Niedern News

Our Lantern Walk

noreply@blogger.com (Krischa) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:36:00 +0000

Kay and Susan invited us and others from church to their home for food, fellowship and a lantern walk. Above, the ladies gathered in the kitchen just before supper. Kiddies at their own special table The adults Ready to start walking The kids in the lead Our friends and Donia Devon carrying Liane's little lantern Danielle and Jacob on the way back next to a bolder. A visit to the pigs after we got back to the farm Dustin and Danielle were both interested in feeding them. The pigs were hungry and loud. Kay served up the icecream during dessert time. Here Kay showed us a trick with an empty tea bag which he lit, and which lifted of and dissolved before our eyes.

Camp Impact: October Work Week

noreply@blogger.com (Krischa) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:21:00 +0000

We drove down to Camp Impact on Tuesday morning and came home Saturday night. We had a good time working there, and enjoyed the challenges that came with the season: staying warm. :) Danielle helped with the raking. Doreen worked with the blower for hours that first day.We gathered the leaves as best we could. One of our mowers: Dustin We transported the leaves in bags to the pile beyond the fence. Donovan enjoyed trying the blower. It was pretty heavy, but he had fun for a few minutes. Danika and Dustin on "their" wall, Bradley joined us on Thursday and did a lot of raking that first day. The kids put it all in bags the next morning. It was very hazy all day. Danielle was the "Snack-Lady" on Friday. She spent most of our days (and nights!) in her snowsuits. I had several along. The kids ended up filling 28 bags that morning. Having fun, while working Sleeptime: Danika bundled up for the cold! Helping Daddy wet down the old wall paper Snack time distribution on Saturday cookies and sliced apples Devon and Simon tearing down the bathroom wall in the upper floor Scaping off the old wall paper Using the special solution to help get off those stubborn pieces of wall paper.

Donovan's Party

noreply@blogger.com (Krischa) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:59:00 +0000

Donovan and Daddy go out for lunch at McD's. Big brother, Devon Achi, a new student in Magdeburg Supper with friends Bradley with Jost Three buddies Donovan turned 7 on October 14th. A whole month has passed since then. We have had many ups and downs with our computer in that time, and I was gone for the good part of a week while at Camp impact during the last days of October. Our pictures are in our computer that is crippled, so that blogging has not been on the agenda for awhile. :)

Donia's 16th Birthday Date

noreply@blogger.com (Krischa) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 20:30:00 +0000

A few days late, but better than never. Bradley and Donia went out to eat on Friday and then did various ministry visits for several hours after that. Before they left I got to take pictures of our now 16 year old daughter. :)

Soccer Time

noreply@blogger.com (Krischa) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 20:23:00 +0000

This fall Devon is playing on a soccer team in our village for the first time. He has enjoyed the training sessions and one game so far. The coach put him in to play the last eight minutes. He did a great job during that time.

Donia turns 16 on Sunday, September 27th, 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Krischa) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:55:00 +0000

Donia with Danika and Donovan right before our noon meal. She had requested Maultaschen, a Swabian specialty, on the line of Ravioli, but not in a tomato sauce. We boil ours in broth.

Dustin turns 10 on September 24th, 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Krischa) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:30:00 +0000

Lunch date with Daddy Soccer time with Devon, Donovan and Daddy! Donia's best friend, Aline, came Thursday for a week-end visit. Donia had no idea. The surprise was perfect! Dustin's party cake. Dustin and Jost, the youngest Brüggemann.

Sunday, September 20th 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Krischa) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:25:00 +0000

We didn't get home until 10 p.m. (Bradley and his van) and after 11 p.m. for our van, so our little camper helpers were tuckered out on Sunday afternoon. Our neighbor brought us over this package Sunday afternoon. We had ordered some large print Bibles to give to some elderly ladies for reading ease.

Saturday at Camp Impact

noreply@blogger.com (Krischa) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 21:11:00 +0000

Dustin and Donovan worked steadily before and after lunch helping Zina and her kids take off wall paper. Devon and others taking out the insulation above the top floor of Haus 2. Danika, Helene and Danielle playing school and other things with all the little kids. Bradley organized the ceiling rests in one room. Bradley on the clean-up crew: Clearing away the ceiling that was broken away. Aline, Dono and Dustin wearing their masks. All done for now. (The picture right above and the one right below are from Stephen K.) The demolition crew (Unfortunatey our viewer isn't functioning on our camera, so we didn't discover the smudge, which was on the last 150 pictures, until we downloaded them at home! :() All the workers of the week-end, with the exception Brüggemanns who left early to attend a class reunion.

Friday Afternoon and Evening at Camp Impact

noreply@blogger.com (Krischa) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 19:59:00 +0000

Vicki freshening up the rooms Ellen cleaning out the new-to-us nightstands Danielle playing in the tree above the play ground Getting the beds moved and rooms ready for the 53 helpers Kay and Susan planting bulbs for next spring Danika driving the weeds off to the compost pile Carrying the children's chairs given by the school in Heidelberg Doreen helped to unload the furniture. The men who helped. The driver kindly gave the kids several rides on the ramp and let them enjoy the inside of the truck for a little while. Finally: we were happy to welcome Bradley about 7 p.m. He had come through heavy traffic, having stayed in Magdeburg overnight to attend the celebration of the roofing of the new old folk's home addition. Danielle carries up her chair, too (with the help of big sister, Donia)! Supper with the first helpers who have arrived. The last ones came in around midnight. All the things brought by the truck from Heidelberg. Everything was carried in before dark.

Friday morning at Camp Impact

noreply@blogger.com (Krischa) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 19:18:00 +0000

Helping with the breakfast dishes on Friday morning. Devon, Andy and Kay set up this old German wardrobe together. All the kids worked together to get the grass out of the cracks it had grown up between again. Devon and Donia carried up hospitals bed (given to us by the nursing home we minister in) for the two rooms which housed the young unmarried men. Finally the kiddies got to open up the sandbox. It provided them hours of fun.

We're Going to Camp

noreply@blogger.com (Krischa) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:35:00 +0000

We were ready to go on Thursday afternoon. The Lord gave us a beautiful day to travel. Our van was full. We took Helene along with us. We filled every available spot. :) After 2 1/2 hours we got there: The kids discovered a nice little sand spot, new since our last visit. Here the pretty green area in front of House 1. It had rained during the day, but the Lord gave us beautiful warm sunshine the whole time we were there.

Getting Ready for the Camp Impact Work Week-end!

noreply@blogger.com (Krischa) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:18:00 +0000

We have been loading our vans over the last weeks with things out of the apartment that the teachers used to live in. At the end we also put in various garden tools to work with. Here Dustin was checking old batteries for us. In Germany expended batteries have to be taken to a special box set out in many stores.

Glimpses from Greenville

noreply@blogger.com (Krischa) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:39:00 +0000

Wow, I guess there have been some changes to blogspot.com :) Pretty nice, though, I must say. Anyway, the kids have sent some pictures in the last week. The first picture was taken during the first week of school: Derek, Carrie (Dalene's roommate from last year), Danae, Eldon, and Dalene on the bridge. Not sure what they call it now, since the flags fly back behind them now, around the glory garden. :) The library is a favorite study spot for the kids this year. Danae in her "cubicle", as we used to call them. This was one of the many enjoyable lunches of the past weeks. By the way, they are back to serving the food this year, in an effort to keep food from being wasted. Studying on another night, too. Here Derek is at the first table. Dalene is a RA in Mary Gaston this year. Here one of the pictures that were taken for the dorm bulletin board. Dalene is also playing volleyball (bottom left) for her society, the Bobcats, this year. She has enjoyed it so much, and it has been special to have lots of family members from campus and town there cheering them on! :) Danae is taking Digital Photography this semester and last Friday she won the in-class contest for the day. She is really enjoying this class.

The Store

noreply@blogger.com (Krischa) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 22:32:00 +0000

On Wednesday the kids set up a darling store front, offering cold drinks, freshly baked cookies (with the help of Donia), pears, books, crafts they made, and a visit to the hair dressers. To purchase anything you had to recite verses. :) We had a great time "shopping". All of the family dropped by to get something. :)

Black raspberry jam

noreply@blogger.com (Krischa) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 19:17:00 +0000

Yesterday we picked the ripe black raspberries, and Donia turned them into delicious jam! There are lots more ripening, so we should be able to make quite a few more batches.

Another beautiful late summer day

noreply@blogger.com (Krischa) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:17:00 +0000

We invited the three youngest Matthia kids to join us. Our first stop were these 50 huge straw bales stacked for pick-up. They were in the field right to the north of our path. Eddie and Dustin: these guys are going to miss each other when Matthias leave for furlough next week. Our little H2O interlude: We found out today that they will be filling in rocks around the tracks for driving safety. Danika, Doreen and Lynette: Ditto to the comment on Dustin and Eddie. The cousins will be missed a lot! Evan and Danielle, the youngest set of playmates! They have the least understanding of the farewell that is just around the corner!

Enjoying our New Paths and the Water Accumulation after our big Rain last Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Krischa) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 21:00:00 +0000

Donovan with his missing top tooth! :) Enjoying the new path The shoes were quickly discarded at the sight of the huge puddles. The water looks red, because the stones underneath are red. The water was pretty clean though, because there was no mud in it! Buddies! Danielle-tiptoeing through the water Doreen Waving at the passing travelers Devon rode out on his bike and surprised us! Enjoying the water one last time on the way home again Running through the harvested fields

Greenville Glimpses

noreply@blogger.com (Krischa) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 22:23:00 +0000

Derek gave the girls a tour of his work area and projects. Goofing off! Preparations for the fall Sunday: Waiting for the Church bus

Home Happenings

noreply@blogger.com (Krischa) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 22:04:00 +0000

Shooting star watchers :) An hour after church that night. As one of my girls put it, "The stars were playing peek-a-boo with the clouds" on our side of the world. A wonderful treat: Sweet Corn! It was sent to us by friends who live on the German-French border and who grow it to sell. This new cement track was put in on "our" field path. It definitely changed the natural look we had out there, but it is now much easier to walk for exercise. The puddle above is a result of the thunderstorm last night and the rains today. Yesterday we had record highs for Germany this summer: 36°. Today it was exactly half that warm. Heading back to Niedern

An Unexpected Blessing: Stopover in Toronto, Canada

noreply@blogger.com (Krischa) — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 20:26:00 +0000

After a turbulent flight over the Atlantic, the girls landed in Toronto and were told that a storm was causing the cancellation of their flight to South Carolina. They had flown with Air Canada, and the airline very graciously put them up in a hotel until they were able fly out on Wednesday. Being together gave them the opportunity to explore the city a little bit on subways and trams. They got into some of the weather front, and bought umbrellas to stay a little drier. Here a sampling of their adventure:

Last Sunday with the Girls

noreply@blogger.com (Krischa) — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 19:58:00 +0000

This summer flew by with our family reunion, lots of company, camp and then getting ready to go again. We thank the Lord for the time we had together. Derek is happy to have the girls on his side of the big pond now. :) So our loss is his (and many other people's) gain. We are praying the Lord will give them a very good year at BJ. We grilled hamburgers for our last Sunday meal together on a beautiful sunny day.

Lorraine turns 17-Eldon is ready to leave for College

noreply@blogger.com (Krischa) — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 01:38:00 +0000

We enjoyed a nice party for Lorraine and Eldon last week The Grillmaster, Kevin Enjoying some Basketball Street hockey with the younger kids Stephen, Vicki and the boys (Hannah is usually being held by someone :)) Doreen and Hannah Donovan enjoying the rope to the tree house Lorraine Eldon The youngest guests enjoying dessert My Sweetheart

A Final Farewell for the Young People

noreply@blogger.com (Krischa) — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 01:25:00 +0000

With the Matthia family going on furlough at the beginning of September and the college kids leaving before then, a special day was planned together at Heide Park, a very nice amusement park about 2 hours north of here.

Sommer Sensation I 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Krischa) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 20:20:00 +0000

I did not have my camera while the kids were gone to camp, so I have no picures from our days here during that time. The camp ones I am posting are from Dalene and Danae. Trip to Spain: Devon with little cousin, Evan Most of the cousins at camp wore their family reunion shirts one night. Sisters: Danae and Doreen Danae was a team leader of the blue team! :) Doreen and two of the youngest campers :) Sunrise at the Mediteranian Sea: Dalene and Doreen Song Service Danae on duty in the kitchen. :) Bradley during a service Dalene working with pictures on a laptop Pont du Gard (France) on the way home