My new painting.

Mein neues Bild.

Today we went to the North Sea. We had a wonderful time in Cuxhaven. It was Ebbe that means the tide was receding far back to the ocean so we were able to walk on the ocean floor. The “Watt” is very healthy for you. It’s kind of funny to see my sisters and brother-in-law dressed like summer and I am all bundled up. It was a tiny bit too cold for me.

Today my sister Franziska, her baby Nora and myself went to the most beautiful park in Bremen, the Buergerpark. We walked to the Parkhotel and rested at a wonderful Cafe to eat ice-cream. Nora ate her first ice-cream and loved it. The Buergerpark brings back many memories. I used to go there with my grand-parents and later in life as I dated we went on romantic walks. He is now my husband.

Heute waren meine Schwester Franziska, ihr Baby Nora, und ich in dem schoensten Park in Bremen, der Buergerpark. Wir sind vom Parkhotel zum Cafe gegangen und haben dort ein grosses Eis gegessen. Es war Nora’s erstes Eis. Der Buergerpark bringt so viele Erinnerungen wieder. Ich bin dort viel mit meinen Grosseltern gewesen und dann spaeter im Leben hatte ich dort viele romantische Spaziergaenge mit meinem Freund. Er ist nun mein Ehemann.

My mom lives a little bit like people in New York do, not as high the buildings, but still high and close. I am sitting on the balcony and I am watching somebody wash some dishes. It’s warm here so everything is open. I can see into everybody’s apartment. Kind of interesting. You can see them when they go to sleep, cook, and when somebody is ready to use the bathroom. Except the windows are milky so that’s a good thing. I am officially a stalker. lol

Meine Mama wohnt so ein bisschen wie die Menschen in New York. Die Gebaeude sind natuerlich nicht ganz sooo hoch aber sehr nah an einander. Ich sitzte hier auf dem Balkon und beobachte die Menschen wie sie ihr Geschirr abwaschen. Es ist sehr warm in Bremen und alle haben ihre Fenster offen, da kann man dann halt ueberall reingucken. Ist irgendwie interessant. Man kann sie sehen wie sie zu Bett gehen, kochen, und selbst ins Bad gehen. Aber die Fenster fuers Bad sind milchig da kann man zum Glueck nichts sehen. Ich bin offiziel ein Spanner. lol

Surprising my Mom.

I was trying to surprise my mom by calling her 30 minutes before I got there, then I thought “no I better give her more time”. I thought 4 hours would do. Then I thought I better call one day ahead so I won’t steal her joy of looking forward of my coming. She was really down that day and homesick, so I called at just the right time. She was soooooo excited and thought I was joking. My sister went shopping right away to get all the food I usually like.

Lady at the Airport.

In Atlanta at the ticket counter the attendant told me that I might not be able to get a flight back from Germany on Stand-by. Perhaps the end of August. That really put me in a little bit of a slight panic. Please keep me in your prayers that I do make it back next week. I kind of miss my husband and my children.

Airplane Experience.

I don’t think I can ever fly coach again. This First Class/ Business experience was truly amazing. They don’t really have First Class but treat you like it. Let me begin with the seats. They are comfy chairs that lean all the way back. I mean all the way. It’s a bed. I received a real pillow, a comforter, and a goody bags with gifts like toiletries. Hold on, I am getting an ice-cream with a strawberry, chocolate sauce and cream. I haven’t even finished my Tazo Mint Tea yet. It was a four course meal. I drank from real glasses and the service was outstanding. It felt like you were in a 5-star hotel. I have been eating for two hours now. Here is a link about the airplane. I was very blessed by a very nice lady to give me her budy pass and travel very inexpensive to Germany.

It’s been almost 8 month that my dear sweet Papa has passed away and today I got word that my grand-pa, my sweet sweet Opa is not doing well. Don’t want to say too much detail. I can not even describe the pain I feel right now. My grand-ma told me “Child, we won’t be able to send you any more Christmas packages from home”. I told her that the greatest gift is not getting a package in the mail, but the gift grand-parents pass on to their grand-children is to be spoiled rotten  by them. To love them, play with them, and be the best example ever. They have done all that. I was a very blessed girl. I will miss their boxes, not the stuff in it, but the gifts that come from home. Home! When they packed it they always put little tissues in it, to make sure the chocolate comes in one piece. I took each tissue, folded it back, smelled it, and held it close to my heart. Always hoping I could pick up their scent once more. I am in so much pain right now, can’t even think straight, but what I want you all to read most of this, is that I still trust my Lord with all my heart, love him more than anything, and cling on to him. I miss my Papa, and I know my time is coming where I miss my Opa (grand-pa), but my Lord will never leave me. I hope for those that don’t believe, will take this to heart and give it a thought. God is real, He really is. Keep me and my family in Germany in your loving prayers. Pray that God will put his big loving arms all around me.

Love,

Heike

It was Christopher’s 18th birthday. We had a wonderful family time, celebrated all weekend long. Wow, how quickly 18 years pass by. I remember it like it was just yesterday when they placed this little precious baby into my arms. I pray that my sweet young man will have many more years to come. May he always trust in the Lord and may he meet the most wonderful woman to share the rest of his life with. I love you Christopher, as long as I am living my baby you’ll be.

Es war Christopher’s 18. Geburtstag. Wir hatten ein wunderschoenes Wochenende zusammen. Wow, wie schnell doch die letzten 18 Jahre vergangen sind. Ich erinnere mich noch, als waere es gestern, als sie mein kleines Baby in meinen Arm legten. Ich bete das dieser junge Mann noch viele weiter Jahre vor sich hat. Moege er immer Gott vertrauen und moege er eine wunderbare Frau kennen lernen mit der er den Rest seines Lebens verbringen kann. Ich habe Dich fuerimmer Lieb mein lieber Christopher, so lange ich Lebe wirst Du mein kleines Baby sein.

We took a trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to see some of Maria’s foster sisters Addi and Mia. I wasn’t sure if she would recognize them. Then she got out of the car and you saw the most amazing look in her eyes. I can not describe how she looked at Addi, it was a look full of love and awe. Finally, she met her sister she grew up with. Dreams do come true! Some of the younger children she has met, she could not remember very well, they were all too young. I guess that is good they were still young.

Addi took the role of the big sister right away. It was very interesting to watch. She made Maria smile as you can see on the picture when she is pinching her cheeks. She also made sure her bikini did not show too much. Rebecca felt a little left out at the beginning, but that changed once we got into the pool and they all forgot where they were from. They were all kids just wanting to have some fun.

Addi told us a story that Maria and her grew up together with foster grand-parents. This was all new to me. We were told different stories numerous times. So it was very enlightening to get so many details of how Maria grew up. Her sweet foster grand-pa saw Addi and Maria pick some peaches and he told them they weren’t ripe and showed them which ones to pick. They had a wonderful garden and most of all, they had love. Maria told me that she always slept in their bed and even had her own pillow and blanket. I am so very blessed to have gotten so much information and that Maria was so loved and cared for.

Maria, Addi, Mia, and Rebecca

We had a wonderful time at the beach. The water was perfect. I am a little worried going deep into the water, so my deer sweet son Patrick carried me in. Actually, I had no choice, he pushed me in and started carrying me. He is tons stronger than me. I just gave up the fight and let him do. Rebecca and Maria are truly beach girls, can’t get them out of the water at all. Christopher was trying to get a tan, but Patrick did not let him, he kept putting sand on his bigger brother.

Wir hatten einen schoenen Tag am Strand. Das Wasser war perfekt. Ich gehe sehr ungerne ins tiefe Wasser, aber mein lieber suesser Sohn hat seine Mama ins Wasser getragen. Ich hatte eigentlich gar keine andere Moeglichkeit, da er staerker ist und mich einfach ins Wasser brachte. Habe dann also den Kampf aufgebeben. Rebecca und Maria sind richtige Wasserratten, kann sie gar nicht mehr aus dem Wasser bekommen. Christopher wollte sich nur sonnen und braun werden, aber Patrick liess ihn nicht, hatte immer Sand ueber ihn geschmissen. lol So sind halt Brueder.

I came across a birthday card I have written 32 years ago to my Papa. He had a hard time showing love at times, but he held on to my love for him forever. Found the card in his special place while cleaning out his home. I miss you Papa!  I am so very very blessed to have had you in my life, even though it was short, it was good. I am such a blessed girl to have had you my as my Papa. I am also glad that I was able to say that to you in the car just two years before you fell asleep forever. So much love from me to you it is what carries me on. My love to you will never end. Thank you my dear Lord for giving me my Papa. I no longer have an earthly dad, but I am so very grateful to have a Heavenly Father that has always been there for me and always will.

Happy Father’s Day to my late earthly dad and my forever Heavenly Father.

Love,

Heike