it after she had talked to her son, and so we've got the first 'appointment' in Christmas break. I'm really excited! It will be just like the good old times. And Graydon's coming with so I won't be too boring. ;)

Graydon also did his home teaching Thursday night, in Vaihingen, which is about an hour away. I talked with my sisters for so long that I walked in the door just a few minutes before Graydon, who had an hour commute to and from Vaihingen! That is just one way I can illustrate how well I love those ladies.

On Friday we piled on the S-Bahn and headed to Esslingen. We asked someone on the train how many regions it was to get there, because Graydon only has a ticket for two regions. It was lucky we asked; Esslingen is a third zone away, so we stopped and bought Graydon another day ticket for the trip. I swear 90% of our money goes to DB and VVB, the train coorporations.

It was cool when we got there. We saw some Elders right off the train (we were actually meeting everyone at a Burger King--the Christmas Market was the institute activity), walked to the Burger King, and bought a little dinner. Graydon picked up the Elders' tab. I wasn't feeling well at all, so I got a kids meal. Which they call just kids menu. No idea. We ate and waited for the rest of the YSAs to show up, and then left for the Christmas Market! We walked over with the sisters, Sister Seidel is actually leaving Wednesday, so I like to spend as much time as I can with her. We both love those wonderful sisters!!! We got separated, though, when we got to the actual market, and stuck with the International Elders and Patrick. It was really fun. I made Graydon buy me some hard candy to suck on (it is next to extinct in Germany), and we walked around. There was a section called "Zwergenland" or midgetland, that was really cool. Every Weihnachtsmarkt has it's own 'theme' and Esslingen's is more of a midevil feel. They had a few games; Crack an egg (like the stacked cans game where you try to knock them down, except for it's just an egg on a log and you throw rocks on it), as well as an ax throwing game and an archery game. The boys were pretty tempted by crack an egg until they saw someone win, and all they got was a lighter. :) There was also a cool little carousel that children could ride in. It was run by a man in 'garb' as mom would call it, pushing handles on the outside to make the wheel spin, and the cars were actually just baskets made of sturdy wood.

There were basket stands, armor stands, period clothing stands, wood stands, whatever-you-could-think-of stands, and candle making stands. There were also a lot of food stands, which didn't help my stomach at all. We five wandered around for a while, then the zone leaders called, so we had to try and explain where the heck we were in the whole market. Just a note: THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE. We were in one of the offshoots. We explained sort-of where we were, then waited, then went back to the main part, and we finally met them there. As well as everyone else! Then we broke off again, and our first group plus the ZLs plus Leor, a french-german from Paris, headed to a stand to buy mugs of Gluehwein--JUST KIDDING!!-- Kinderpunch, as well as the mugs with them. They were very good. We then went back to Zwergenland to show the ZL's, and because Graydon hadn't found the archery part which he wanted to play. We got there just in time for it to close. Bummer. So, we left and went home. I felt so sick all the way home, everyone was afraid I was going to throw up on the train. I looked so terrible Patrick told Graydon he'd better get me home fast, or to a hospital, whichever one came up first. :) It was all good, though, and we got to ride our first Regio-bahn, which has two levels just like the...what's it called?...Frontrunner. It was cool and we were excited to ride on the top floor.

Our Christmas tree is still dying, but slowly, so we're still holding on to the hope that it will still have needles by Christmas. And we're not putting lights on it, grandpa, so don't worry about the fire hazard!!

On Saturday we were mostly lazy, which was nice. We headed out about 3:15 for the ward building, because Enrico told us to meet him there at 4 for costumes. We got there, and waited outside, and guess who came? Gabi!! Unfortunately, she thought it started at 4, and had nothing to do with the planning or set up. She did help us figure out how to ring the bell so we could at least get inside, though. There was a nice man from our ward(I wish I could remember his name!) in the geneology room that let us in and explained that he didn't think the program started until 5:30. Then as Gabi was leaving to visit her sister, the missionaries came. Just as Gabi was pulling out and gone, we found out it started at 5 and tried to tell her. Too late.

After that more people started showing up. As Graydon and I were about to crack out a good game of Canasta, three of the young women showed up and we taught them how to play Skip-Bo! Lacey, I hope you're proud of our spreading this wonderful game around in Germany!! :) We played a round, and just as we were going to start another one Enrico showed up, as well as the Americans who were in charge of set-up. It turns out Graydon and I probably didn't need to come until...oh, I don't know. Maybe 5. But we busied ourselves and helped get things set up. It was all good.

Right before we started eating Sis. Jensen showed up and gave me a doll in a white shawl that was going to be baby Jesus. So I ate with him in my lap, hoping not to get any declicious american foods on him or the shawl. When it was about time for the program, we went up onto the stage and changed into our costumes. It was fun, especially with the five guys that composed the Narrator (Enrico), The three kings (Patrick & two other Young Men), and Joseph(my Graydon). They are goofy. I thought I was just going to be in the manger with the baby Jesus, but I had to walk around pregnant first and then go up to the manger, and then have baby Jesus. Does anyone else see a problem here? :) Enrico said, "Maybe just put the baby under your dress." I tried that, but when I just reached under my dress to get it back out, he said, "Maybe that's a little to graphic for the kids." We ended up tying Graydon's wadded-up sweatshirt on my stomach region, and I walked around that way. I wish you all could have seen the looks we got from the adults (haha) and the children were precious. One little girl looked at me and yelled for me to zip up her coat, so I knelt down and did the job. Precious. When we got up to the stable (composed of a soccer goal with pine branches stuck in the netting), I sat down with Graydon, and we tried (really hard!) to figure out what the heck Enrico was saying, as he was reading Luke 2 in German. We're looking at each other, going "Are we supposed to have the baby yet? Now? Now?" Not a clue. When we heard "Christkind" we decided it was time, and simply pulled the doll out of the manger where Sis. Jensen had planted it. I wasn't looking out onto our audience, but Graydon said all the Germans were laughing. Hahaha. I still don't know if we took the right cue. Everyone else came, though, including two darling little angels in wings, and it went really well. Finally Enrico said it was over and we got up and went back behind the curtains.

It was really fun being Joseph and Mary! Absolutely fantastic!

Yesterday we went to church came home, and I started watching Charly Brown movies while Graydon made me a plate of rice and himself an omlette. Don't think he's starving me, I wanted the rice!! Promise!! He then came in and finished Charly Brown with me, and after that we started watching It's a Wonderful Life on Youtube. It was really nice. We watched until we had to get ready for a choir concert and leave for the church again.

I had the worst headache at the concert and was extremely tired. I fell asleep for parts of it, I think, but I couldn't help it!! It was pretty in spite, but far different than anything we had expected. There was a broadcast of the General Christmas Devotional afterward, but I really needed to be somewhere where I could lay down, so we left. We're going to watch the devotional online tonight for FHE. We went home and layed down, and finished watching the movie. Unfortunately, the headache didn't go away, but then we went to sleep and that helped me a lot. :)

Well, all for now. We love you very much!! Have a great week!

No Socks

So, I have a funny/awesome story to share. 

Our friend Gabi came and visited us on Sunday, as I already told. I forgot to write, though, that on Monday she called me on the phone! I was worried at first, because usually it is because the landlady is calling to tell us we still didn't get the rent paid on time (I miss checks), but it wasn't for that, which made me feel better.

She told me that she had been thinking, that she'd noticed I wasn't wearing any socks on Sunday. And with my being sick with a cold and what-not, she though she should call and say that I really should be wearing socks all the time. :) "Consider it advise from your Grandmother," she said. She told me that she remembered her mother saying it, and that she'd often told Claudia, her daughter, and even her daughter-in-law that sometimes, so now it was my turn. 

I thought it was so sweet and cute. I put socks on right after she called and left them on, and I've even been trying to sleep in them! :)

Speaking of which, I'd better go put on my socks.

These are the finished pizzas. I wish I could figure out how to make it so they showed up the the order I wanted them to!

These are the sauced pizzas.

These are the delicious looking shells. I was surpised I could still do that shell making stuff!

This is the dough with my special rolling pin that was just a glass. Nice.

This is the plain dough.

This is me asleep on the Jensen's couch at Thanksgiving. It was so comfy and American! After that, though, we decided not to accept any american Christmas invitations. I think that's part of what made me so trunky, and it wasn't really worth the stress.

It has been quite a while...

Well, I'm really trying to remember when I last wrote, and everything that has gone on since that time. It's a little difficult to remember these things. I really should write more often. It is good that Graydon posted those cute pictures already.

I guess we will start with Thanksgiving! Preparing for Thanksgiving was a fiasco. We were invited to two dinners: One with the sweetest girl in the world, Marina Moore and her family, and another with the Jensen family that lives on the same base as her. For the Jensen's we were making potatoes. For Marina we were showing up. The only problem was, we didn't have a pot big enough for the potatoes! The Sunday before the feast, I asked sister Jensen about this, and she said, "Oh, pick something easy, like pie or rolls." I thought, "I guess we could do rolls..." but then I told her it would be fine, and we would stick with the mashed potatoes. It would all work out!

The night before she called to make sure we were coming, and then I found out that she had thought I said I would do the potatoes AND the rolls! That was a nice surprise. I had class until 9:15 the night before, so Graydon and I didn't even get home until at or after 10. Then we found out we needed to be at the George's the next morning at 10 a.m, which meant we had to leave here at 9. And I was so tired!

We got out late the next day, but only a few minutes, and we'd called and let them know. We left with our little pot of mashed potatoes, mashed with a fork, and another container of mashed-with-a-fork potatoes so we had enough. We stopped by one of our favorite little bakeries on the way and picked up some rolls. It worked well. We were loaded with food. 

When we got to the George's, who were taking us to the base, they were running a little late, too, which helped me really calm down. I was so grateful! And Davin and Andrew kept us company, which Jen did some finishing touches on the rolls. Such a sweet family! I love them all.

Then we went to Marina's, which was fun, and I felt at home there. There was a little drinking going on, and Davin almost got a swig, as well as Rock Band-playing while the missionaries were there, so that was a little awkward, but such things happen in part-member families, and the food was delicious. Marina is an amazing cook! She also had a dog and cat, so I was kept company. I didn't really want to leave when it was getting close to two, but off we went! 

We got the mashed potatoes from the George's car, and walked around the barracks trying to find the right place. After not being able to find them the first time, I sent Graydon up to ask for directions again, and we tried again. This time we had success. Graydon asked a girl outside if she knew the Jensens, and she said "I am a Jensen!" Hahaha. That was great. So she showed us inside. 

Even though I was reluctant to leave Marina's, it was nice to be at the Jensen's. Unfortunately, I was absolutely no good company because I was so tired, but it was nice and comfortable, there, and everyone was talking so I could listen and smile...and fall asleep without many people noticing.... It was funny that at the beginning sister Jensen was trying to resurrect our potatoes. First with a masher, then with whatever else. We really found it funny when we started hearing hardware in the kitchen. :) Old potatoes are never as easy as fresh ones. But she succeeded and they tasted...okay when it was time to eat. 

The Jensen girls are darling and love Youtube. It was really good, as well, to visit with Brother and Sister Jensen and the other adults that were there, and to play cards while the kids ran around. Even though sometimes I would have rather been with the kids. I'm still one of them, you know! Dinner was good, and Brother Jensen gave us a ride home after the festivities. I love cars so much more than trains. Even though I'm grateful for the trains. 

On Saturday we headed to the institute for German-practice with the missionaries. We wouldn't have gone, but Sister Seidel invited us. We love hanging out with the missionaries!! It was good, even though we didn't really have questions so it started a little slow. Then they began discussing real missionary things, so I decided it was time to pick up and get out. :D I was exhausted, again, and just wanted to go home and go to sleep. 

On the way home, though, we needed to stop at Aldi for some groceries, so we did. And we passed a sort-of home improvement store, OBI. And Graydon told me that's where we could get a Christmas tree. At first I was like, okay, not today. But when we came out of Aldi with ornaments, and we already had icicles from Switzerland, I said maybe we could go take a look. It was really fun. We found a tree for 35 Euro (though I was pushing for the 20 Euro ones), and bought an awesome german Made-In-Germany  tree stand to boot! Enough with those stupid screws and the cheap metal stands, we've got ourselves a high tech stand that clamps around the tree when you push a pump-like thingy! We really thought it was awesome. But heavy. :)

So, we brought it home and set it up. I believe Graydon already posted a picture of he and the tree on the train. Nice shot, in my opinion!

On Sunday the 30th we made and appointment with the Elders for dinner the next day. Graydon also got sustained and set-apart for his new calling as a counselor in the Sunday School Presidency.

The next day I wasn't feeling well, so I made Graydon cook. He made Maultaschen (tasty things like ravioli except we eat them plain, and they have different flavors), as well as a tomato-chicken stir-fry that was pretty dang delicious. 

On Tuesday we told the sisters something someone said the night before at dinner, and Sister Hewitt looked at me with this innocent albeit neglected look, and I realized promptly that it was the sisters turn for dinner. Sister Seidel only had about two weeks left, and they were so busy it was hard to find a time that worked for both of us. We finally decided on Sunday the seventh. We asked Sister Seidel what she wanted for dinner, and she finally decided "American pizza!!" Sounded like a plan. Even though we couldn't find cheddar cheese anywhere in this confounded country. 

Thursday Graydon went to the ward sport evening, and I stayed home and read. It was a nice break, I liked the  book I was reading. Graydon came home sweaty and happy as a clam, and that was pretty good all by itself. 

On Thursday or Friday I caught and obnoxious cold. It was (and is!) terrible. It made it hard for me to breathe, so I really couldn't sleep at all, especially Friday night. On Saturday morning we woke up early so Graydon could go to Stake priesthood meeting, and then our friend Markus came home with him to pick me up so we could go to the Weihnachtsmarkt in Ludwigsburg. I wasn't ready--I'd been up all morning trying to tidy up the apartment/ do the Kehrwoche for our week, and hadn't even showered. I also got a call from Gabi, where she asked if it would be okay to just bring us home and see how we were doing in our new apartment after church the following day, which meant we had no time to clean our messy messy apartment before then, and also made an appointment with Thomas upstairs to meet and visit with them around 3. When I talked to Thomas I'd forgotten I needed to make pizzas. My mistake. 

So I went already sick and tired with Markus and Graydon to the Weihnachtsmarkt in Ludwigsburg. We actually first went to Markus' apartment because he needed to do something, and I asked if he had any peppermint tea, which he did have. That helped my sinuses AND my stomach, and was a blessing in itself. It's like a candy cane in the form of hot chocolate. So nice and yummy and soothing.

THEN we went to the Weihnachtsmarkt, which was the first one I'd been to and absolutely charming. We didn't buy anything except for Angell's Christmas present and some pumpkin seeds for me. We would have gotten more, but we're looking for something specific for Grandma, and nothing else really popped out at us for anyone else. But Angell's is perfect. We then went back to Markus' and he made us dinner. I then watched Ferris Bueller's Day Off while Graydon got a haircut, and we finished watching the movie. 

By this time I was THE WALKING DEAD. I wanted to go home. Unfortunately, it was too early for Markus to let us leave, and so we just kept talking. Then he drove us to the Bahnhof in Ludwigsburg, picking up Strawberry shakes from McDonald's on the way, and then we sat and talked some more while we drank the shakes. I was dreading leaving the cold car for the even colder platform to wait for the train, and when I saw the second one go by, I asked if we could give Markus ten Euro to just take us home. He took us home without taking the 10 Euro. I was grateful. I was also exhausted, and we had an apartment to finish cleaning. I think we finally got home after 10:30.  We were grateful for the memories we'd made.

On Sunday morning Graydon woke up early and I woke up a little later. I didn't help much that I woke up because I felt like I was moving like cold molasses. We got the apartment tidies sufficiently, got ready for Church (again without a shower on my part), and were on our way, late, but still going. We got there just in time for the sacrament, which we took in the foyer. This was nice because it as just me and Graydon out there, and no one to watch me, or for me to be distracted by. I was actually grateful that we were late. It really helped me.

After I had a surprise meeting with the bishopric in which I was called to be A WARD MISSIONARY!! That was really an answer to prayers--the last few weeks I've become increasingly discouraged according to the question "why am I even in this accursed country, anyways?!" and was asking to figure out what I was here to do, and the answer came, loud and clear, (or, as Germans would say, "laut und deutlich"), and I could not deny it. And I was grateful for that calling. I can't wait to get rolling!

Gabi came home with us, and just visited with us for a while, which was so nice just in itself. We just talked about everything, and especially about missionary work. It was nice to have her here. She then invited us to Christmas on the 25th with the whole family (who we miss so much!!), and then to her seventieth birthday party in January! We were so happy about that. We miss Familie Vogt. 

When three rolled around I sent messenger Graydon up to inquire if we were leaving then, and I think we interrupted their linner, so we were invited up for...pizza! Funny, huh? Then it was about time to leave for the Weihnachtsmarkt in Feuerbach. I got sick and was not feeling like braving the cold, as well as needing to make fake-italian sausage and get the pizzas going, so I copped out last minute and asked Graydon to excuse me. I took a short nap, read and relaxed until about 5:30, then got to work in the kitchen. 

And it worked well! I will post pictures of the various stages of the pizza. I just can't believe I didn't get a picture of them as they came out of the oven! Aside from the salami that was so not pepperoni and made me sick just by smelling it, and the homemade italian sausage without fennel seeds/composed of half-hamburger, it couldn't have gone better! The last time I made pizza, it was in the breadmaker and it turned out terrible. This time I did it all by hand and it turned out PERFECT! I owe that to my wonderful previous place of employment. 

The sister came just as the first pizza came out of the oven. Sister Seidel couldn't believe I made it (they didn't know there were two yet), and said it looked like it was from Pizza Hut, where she had wanted to go for some time. It was a nice, enjoyable evening. I love those sister missionaries! They left with a spiritual thought, and left us 100% satisfied and at peace. 

Not much has really happened the last two days. I have to leave for institute pretty soon, and it's already cold and dark outside so it's really hard for me to pull myself away from the nice, warm apartment. I'll try to post a few pictures, though, before I go. 

We love you all!

This is me with our Christmas tree on the U-bahn.  Which is the local train system we use to get around.  It is similar to trax, but way faster, and underground some of the time.

This is a Giant Christmas Pyramid like the Nativity scenes they make here in Germany.  It is in Heidelberg by the Christmas Market.

More Pictures II!

More pictures!

Street Contacting, First Snow and Frankfurt Temple!

Hello, Everyone! Yes, in case you were worried, we are still alive. There has been so much that has gone on in the last week, and I've tried to write about it three times already, but each time I write the title, I lose all concentration, and end up staring at the screen blankly until I give up and do something else.

But not this time!!!

So, three weeks ago I promised the sister missionaries here that we would help them street contact. Every Tuesday they set up a poster-stand in the middle of the main Fussgaengerzone in Stuttgart, and try to make contacts with all the people that are walking by. 

Two weeks ago I forgot I was supposed to help them. 

But last week we didn't forget! We showed up at 10:30 a.m, just like they told us to! Unfortunately, Sister Seidel had food poisoning from eating left-out tuna salad the night before, and so the sisters weren't there. Silly sisters!! So Graydon and I hung out with the two Elder-companionships. This means that we asked them how to contact people, and then walked away into the crowd together, and tried it. I learned two important things about us:

Graydon is so good at starting conversations!

I am terrible at starting conversations, but am a little more capable when it comes to explaining why we're there after the initial contact. 

We make a great companionship! Graydon had to leave at about 11:30, but before he did, we'd placed our first Book of Mormon! And I guess he left the Spirit with me or something, because shortly after he left I placed the second one! I think the Elders were thinking "WHAT is going ON over there?!" We were pretty much on fire. Now it's just up to us to pray that 1) They actually open the Book and read it, and 2) Their hearts are open to feel the healing power of the Spirit that resides therein.

Then the shadow of first-contacting talent that Graydon had left evaporated, and I spent until about 12:30 trying to talk to people who were too busy, or simply talking to thin air. With one exception: Two men from Africa came walking by, and I started talking, and they stopped walking (the first and best sign!)! Then an Elder came over (trying to steal the limelight, of course! :) It's okay, I can share the victory. Since it has nothing to do with me, anyways...), and we found out they liked English better! And the Elder, who was for the international (English-speaking) ward, got their contact information, and they agreed to have him drop by! Nice. I love this work!

I was freezing by the time it was over, however, and didn't thaw until I got home after my chem class. I got home at around 4.

I'm trying to think about all the rest of the awesome things that happened on Wednesday and Thursday. I can't remember them...but we did get Ratatouille in the mail!

On Friday I had to go to the University Vaihingen Campus (there are two in Stuttgart, one in the middle of the city and one on the outskirts--Vaihingen is on the outskirts) to attempt to take a test for the second time. It didn't work, but something beautiful happened as I was walking to the train to go home! First I will mention the cool-but-not-quite-beautiful thing: I saw our friend Paulius (the one I gave the first Lithuanian BoM to)! As I was talking to him the real beautiful thing happened: SNOW! We haven't seen snow at all here up to this time! And then all the flakes started falling, and I was so excited to buy a couple of donuts and some hot chocolate and meet Graydon at his train! Which I did.

I got to his platform half an hour early. It's cold here. And I sat outside because I'd also gone grocery shopping and didn't want the meat getting too warm. It wasn't too bad, though; I ate a couple of oranges while I waited. But then the train was thirty minutes late. The second thirty minutes is actually when I ate the second orange. And I was listening to War of the Worlds. But when the train finally arrived, my sweetheart didn't step off of it! So, I headed home trying to balance two cups of hot chocolate and a 3 kg bag of oranges on the train, and was a little worried. 

Luckily, Graydon was there when I got off the train at the stop by our apartment. He'd actually caught an earlier train that had also been late, and that's how we missed each other. It was fortunate that it had snowed on him, too--the snow stopped when I got closer to the city. He thought about getting donuts and chocolate, but it was good he didn't, because I already had. :) We enjoyed that little tradition together. And then ate little bite size frozen pizzas and chicken wings, because I'd been craving meat-stuffs. 

The night before we didn't have meat, so I almost cleaned the peanut-butter jar out. It was an okay-alternative.

Anyhow, when we'd gotten home the George's had called and left a message, wondering if we'd like to travel with them to the Frankfurt Temple on Saturday! They weren't 100% sure there'd be room, but it turned out there was. They have a van that they drove us up with. It was nice to spend time with them!

But I'm getting ahead of myself. The night before, even though we were happy it had actually snowed, none of it stuck! The next morning at 5:30 when we left to catch the trains to make it to Vaihingen by 6:30, there was snow on the ground! I was so excited! We crunched all the way to the train, and then all the way to the George's. I love the smell, sound and feel of the snow in the morning! In spite of this, we were both cold. :) It was colder than it has been since we've been here! 

So we drove with Jen, Andrew, and their little, darling boy Davin to Frankfurt. The temple was beautiful, but it was even colder in Frankfurt than Stuttgart! This was due to a pretty heavy wind that blew the cold right through you. Inside the temple wasn't cold, though. It was nice. And we enjoyed listening to all the German. 

On our way home, Jen and Andrew saw a castle up on the hillside, and said "Let's go see it!" So they pulled out their handy-dandy GPS, looked up the castle, and we drove up to it! It was really awesome. Unlike some/most castles with which you have to pay to go inside, this was a ruin, so we were at liberty to walk right in, and look around! It was really cool! Some of the places were reinforced--because it is a ruin, but there were actually only a few doors that were locked & a few places we couldn't check out. I think it's the first time I've really felt a dream coming true since I've been in Germany. I mean--I've ALWAYS wanted to run around in a castle that was thousands of years old at my own liberty! The only thing was that I'd read a book about a ruin that had only become a ruin because it was haunted...so I kept getting the creeps. But it was so cool!

The wind was also very strong, and very cold at the castle. We were able to climb the two tallest towers, one all the way to the top and the other almost-so. In the one that was open all the way to the top, you could see forever, and the wind was so strong if you faced it directly you could hardly take in breath. It made me fee like I was in Lord of the Rings or something cliche-romantic like that. I could just imagine looked over that valley a few thousand years ago when there weren't smokestacks or refineries in the distance, and the possible danger of an army coming to attack. Just the fact that you could see 360 degrees around was a great protection, not to mention the 3 walls around the castle itself. Graydon and I had a great time being adventurers, and poor Graydon's fingers were freezing by the end from taking pictures (my camera died). 

So, we made it home and ordered two pizzas (we miss american pizza!), the watched a movie. I pooped out half way through the movie. Graydon stayed up for the big game, and came to bed distraught. I comforted him half-awake. He felt better the next day when he'd come up with clever come-backs for anyone who addressed him about it and had talked to his fellow Y fans in church. He makes me so happy inside!

Well, that's basically everything. The pictures in this post don't look very nice, but they're there! I'll try and post some more of the castle, too. 

PS There are a few videos and all the pictures posted on facebook. So, if you can find someone with an account, go on and check it out!

Pictures that belong below. :D

This is a picture of the bear in the bear pit. I'm afraid it will have to suffice. It is on it's haunches now, waiting for a delectable cherry tomato to come flying down.

It's an old bear. But beautiful!

(above) This is the Bern Temple. This picture is part of a series that will be added on facebook. Stay tuned...

And DIE WASCHMASCHINE!!! And of course the kitchen is a mess!

My apologies, everyone!

I am very sorry I have not written in a very long time, everyone. It's just been one of those things, you know!

To start this I would like to tell everyone that is sitting in snow that I can hear a lawnmower right now. That sound should be reserved for summer. I miss snow! 

And another thing to make up for my not posting anything at all: a video!

I'm sorry everyone, I think the video is too big for this. I will find a way to make up for it. Please look for the video on my facebook account!

So this is in Bern, Switzerland! It is called Baerengraben--bearpits. Unfortunately, there is only one bear right now. And the pit is not a very healthy-looking one, though there are rocks and stuff. Fortunately they already have the plans for a new, spacious, happy bear pit that runs along the river--they will actually divert part of the river into the pit. It will also have a walkway with plexiglass so people can see in on the bears--it looks like more are in the planning.

And this isn't a new thing, either. As Graydon states, one of the reasons Bern is named that has to do with the fact that they've always had bears in the middle of the city--kind of like how Sky View used to have a bobcat. It sounds like they've upgraded (and probably moved) the bear pits a few times before. 

We love this movie because it shows the bear. You can see how the bear walks over to people who have food, and then sits on it's haunches, and catches the food with it's mouth. Pretty domesticated, and entirely undomesticated. I hope not many people from Bern try to visit Yellowstone! :) I was surprised to see people feeding it at first (they were feeding it french-fries when we got there), but found out later that you could by little bags of food-tomatoes, apple slices, grapes and things-to feed to the bear. There was also a security guard who would stop people from feeding it other things. Like french fries (okay, I was pretty disgusted about that).

Another good thing: We have a washing machine! I will post a picture of the kitchen + washing machine. It gets stuck on one cycle, but we got it for only 90 Euro (a steal for a washing machine--I never knew they were so expensive!). I was complaining at a dinner last Sunday night where there were us, two Elders, two sisters, and the missionary couple, all invited to a friend's house--Enriqo? I'm not sure how to spell it. Anyways, Sister Duke (who is from Cache Valley with her husband!) gave us a number to contact, then Elder Norris (who got transfered today :( ) called them for us (they only speak German). And they had one, and brought it by on Monday! Patrick McGaffin and our friend Bertram helped me carry it upstairs, since Graydon had to be at school, and we played some Canasta while we waited and had some leftover lasagna from the night before.

Oh, yes! On this past Sunday, it was our turn to feed the missionaries! We invited the sisters and the Elders, and Patrick and our neighbors upstairs! We made a HUGE lasagna and two small ones. And it fed everyone + leftovers! I had lasagna the next day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

I forgot to tell you why we were even in Bern! Our friends John and Betty invited us to go down with them to the temple! After a few months, it was so much like going home--I miss that place so much! We stayed in a guest house--sort of like a youth hostel-- and ate breakfast/walked across the street to the temple the next day! It was really cool to stay at the guest house. There was a ward up from Italy (I really think there's a reason there will be a temple in Rome!), and it was so cool to be there with them! Even though we couldn't really communicate with each other, we knew we loved one another and that was enough. It was really special. 

We also found a distribution center, where we bought a German triple combination, German preach my gospel (and almost one in English--of the three we have together, none of them made it in the suitcase! Rats.), and a small German hymnbook. 

The temple was amazing, as usual. Since there were so many english speakers, the session was done in English. But everyone else there were not English speakers! It even seemed like there was more french than English, even though Bern is in the German part of Switzerland! Gee-whiz. It was really special!

But it's time for me to go get ready for school now. And make sure the washing machine goes to the next cycle. Remember: We love you all!!!

Erkaeltung II

Yep, still have it. I've been through almost a whole box of tissues over the weekend, and have had two bloody noses because all of the runny nose stuff has made my nose so dry. I'm on the second one right now.

Another story: This weekend is daylight savings time! "Fall-back, Spring-forward," as we would say it. NOT IN GERMANY! Here it's "Fall-forward, Spring back!" So we set our clocks like Americans. Gabi called us last night to remind us so we "didn't come an hour early", and so we would be happy that we would get "an extra hour of sleep." We didn't catch those BIG, OBVIOUS hints, and still set our clocks like Americans. We slept in, woke up exhausted (but Graydon was happy that his team that we stayed up late to listen about won), and barely missed the train that would get us to church on time. And we waited half an hour, and it's COLD here. And right before we got on the train, we realized the clock said 6:56, and not 7:56.

So we didn't come to church one hour early. We came two hours early.

Then we came back home. And I was cold. And we tried to get under blankets, and I still felt cold under the blankets. And I stayed home from church today. Graydon went for both of us.

I will have to e-mail my Hall family for those tips on dealing with colds.

On Friday we went to eat dinner at our friend Markus's house. He reminds me of one of mom's friends. He also reminds me of mom. Tell me if this is not a mom thing: After dinner, he pulls Graydon into the back and massages all of his back muscles because Graydon's too tense. And Graydon didn't even scream from pain! (I guess that isn't like mom. :) Love you, mom!) Markus is a body therapist.

But I am getting ahead of myself. Before this he made us DE-LICIOUS dinner! First we had pumpkin soup and cabbage-pie, then salad and cheesy noodles. Then we had ice cream sundays! Wow. We were stuffed. It was amazing.

So after, he dropped us off at the train station. It was about 12:30. The last train, we come to find, left at 12:16. So we called Markus back and he dropped us off at home. Patrick McGaffin, a guy that served in Graydon's mission and is now studying abroad in Stuttgart, was with us. He lived pretty far away from where we were, so he just crashed on our couch. It was cool. Then he and Graydon talked half of Saturday away about their missions. It was cool to hear, and I think it was good for both of them. :D

I think that's really all for now. Know we love you all!

Erkaeltung

Erkaeltung=Cold. I think we are both out our second one. That's why I'm awake at 1:22. I should do homework for my online class, but it's late! And I don't want to! Thus, a quick note to drop by, letting everyone know we're still alive!

Loves!

We Have Internet!

Yeah! Everyone, I expect a big applause! The Technician came yesterday, and I thought he would set the whole thing up, but he just plugged things in and made sure the right lights were flashing. Graydon and I had to actually set the thing up. And all of our instruction manuals were in German. But we did it! We now have a phone that is working, as well as internet that is working, as well as two pre-paid cell phones. :) Happy face.

Classes started a while back for Graydon, and are starting just this week for me. He is lucky and has just one language class that is five days a week, three hours per day. Maybe that isn't so lucky. :) I have five classes, one chemistry class in English and 4 German classes in German. Three of the classes are above my speaking level, so we will see if I can get by with them. I actually have no choice, I have to have at least 12 SWS credits to keep my scholarship here, even though only 6 of the credits are on my level. They don't cater much to kids who aren't already 100% fluent in the language, let's just say that. 

1 SWS credit: Study Hours/ week. One SWS = 45 min class/per week. 1 SWS = 1.5 ECTS credits, which is, I believe, what we run on in the states. At least that's what my packet told me!

Well, I will post pictures now, so this is short, but oh, well. We will be able to write more often now, anyways! Loves!