Germany

Recently I was reading a book called Desperate, by Sally Clarkson. One encouragement I gained from the book is to share with my children the things that are important to me. To help them love the things that I love, the things I treasure and value. Of course, they will have their own interests, but they can also gain by being exposed to the things I love as well. One of the greatest treasures in my life are the culture, language and people of Germany.

Melody has taken a particular interest in learning German words and looking at pictures from my time in Germany. It has been so fun to share with Melody about Germany. The other day we even started dreaming about traveling to Germany together in the far future (something I really hope will happen for our family...as soon as we get our house paid off, I hope we can start saving our pennies for this trip). When I explained to her that we would be traveling on trains to get from place to place, she exclaimed, "I've never been on a train!" She also looks forward to riding in an airplane and eating pastries and bread at bakeries.

I hope and pray this dream to take my family to Germany will come true...it would be so special. I don't even feel like we have to "see it all" in Europe. I would be happy if we just visit Freiburg-- riding bikes, enjoying picnics along the Dreisam, visiting with former German students, frequenting bakeries and cafes, wandering around the vineyards, riding the Strassenbahn, and hiking the Black Forest.

Europe was never a tourist attraction to me-- for a number of years it was my home. That is the perspective I hope to share with my family as we travel to Germany.