Revolutionary War Re-enactment

Recently, we went to a Revolutionary War Re-enactment. www.battleofthehook.org  It was SO much fun!

Some Revolutionary War reenactors watching a skirmish.

The re-enactment was very large with over 1,000 re-enactors, 6 historically accurate boats, a field with battlements, and a cabin that was torched the last day (I was told  about that but didn't see it as we went on Saturday).  I have been to one Civil War re-enactment but this was my first for the Revolution.  There were people from all over the world at this.  Some of the re-enactors were actually from Great Britain and Germany and came across the Atlantic solely for this event.

What a Girl Wants

It is funny to think back to what I wanted in high school and compare that to what I want now as a woman.

I wanted to be living in Europe with a career in something international, business suit required.  I did not want to be married and most definitely did not want children.  I wanted to be able to travel on a whim and see and experience whatever culture I found myself in.  I wanted independence and importance.

That is not what I want now...

TransAtlantic Differences

When recently staying at a hotel in America it reminded me of something new that I experienced at the Bed & Breakfast I stayed at in Germany a few months back.  It was a recently built B&B and even though I was staying in my room with a girl I didn't know they would only issue us one key (a card key - which is easy to dupicate!) to share.  When we got to the room we found out why.  In order to use any electricity in the room one had to put the card in a slot on the wall which actuated the electricity.  This meant that we couldn't leave lights on when we left the room - makes sense it saves money for the B&B but it meant that my roommate had to sit in the room and wait while her cell phone charged and we had to really coordinate going to and from the room with each other which was a big pain.

That would never have worked in the US - especially for the rates we were paying.  But that difference made me think of some of the other differences between Europe and the US in my experience. 

Natural Bridge

We recently visited the Natural Bridge in Virginia.  We had stopped once before but didn't want to spend $19/adult to see a rock formation.  This time, however, we decided to go ahead and check it out. 

The Natural Bridge is much higher and bigger in real life than this picture makes it look.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

I know where all my snow went... to Rome - and I want it back!!!

I love snow and cold weather.  I truly do.  And living in Virginia is killing me!  I remember past years of fun in the snow and I am becoming a bit cranky and feeling sorry for myself with my warm and dry winter.

A snowy view from my mom's porch.

Country snows are so quiet and peaceful.  It makes everything pristine postcard perfect.

Memory Monday - Spending Time with Japanese Friends

I went to school at a university that was partnered with a school in Japan which made that tiny West Virginian school one of the most international experiences you can have in the country and certainly in the state.   The student population was 40% American, 40% Japanese and 20% students from other countries.   On top of that there were only 600 students so it was impossible not to interact and become friends with international students unlike larger schools.

I studied Japanese and loved so many of the people I met.  My roommate, Masako, and my good friend, Takumi, were two of my very favourite people and I invited them home to experience a traditional American Thanksgiving.

We took Masako and Takumi to see a nice old house in the area.  I am the 3rd from the left and Esther is the little girl in red beside me!  Lizzi is 4th from the right.  Masako is beside me and Takumi is 2nd from the right and everyone else is one of my siblings.

The Beauty Declares

I think that all of God's creation is amazing and beautiful. There are areas where the beauty is more subtle, and places where the landscape is almost alien-like in its uniqueness. I live in a region where God's creation is absolutely majestic (These were even taken without a fancy camera. It declares its beauty all on its own):

It seems to scream of His power and righteousness. Whenever I glimpse the mountains, I think of Psalm 104, "He established the earth upon its foundations, so that it will not totter forever and ever. You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters were standing above the mountains. At Your rebuke they fled,
at the sound of Your thunder they hurried away. The mountains rose; the valleys sank down to the place which You established for them. You set a boundary that they may not pass over, so that they will not return to cover the earth....

So, I am Suffering with Desynchronosis...

Okay, so the fancy name in the title may have been a bit misleading. That is just the medical term for jet lag! But I am suffering from it, so I wasn't lying! We have been home from our trip to Singapore for five days and the days and nights are still very muddled. (I am writing this post at 4am.) If either my husband or myself is not lying awake during the wee hours, then we are probably downstairs playing with our little ones or giving them snacks when they are suddenly wide awake at 2am, or 4am, or both. I was going to share a picture with this post, but I didn't want anyone scared away by the zombie with the wild hair and puffy-bagged, dark-circled, bloodshot eyes. You have been saved the shock and I have been saved the embarrassment! We both win! ;)

The wear and tear is also starting to show on our poor boys. We have been strictly rationing their naps to try and encourage nighttime sleeping and yesterday got to be pretty rough. Our one-year-old sometimes provides us with a concert of loud, high-pitched shrieks when he is upset (tired, mad or sad) and we were sure serenaded yesterday. We attribute it to his Irish blood because when he screeches like that he sounds to us like a banshee, never mind that banshees are supposed to be female. So far our efforts to dissuade him by telling him he sounds like a banshee (aka girl) haven't worked.

One interesting tidbit I have been told is that I am to assume one day of recovery for every hour in time difference. So that means we only have about 11 more days to go....! In all seriousness, though, it is getting much better. Even though I laid awake for a few hours tonight, our babies slept pretty good until 3:30am and I trust will easily fall back to sleep. I am sure I will feel the strength and peace of the Lord as He answers the prayers you so graciously lift up on our behalf after reading this post. ;)

Wartburg Castle Part 2

I am finally getting around to putting up the rest of the pictures from my trip to Wartburg Castle in Germany in September.  (The first set of pictures can be found at Wartburg Castle Part 1.) I am not much of a photographer but there are a couple in here that I think are very nicely done (if I do say so myself!).

Entry to Wartburg Castle.

What I miss most when I am away

I love traveling and visiting family. I love the time spent with loved ones and the special places you go. I love the food and the change of schedule and scenery. It is uplifting to a mother's heart to witness others enjoying your children almost as much as you do. Vacationing is fun! But, it is also nice to get back home and back to routine.


You know what I think I miss the most when we are away?

Sisters Chat About Where They Live

Maude: ‬ ‪We each live in different parts of the country and I thought it would be fun to explore our regions a little bit. 

‪Lizzi: ‬ ‪That's a great idea!‬

‪Maude: ‬ ‪I live in Virginia, Lizzi lives in Washington, and Esther lives in Kentucky but we all grew up in Ohio.‬

Virginia is obviously the South.

Washington is the northwest

And Kentucky could be considered part of several different regions.

Ohio is the north (as we all know from the "California Girls" song by the Beach Boys, right Liz?)

‪Lizzi: ‬ ‪Haha! Yes!‬

Funny that some people consider it midwest, huh?

‪Maude: ‬ ‪Growing up we decided we were most definitely north not midwest because of the lyrics to that song!‬  Midwest starts at the Mississippi‬

‪Lizzi: ‬ ‪I guess it is from when the West was originally settled‬

‪Maude: ‬ ‪Esther, what region would you consider Kentucky to be a part of?

I would like each of us to give a little info about our current region.  Some cultural aspects or historical places of note, whatever.

‪Esther: ‬ ‪umm...‬

Reformation Day! (Wartburg Castle - Part 1)

On my recent trip to Germany I was able to visit Wartburg Castle and thought Reformation Day would be a great time to share some pictures from the trip!  This week I will only share pictures of a Luther/Christian nature and next week I will share other pictures of the castle.

Wartburg Castle

Hohenzollern Castle in Germany

I leave for Germany in a few days so you can tell from last weeks blog and this one that I am gearing up and getting excited for my trip!!

My favourite castle in Germany (usually - when I separate it like that I think of all the other castles we visited and think, Maybe that one's my favourite instead!) was Hohenzollern Castle. 

This is the tower at Hohenzollern Castle outside of Stuttgart.  We visited this castle many times because it was so close.  My favourite thing about this castle was the road that wound around and around through several tunnels and along several walls - you knew it was planned for defense.

Germany: Oberammergau & Schwarzwald

I lived in Germany for a year several years back.  My husband was stationed there with the Army and I taught Business English with a language school there.  It was an absolutely wonderful experience!!!  I love traveling and experiencing different parts of the world and Germany is one of my favourite places.

The Schwarzwald, the Black Forest, is reknown for how thickly the trees grow together.  This was during the day in the Schwarzwald but because of the little amount of light the trees let through the camera thought it was night time.  The snow was about a foot deep and during our trek my husband's boots died and he could put his finger through the sole to scratch his foot - a bit of a wet walk for him!

Camping

For the first time, my husband and I went camping together last weekend. I enjoy camping but haven't done much of it (he, on the other hand, is an avid outdoorsman) so I wasn't sure how it would go...

Turns out that we LOVE camping together! We had such a wonderful time and want to do it more often. We set up our tent together, made bacon and eggs for breakfast, went hiking and swimming and made sure we got icecream cones on our way home. It was a blast!!

The only thing that wasn't fun was getting sunburnt (teaching me the importance of sunscreen!). I hope we get to go camping several more times before it gets too cold. And the cold comes much too early in Minnesota!

*I wish I'd taken pictures but didn't - next time!

A Bell from Prague

Here is the bell I bought from a street blacksmith in Prague.  I love it!  It is my favourite purchase from that European trip because it was so cool to buy from a street blacksmith and because nearly everything else I bought that trip was more along the chotsky line.

Here is a picture of the street blacksmith's setup.