today...

3:00 pm

:: I'm nervous about the high school scheduling we'll do tonight.

:: It's warm and sunny.

:: I feel like cleaning and purging everything.

:: I'm sad for my neighbor. She lost her mom on tuesday.

:: I started over with ww...again.

:: I'm enjoying the balanced checkbook glow.

:: I dealt with the mail as soon as I brought it in.

:: I left the tv on, so I could listen to the march madness.

:: I'm wishing I had time to create. something.

:: I completed each task I started.

Part of cultivating a good life

is knowing that no matter what happens today,

you have control of your outlook + attitude.

-Becky Higgins

I started the day behind. that's what happens when you wake up late. we signed the birthday cards that had to go in the mail today, ate a quick breakfast, then sped off to school. when I returned home, mark's cell phone was laying on the kitchen table...I called to see if he needed it delivered. this is a bit of our conversation:

"No, I can do without it today. How's your day going?"

"I'm going to Christine's to scrap my recipe book. I wish I could enjoy it. I feel like I should just stay home; I've got too much to do."

"Well, being negative about it should help, so do that."

and then this wise husband of whom I speak, sent me this sweet message later in the day:

"hey sweet, not sure where you are at the moment,

but hope you are in the moment wherever you are."

He keeps me looking for daily bright spots; today it's the creative time that started my Recipe Album. I hope you have someone who keeps you looking for bright spots. Happy Weekend Friends!!

silent no more

I'm not sure how to come back the "right" way.

The past few months have had moments of:

happiness, stress, sadness, frustration, concern, and silence.

I could say my silence has been caused by busyness.

I could say my silence has been caused by insecurity.

I could say my silence has been caused by a lack of creative expression.

I think I'll settle on what the silence has given me:

time to value and appreciate the people most precious to me,

time to question the activities that fill my moments,

and time to begin carving out a more meaningful purpose.

Looking forward to being silent no more.

ten things

I'm thinking about...

:: starting a new cross stitch project.

:: asking for a point and shoot camera for Christmas.

:: making a trip to Arizona to see my friend Heather's life.

:: the joys and sorrows of friendship.

:: going back to school.

:: the priorities of faith, family, health, and simplicity, and how to continue cultivating a good life around them.

:: the ADVENTure projects I want to complete before December first.

:: remaining present and thankful during a busy season.

:: how to effectively deal with a strong-willed child.

:: making soup, so I can link up with Jodi's Soup Bowl.

what are you thinking about as we start a new week?

summer finishing

as our summer comes to a close, so do my summer ADVENTure projects. tomorrow the boys start school, and I begin a few weeks of adjusting. it happens to me every year. I can remember putting spencer on the bus for the first day of first grade, and the struggles that followed. ever since then, the first few weeks of school are quiet and somewhat lonely for me. so I've compiled quite a list of "to-do" ideas for those moments when the silence gets to be too much.

last week we visited the park for some sunny project photos and a bit of fun. the bit of fun starts it off...

and here's what I'll be adding to my ADVENTure collection:

*a few dishcloth additions using this pattern...

* cabled boot toppers for a boot lover on my list...

Pattern: Cabled Boot Toppers from Gifted by Mags Kandis

Size: One size

Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light, Color #4294- Turquoise Mix

Needles: US 6 dpn

I love these boot toppers! the pattern was easy to follow, but intricate enough to hold my attention. and those bobbles at the top....they're really fun to make!

* and Christmas pillowcases (by request) using Lisa's pattern...

tip of the month:

start thinking about December birthdays!

if you're like me, you probably have a few special people in your life who celebrate a birthday in December. and maybe (like me) the holidays end up grabbing all of your attention, and you end up behind in purchasing and delivering thoughtful birthday gifts. one of my goals this year is to have those gifts purchased and wrapped before December rolls around. this month you see a part of my niece's gift- a Happy Birthday pillowcase!

I hope september brings you scented candles, falling leaves, and creative projects that bless others as they bless you!

link up your ADVENTure posts here:

making my way back

I'm still here. actually, I'm making my way back here.

while baseball kept us tied to home during june and july, as soon as the calendar said august we were celebrating birthdays and going in different directions. we're all home now and in our last week of vacation.

after taking finished project photos, I'll be sharing ADVENTure gifts, end of summer crafts, and summer recap photos. and I look forward to checking in with all of you!

skin cancer awareness

this post, my own mole removals, and my dad's battle with other forms of skin cancer inspire these words.

my mom and dad are doctor people. (I say this in the most loving of ways.)

first, they know a lot of doctors. second, my mom has logged countless volunteer hours on the local hospital's women's board. and third, they use them. growing up, this gave me a sense of comfort. if I needed a doctor, mom and dad would know who to go to.

I can also so remember protesting when my mom would make yet another appointment that would require yet another mole be removed. thankfully (due to my mom's diligence) all of mine have been benign.

then, a few months ago, I found myself standing in her shoes. this time spencer was the patient and I was the mother saying "take it off" to the doctor. I refused the "we can watch it" offer and was thankful for my mama instinct...the mole came back "suspicious."

I trust you'll watch this brief video and take action if necessary! don't wait another day!

a countdown of sorts

last week I flew solo. after seeing mark off on his flight, I started down the runway of my week.

'tis the season for lists! the grass is growing, which means mowing. dandelions are popping up, which means weed control. the temperatures are warming, which means sandals! and the baseball schedules have been published, which means the end of school will be here before I know it.

I'm now using my weekly lists as a "countdown" of sorts ... a list of projects I want to complete prior to the end of school.

I've also begun an intentional list for summer:

I want to will be present for the boys.

I want to will choose the activity over the chore.

I want to will choose what is "best" over something "good."

a year is a long time

it was grey today,

inside my heart

and outside my windows.

how can

one year

seem like three hundred

and sixty five days

and only one at the same time?

I looked at pictures,

visited her grave,

offered up prayers,

shed my tears,

and honored her memory.

a year is a long time.

Speyer

Friday in Speyer

"Today I am better... maybe because I got a nap in before Mark came home last night; maybe because it's Friday, and I'll soon have Mark with me; maybe because I now have a little more confidence, a little more bravery, a little more experience. I am better."

"Mark recommended I journey south to Speyer after his evening there last night. It sounds like a wonderful, small German city. Miriam agreed, so I'm off!"

:: Cathedral of Speyer ::

this is the second Roman Imperial Cathedral on the Rhine that I visited.

the first was in Worms and the third is in Mainz.

while the Cathedral was beautiful, the Jewish heritage of Speyer is what most captivated me. I visited the Medieval Jewish Court, which from 1104 to the beginning of the 16th century was the religious center for the Jewish community.

:: Speyer Synagogue circa 1104::

this is looking into the Synagogue via the Women's Prayer Hall. I was told the horizontal "brick-like" window was made by the women, so they could hear what was being said in the synagogue.

:: Speyer Mikvah, "Ritual Bath" ::

the ritual bath would be used for spiritual cleansing, which was achieved by whole body immersion in natural water. In Hebrew Mikvah means "collection of water." many of these ritual baths were built over hard to reach natural springs, thus collecting the 1,000 liters of water required for the bath.

:: city streets of Speyer ::

Speyer Observations:

~ lots of eating outside

~ outside tables are close together

~ street musicians playing

~ lots and lots of bikes with baskets

~ everyone pays with cash

tomorrow I'll share our trip to Heidelberg...one of my favorite destinations!

Koln

Wednesday in Ludwigshafen

"I haven't felt 100% for the past few days, so I laid low today in Ludwigshafen. I started late eating breakfast at 9:30 just before the restaurant closed at 10:00. I spent the day visiting the BASF welcome center and walking around town."

Thursday in Koln (Cologne)

thursday's travel to Koln was trying. I journeyed from "Lu" to Mannheim main station, where I purchased a ticket to Koln. I then made my way to the platform to wait for departure at 10:35 am. when the train arrived, I boarded, found a seat and started knitting...all too soon I'm afraid. I was sitting in the reserved seat of a German man unable to understand my apologetic english.

the German businessman sitting next to me asked, "you did not buy a seat? you have to have a seat!" totally flustered and embarrassed I exited the train and returned to the ticket office, where I learned: "1. having a ticket to a destination does not equal a seat on the train you choose; 2. you can travel without a seat assignment on the ice train, just find one without a reservation; 3. want a guaranteed seat? pay 4,50 euro extra for one!" I paid the 4,50 euro to have a guaranteed seat on the next train...departing 11:35 am!

"Koln is definitely a large city. It lives up to it's fourth largest in Germany status. It reminds me of the streets of Chicago- lots of people and lots of cameras. Finding the Cathedral was no problem. As soon as you walk outside the main station, it's there!"

"The Cathedral was worth the ninety minute train ride. It is amazing!! I spent a good while walking through the Cathedral taking photos and watching visitors."

Interesting Cathedral facts:

:: the beginnings of the Cathedral reach back into the fourth century.

:: the cornerstone was set in 1248.

:: the construction of the entire Cathedral was completed in 1880.

:: the spires are 157m high.

"After an hour in the Cathedral, I made my way over to the Information Center. After hearing the descriptions of the bus tours, I chose the ninety minute "Open Air" bus...and sat on top! The narration was in German and English."

"After the bus tour, I spent some time shopping downtown. Farina cologne for me, 4711 cologne for Kathy, and an Edelweiss Pandora bead for my bracelet." then I realized in all the train confusion this morning, I had missed lunch! I was hungry and in the mood for something from home. lucky for me this was just around my next corner:

today was really hard for me. I felt like crying most of the day.

this was my final journal entry for the day: "I really miss home. I want to talk to someone in English! I want to drive my own car and know where I am going. I want to know what the street signs mean. I want to not worry about where I will go to the bathroom, and if I'll have the money for it when I arrive! I want to eat and not be sick after. I want to take care of my boys! I want to go home!"

I feel better tomorrow. Check back to see my adventure in Speyer.

Worms

Tuesday in Worms

today I take you to Worms (pronounced "Vorms"), also know as "Little Jerusalem."

"Today Miriam began printing out the train schedule for me. Having the Bahn schedule with times and platform numbers gave me a bit of confidence. If I needed help and had difficulty communicating, I could at least share this sheet with my home station on it- Ludwigshafen Hbf ."

"As I walked down Wilh-Leuschner-StraBe, I paused at a tailor shop and street vendor. The flowers for sale made me think of Christine and Miriam, my kind young friends at the hotel. For without them, I fear my entire trip would have been spent walking around Ludwigshafen. The flowers would be a great gift for them. And at 1,00 euro, they were a great price. I hoped the shop would be open on my return trip to the train station. It was, and the shopkeeper (who didn't speak English) and I were able to communicate enough to complete the sale."

:: Luther Monument::

It was here in Worms, where Emperor Charles the Fifth brought Dr. Martin Luther on April 17/18, 1521 to recant his writings. He refused. The monument shows Dr. Martin Luther in the center along with other earlier reformers, electors, and friends.

:: Imperial Cathedral of St. Peter ::

"St. Peter's Cathedral...oh my goodness...the massive size of it! I was overwhelmed with emotion. It was cold inside. An older man sat inside a glass cubical. I smiled at him and gently waved my camera asking, "can I take pictures?" he shook his head "yes." this was just one more example of the many "conversations" I'm having."

:: Holy Sands ::

this is the oldest Jewish cemetery in Europe, approximately 2000 graves, dating back to 1076. mark and I think the papers and rocks are prayers left by family members or visitors. (maybe you can help us with that Larissa?)

"Before heading back to the station, I stopped by Vannini for an ice cream. I chose a pink flavor hoping it was fruity. It tasted like raspberry. The young man who served me understood my order:

"One, very small, .80 euro."

"Cone or dish?"

"Cone, please."

I paid.

He said "thank you" with a smile.

I smiled and said "danke."

another clock for my collection...this one my mom will appreciate!

I hope you'll visit Koln with me tomorrow.