Another Full Day!

It was another full day of everything I wanted to do here and much much more... I think I can stay here another year! And to try everything that I want to eat, I need at least another week. 

The kids have been great. They are totally willing to eat gelato twice a day! And we have not done the Pomme Frittes Stand and the "Piano Bar", which is now going by another name. That's the place with coffee that was served in a bowl topped with a huge amount of whipped cream. But again, I don't see that being served anywhere on the Haupstrasse! 

OK, let me back up a bit.

This morning I was up early... I just didn't want to miss a minute of my time here in Heidelberg. I decided to run to the furtherest bridge and then back... all along the Neckar... In the early morning, with that crisp air, it was magical! Unfortunately, it was barely 12kms. 

Then after a shower and a simple breakfast (I buy Kuchen and Strudel the night before), the kids were ready to walk! We looked at thrift stores, souvenir shops, and department stores. At Kaufhof, we found Abby's sleeping bag and sleeping pad... both on sale! They were only 26Euro! YEAH GOD!

We then went to all the stores nearby and found lots of goodies... snacks! The kids looked at me and said, "No wonder you gained 15 kilos here!" I have only four days to eat all the things I love from Heidelberg. (For dinner, they finally got to try my favorite Spatzel, German homemade noodles!)

We walked back to our apartment before heading out for PhilosphenWeg! What a great hike! The kids were great... We went all the way to the very top and hit all the major spots! It took the entire afternoon! From across the way, you can see the Castle and Moore Haus and the Old Bridge... Oh, how I loved going along this path in all four seasons... to capture that view! 

And since we were on the other side, we decided to go out for dinner at a restaurant there! Of course, we had another gelato before heading back to our apartment!

I started packing things up so that we won't be rushed tomorrow morning, plus I hope to go for another run! I will again be singing the hymn, How Great Thou Art... 

What a beautiful time I've had here!

Daily Lovely Insight:

Seek Him First!

I Got To Go See Moore Haus!

Today the plan was to go to the Castle and hopefully visit Moore Haus and then down to Haupstrasse and if time permitted, go and walk to PhilosophenWeg.

We spent a lot of time at the Castle. I had to go to every corner and every alcove of that beautiful place. The weather was so perfect with a light wind blowing. The Castle garden was not crowded. The trees were changing... leaves were turning from green to orange and red to brown... 

We walked to Moore Haus. I pressed the buzzer and someone was there. The visiting professor came down... and praise the LORD, I was allowed to go inside! That's a miracle as the rule has been NO VISITORS ALLOWED due to Covid! I could only go into a few rooms... but it was fantastic!

We then went down and walk the length of Haupstrasse and at one thrift store, I found a wonderful pair of shoes. We were looking for a sleeping bag and sleeping pad for Abby. She neglected to say that she needed those items for DTS.

While strolling, we had to have spaghetti ice and gelato and desserts... Oh yes we did. Then we went to Gasthaus and had a full meal. We each ordered something different! I had the German dumplings... Abby had the German fried noodles, and Isaiah had bratwurst with sauerkraut! We licked the plate clean!

At 8pm, we walked across the "Old Bridge" and took plenty of pictures. Then we walked for a bit on the other side of the Neckar, but we didn't hit PhilosphenWeg as it was already way too dark.

We came back and I had a short chat with Alan. We were able to pray together. 

I had the translation project to work on! I finished that... and Abby was on line trying to see about getting a sleeping bag and pad ordered and shipped to the YWAM Base in Freiburg before next week when she will need these items.

Tomorrow will be another full day... We hope to hit two or three more thrift shops and more eating...

Daily Lovely Insight:

Joel 2:12 -- God continues to call His people to return to Him... 

Seek Him First!

I'm In Heidelberg!

We had a fabulous time with Serge and Nancy and their two kids. The time truly flew by... 

Nancy made breakfast for us and then drove us to the train station. We missed the 8:30 train but caught the 8:59 train which arrived in Brussel Nord at 9:22. We dashed over to the Flixbus 'stop' and there were so many people. But no one really there to answer any questions. The bus that came was Freiburg... Then the one to Paris Gare. Finally at 10:05, the bus came. We loaded up everything and we realized that we forgot our snack bag. BUMMER. And we didn't go buy anything because we didn't want to miss the bus.

The bus did not make any 'rest stops'... So, we only had water. It stopped several times just to pick up people. But it was not like the one to Edinburgh when the bus stopped and you can go buy food and go for bathroom breaks. It was a long ride, but I rested and looked out the window. We passed through Luxemberg and several other quaint little towns.

We arrived in Heidelberg at around 5:50 and walked to the supermarket to pick up items for breakfast. Then we were off on a 40 minute trek to our lodging.

It took us a bit of time to find the place, but we love the apartment. It's spacious and located right near the Haupstrasse and the Castle and across from PhilosophenWeg! So, after getting settled, we went out for schnitzel and fries... yummy!

We then walked all the way down Haupstrasse and back up... We had been in a bus all day. It sure felt good to be walking around in Heidelberg even if it was 10pm!

Tomorrow I'll have my quiet time and then go for a run. We will have breakfast in the apartment and then walk up to the Schloss via the steps and see if we can get into Moore Haus! We will again walk down Haupstrasse and go across the Neckar. We also have to buy some gelato and pastries... Yes, it will be another full day!

Daily Lovely Insight:

These are some of the highlights from the HOP Sunday sermon!

Definition of Turmoil: a state or condition of extreme confusion, agitation, or commotion 

(Merriam-Webster dictionary)

1. Turmoils can be big or small, but God's grace is always sufficient for us. See 1 Cor. 12:8-9

2. We can delay our learning of God's lessons, but our good and everlasting God will make sure we learn it eventually.

3. For Christ’s sake, we should delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when we are weak, then we are strong. See 2 Cor. 12:10

4. Let's get to know each other's troubles. Let's learn from other more mature believers who can share their experiences and wisdom with us.

5. Don't just invite Jesus to your house when encountering turmoils. Jesus wants to stay. Do not be afraid to show your "messy house". He is the only one who can and is willing to help us clean the inside. Open the door. He is outside with a bucket and mop ready and waiting.

6. We are one body. Let's embrace our turmoils. Face them together and grow in Christ. See 1 Cor. 12:27

Seek Him First!

Church and Lunch... and Construction Site!

What a blessed day... We all went to church and talked to many at the church. Then it was a short walk to have lunch out... 

Serge drove us around the expensive part of the area... and then we looked at the house that is being built, which should be finished by June of 2023.

We came back and rested... and I got packing! We have to leave early tomorrow!

Dinner was at home! NICE! And then we walked to the local gelato place and had ice cream.

It was just such a relaxing day!

Daily Lovely Insight:

Colossians 1:6

That was the Scripture for the service this morning!

Seek Him First!

Ghent & Brugge... and a whole lot more!

I was too exhausted to blog last night... Serge and Nancy have been such fantastic hosts!

This morning, I was up early and after time with Jesus, I was off for a short run. We had so much planned for the day!

After a quick shower, we were off to the local open air market. I love these when I was living in Heidelberg! Food trucks, stalls... Nancy bought cheeses and olives and snacks... And we also had a Turkish wrap at one of the food trucks for breakfast! Then we walked back to their apartment as we were headed to Ghent and Brugge. Yes, hitting both town in one day.

Serge drove and the freeways were quite nice. No traffic.

Ghent is such a quaint little town. There were lots of people at every square. We went to Gravensteen Castle and the audio tour was absolutely refreshing and entertaining. The castle is small but filled with such stories. There we had to try the famous fries! Oh wow... fries topped with Flemish stew... Fries with an assortment of dips! 

We also bought iced coffee and walked around to different cathedrals. 

Then it was off to Brugge... there we had to try the Belgian waffles and rabbit stew! I'm telling you... we are eating our way through Europe! Yes, we also went to a few cathedrals and a convent... Serge and Nancy had visited this place in 1993, a year before they were married, when Nancy came to see the future in laws. They keep treating us... before I knew it, they paid for the canal boat tour. Again, the weather was fabulous... and it was nice to see the town through a ride in the canal.

Dinner was amazing... That's one thing I love about this place -- people are more laid back... servers aren't rushing you to order... food is served at a slower pace... people are to sit and chat through a meal. I like that!

Serge drove us back and we were at their apartment by 10pm! After downloading my emails and checking my messages, I was in bed by 11:30!

Tomorrow will be church in the morning... Paul Reuben Museum in the afternoon, plus a tour of their house that is being built, and then dinner out as we leave for HEIDELBERG on Monday morning. Yes, that will start our 7 days in Germany! 

How can this vacation be going by so fast!?!?!

Daily Lovely Insight:

Hosea 6:6

Seek Him First!

What An Awesome Day...

So... just to add to the list of mistakes... Here is another one:

We thought that our Eurostar train was at 9:01 and we were in such a rush. But the time was actually 3:04pm, so we had a lot of extra hours to sit and wander around. I even had time to go for a run, which was absolutely fun!

While walking around, there was a piano to play. Abby sat down and played and a man came over. He turned out to be a YouTuber and uploaded a video of them playing some Boogie Woogie. 

Going through immigration and customs was easy and the train was fast. We then had to rush to catch the train to Antwerp! Wow... we were there at the platform just as the train pulled in.

We got off a stop too early, so we had to hop back on and were at Antwerp Central. Nancy and Lucas were there and we walked back to their house. She had made a most delicious stew with rice! So we had a feast! We all took showers and chatted. I went to bed at 11pm and slept so well!

Today, Friday, September 1st, I was up early... went for a run! And then we went to walk around town, trying all kinds of things. The list of food to try here is just too long. I need seven stomachs!

Daily Lovely Insight:

Hosea continues to be beautiful. 

Seek Him First!

Mistakes Made Thus Far...

Well, we're here at St. Pancras International... where we are to catch the Eurostar to Brussels and then a train to Antwerp.

I've realized all the mistakes we've made thus far:

1. booking twice for the bus to and from Edinburgh -- wasted 78 pounds. Once booked in June another booked in July. I saw the double booking and we should have canceled... and maybe would have received a refund. But now, it's too late.

2. forgetting the passport -- wasted 60 pounds and time. Isaiah had it mailed, priority, but the postal service went on strike. So, it's now stuck in Coventry. Isaiah then had to buy train tickets to Coventry and another train ticket from Coventry to London.

3. reading the incorrect ticket -- wasted half a day. The Eurostar booking and ticket were not printed out, so somehow, Isaiah and I thought we were to catch the 9:01 Eurostar. We rushed to get here and then when we checked, we are to take the 3:04 Eurostar and won't be arriving in Antwerp until 7:23pm. WAHHHH... a day gone.

Well... I have to keep rejoicing... keep giving thanks... for that's the word of God! And this trip has been such a joy... even with these detours and mistakes... Isn't that true with life?

So, for our last day in Edinburgh, we went to Sir Giles Cathedral, and attended the noontime simple service. We also went to the Museum on the Mound and cracked the safe, which meant we got a set of free postcards. The sweet lady also gave us a pence so that we could do the penny press! Then we crossed the street and was at the Writers' Museum. I also had the chance to pray with one gal whose back was in pain. I helped out people who were trying to decide what to buy for their loved one. And we hung out with Duncan and Lily more... 

The bus ride is not that great... I've decided that next time, I'd splurge and take the train. The time on the bus is long and you really don't sleep well... plus I didn't get to see much of the scenery!

Today, I will go and run around while Isaiah and Abby stay here with the luggage. We will most likely buy something before we get on the Eurostar. Nancy has been so kind... she says she will have dinner ready when we arrive this evening. I will sleep well tonight!

Until my next blog... God is good... God is faithful... Stay focus on God... not on the circumstances. Rejoice always... Abide in Him!

Daily Lovely Insight:

I read Hosea this morning while on the bus for my time with Jesus. It was a short time of prayer, reading and journaling... but God wanted to use Hosea to share with us His heart of love for those who stray. And traveling through Edinburgh or the UK, I've seen how far we've strayed from the heart of God. And still, God reaches out to His straying people and pays the price to buy us back. Glory Hallelujah... 

Seek Him First!