Time well spent

So, my husband’s brother Enoch was here for a wee Christmas visit, and what visit to Germany is complete without seeing the city of Munich? Having been to Munich many times, and being my pregnant, easily tired self, I wondered if I would go with these two fine Rottier gentlemen and see the sights I’ve seen so many times before.

It was then that I remembered when we went to Munich only weeks earlier with Jeremy’s cousin and husband (Jess and Luke Seatter) and saw a display in one of the smaller museums (I wouldn’t even have known it was a museum if Jess hadn’t pointed it out) by an artist named Alphonse Mucha. If you haven’t heard of him, I’m 100% sure that you have seen his stuff. Google it. It’s amazing. Knowing that Jeremy would come with me to the museum, but wouldn’t necessarily LOVE to go, I offered to go alone, allowing time to really take in everything and linger at certain paintings or what have you. Having the husband that I do, he also informed me that not only was the trip to the museum part of my Christmas present, but that he also wanted to buy me a Mucha poster of my choosing. What a guy! How thoughtful is that!?

http://paddyk.files.wordpress.com/2007/02/mucha-les-saisons.jpg Here’s a link to a sweet picture by Mucha.

I discovered a few things while I was alone in this public place. 1. Standing for an hour and a half is hard work when you’re pregnant. 2. An hour and a half was not enough time 3. I enjoyed not feeling like I had to hurry through the rooms because other people might want to go sooner 4. I love Mucha.

So, instead of one big poster (they didn’t have a great selection) I got three little ones and some post cards to put up in my new apartment. I decided that our bedroom and hallway will have many a Mucha. :) Oh, and I would also like to get a Mucha tattoo. This is a goal that will take a LOT to realize, but there it is, none the less.

The Date

Yesterday, my husband took me on a date. It began with a visit to the doctor. This wasn’t actually the “date” part yet, but I decided to include it because it was cool. We got to hear the heart beat of the baby and then see it and then get a sweet 3D print out of the baby’s face. How cool is that. Oh man. I still get a little teary-eyed when I see her moving around in there. Sigh. Then, we went to a hard ware store and bought a little paint for our new flat, and for the baby crib we’re borrowing that needs some freshening up.

Here is where the date “actually” started. We went into our favourite little town called Landsberg. Jeremy decided to park where we have never parked before, and this led us to a stairway, and to a small dimly lit bridge that goes over the river. It was on this bridge that we kissed long enough to almost call it making out. I know, too much information, but I am proud of Jeremy for kissing me in public, even though it was dark. It was pretty dang sweet, actually. So, this was the previously unexplored bridge, which I am now going to refer to as the “make out bridge”. And it was much closer than the other parking spot, which was nice for my sore pregnant feet. We were even led to a strange cobble stone street, and a new tunnel that I had seen before but never knew where exactly it led. Now I know.

Thank you, Landsberg, for you ancient paths and dimly lit bridges. It set the mood for a little romance.

Stephanie

The perfect time of year for awkward conversations…

Jeremy volunteers at a youth drop in type place in a neighbouring town not far from where we reside. Because of this, we were invited to a Christmas party where some of the other leaders were as well as some of the youth from the church. I didn’t really want to go, because the few people who speak English sort of intimidate me, to be honest, and who really is good at striking up conversation with strangers? I mean, other than my husband. I decided to take one for the team (aka the list) and go. It was totally so awkward at first. I was trying to think of some good ice breaker games but these are rather difficult when only half the room understands each other. Then a young man decided to play “Outburst”. It was pretty fun. Loosened me up a bit, which was nice, since I was gripping Jer’s hand so tight it was losing blood. Some of the topics were things only Germans would know, like kids songs and German holiday destinations (Canada was not on the list, to my shock and dismay, but I guessed it anyway). We lost, but had fun. Then a young 18 year old couldn’t believe I was 30 because I was dressed “cool”. :) Ha.

So, after the game, I took the opportunity to talk to one of the girls who more or less leads the youth group with another girl. She recently got engaged, and had her civil wedding. Here in Europe (at least in Germany and Switzerland… and other places I think) there are two weddings. One where you go and make everything legal with the state, and the church wedding where you make it legal before God. Interesting, I know. Most people opt to have the civil wedding and the church wedding about a week apart, and the church wedding is the one with the big dress and the gifts and the party. Well, we talked about her church wedding, a very easy topic if you’ve been married or are getting married. It was nice. I learned a little more about her, and even gave her a hug when I left. Oh, and I like hugging people when I’m pregnant cause the bump now comes first, and it’s kind of cool. Random, I know. Sorry.

The point is, that I talked to someone I wouldn’t usually and it was nice. Still awkward, but nice.

Stephanie

Boy did I tidy!

We have a very tiny house, and I am finding that even though it’s not that messy, it looks that way and it causes me much stress. For example, after one meal all of the counter space, including both the burners on our hot plate aka “stove”, is completely covered in dishes. This is only a meal for two! Imagine the disaster that ensues if we have company. Needless to say, I am very much looking forward to moving where we have a HUGE fridge (not a bar fridge), which I know Jennifer can appreciate with me, and even a stove AND an oven. We might even get a dishwasher which might make me so excited that I go into premature labor. Here’s hoping that doesn’t happen.

Anyway, back to the tidy. It had been WAY too long since Jer and I did a thorough job of cleaning the place. Jeremy and I have a wonderful deal. He cleans the bathroom, which I hate (yes, every time… he’s WAY to good for me) and I do the floors, which he hates. I got down on my hands and knees and washed the floor with a rag, people. Now THAT is a clean floor! Snap! We did the laundry, we did the dishes, I cleaned out the fridge (and found some old, mouldy, nasty, couldn’t tell you what that once was… food?), I even beat out the small rugs we have. Dang. Talk about productive.

The best part of all this, is that we were able to have friends over and I didn’t have to apologize once for the condition of our apartment. ( I usually do this when people come over and it’s a mess). I did notice today that I forgot to clean the cobwebs from the corners. Maybe next time…

Stephanie

A wise, expensive decision.

I actually decided this a while ago, but thought I could use it for the list. So I am. I decided that I’m going to use cloth diapers when little Maggie-Rose is born.

I could get all carried away and talk about how I can buy one set that will last at least two kids, but probably three, and how it will save me about $1000 in the first year alone, or about how many diapers from one baby would go around the world how many times, but I won’t. This entry would be way too long.

At this point, it is a matter of actually buying the things. It’s about 250- 300 euros to get them (around $500 or more) and, quite frankly, I don’t just have that kicking around. Plus, the lady that knows all about them (she has a set herself) is in the US of A until two days before the baby is due. So, it will not be so easy as just ordering them and waiting for the beautiful eco-friendly goodness to arrive.

It will be glorious eco-friendly goodness, though, when they get here! Woot!

Stephanie

“We can never fall if one voice rings throughout the world…”

So, there has been a bit of a situation here at the YWAM base. I won’t bore you with the details, but there was talk of ending the school six months early, and just giving up. At the beginning of the school year, we staff all felt so strongly that we were supposed to run the school. At a staff meeting the other day, five of us got together to pray about the decision whether to continue or not.

And stand in solidarity we did!

We all agreed that we wanted to continue the school, despite it being more work, despite it being hard, and despite what the other leaders said. I got really worked up and ranted a bit about how God does not change his mind and how could running a bible school be bad etc. etc. It was a proud moment, as it got everyone else out of their slump and they realized they were not the only ones feeling upset but hopeful.

It was a glorious moment.

Stephanie

Inspired by Sara

What a lovely time of year to make Christmas cookies.

I decided that while expanding my circle of friends, we should do something fun and creative together instead of doing the usual movie watching (said friend had just watched Labyrinth for the first time and was, to say the very least, traumatized by David Bowie in tights. I know… I couldn’t believe it either.) So, needless to say, she wasn’t too keen on any movie suggestions I would have made. So, cookies it is!!!

I even made my first icing ever, from scratch. Not bad for someone who only a few years ago was the brunt of many a joke about not being able to bake or cook, whilst looking confused at the recently acquired baking tools at a certain wedding shower we don’t like to talk about.

I think the pictures that follow explain the rest. It was a good time and included me having icing on my face for a solid two hours before noticing. (I tried to convince a four year old once that you must have flour on your face in order to do a really good job, but he didn’t believe me. I have learned that icing on the face is much better than flour.)

carefully reading the instructions…

it was at this point that the mixer started to smell like burning plastic. something about frozen butter?

multicultural baking

This is Jesus. I wondered if this was sacrilegious. Jeremy said that eating it would be. Hailey decided that making a cookie cross for him to hang on would be. I opted for eating the cookie and not hanging him on a cross. I think it’s obvious this was after the resurrection. So there.

Let the festivities begin!

In my world, many people are always coming and going. It is interesting to me that God has called me to such a place, as one of the most traumatic experiences from my childhood was the fact that I would always make great friends, and they would always move away. Here at the castle, we have different schools starting at different times and I usually have about three months to hang out with the students (and sometimes staff) before they return to their homes. A lot of people here don’t really interact with the students for this very reason. They get close, develop a sweet friendship, then they leave and are never to be seen again. Not this Canadian!! It might have something to do with my people-person husband who loves meeting new people and hearing their stories. He thrives on things like this, where I’m happy either sitting at home alone, or having people over. I think he pushes me in the right direction.

All that being said, I intentionally hung out with one of the students from another school, who is leaving this Sunday. She is from the states, and is incredibly funny. We hit it off right away, but haven’t had a lot of time to really hang out. So, we planned a date. We were going to just watch a movie or something, then I decided that we should do something off the list. Two items in one night!! WOOT! So, we are friends (even on facebook which makes it official) and she is still leaving, but will be back in Switzerland for six months next year. So, I will see her again. Not going to lie, pretty excited about that. I decided that intentional friendship is the best kind, whether it’s with new people from all over the world, or people you have known for years and love a lot.

Stephanie

Not meant to offend…

So, I was debating putting this on here, simply because I didn’t want it to a) seem like a cop out, or b) offend those listers involved.

The thing is… I’m afraid of technology. It frightens me. I would much rather draw something out than try to figure out photo shop or something. For real. Facebook confuses me sometimes and it’s like the easiest thing ever. I will avoid using my computer at all costs, and when my old lap top died I was terrified of getting a new one incase it didn’t work the same way. Don’t even get me started on mac’s.

This being said, I was avoiding starting the list because I had NO IDEA how to use this blog thing. And I was a little intimidated. To be clear, I think it’s a great idea! I love reading what the others are doing, and I really do like sharing my experiences. I think I voted “maybe” to having a blog for this, because I didn’t want to say yes just incase I couldn’t figure it out.

Seeing that I was already a few days behind on the list, I decided to dive in. “Put on your big girl panties, Stephanie. It’s time”. My wonderful technologically advanced husband held my hand as I journeyed into this new world of “the blog”. I even figured out how to put in my picture. Woah. I have yet to figure out how to add pictures at the bottom of this entry… one step at a time, friends. One step at a time.

Stephanie

My Small Bladder

Being pregnant has its advantages and disadvantages, let me tell you. One of these advantages is that everyone seems to thing I’m in a heightened fragile state and cannot do things like carry my purse, or walk up some stairs, or do any type of cleaning. This has been helpful and funny at the same time. It’s interesting what people think you can’t do.

One disadvantage is all of my internal organs are being pushed and squished not leaving much room for, say, water. The wee baby loves to kick my bladder when it’s cramping her style, forcing me to get up, literally crawl over Jer (the loft where our “bed” is is only three feet high) and climb down a ladder usually at 4 am. Then, she proceeds to stretch out once more room is made, keeping me up for a few short minutes, before sleep meets me once again.

I have recently discovered that as a pregnant woman I need to drink more water than usual, which is A LOT more than I usually drink. Three litres a day, people. Can this be done? Not going to lie, I totally tried to do this. And failed. And I peed a lot. Which isn’t fun because my office is two flights of stairs up from the nearest bathroom. (See first paragraph). I, like my friend Jennifer, have opted to drink and eat things other than bottles of water (although I’m LOVING the sparkling mineral water they have here in Germany, great invention. I recommend the extra bubbly ones. It’s like drinking sparkles!!) I just need to figure out how much water is found in apple juice and mandarin oranges, since those are my most recent favourites. Mmmmm fruity.

Stephanie