Summer in Bavaria.....thunderboomers, sunshine, more rain, more sunshine, cooler temps, then hot again, all in one day!
It has been a really busy spring and summer here in Germany. We have done a bit of traveling and had visitors and our first party with our German neighbors! Alles gut!
Every season is so beautiful here, but I seem to forget it from season to season, which is cool, since then I am newly delighted and excited about each one. Summer is the season of changeable weather, sitting outside in the beer garden or on the sidewalk, Italian ice cream, listening to the deer mommies across the street from our house as they call to their errant little ones, adventuring off for the first time, watching the sun set on the hills across the valley from our village, more Italian ice cream, relaxing.....
In May we traveled to Berlin for the first time, for 4 days only, so it was a bit rushed. We took the train up, mostly the ICE which is the fastest one and quite comfortable. The weather was cool but clear and we thoroughly enjoyed making our way around the city. It took almost the whole time to figure out the transit system and the best way to get where we wanted to go, so next time we will be able to focus more on the museums and sights than on the transportation. I also want to shop more next time! But we saw the B
randenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie and ate at the restaurant on the top of the government building (Bundes-something), and I found a beer I really like, except it is more of a beer mix and it is only available in Berlin. It is called a Berliner Weisse and you get it red or green, depending on the flavoring they add. Sehr gut! I had two.
We have a new family member too- Ben's new BMW motorcycle! It is a beautiful blue with a place for me to sit on the back. So far he is riding it alone, but the plan is for me to join him soon. I am going to be a Biker Babe! Our good friends Beth and Mark Fitzgerald also have a motorcyle (Harley) and so we will be going on rides together. The German countryside is so perfect for a lazy afternoon tour, stopping at a Gasthaus in some small village on the way. Ben is off right now to ride a bit, on this July 4th waning into evening.We had some visitors too! Our friends from Montana, Michele and Dan Buhl, came to see us in early June. We had a great time showing them around our favorite places, like Prague and Regensburg and Kallmunz and the Alps. We got to go to the Eagle's Nest and we stayed in a great little Gasthaus on the side of a mountain in the Alps, and one morning I actually woke up to the sound of a cuckoo bird! They
sound just like the cuckoo clocks! So cool.Stephen is coming home from Iraq this month and we hope to be able to welcome him back. It has been a long 15 months for him. Thank you all for your prayers for him during his deployment. He and Megh plan to fly back to the States in early August to visit friends and family.
Drew is engaged! He has been dating a lovely young woman named Kelsey who works with him at Triad Stage in Greensboro. We are all excited for them both. No definite plans for a wedding quite yet....
Cait and Jeremy are doing well in Montreat, although they have had their share of financial and job related issues. They hope to be able to do ministry work in Scotland this time next year.
Jake is still in school in Asheville. He just wrapped up a stint as Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream with the Montford Park Players in Asheville. He was of course excellent, by all reports. I hope to see a video of it soon.
So, that catches you up on us so far this year. Please do comment and keep in touch- we miss our US friends!
God bless you,
Love, Ben and Nan
