Tonight is my last night in Germany. The girls are with their grandparents and Matthias and Janet are on vacation up north so I have the whole house to myself tonight. Ever since getting home, I have been trying to keep myself busy so that I don't miss Janet, Matthias and the girls too much.
We just spent a great Easter weekend up north with their family. We left Saturday morning and arrived at Janet's parents house late Saturday afternoon. They welcomed us with cake, tea, and other yummy things and we spent the afternoon talking and relaxing. I got to tour Janet's little town of Apen with Leonie, Mareike and their cousins and met Janet's sisters, and grandmother. Saturday night we went to the town's annual Easter fire. Every town in Germany (at least in the north) has an Easter fire the night before Easter. Most people in the town go and there was an easter bunny passing out candy and posing for pictures, and everyone was eating bratwurst and drinking beer (or cola..) around the huge fire. It was so much fun to meet all of Janet's friends and family and see where she grew up. After the fire I sat with Janet, Matthias, and Janet's parents by the fire and we talked and I tried traditional egg liquor (that I tried my best not to spit out instantly, so gross!)
On Sunday morning we slept in then had Easter breakfast with Janet's parents. I didn't feel well in the morning so I slept for a few hours after breakfast then woke up just in time to watch the kids do an Easter egg hunt. They had fun searching for the eggs in their grandparent's adorable garden then we went inside for cake and easter presents. Janet's parents are so sweet! Her dad made me my own wooden board/plate that is traditional to eat breakfast off of and also made two little easter bunnies out of wood. Later, he also gave me lots of photos from their vacations and a wood container he made. He is a great craftsman and I am so excited to take home the things he gave me. I got yummy baked goods and chocolates (only in Germany do you get chocolate with liquor in it from a 90 year old grandma on Easter). It was sweet. After cake, we all sat together and talked and played with the kids. I had a lot of fun getting to know everyone (well, at least everyone who could speak English.) Later, we had pizza for dinner and most people went home shortly after that. Somehow Janet's sister and nephews talked me into going to the disco with them that night. I had never been to a club, and they said going to the disco is a really "German" thing to do so I had to do it. So I went with Janet, her sister and brother-in-law, and the three oldest nieces and nephews to the disco (club) in the next town. I hung out with the older adults (the oldest people in the club that night) and we had fun dancing and watching everyone. After a couple of hours we headed back to Janet's sister's house and stayed up late talking. It was a lot of fun. I have now gotten to experience many different parts of average German life.
On Monday we visited Matthias' parents in Oldenburg (just about 30 minutes from Janet's parent's house). The girls did an easter egg hunt when we got there and after some tea we headed to the north sea. It was cold and rainy so we spent most of the afternoon at a huge indoor playground. The girls had so much fun and we had fun watching them. After the play place we walked along the coast a bit then headed back to Oldenburg. Once again we ordered pizza for dinner and I did crafts with the girls. The girls decided to stay with their grandparents in Oldenburg that night so I ended up having to say goodbye to them a bit earlier than I had planned. That was really hard for me to do. They are such sweet girls and I didn't want to let go when I was hugging them goodbye. Janet and I got in the car with tears in our eyes and Matthias drove us back to Apen to spend the night with Janet's parents. Once again we sat by the fire and talked before heading to bed.
This morning I had another good breakfast with Matthias, Janet, and her parents. Then we packed up the car and headed to the train station. Telling Janet and Matthias goodbye was so, so hard. Janet and I were in tears as we hugged goodbye and it looked like Matthias could have cried too. They felt bad about leaving me alone tonight, but I totally understand that this is the way that it works best and I chose to do it this way. I just didn't want to say goodbye to them at all. They have been such a wonderful host family.
My time here has been so blessed. God answered every prayer that I prayed before coming here and the prayers I prayed while I was here. I was blessed to have such a loving and welcoming host family, blessed to already know someone in this area, and blessed to meet wonderful people who are planting a church here. Also blessed to have so much time alone to relax and really spend time with the Lord. I can't believe how smoothly everything has gone (so far at least, I still have to get home!) So it is so hard for me to leave here. I have been so comfortable and have been learning so much. I am trying to just be thankful for the time that I have and know that great things can and will happen when I get back home, too. Knowing that I am going to see my parents and the rest of my family and friends in just a few hours makes going home much more exciting. I cannot wait to meet my mom at the airport and give her a big hug! I will always remember my time here in Germany and am excited to see what will happen next in the journey of life. Thanking God for how wonderful he is and for the way he has blessed me these last 3 months!!
Tschüß Deutschland!
We just spent a great Easter weekend up north with their family. We left Saturday morning and arrived at Janet's parents house late Saturday afternoon. They welcomed us with cake, tea, and other yummy things and we spent the afternoon talking and relaxing. I got to tour Janet's little town of Apen with Leonie, Mareike and their cousins and met Janet's sisters, and grandmother. Saturday night we went to the town's annual Easter fire. Every town in Germany (at least in the north) has an Easter fire the night before Easter. Most people in the town go and there was an easter bunny passing out candy and posing for pictures, and everyone was eating bratwurst and drinking beer (or cola..) around the huge fire. It was so much fun to meet all of Janet's friends and family and see where she grew up. After the fire I sat with Janet, Matthias, and Janet's parents by the fire and we talked and I tried traditional egg liquor (that I tried my best not to spit out instantly, so gross!)
On Sunday morning we slept in then had Easter breakfast with Janet's parents. I didn't feel well in the morning so I slept for a few hours after breakfast then woke up just in time to watch the kids do an Easter egg hunt. They had fun searching for the eggs in their grandparent's adorable garden then we went inside for cake and easter presents. Janet's parents are so sweet! Her dad made me my own wooden board/plate that is traditional to eat breakfast off of and also made two little easter bunnies out of wood. Later, he also gave me lots of photos from their vacations and a wood container he made. He is a great craftsman and I am so excited to take home the things he gave me. I got yummy baked goods and chocolates (only in Germany do you get chocolate with liquor in it from a 90 year old grandma on Easter). It was sweet. After cake, we all sat together and talked and played with the kids. I had a lot of fun getting to know everyone (well, at least everyone who could speak English.) Later, we had pizza for dinner and most people went home shortly after that. Somehow Janet's sister and nephews talked me into going to the disco with them that night. I had never been to a club, and they said going to the disco is a really "German" thing to do so I had to do it. So I went with Janet, her sister and brother-in-law, and the three oldest nieces and nephews to the disco (club) in the next town. I hung out with the older adults (the oldest people in the club that night) and we had fun dancing and watching everyone. After a couple of hours we headed back to Janet's sister's house and stayed up late talking. It was a lot of fun. I have now gotten to experience many different parts of average German life.
On Monday we visited Matthias' parents in Oldenburg (just about 30 minutes from Janet's parent's house). The girls did an easter egg hunt when we got there and after some tea we headed to the north sea. It was cold and rainy so we spent most of the afternoon at a huge indoor playground. The girls had so much fun and we had fun watching them. After the play place we walked along the coast a bit then headed back to Oldenburg. Once again we ordered pizza for dinner and I did crafts with the girls. The girls decided to stay with their grandparents in Oldenburg that night so I ended up having to say goodbye to them a bit earlier than I had planned. That was really hard for me to do. They are such sweet girls and I didn't want to let go when I was hugging them goodbye. Janet and I got in the car with tears in our eyes and Matthias drove us back to Apen to spend the night with Janet's parents. Once again we sat by the fire and talked before heading to bed.
This morning I had another good breakfast with Matthias, Janet, and her parents. Then we packed up the car and headed to the train station. Telling Janet and Matthias goodbye was so, so hard. Janet and I were in tears as we hugged goodbye and it looked like Matthias could have cried too. They felt bad about leaving me alone tonight, but I totally understand that this is the way that it works best and I chose to do it this way. I just didn't want to say goodbye to them at all. They have been such a wonderful host family.
My time here has been so blessed. God answered every prayer that I prayed before coming here and the prayers I prayed while I was here. I was blessed to have such a loving and welcoming host family, blessed to already know someone in this area, and blessed to meet wonderful people who are planting a church here. Also blessed to have so much time alone to relax and really spend time with the Lord. I can't believe how smoothly everything has gone (so far at least, I still have to get home!) So it is so hard for me to leave here. I have been so comfortable and have been learning so much. I am trying to just be thankful for the time that I have and know that great things can and will happen when I get back home, too. Knowing that I am going to see my parents and the rest of my family and friends in just a few hours makes going home much more exciting. I cannot wait to meet my mom at the airport and give her a big hug! I will always remember my time here in Germany and am excited to see what will happen next in the journey of life. Thanking God for how wonderful he is and for the way he has blessed me these last 3 months!!
Tschüß Deutschland!
