By the way...

I AM SO EXCITED THAT WE ARE COMING HOME!!

September 14th at 3:20pm. YIPPEEEEE!!

My 26th Birthday

Danny did an amazing job in throwing a great party for my birthday. We went to one of my favorite restaurants here in Reutlingen. It was my first birthday completely in German which was pretty cool. Danny invited some of our closest friends here. My speech partner, Barbara, was able to come. Our friend, Thorsten, who we met hiking the Achalm was also there. Also, our good friends, Michael and Claudia, we able to make it. I felt so completely overwhelmed with love the entire day. I probably received 30 emails or messages wishing me happy birthday...from people in America and here in Germany. I think I am just so blessed to have such great friends and family.

Here are some photos from the evening:

 

This is my Bavarian dress. Danny got it for me at the Königsee for my birthday. He convinced me to wear it for my birthday, and I'll tell you, I felt like a little Bavarian princess...haha!

 

Some of our friends here in the Deutschland: We met Thorsten while hiking the Achalm in our first two or so weeks here in Germany. We have been friends ever since. Barbara is my speech partner. She helps me speak German like a German which is not so easy. God bless her!

 

This is Michael and Claudia. They are awesome people, and we are hoping that they'll soon get an opportunity to take an assignment in the States.

 

My fabulously delicious cake: It made me so glad that I ran my booty off earlier that morning.

 

Me and my Danny...and the awesome cake...hehe.

Pics from the Erbacher Wiesenmarkt

 

This is Benjamin, my favorite little buddy!

 

Danny's uncle and cousin create these masterpieces.

 

Martin making a bird bath

 

Our arms were so sore after doing this for only 30 minutes or so. I don't know how the Fussmanns do it!!

 

Practice makes perfect!

One Week...

Until MY BIRTHDAY!!! YIPEEE!!!!

Erbacher Wiesenmarkt

We now have only 6 weekends left to travel and do things here in Germany. We are trying to take lot of that time to spend with the family about 2.5 hours north of where we live. This past weekend, we stayed with Danny's aunt and uncle in Erbach which is the town that Danny lived in as a kiddo. Every year they have this huge festival. It's like a fair, a home exposition, and a market all together. It's quite fun. Every year, Danny's uncle has a huge plot of land that he shows off his stone work and fountains. They are really amazing pieces of artwork. This year was great, because we were able to spend some time with Danny's cousins. I was actually able to carry on conversations with them. YIPEE!! Overall, it was a great weekend, and it made me realize how much we are going to miss it here when we leave. I'll post come pictures soon. Right now, I'm meeting with a friend to do some much needed clothes shopping!!

Some fun pictures...

 

This is me, Danny, Thorsten Geyer, and Kyle Dresback about to ride a really fun ride at the Spring Festival in Stuttgart

 

Yummy Bratwurst!!

 

Us with the Tuckers in Neuschwanstein...love those guys!!

Have you ever...

...had people in your life who claimed to be great friends but did nothing but hurt you or bring you down?

This is something that's been bothering me for a long time; something I just cannot wrap my brain around. I have some of the best friends in the world...people I know would be there for me in a second if I needed them, and I would do the same for them. Then there are "friends" who are only there when it makes them look good in front of others. These are people that come up and hug you and love you only when others are around. Ugh!!! I hate this!!

For me, a friend is simply a family member that you choose to have in your life. It's a mutually beneficial thing. When they are down, you help to pick them back up. When you are down, they carry the load with you. Also, when things are going great in your life (i.e. a really great opportunity to live in another country for a year), they celebrate that with you instead of trying to make you feel guilty.

One of the greatest things I have learned here being away from it all for a year is to focus on the people in my life who are loving and real. I will never again censor myself just to gain the acceptance of people who simply just do not care at all. And I will not associate with people who pretend anymore. I would rather have no relationship at all with these people than a hollow shell of a friendship that means absolutely nothing.

With that being said, I really want to thank my friends who have supported Danny and I in all that we've done. You know who you are, and you know how special you are to us. You made the decision to come home in September an easy one. We really love you guys!!

A Few Canary Island Pics

 

Fun night shot

 

On the crater of the volcano

 

That's my man.

 

Yeah, I'm rockin' the shirt thingy.

Why I Have No Fear

Yesterday, Danny and I had the pleasure of celebrating the 4th of July with a bunch of people from the military. Many of them expressed some deep concerns about the fate of our country and their fears about where the U.S. is headed. With the economy spiraling out of control, continual rises in oil prices, and a war that seems to be never ending, I can completely understand their worries. I've heard many people say that they fear that as soon as the U.S. removes its support from Israel, God will remove His hand from our country, and I think many people believe that it is a distinct possibility that with the next presidency, our support will waver. I hear all of this, and I think to myself, "Peace be still". Israel is God's chosen people, but so are the gentiles who love Him and are devoted to Him. Do you think that God will remove His hand from those who truly seek Him and who are in fellowship with Him? While it may be true that He will remove His hand from our country, He will never remove His hand from me. This is what I gives me peace, and this is what causes me to have no fear. He has never, ever turned His back on me. He's shown me some tough love, but He still loves me nonetheless. For that, I will never stop praising Him. I will love Him and worship Him no matter what the state of our country is, because it's His gentle voice that I hear daily guiding me in all areas of my life. He is the source of my life, and while I love my country, it has nothing to offer me in comparison to what Jesus has already given me.