Spotlight on Greenville: Derek turns 19

Last week-end three birthday kids, Laura (Erik's girl), Max, and Derek celebrated their birthdays at my parents' home. The goodies were brought by all of our family there in Greenville. Thank you to all. Derek opening his gifts in front of the fireplace. The picture below was actually taken in the Greenville Airport before they left to come home on Christmas break. I just got it, and think it is beautiful. Derek and Danae returned to school on January 11th. Due to Dalene's intense back difficulties, she is staying out this semester. We (and she) are at peace with the Lord's will and are enjoying this unexpected time together, even as we pray for continued healing and strengthening of her back. She very kindly took over English classes for all the kids, and teaches mostly from a flat position. Though she still has to be careful and continues to be on pain medication and is taking therapy, she has been able to be up more without the intense pain.

Continued Snow and Cold

Last week after church the kids gathered snow again for a snowman. Nobody can remember such a long cold period that included this much snow in decades! In the mean time we have had deep cold for our area---around -12°C several times. Danika waiting for Daddy to return for the second trip home in the van. Danielle on top of a snow mound in front of the church building.

Berlin on Tuesday

The Berliner Bear: First stop on a frigid day. In spite of -13°C, Bradley, Max and the three girls braved a day of sight-seeing.

Old Berlin Wall sectionsThe Allied Museum, near the American Consulate that we always visit for birth reporting and getting passports.

A typical sign in Berlin before the wall came down

Relics of the past

Above: A tank Below: A listening tunnel for spying

Our family has visited these horses many times in the past. They are right next to the museum and the parking spots we use.

Berlin now has a special zone which you can only drive in, if your car has low exhaust emissions. So, they left our van on the southwest side of town and spent the day walking and using public transportation on a group ticket.

The Kurfürstendamm---Center of Berlin

Subways were the transportation mode of the day.

The Brandenburg Gate

Das Brandenburger Tor

TV tower of the old East with the frequently visible cross reflection (also visible during the communist era, despite the country's atheism)

The "Dom" (a prominent Lutheran church) in the late afternoon sunlight

Donia near the entrance of the churchSome of church history's renowned men: Calvin, Zwingli, Melanchthon, Luther, etc.

Inside the Pergamon Museum (This museum is filled with treasures from Antiquity.) This is a clay tablet that was found near the Ishtar Gate in Babylon. The writing describes the deportation of King Johoichin from Juda. (2. Kings 24:15)

Max, walking where Daniel walked: The walls of Babylon

Potsdamer Platz

Great name!!!!!!

Cute couple!!!!!! Döners for supper: A well-loved Turkish sandwich made of veggies and grilled mutton shavings! Everyone ate and tried to get warm again in the car on the way home.

Balderdash--What Fun!!

Monday night was set aside for "Big Kids Game Night" Dalene

Devon's turn to read the definitions :)Everyone made his own game piece out of play dough :)

Bradley

Lots of Laughs during this game

Monday afternoon with the rest of the Gang

We took the opportunity to visit our village cemetary

Dalene RachelleDoreen, Dalene, and Donia

Max and Danae

Balancing across the cemetary wall

Peeking through the old door next to the property we used to rent

The Wartberg: notice the tower in the background. It stands on the highest elevation in our part of Germany (101 m above sea level :)) The hill to the parking lot was so icy that I had to wait out on the street.

As it was, I got stuck there, and the kids had to push me out! (I got this picture off of Dalene's facebook, hence the small size!)

Overnight at the Farm

When we first got there the kids were working on an igloo, and ours were happy to pitch right in.Danika inside one of the igloo entrances Donovan and Jesse getting ready to carve some more Danielle having fun Kay took their kids, our four youngest, as well as Derek and Devon out for a 40 minute sledding trip between the fields. After the little ones came back Kay took Derek and Devon across the fields so that they could snowboard again. (No pictures again, but they had a blast!) Oh, what fun it is to ride...on a sled behind "Onkel" Kay! The family home, the beautifully renovated end of a barn The little pony meadow across the street The deer I saw right on the edge of the village as I drove home. The rest of these pictures were taken by Dustin: The boys getting ready to sleep Helene and Danika getting ready for another sledding trip the next morning Danielle and Jacob (This was Danielle's first overnight and she had a grand time!) Being pulled between the beautiful fields by Kay Jacob, Danika and Danielle, Helene, Jesse, Donovan, and Kay (Dustin is taking the picture)