London Post #3

We woke up on Friday morning and took the EuroStar from Paris to London. Before this train was built that goes directly under the English Chanel it took a car three hours and fifteen minutes to get from one point to another. This train does it in 2 flat. This train ride was very exciting for me as I have always wanted to take it. Probably completely uneventful for must, but certainly not for me. Again we took a Taxi to our hotel and then took the underground for the rest of our time in London. It was great and very easy to use. Manya' time we were completely lost and took it back to our starting point or just took it where we meant to go in the first place.


The Thames

Regent Street was a popular one for me as this is where most of the shopping is in Downtown London. :) Yep grabbed some good stuff here and what I couldn't grab I ordered and sent to the states. lol It wasn't a favorite for Steven. I ordered a pair of Cobalt blue suede boots and he looked at me and asked where I was going to wear them, I told him, "Everywhere."

Our waiter at the  a restaurant called the Bentley was Scottish and very nice. He talked us into trying a few things we wouldn't have tried without his direction. This was a fun restaurant that both Steven and I enjoyed.  The lady right next to us threw a fit at the poor waiter when he didn't bring her her correct meal. It was a little temper tantrumish  and slightly embarrassing for her. At the end of the evening, Steven passed the bill to me as we brought cash to eat in London so we could stay on Budget, I accidental spilled my water and it flung all over her. Kara baby. I know I saw the waiter smile.

London for us was about dinner and the theater, we saw Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera. Les Miserables was amazing and during every Solo' I was transported somewhere else. The singers are amazing and struck a cord with me that made me cry. Les Miserables was very, very excellent. Phantom was fine, there was an older couple behind us who thought it was horrible and left after the first act. They were quite funny to listen to. But Steven and I had to agree it wasn't great. The only thing I can say is that the woman who played Cristine had a voice like the heavens. She studied in Portugal and every once in a while you could hear her Latin accent. It was a pleasure to listen to her. I thought the Phantom didn't even hold a candle to her voice. She was very talented indeed.

 

Since getting lost and swearing at each other seemed to be our favorite thing to do on this trip. lololol!!! (Okay swearing under our breath, but under our breath nonetheless!!) It's only fitting this happened twice on our last day. Certain parts of the Subway were closed so what happened? We got lost. We finally made it to the Tower of London by catching a bus. It was a beautiful castle and a good place to visit.  But by the time we were done here and walking Regent Street again, we quickly noticed it was 5:45 and too late to sit down for dinner before the show so we walked over to a place called Fish Works where I hotel told us was a great place to get fish and chips. We asked if they would make it to go for us and they were so nice and accommodating. It was great food that we ate on the street outside while we waited for Phantom to open. 

 

I have to say the trip was so much fun and exciting for me. I know Steven said he had a good time and we have talked about going to Switzerland and Italy on our next trip alone. I was very happy he took me back which I am sure was a little awkward for him at times as it was an emotional trip for me. I loved living in Germany, it really was a very special time in my life and I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father that I have the memory. It probably was even better after I enjoyed four more years of college studying the language which probably made it that much better. As I sat in Relief society  on Sunday and listen to honestly what was music to my ears as members put long sentences together of nouns, verbs and adjectives it was amazing to me to listen and brought back a flood of memories of trying to understand the language and of studying it further at BYU.  Of course I know as I went back I only remembered the good things that happened, but it makes me happy I took Steven back and he was such a good husband and let me pretty much have rain of the show.  It also makes me want to pull out my German books and brush up on an old skill.

Paris Post #2

OO La La!!! Wee, Merci'!!!  

I was a little afraid to go to Paris as I don't speak French, but this was one of the places I enjoyed the most on our trip (Okay, let's face it, there wasn't a place, time or moment I didn't enjoy on this trip!! It was fantastic and exceeded my expectations 150%!) Paris, is beautiful, the people are fun and very helpful if you wish to speak French. We left Germany on Wednesday morning because I got an insiders tip that the Louvre was open until 10 pm on Wednesday and normally closes at 5:30. So we left early took the bullet train to De Gard Nord, which is the north train station in Paris there, so yes there are four. Which made my first arrival in Paris 15 years ago alone, and quite unfamiliar with France difficult to say the least. I was not about to let this happen again. We walked on the street hailed a Taxi' and were at our hotel in less than 20 min. from stepping of the bullet train. Is there anything much funner than going 200 miles per hour through the Germanic and French country side probably the only thing better was the taxi ride through Paris and stepping out to see that all the research I did trying to find us a nice hotel in Paris had not gone to waste. Our hotel was OO La La and there is no way we could have afforded this hotel in the height of summer but as we were there in Feb on a cold and windy week the world was our oyster this week. Let's face it the hotel was wonderful, the concierge incredible and any problem we had was quickly fix personal or otherwise. It was a wonderful hotel less than 500 ft. from the doors of the Louvre, with plenty of bakeries and Bistros to entertain anyone for a week! It was fantastic, but like I side perhaps I am blind and I could have been staying in a barn and had a great time!!

Unfortunately, I lack to words to describe how wonderful the Louvre was; how much I enjoyed it or how fascinated I became with many of the art work on display. We spent a total of six hours in this museum and I could have easily spent an additional two days wondering its' halls and exhibits.

As we walked into the Masters Hall this piece of work, Madonna of the Rocks, I  quickly made a bee line for as I recognized it. This piece of work is the first that Leonard was commissioned to paint and is an important piece in art history as you can stand in front of his artwork and clearly tell his pieces from others because of his use of light and dark. It was a privilege to stand at this wall for over an hour and delight in his art work as it was clearly different from anything else on the wall. Steven and I took turns listening to different pieces and then telling each other about them. Very interesting to say the least!!

 

The Louvre not only has master pieces hanging on the wall, but pretty much anywhere and everywhere you look from the doors, the moldings, the ceiling, the stair cases, there pretty much wasn't anything we walked by that wasn't amazing in some form or another. That being said, I am sure head aches are a common aliment in the Louvre as standing with your head looking up and around for hours would give even the heartiest of art history majors a major a hand over!!!  Needless to say, after our first three hours this is where I found my husband needed a break from the long lectures. We took a break in the museum bakery which by the way was excellent. 

After our break I told Steven if I could just go see the impressionist I could leave happy.  We wondered over to C wing where I was told I could maybe find three or four. I found at least 15 paintings by Monet, Cezanne, Degas, and Renoir many of which were right on the verge of cubism. It was amazing.  This small wing then led into the Dutch and Germanic Masters. AHHH, poor Steven, there went just a short visit to the impressionist. This is now land of my Education as German Literature doesn't allow much literature before the reformation perhaps besides that of a few poems and sonata of "Hohe Frau." So this wing struck an emotion that was beyond description. Vermeer, Ruben, Hast, Hails, it was honestly a walk through the heavens for me. To say I enjoyed it was an understatement. 

And without saying another three hours quickly pasted in C wing of the Louvre and we walked out of the museum promptly at 10 pm. 

Lucky for us those French don't eat until late, so finding a nice restaurant open was hardly a probably at all!! We ate a few crazy things, like snails and south french salad with bacon drippings that was so yummy, which filled us up in preparation for our wandering the streets of Paris until 1:30 am because we got completely lost. Oh, it was a great night in which we climbed in bed at 2 am. 

Day Two in Paris 

I thoroughly enjoyed speaking French and would take my phrase book anywhere and everywhere we went.I ran out to the bakery in the morning. They wrapped it up so cute, I couldn't help but take a picture.  Our next day we set out for Notre Dame and a little sight seeing and shopping. I'm sorry to tell you I shopped more than sight saw much.

The rose windows in the church are amazing and date back to the 12th century. In the transept on opposite sides were stained glass one depicting the New Testament and one the Old Testament. Many people stood around with binoculars so they could get a better view of the work. It was amazing and even more amazing to think this is they way people knew of Christ and became closer to God before Martin Luther translated the bible. This history of the world is an awesome sight!

That night we walked down to the Tower and spent the even down there. We went to dinner and had an amazing view of the river and Bridge. It was a great las night in Paris and happily I spent it with the love of my life. 

Germany 2013 Post #1

 (Tower BridgeLondon)

Steven and I took an amazing trip to Europe last week. I was so very excited to go and even more excited to be there as we arrived. I can't explain how wonderful it was to come back to somewhere where I lived and slept and had an amazing time in my youth. We came in at 6 am and I was so excited to see my family. Daniela my host sister came and picked us up and upon entrance into my house, which by the way smelled the same, looked the same, and felt them same we were greeted with hugs and tears and laughing. It was so much fun to see them again. We go ready to go to church and took off.
I am happy to say a year in Germany and four years of college tuition have not gone to waste as understanding was not even a problem. If fact what became a problem was switching from one language to another. I don't speak it like I used to, but understand anything and everything was not a problem, with few words I needed to look up. WOW, if I could go back now for a year, although I don't know why I would want to, nor why I would, but if I could I would certainly not have a problem with the language when I returned. Many people gave me great complaints on my German, my host mother said I spoke without an accent, a lovely older woman in my ward said I was a genus I could still speak so well and the bishop asked where I was from, which were all such high complements that I was completely unworthy of. NOW, in reality, I know that this is actually more of a complement to them then to me as I do not speak it well at all, if fact I understand so well and so clearly my faults I can only say that this is a testament to how kind and loving the people with whom I spent my year there with. I loved church and thoroughly enjoyed everything and listen intently to all the lessons, I should be so excited to hear them in my own ward on Sunday in English. It was fun and I enjoyed it very much and even participated in the lesson in Relief Society. I love German and it truly is so ingrained in my head there is not need to translate into English. It is a specially language with special people and I feels so lucky to have studied it when I came home. I feel like this made me appreciate it that much more as I made this last visit.

Steven and I took the Schwaberbahn home. It's the way I would get to and from school, home from church and running around downtown. Poor Steven was a little sick from the ride, but put up with it for me.

I took a two hour nap once we got home which wasn't much since I missed an entire nights sleep, but my philosophy on the trip was, "I can sleep when I'm dead." And I for sure pushed that to its' limit. I spent time with my host sisters children and my older host sister Sabrina. I chatted with everyone in the house and had so much fun eating dinner and talking that we did not go to bed until 12.

We woke up the next morning and headed out the door at 9 to Koln. My host mother Annamarie went with us. My host father Gustav does not see very well and Annamarie doesn't get out much so I do believe she was just as excited as we were. When I told her I wanted to take the train, she said great because there was an especially nasty piece of traffic that always happened no matter what time of day. So we all took off on the bus, then the train.

Koln is a beautiful city, which a rich history of the Catholic Church and even controlled by the Roman Empire for awhile. I had so much fun being in the Cathedral and learning about the stain glass, statures, and architecture.  We ate lunch at a lovely Chines restaurant. I tried to pay for this lunch but Annamarie got very upset and I quickly took it back and let her pay. She was obviously becoming upset at the situation.  After this we headed out shopping. My host mother loves Kaufhof, which by the way took a little talking into that I knew exactly where Kaufhof was, which by the way I did and had to help Steven and Annamarie find there way around. I loved shopping in Koln, I knew where we were and wanted to laugh when they questioned me. Needless to say we made a bee line for her store. I didn't spend much time in the cloths section, but spent an hour and half in the house goods sections. This was fun! I was able to buy a few things that aren't over here, but I remembered over there and now that I cook for a family of six come in handy. I loved the house goods section it was quite fun!!










This is my sweet host mother Annamarie. I just loved to spend time with her. The next morning, I woke up early to go to the store with her. We would do this when I loved in Germany and she always thought it was quite funny that a teenager wanted to go with her to the store, since not much has changed she invited me the next morning. Coming down stairs Annamarie made me peppermint tea and had fresh "brotchen" for me with sweet honey these are some of my favorite things.  She is so much fun to be around and has an infections laugh. Her personality is quite, but once you know her she would do anything for you.

Schloss Burg- The Castle by my home

Danniela wanted to walk to Schloss Burg, the castle close to my home in Germany. I have to admit, this didn't sound like fun to me as Wuppertal is land of rain, rain and more rain. Steven and I had a beautiful day the day before in Koln and we all told Steven many times this was a very lucky day as it always rains in Wuppertal. Nonetheless we trotted over to the Castle late Tuesday afternoon for a little tour and some afternoon tea time. I love tea time, how do we not have this in the states???

On the walk home I spotted this amazing antique store, which made the walk completely worth it. "Alte Kunst" had so many wonderful finds. I wish I could have packed up a few and brought them home with me. It was a special store because I lived Bergishie Land. A berg is not really a hill, but it is not a mountain. It's right in between and this store was a feast for the eyes with all of it's local artist and findings, I might have to make a trip back to Germany just to visit this store! ;)

Heaven help me I can not take a good picture to save my life. But this is a waffle with hot cherries, rice milk and cream. It's about the best thing you have ever tasted on a cold, rain walk home from Schloss Burg!!! I have a mentioned how much I love my family in Germany. I told Annamarie and Gustav one night that Steven had once told me they are not really my family and I told them I thought he was being offensive. It felt like home. I could take a nap when I wanted, rummage through the fridge when I needed which I actually found fascinating now that I am older and dig through draws looking for a pen. I love them and I know that seeing them again is in mine and my children's near future. 

By Small and Simple Things . . .

I love the new year. It's so refreshing to set a few goals, clean your home after the holidays, clean out and put away new Christmas toys and cloths. I love it. It makes me feel so in control of life. Last year around this time my parents were leaving on a mission and I felt inspired to do something spiritual in my life. I hadn't been very diligent in reading my scriptures or saying my prayers, but I always feel like life hounds me about all the things I am not doing and therefore this leads to far more sins of omission than things I am actually doing wrong (side note, the previous year I kicked swearing which was a feat for me, but I set it and did it so I figured to give goals another go around and see where it took me). So I decided to tackle a big one, reading my scriptures and saying my prayers. Yup', I was bad at it and in hindsight I wasn't as disciplined in my behavior as some like to profess from the pulpit, but I figured any effort was better than what I was doing, but also in hindsight, I was far better than any of the years before.

I started off the year by praying and asking Heavenly Father to help me "find the time, discipline and a way in my life" to better read the scriptures (side note, don't ask if you don't want an answer because sure enough I found it and here is the rest of the story). That next morning I woke up about 4 am, this is strange as I am normally a good sleeper. I tossed and turned, turned and tossed. It was too late in the night to take Advil pm (yes I take drugs when I can't sleep), too early to get up and do anything so I was just stuck in bed. Until I had the thought that I "could" grab my iphone and read my scriptures. I always have my phone on me. I don't have a problem, I just always have it on me when I am around the house or out of the house because of work. Anyway, I picked up my phone and started reading somewhere in Moroni because heaven knows I have started in Nephi chapter one verse one a million times and that hadn't gotten me anywhere so I decided to mix it up a bit. I started Moroni and read until I got tired. I said my prayers in the morning and felt like I was out to accomplish something this year instead of nothing.

The next morning at 4 am the same thing and I grabbed my phone. The morning after that again 4 am wake up call to read. After I read I was always able to go back to sleep and woke up fine in the morning. This happened for a month and whenever I was in a doctor's office, in the car waiting for something or someone I would pick up my phone and read. I find it funny now that the only time my Heavenly Father could help me find a time to read was in the middle of the night, when none of my four children/husband/work/phone/or all of my other "distractions" ie, waist of things I do with my time during the day could pull me away from something that is important enough to wake up in the middle of the night to do. Perhaps funny is the wrong word, actually it is the wrong word, but the right word is escaping me right now. I'm happy to say I made it through the whole Book of Moron. If fact as the past few weeks have gone by I have thought what New Year's resolution I should undertake.  . . and then it happened.  .  . this morning I woke up at 4 am.

Motherhood

Today is Monday and Monday is a special day for my children and I. I volunteer at their school all morning. They love it, I'm not sure I love doing it (it's three hours of coping, cutting, drawing, grading, and did I mention coping?), BUT I love seeing their smiling faces as I walk around the school. They run and give me hugs when I come into their classes, they blow me kisses as they walk down the hall, they gentle call my name as they see me walk by their class room or see me in the work room. Sometimes the "Mom." is so soft I turn in all directs to see if my name was really called out. It's a special time I get to see them interact with their teachers and piers. It's a special time to see where they excel and where they need to work in their studies. Nope, this mom knows all, sees all and works on it all when they come home from school. Is there anything better than helping these young children forge their education, teach them how important is it to read and write and be able to add numbers together. Other than one day sending them off to the temple to be married in my mind no there is not. Education is so important. It can mean the difference between opportunity and poverty, knowledge and stupidity, strength and weakness. One of my all times favorite lines from a movie is in Pet the Magic Dragon. Pet needs to go to school but doesn't want to go to school. One of the main characters says, "I know you don't want to go to school, but do you want to be stupid when you grow up?" Of course Pet doesn't so he heads off to school. My children hate is when I eco these words when I hear whining about school work, school days, school hours, school teachers, ect. I always ask them, "Do you want to be stupid when you grow up?"

This little light of mine, Elsie Lou, doesn't go to school yet. But she gets my attention most other days all day. I love her and there is nothing better when she starts to sing,"Good Morning to you!" as I walk in her room in the morning. I would be lost without her and the other three in school all day long.