This one's for the grandparents...

As we're packing, certain places become free.

Fiona asks me to "cubble" with her in the mornings.

Fiona sharing her (i mean my) ipod with Lara Bratcher. I had to talk her into sharing, though.

Hands and Feet

Ever heard the song by AudioAdrenaline "Hands and Feet"?

From now on, I'll go out
Send me where You want me to
I finally have a mission
I promise I'll complete
I don't need excuses
When I am your hands and feet

I want to be your hands
I want to be your feet
I'll go where you send me
I'll go where you send me
And I'll try, yeah, I try
To touch the world like You touched my life
And I'll find my way
To be your hands

In our job, I think we get used to being His hands and feet. Which we truly love. But this morning, we were the victims. I opened the mailbox and found a letter--no addresses, just "Familie Seybold". First, I opened what looked like, and was, another bill. And then the letter. I was speechless, not just because of the money that was included, but because of what they wrote, because someone else was being God's hands and feet.

I mean did they know we just got a bill we had no idea how we were going to pay? Did they know we need to take the car in and have the tires changed? Did they know we have to pay three months of dog tax? Did they know Brett is still being generous? I don't know, but I'm very touched and thankful for God's hands and feet, where 'ere they be.

Skyline

Tim, the intern, and Johannes came over for lunch yesterday. We had Skyline Chili, compliments of Western Hills Christian Church. Brett visited a church in Hannover with the tuesday Biblestudy group, to encourage them to get involved in a local church.

ABC

So maybe only the ears of her parents can understand what she's saying, but Brett taught her the German alphabet! We are so proud. I will admit my skepticism when he started speaking more German with her and teaching her the alphabet. I thought, like what does he expect, she's only 2 1/2. But she taught me once again not to underestimate her.

Our new home!!!

Yeah, we bought the whole thing because the dollar course is amazing!!


Just kidding, and in case anyone was wondering, a euro currently costs $1.56!! This is, to date, the worst exchange rate we or the Smelsers have ever seen!
Anyway, we're still stepping out in faith and will be living on the third floor of this romantic half-timber house!

This is half of our office, Brett has his own desk, opposite mine!


This is Fiona's room, time for a big girl bed!!

I'm coming up our steps into the foyer (the bathroom has a door, too). I think, think, Fiona was feeling a bit neglected.

English Lessons

So here I am playing teacher to Tim, Thorge, Paul and Max. Their parents thought it would be helpful for them to spend some intense (and believe me, it's intense) time working on English.

Johannes helped me teach them a new game one day. I try to balance the boring stuff (essays, dictations, looking up words) with fun stuff (cooking, playing games and listening to music) all the while speaking English. I think they're learning and having fun.