How blissful is your ignorance?

So our friend, Daniel, wanted to buy our car. He took it to his mechanic friend to see how much needs to be fixed on it before he buys it. Well, we figured it would probably be a lot since we were admittedly bad at the upkeep of this car. What we weren't expecting, is to hear that it is late on passing inspection. This is a serious offense that entails a heafty fine, some points on your driving record and possibly having the car towed away. We were obviously oblivious to this fact, having read the expiration date wrong. We also found out that our tires were mixed (every car has winter and summer tires), also illegal with a large fine. Knowing all this could have been very expensive, as we would have had to pay for all the other repairs (brakes, power steering, shock absorber, new tires) that amounted to 2,500 (without labor) in order to get it through inspection. Or live without a car for the last 5 months. Just thinking about all that could have happened, and didn't, still blows our minds--we drove all the way down to Bavaria!

Then we tried to get rid of the car as quickly as possible. Called here, there and everywhere and found someone who would take it, despite all its issues. He is a very nice Muslim man. Trouble is, we sent the title on the ship with the rest of our stuff. So Brett goes with him to get a replacement title, and on the way back "God" comes up. A somewhat nervous, yet excited, Brett decided to just listen, throwing a poignant question or two in.

Car is gone, got enough money for it, and we discover the owner's manual on the desk. No big deal, but an opportunity. Look in to getting an Arabic NT through Mission for SE Europe (http://www.msoe.org/), which came in the mail the very next day. I'll send it off today, along with a prayer.

All this has got me thinking about ramifications--what if we'd have gotten caught? Will he open it? What if we had sold it to someone else? What if we had been worried about getting as much for the car as possible? We had a missionary at church say, your faith in God doesn't have to be huge, but the God of your faith is. He has a plan and he works everything out according to it (Eph 1:11).


What a relief! I will take my ignorance and live a blissful life.

What did you do on Friday morning?

I sat, worried, waited and prayed. As you'll see, the packers came. Inspecting the mountains of stuff, though drastically reduced due to insane shipping prices, I thought "No way!" The guys came, said we'll be done by noon (starting at exactly 8), and that all of it and more would fit. So I was still a doubter, just call me Thomas.

Getting started

They worked really fast!

The containers

trying to take a break from worrying

we even got Noelle to worry with us

very thorough

and did I mention quick?

First one full! And at this point I'm thinking, what if it doesn't fit what else can I live without? What else can I sort out?

Second one full! And can you believe it? He said, not quite full, what else you wanna send? I could not believe it, metaphoric weight fell from my shoulders (wouldn't it be nice if worrying made actual weight fall off?).

And they were off at 12:15! Just like he said, we thought he was crazy, that there was no way they'd be done that quickly. I guess that's what 20 years of experience'll do for you. I'm sure there's a spiritual lesson to be learned it that...

I must say, that though we are living in a pretty empty house, it is quite a relief to know (or hope?) that our stuff is on its way. One step closer to establishing a new household. Home really is where the heart is and you don't need stuff for that. We are so blessed with a wonderfully healthy family, friends willing to help see us off and then get settled on the other side.

That's all folks!!

Happenings...

It is exhausting as we get ready to leave.

Saying goodbye to our sofa.

Singing at church

celebrating 30-something

looking good

reading a book


Driving home yesterday from Peine, it hit me. This is the last time we'll drive down this road. I teared up, but didn't cry because in the very next moment I thought about how very exciting the next chapter will be. That's about where we are, sad and happy, at nearly the same time. The packers come next week, which will be extremely sobering as the only remaining things will be that which is left behind or on the plane with us. I keep thinking about a song we sing at church "zwischen zeit" (time between). As much as I don't like being between places, it has made me think a lot about home. Home can be very relative if you've moved around a lot, but Jesus talks about a home I definitely don't want to miss out on. I think I'd really like a place where there are no tears, until then, I guess I'll just have to get used to the time between.

of late...

Me being in a skit at church. It was about the nice co-worker at an investment bank who knows about the impending bankruptcy but doesn't want to say anything and possibly make a fool of himself.

Part of Brett's birthday party, this was after having played 4 hours of basketball. Watching sports at our house isn't nearly as cool, it's truly not because we don't have the fancy sports channels.

Sporting my favorite shoes, thanks Mrs. Casey!!

Singing "Happy Birthday"

Dave and Amanda Knapp came for a visit--and took a bunch of our stuff!! Well, okay, we made a deal. They needed stuff and we need to get rid of stuff--works out well.

view of Göttingen from the Bismarckturm

Making cookies. See, what a good mom, I'm letting her get messy!

Pictoral update--August-ish

Noelle helping Papa get ready to teach his classes at CCU.

Random fact #213: the price you see here (€1, 75=$2.19) is for A can.

Doing better at ballet this year.

Lovin' her first french fry.

The church in Peine invited Brett to preach.

And play softball at the annual Ascension Day (40 days after Easter, but we had to reschedule) game between the churches in Hildesheim and Peine.

A trip to southern Germany...

Brett and Fiona in front of Hohenschwangau, right across from...

Neuschwanstein!! Well, it's very small in the background, but it gets closer.

Alpsee (Alp lake) right beside the castles.

neuSCHWANstein and hohenSCHWANgau. Any guesses what schwan means?

Marienbrücke (mary's bridge)

I think Fiona was confused about there being no princesses at the castles.

Alps!

Neuschwanstein up close

Ready for the last year of Preschool!

What have you been up to?

There's a tradition involving this little statue (elizabeth and her goose) and getting your doctorate. This is our friend, Ronald. He is from a German Mennonite colony in Paraguay.

Celebrating Ronald's doctor-ness at the lake (flooded gravel pit)

Our mother's Biblestudy at church.

Thomas and Sabine came for a visit. She's trying to get transferred to the university here, she's told that her chances are pretty slim.

Celebrating Frank and Johanna's 1 year (cotton) anniversary. They used to live in Göttingen until they heard we were moving there. No, but seriously, we've never actually managed to live in the same city despite being good friends.

Brett is very proud of himself for slimming down the book collection for the move.

Aren't they cute?

Fiona turns 5

Waiting outside for the other guests.

Buddy Sean's birthday is the day before Fiona's so they celebrated together.

The kids had way too much fun and looked like a bunch of sweatballs. Heat must not distract you from fun when you're a kid.

Wearing her birthday crown and gift outside her preschool.