Remembering

LEGOLAND

Pascal had Friday off and we wanted to go on a big trip but on Friday morning Pascal came up with the idea to surprise the kids and take them to LegoLand.  Owen has been wanting to go since they opened the new Star Wars exhibit.  He is a HUGE Star Wars fan!!  So we told the kids we were going to a new shopping center, and when we pulled into the parking lot of Lego Land they were beyond excited.  The park was not crowded at all and it was like we had it to ourselves.  The coolest part about the whole trip was as were just wandering around I heard someone say my name. The is very odd of course being in Germany.  So I turn around and it is Owen's BEST friend's mom Christa. Marvin and his family had decided to come to Legoland as well and we all just couldn't believe that we ran into each other.  SOOOO we spent the rest of the day letting the boys explore LegoLand together.  It truly was one of the best days!  To think he got to see all the Star War stuff with his best friend Marvin was beyond cool! Confirmation once again that God's plans are always best!

Busy days

Meg loves to build these "cities" with dominoes and then take pictures of them.

Owen made this cool hat for field day at school.  He has been quite busy drumming.  Apparently word traveled through the grapevine at his school about his drumming and he was asked to play for 3 more classes. 

Miss Meg has been such a trooper helping me prepare for a final BBQ for Pascal's Unit.  Tomorrow, his unit will leave Heidelberg and move to Wiesbaden. We're putting together a BBQ to celebrate this important day!

I found this piece of furniture that had been kicked to the curb and was on its way to the recycling center.  I thought she had some real potential.  It is solid wood and was an old trophy case. I rescued her, removed her ugly metal legs and metal lock and wiped her down.  I think she would be beautiful painted white but the wood is kinda growing on me. I just love how God surprises me with gifts.  I think she is a real beauty!

                                               Ended my day with a walk on the "trail". 

The Czech Republic

We went to Prague and Terezinstadt on Sat. 

I didn't know that the concentration camps would affect me so much.  I can't post pictures of them, it is just to painful.  I can't even really write about them, my head becomes so full of thoughts, and emotions and feelings that I can't even process it all.  It was a full day and we came home really tired!

To get the slide show to work, you usually have to click twice.  One time will just take you to their website, I just close it and then click again.  This is what you get for not paying, and just doing the freebie version. On the second click you should see a purple bar showing you it is loading, don't click anything just wait. And when the slide show does start, give it about a minute for the slides to start changing.  Mom, I think you are the only one that will go through this lengthy process, oh well!

Create your own free slideshow design

A post by Meg

Meg and I  often go on a run that we like to call, "the country" run.  Today, after I took this picture of her I gave her the camera and told her she could be the photographer.  I put all the pictures she took onto a little slide show and then asked her what she wanted me to type for each picture.  So the following slide show is by Meg.  Hope you enjoy!

My friend, Mr. Rhodes

Mr. Rhodes was our neighbor in Saluda.  He drove his blue truck by our house most every day and
Owen couldn't wait to run down to the side of the road and salute as he drove by.  Mr. Rhodes was a proud WWII veteran and Owen from a very early age loved to see and talk to Mr. Rhodes.  When Pascal joined the military he left for training and Mr. Rhodes would always pop in to see how I was doing.  He always had a hug for me and watched out for us while Pascal was gone.  Sometimes in life you just connect with someone and they just become part of your heart.  Today, I learned that my dear friend passed away.   We will miss him greatly, John Rhodes was a kind, humble, and gentle soul. I'm sure that the counter at Ward’s Grill will seem terribly empty.  We all salute you!

John Rhodes was a veteran of WWII, having served in the U. S. Army, where he received two Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star. He was an electrician by trade and had worked many years with Pace Electric. John retired from the City of Saluda as maintenance supervisor in l992 after more than 20 years of service.
Mr. Rhodes was a member of the VFW Post #5206 in Hendersonville, N.C. and the Saluda Lions Club. He was a member of Saluda First Baptist Church.
Surviving are his wife of 69 years, Ruth Middleton Rhodes; two daughters, Patricia R. Ross (Bob) of Johns Island, S.C. and Gail Bailey-Heaton (Steve) of Taylors, S.C. Also surviving are three grandchildren, Andy Ross, Kristie Bryson and Bart Bailey, and five great-grandchildren, Austin Harrison, Madison and Hunter Bailey, Chase and John Bryson.

May Days

Fridays are blocked off for Isabella and Marvin. After school we always get together for some Friend Fun!

I think it is so cute that Marvin and Owen arrange which days to wear their matching shirts.

Meg and I spent a morning painting pottery.  She painted this cupcake and was soooo excited to pick it up and see how it turned out.

P'tite Mom came to spend a night with us.

She stayed with the kids while Pascal and I ran a half marathon.

Here we are getting ready to go and run the race.

I wanted to give a shout out to my running partner who was unable to run the race with me.

She has been training with me for the last few months and has been so faithful.

she always:

1. ran the exact same pace as me

2.  let me pick the course

3.  never turned down a run

4.  would run with me with a moments notice

5. talked, sang, prayed with me along the way

6.  I missed her every step of the way during the race

A big thank you to:

I ran 1 min. over my target time, and it was a fantastic experience. 

It started at 6:30 in the evening and there were over 5,000 runners.  That's me in the back with the yellow balloon! .....just kidding  I was actually so fast I past those Kenyan runners in order to get this shot!

 I think it is funny that when I finished the race, the winner of the full marathon came in 5 min. before me!  It was unlike anything I have ever done and was truly an amazing experience.  I loved it!!

It's always so hard to see P'tite Mom go back to Switzerland. We love it when she visits!

Pascal got to spend Mother's Day with his mom!

It was a busy but exciting weekend!  Hope everyone had a great Mother's Day, we sure enjoyed ours!

                                               Owen with his drumming instructor Christopher!

Untitled from Grace Reber on Vimeo.