3 Dec 2011 Working on the Service House

Today was a day of service. Remember the house we were working on every weekend? Since we have changed jobs and have been busy every weekend with Family History we had to transfer that obligation back to the Stake President, but we have missed seeing the family and helping on the house so we took the invitation to come and help today. Brother and Sister Fahl brought their little family and they were hanging wall paper. Another brother from the church was plastering and putting in a window in the bathroom. It was wonderful to see people helping this sister and her 4 young boys. You will be glad to know they have heat in every room now and wall board put up in three of the upstairs rooms as well as the starting of a new bathroom.

I took some pictures of the group and the rooms as well as some out of a bedroom window. The area where the house is can not be duplicated. It is so 1600ish, love it. I think what is really going to be a big job now is the refinishing of the floors and putting in the bathroom. I can't wait to see it when it is finished. I just hope we will still be here. Our date to come home is March 12 so that won't be long. As usual the Sister made us a great lunch more like a dinner to us in the US. You know the Germans eat there big dinner at lunchtime, thus we ate a large meal of curried rice with meat and vegetables with a kind of Greek salad. She always has dark German bread to eat and something from the bakery across the street for dessert with some tea. I am thinking of something to buy her boys this Christmas, any ideas?

We had a wonderful day, hope you enjoy the pictures.

2 Dec 2011 Frankfurt Christmas Devotional

This morning everyone took off work to go to the Christmas Devotional held in the Frankfurt Stake Center. We were privileged to have with us three of the 70's. We first heard a piano solo from Elder Causse who played "What Child Is This?" which was his own arrangement. The first talk was given by Elder Teixeira and then we heard from our own Missionary choir. They sang both in English and German. I thought they sounded like the Tab Choir. The second talk was by Elder Kopischke. I enjoyed both talks. Did you know that Elder Kopischke plays the accordian? He plays on Christmas when he and his family sing Christmas Carols together. One Christmas his son was in the Mission Training Center and when they were able to talk on Christmas day his son said it didn't feel like Christmas because he wasn't with them to sing Christmas carols. He said they all sang together his favorite on the phone. We had a beautiful meeting with a wonderful spirit present.

Afterwards they had a great dinner of two kinds of meats, Chicken and Roast beef with lots of side dishes. I took a few pictures so you could see what good food the German sisters prepared. Christmas is a wonderful time to be in Germany. Right now there are lights in every window. We are looking forward to Christmas this year.

12 Nov 2011 Side Trip to Steinheim/Alsfeld

Just a short side trip after going to Alsfeld to follow some leads on our friends Genealogy. We spotted the cute little town of Steinheim. Since my walking has been curtailed, we just drove around and looked at all the half timbered buildings and we came upon a small castle along a beautiful little meandering stream. Had to get out and take pictures of it all. Last chance to capture amazing Germany in the Autumn time. Hope you enjoy the photos.

27 Nov 2011 Advent Sunday with Ertelt Family

We were invited to the Michael and Myriam Ertelt home for the First Advent celebration. They are the parents of Jessica, the young lady we adopted as our granddaughter here in Germany. She is now on her mission in Maryland. We felt privileged to be invited, as it is a family affair. I had never heard of Advent Sunday before, but I think that is because we are LDS and it basically started as a Catholic tradition. Today in Germany all churches celebrate Advent, the month before Christmas.

For those of you, like myself, that know nothing about Advent, here is a brief explanation. First of all Advent has four significant days, the first one being on the 4th Sunday in November and the last three advent days are on each consecutive Sunday before Christmas. Each family has an Advent wreath displayed in their home. You probably have one in your own home in the US and don't even know it. An Advent wreath is made of small pine bows with 4 candles. Our family was given one for our very own. I was so excited. My house is looking more like Christmas now. On with my story. On each Advent Sunday the family gathers around the advent wreath and enjoys homemade German cookies and hot chocolate with cinnamon. I think I ate my share of goodies. Oh yes and the Advent candle was then lit. It stays lit until the night is complete. On the next three Sundays another candle is lit with ones before. Most families also embrace the Advent Calendar. I Remember the ones that my mother had for my brother and I . They had small pieces of chocolate or a small gift. We always wanted to be the one to take out the little treat. Sometimes we only had the one with the little doors that opened up to a small picture of a toy. Wasn't to impressed with those but at least we had something to remember, that Christmas day was approaching.

Some families will have a Jessie Tree which is one large pine bow that is hung on the wall. The significance of the bow is the scripture in Isaiah 11:1. This talks about a shoot that will spring forth from the stump of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots." (referring to Jesus Christ himself) hence, the bow represents Christ. All during the month before Christmas a homemade ornament is put on the bow, each one representing Old Testament events from the Creation to the birth of Christ. Each night a scripture is also read and the story told. It sounds like a lot of work, but the family basically gets told about all the stories in the Old Testament before giving them the story of the birth of Jesus. I definitely want to adopt this tradition for my family. If you are interested, I have included all the ornaments and their significance and the scripture attached to
each.
The Below Chart starts on the 4th Sunday of the month before Christmas

Persons/Event Scripture Symbol
Day 1 Introduction of the Jesse Tree I Sam 16:1-3 / Isa 11:1-10 The Tree
Day 2 God/The Creation Gen 1:1-3 Dove
Day 3 Adam & Eve / First Sin Gen 2:4- Gen 3:24 Tree with fruit/apple
Day 4 Noah / The Flood Gen 6:11-22/7:17/8:12, 20/9:17 Rainbow/Arc
Day 5 Abraham / The Promise Gen 12:1-7 / 15:1-6 Field of Stars
Day 6 Isaac /Offering of Isaac Gen 22:1-19 Ram
Day 7 Jacob /Assurance of the Promise Gen: 27:41 28:22 Ladder
Day 8 Joseph / God's Providence Gen 37, 39:1-50 / Gen 21 Sack of grain or coat
Day 9 Moses / God's Leadership Exod 2: 1-4 / 4:20 Burning Bush
Day 10 Israelites / Passover & Exodus Exod 12:1 - 14:31 Lamb
Day 11 God /Giving the Torah at Sinai Exod 19:1 - 20:20 Tablets of the Torah
Day 12 Joshua / The Fall of Jericho Josh 1:1-11 / 6:1-20 Ram's Horn / Trumpet
Day 13 Gideon / Unlikely Heroes Judg 2:6-23/6:1-6,11/8:28 Pitcher
Day 14 Samuel /Beginning of the Kingdom 1 Sam3:1-21//7:1-8,22/9:15-10:9 Crown
Day 15 David / A Shepherd for the People 1 Sam16:1--23-17,58, 2Sam5:1-6/7:1-17Harp crook
Day 16 Elijah /The Threat of False Gods 1 Kng 17:1-16 / 18:17-46 Stone Altar
Day 17 Hezekiah/Fithfulnness & Deliverance 2 Kng 18:1-19/19,32-37 Empty Tent
Day 18 Isaiah / The Call to Holiness Isa 1:10-20/2:4-13/8:11-9:7 Fire tongs/Hot coal
Day 19 Jeremiah / The Exile Jer1:4-10/2:4-13/7:1-15/8:22-9:1-11 Tears\
Day 20 Habakkuk / Waiting Hab 1:1-2:1 /3:16-19 Stone Watch Tower
Day 21 Nehemiah /Return & Rebuilding Neh 1:1-2:8/6:15-16/13:10-22 City Wall
Day 22 John The Baptist / Repentance Luke 1:57-80/3:1-20/7:18-30 Scallop Shell
Day 23 Mary / The Hope for a Future Luke 1:26-38 White Lily
Day 24 Elizabeth /Joy Luke 1:39-56 Mother & Child
Day 25 Zechariah / Anticipation Luke 1:57-80 Pencil & Tablet
Day 26 Joseph /Trust Matt 1:19-25 Carpenter Square / Hammer
Day 27 Magi / Worship Matt 2:1-12 Star / Candle
Day 28 Jesus /Birth of the Savior Luke 2: 1-20 Manger
Day 29 Christ / The Son of God John 1: 1-18 Chi-Rho Symbol