Saturday evening

Baby Joy and her mom and dad, Christin and Steve, came over on Saturday. Fiona loves Joy. Her motherly instincts take over, which I imagine can be a bit overwhelming for Joy. But Joy likes being with older kids, so it works out well.
We decided the men have more to talk about than can transpire with two small girls around, so we'll probably send them off somewhere next time.
Fiona and I will be joining Joy and Christin for some gymnastics classes. We are very excited! Which reminds me of a story for Oma and Opa...
Fiona gets worried and excited mixed up. So she says she's worried about Kindergarten (while acting giddy and smiling). Or she's worried about going to the playground. It took me a while to figure it out, but it makes for a cute story.

Happenings...

The International (english speaking) church and a new Russian church plant meeting simultaneously at the same church, in different rooms. The fellowship time afterwards is enriched by the 11 (or more) nationalities represented. Where's Brett?

Game evening in Peine last friday. It was like a homecoming of sorts. We even got to use our old kitchen (that is now the church's kitchen). This is Johannes, Thomas, Marcel, and Sabine playing, I'm not sure what game.

This is Steffi, she literally just got back from vacation (overnight by bus from Croatia--not a short trip). She heard we were in Peine and, though she was exhausted, came to visit Fiona. As you can see, Fiona was thrilled.

One of Fiona's favorite songs is Wo ich auch stehe (wherever i stand) and I'm pretty sure she doesn't understand what she's singing, but the chorus is "And I thank you that you know me and love me still." It touches my heart and will never get old.

Friends

Our friend Christine Kmietsch holding her son Linus and Fiona in our office on Sunday. Her husband, Jochen helped me get some computer stuff figured out--wish I wasn't a technology nightmare.

Brett's friends Aki and Erick after Biblestudy on Monday night. They are students from Japan and Kenya studying at Georg August University (that's the name of the university here in Göttingen). They will be leaving soon, but have both been strengthened in their faith through their time here as we have been strengthened by theirs.









And check out the exchange rate!!!
It'd be nice if it stayed like this for our next pay check!!

First day of Preschool!!

We practiced getting up early, but apparently, it didn't help.

Despite the uncertainty written all over her face, she was really excited to start preschool.




I stayed for about an hour until Fiona told me to leave. And with some tears in my eyes, I did. Hard to say what kind of tears they were. If you're a parent, you know. I guess it's the kind of tear you shed when you're sad to see a chapter end, but know that the next chapter was inevitable and will be just as wonderful. And mixed in there somewhere is knowing that she's ready, but I'm not and that she has no idea how much school lies ahead, but I do. And so, I pray, "Father, as hard as it is to believe, you love her more than I do. Protect her and guide her. Give her a spirit willing to learn and the confidence to stand tall."