Last night was my first official, unofficial leadership of my church small group! WOOO HOOO!
Official that Charrie has handed the reins over to me but unofficial as I must undergo some additional training and then some affirmation at the end of six months!
How exciting and terrifying at the same time! Only God's grace is propping me up on this one!
We layed hands on Liz, Rita and Penny and prayed for them as they leave our group and start their own group under Liz's leadership. I am sooooo excited for them. I love Liz and know that God has got great things in store for both of us as we step out in obedience!
More to come later!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Where has all the time gone?
Oh my gosh! I haven't been here in so long I forgot my password!
Let's talk about Germany!
My daughter Erica, my sister Dixie and I had a GREAT time. I think this was the best trip ever despite my feet hurting every single day, all day long! It took weeks for me to get over the feet issue after we got back!
We stayed in Munich for about 3 days, Oberammergau for a week and then Salzburg for another three days! I really didn't like Munich when I went in 2003 but I really liked it much better this time for some reason although I saw more trash on the streets and more beggars than ever before. Maybe it's because we stayed near the train station which isn't ever in the nicest part of any city, is it?
One of the things that stressed me out in 2003 was having to find a place to eat and then having to find my own seat. In America, we usually have hostesses who seat us. No so in Germany. Then for places that had a beer hall and a nicer section to eat in, which do you use? So in November, on our first day there, we went into the Augustiner near the Marienplatz and a waiter met us near the front. He said hello and asked us how many people and we said three. He took us right back to the seats near the kitchen. In America, that is not good. I decided right then that I would not be offended because maybe it wasn't the same in Germany. I was just delighted that someone seated us. Come to find out, the waiter took us right back to his station which happened to be in the back. WOOO WEEEEE! He gave us all menu's in English (I wanted to practice my German) and suggested some dishes for us. We all ordered something different and everything was just awesome. Our waiter was friendly and I got to practice rounding up with him on the tip and we had one fantastic meal. That was a great first meal and really set my heart at ease for future meals. We actually were met and seated several times over our two weeks there. How nice!
I got to meet a German Aunt and Uncle that I had never met before. My Mom and her sister had a falling out with their brother and didn't speak to him for over 40 years. Finally, they smoked the peace pipe and I got to meet my Aunt Dagmar and my Uncle Walter. We went to dinner (it was wonderful) at their house, we met for cake and coffee and I got to meet their son, his new wife and their 2 year old. I just fell in love with my Aunt and Uncle. My Aunt speaks very good English and my Uncle understood most of what we said. I think meeting them was the highlight of our trip!
Staying in Oberammergau was fun. I picked our place off the Internet at Tripadvisor.com and we could not have picked a better place. We stayed at a holiday house run by Anton and Penny Neu near the Ammer River and we loved, loved, loved our holiday house. There was fresh rolls for us every morning and there was a grocery store within walking distance across the river! Anton can tell you something crazy funny with a straight face and Penny was very helpful in directing us to local festivals and answering any questions we might have.
I got to see my cousin Christine, her husband Lothar, their kids Kevin and Vivenne. We had lunch and then visited my Uncle Karl's and Aunt Ella's grave together. My sweet Aunt and Uncle had passed away since I was there last and it was a very special moment for me to stand at their grave with their daugther and her family. I love the Oberammergau cemeteries. I have never been in a more beautiful or peaceful place in my life. My grandparents are in the New cemetery and they were buried there in 1955. My Aunt and Uncle are in the Old Cemetery and they were buried there in 2005 and 2006. Go figure.
One evening and morning we were blessed with snow in Oberammergau. Dixie and I happened to look outside one night and we could see the snow coming down near the street light. When we got up the next morning, it was snowing and there was snow on the ski runs that was sticking but it was wet snow in town. It was snow none the less. I got it on video!
We absolutely loved Salzburg. Salzburg might be my new fav big city! We certainly saw more of it this time than we have ever seen before. Our Sound of Music tour was awesome. I was hoping that it would be different than it was the last time and it was. Different route, different size bus and a different tour guide. Somehow the tour didn't seem as long but what we did see was just awesome. St. Gilgen below a brooding, cloudy sky from above the city was something I will never forget. I would like to take the drive myself if we go back.
More next time! Have a rowdy good day!
Rowdy
Let's talk about Germany!
My daughter Erica, my sister Dixie and I had a GREAT time. I think this was the best trip ever despite my feet hurting every single day, all day long! It took weeks for me to get over the feet issue after we got back!
We stayed in Munich for about 3 days, Oberammergau for a week and then Salzburg for another three days! I really didn't like Munich when I went in 2003 but I really liked it much better this time for some reason although I saw more trash on the streets and more beggars than ever before. Maybe it's because we stayed near the train station which isn't ever in the nicest part of any city, is it?
One of the things that stressed me out in 2003 was having to find a place to eat and then having to find my own seat. In America, we usually have hostesses who seat us. No so in Germany. Then for places that had a beer hall and a nicer section to eat in, which do you use? So in November, on our first day there, we went into the Augustiner near the Marienplatz and a waiter met us near the front. He said hello and asked us how many people and we said three. He took us right back to the seats near the kitchen. In America, that is not good. I decided right then that I would not be offended because maybe it wasn't the same in Germany. I was just delighted that someone seated us. Come to find out, the waiter took us right back to his station which happened to be in the back. WOOO WEEEEE! He gave us all menu's in English (I wanted to practice my German) and suggested some dishes for us. We all ordered something different and everything was just awesome. Our waiter was friendly and I got to practice rounding up with him on the tip and we had one fantastic meal. That was a great first meal and really set my heart at ease for future meals. We actually were met and seated several times over our two weeks there. How nice!
I got to meet a German Aunt and Uncle that I had never met before. My Mom and her sister had a falling out with their brother and didn't speak to him for over 40 years. Finally, they smoked the peace pipe and I got to meet my Aunt Dagmar and my Uncle Walter. We went to dinner (it was wonderful) at their house, we met for cake and coffee and I got to meet their son, his new wife and their 2 year old. I just fell in love with my Aunt and Uncle. My Aunt speaks very good English and my Uncle understood most of what we said. I think meeting them was the highlight of our trip!
Staying in Oberammergau was fun. I picked our place off the Internet at Tripadvisor.com and we could not have picked a better place. We stayed at a holiday house run by Anton and Penny Neu near the Ammer River and we loved, loved, loved our holiday house. There was fresh rolls for us every morning and there was a grocery store within walking distance across the river! Anton can tell you something crazy funny with a straight face and Penny was very helpful in directing us to local festivals and answering any questions we might have.
I got to see my cousin Christine, her husband Lothar, their kids Kevin and Vivenne. We had lunch and then visited my Uncle Karl's and Aunt Ella's grave together. My sweet Aunt and Uncle had passed away since I was there last and it was a very special moment for me to stand at their grave with their daugther and her family. I love the Oberammergau cemeteries. I have never been in a more beautiful or peaceful place in my life. My grandparents are in the New cemetery and they were buried there in 1955. My Aunt and Uncle are in the Old Cemetery and they were buried there in 2005 and 2006. Go figure.
One evening and morning we were blessed with snow in Oberammergau. Dixie and I happened to look outside one night and we could see the snow coming down near the street light. When we got up the next morning, it was snowing and there was snow on the ski runs that was sticking but it was wet snow in town. It was snow none the less. I got it on video!
We absolutely loved Salzburg. Salzburg might be my new fav big city! We certainly saw more of it this time than we have ever seen before. Our Sound of Music tour was awesome. I was hoping that it would be different than it was the last time and it was. Different route, different size bus and a different tour guide. Somehow the tour didn't seem as long but what we did see was just awesome. St. Gilgen below a brooding, cloudy sky from above the city was something I will never forget. I would like to take the drive myself if we go back.
More next time! Have a rowdy good day!
Rowdy
Monday, October 26, 2009
Will we have Oberammergau to ourselves?
Hey there!
I have been pouring over the tourist guides and found out within the last few months that many hotels and restaurants are closed during November in Oberammergau because it's a slow time!!
WOOO HOOOO is all I can say!
I am almost packed and almost ready to go!!
Rowdy
I have been pouring over the tourist guides and found out within the last few months that many hotels and restaurants are closed during November in Oberammergau because it's a slow time!!
WOOO HOOOO is all I can say!
I am almost packed and almost ready to go!!
Rowdy
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Just 9 more days and counting....
I started packing this week for the big trip!! I am excited and anxious at the same time!
Got some folks praying for me for the anxiety and I think as I get a little closer to the trip, I will get more excited. Right now I am feeling like I have left something out.....oh....that would be my Mother. She is not going and it really makes me sad. Maybe I will get over it once I get on the plane with my sister and daughter.
I have been watching the webcam in Oberammergau and it's already snowed there! I hope it snows at least once while we are there! Snow and the cemetery where my grandparents are buried is an awesome combo. I have never seen a prettier cemetery than the one where my grandparents are buried in Oberammergau - they were buried there in 1955 and the locals call it the new cemetery. It's way younger than the one where my Aunt Ella and Uncle Karl are buried - the old cemetery next to the beautiful Catholic church. This will be my first trip to the cemetery to visit my Aunt and Uncle. They have passed away since I was there last in 2003. I think it's going to be surreal. In my mind, they still live in their house where we visited them so many times over the years. I will miss them and I will miss my mom going too. I pray for an awesome trip! After all, I am doing what my Mother trained me to do - to keep up the travel tradition so that our familes can stay connected. Thank you Mom. You trained me well. I love you!
Got some folks praying for me for the anxiety and I think as I get a little closer to the trip, I will get more excited. Right now I am feeling like I have left something out.....oh....that would be my Mother. She is not going and it really makes me sad. Maybe I will get over it once I get on the plane with my sister and daughter.
I have been watching the webcam in Oberammergau and it's already snowed there! I hope it snows at least once while we are there! Snow and the cemetery where my grandparents are buried is an awesome combo. I have never seen a prettier cemetery than the one where my grandparents are buried in Oberammergau - they were buried there in 1955 and the locals call it the new cemetery. It's way younger than the one where my Aunt Ella and Uncle Karl are buried - the old cemetery next to the beautiful Catholic church. This will be my first trip to the cemetery to visit my Aunt and Uncle. They have passed away since I was there last in 2003. I think it's going to be surreal. In my mind, they still live in their house where we visited them so many times over the years. I will miss them and I will miss my mom going too. I pray for an awesome trip! After all, I am doing what my Mother trained me to do - to keep up the travel tradition so that our familes can stay connected. Thank you Mom. You trained me well. I love you!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Less than six weeks!
Less than six weeks for Germany!!
I am looking at maps, travel books, travel websites and still feel unprepared. There's that anxiety again! Anxiety be gone!! This will be my 7th trip of a lifetime...I sure need to go. It's like being away from home too long.
Next week I go to see my sister in Bama. She is going to Germany with me and my daughter. I am sure she will get me all excited. We plan to go to AAA to get our international drivers permit or license together after getting a passport pic! We are going to scrapbook together with my Dad and StepMom and hopefully spend time with my Mom and StepDad and go to a local German restaurant. YUM!!
It will be nice to be back in the bosom of the fam! I haven't seen them in over a year! WOOO HOOO!!
Jo Anne
I am looking at maps, travel books, travel websites and still feel unprepared. There's that anxiety again! Anxiety be gone!! This will be my 7th trip of a lifetime...I sure need to go. It's like being away from home too long.
Next week I go to see my sister in Bama. She is going to Germany with me and my daughter. I am sure she will get me all excited. We plan to go to AAA to get our international drivers permit or license together after getting a passport pic! We are going to scrapbook together with my Dad and StepMom and hopefully spend time with my Mom and StepDad and go to a local German restaurant. YUM!!
It will be nice to be back in the bosom of the fam! I haven't seen them in over a year! WOOO HOOO!!
Jo Anne
Monday, September 14, 2009
Bad Travel Dream
It was bound to happen! For this upcoming Germany trip, I have been feeling a little anxious because this will be the first time EVAH that I have gone without my Mom who was born and raised in Germany! I have made all the hotel, vacation house, flight and car reservations myself for my sister and my daughter. They are so hands off they don't have a clue.
Yesterday I was really feeling low - not low about going but about the responsibility!! The last time I went, I flew in with a friend about 3 days before my Mom got there and the responsibility of planning, executing and doing in Munich with someone who was as hands off as my sister and daugther are was almost unbearable. I planned everything. Where to go, when to eat, where to sit, when to go - and all in a place where we don't speak the language and on top of that it was cold and rainy. I was never so glad to leave Munich and get to Oberammergau in my life.
So...after my low day yesterday it's no surprise that I dreamed last night I was in Spain and lost and couldn't speak the language. Spain must have come up from a travel report I was reading on Fodor's yesterday. I dreamed I was in a hotel with lots of people I knew and we were all going to go together to some destination and when I came out of my room to join them, they were all running single file in front of me down the corridor at our hotel and I could not catch up to them. I ran out a side door hoping to intercept them and I guess I decided that I could catch them on a bus that was sitting there but when I got on the bus after paying, I couldn't convince the bus driver that I was on the wrong bus because he had no English and I had no Spanish. So, I just sat down with the attitude that I had plenty of time to find myself before I had to show up at the airpoint to leave the country. That's what I always think when in Germany, if we get lost, we will have x amount of days to get back to the airport and I am not going to worry about it. lol
The bus probably comes about too because everytime I got on a bus with my Mom in Germany, she wasn't ever sure where we were going! Oh my goodness. It's funny looking back on it!
No more anxiety! No more bad dreams! Only good stuff from now on!! Cos we are going in a little more than six weeks! WOOO HOOO!!
Yesterday I was really feeling low - not low about going but about the responsibility!! The last time I went, I flew in with a friend about 3 days before my Mom got there and the responsibility of planning, executing and doing in Munich with someone who was as hands off as my sister and daugther are was almost unbearable. I planned everything. Where to go, when to eat, where to sit, when to go - and all in a place where we don't speak the language and on top of that it was cold and rainy. I was never so glad to leave Munich and get to Oberammergau in my life.
So...after my low day yesterday it's no surprise that I dreamed last night I was in Spain and lost and couldn't speak the language. Spain must have come up from a travel report I was reading on Fodor's yesterday. I dreamed I was in a hotel with lots of people I knew and we were all going to go together to some destination and when I came out of my room to join them, they were all running single file in front of me down the corridor at our hotel and I could not catch up to them. I ran out a side door hoping to intercept them and I guess I decided that I could catch them on a bus that was sitting there but when I got on the bus after paying, I couldn't convince the bus driver that I was on the wrong bus because he had no English and I had no Spanish. So, I just sat down with the attitude that I had plenty of time to find myself before I had to show up at the airpoint to leave the country. That's what I always think when in Germany, if we get lost, we will have x amount of days to get back to the airport and I am not going to worry about it. lol
The bus probably comes about too because everytime I got on a bus with my Mom in Germany, she wasn't ever sure where we were going! Oh my goodness. It's funny looking back on it!
No more anxiety! No more bad dreams! Only good stuff from now on!! Cos we are going in a little more than six weeks! WOOO HOOO!!
Saturday, August 29, 2009
NOT GOING to Great American Scrapbooking Convention!!
Disappointed doesn't even describe how I feel. I got an email from the GASC group saying that they were cancelling the convention!! I am still going to Bama and I will just spend two days with my sister but I am going to have to change my flight reservations and that's going to cost 180 dollars to change my ticket! That is such a ripoff!!
Not so sure at this point that I will ever attempt another city other than this one for a scrapbooking convention!
Bummer!
Not so sure at this point that I will ever attempt another city other than this one for a scrapbooking convention!
Bummer!
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