Thrift Store Shopping in Frankfurt

The kids had Thursday and Friday off from school (Fall Break #2).  Jay took these days off work so we could go shopping.  We hit 4 stores in two days.  Did I mention they were thrift stores?  We didn't have a ton of luck (no nice European second-hand clothes), but boy it was interesting to explore what was there.

These pictures are from the thrift stores next to the Harley Davidson Factory (yes, you read that right...Harley Davidson Factory.)

Entry into the big thrift store warehouse....brrrrr....no climate control here!!!

Interesting items to be found outside the thrift store, too :o)

Having a look around at all the treasures - kind of looks like the inside of our house!

Found...chess pieces!

wooden sleds and an old spinning wheel

Ummmmm....not sure, but interesting to look at

This is my personal favorite.  A table on wheels with cup holders.  So awesome....but what would I do with it?...seriously!

Keg Man

Old sewing machine...what do you think?  Should I go back and buy it?

Another not-so-old machine

Saying "good-bye" to our friends.

What was purchased?  A stack of old Miles Davis CD's, a stamp collector's book full of stamps from everywhere (and just in time for Ivan to work on the stamp collecting merit badge!) and....drum roll please....an incredible sewing kit!  Wooo hoo!!!  Well, so much for finding clothes and staying warm.

Here is our new sewing kit in all its glory!  Don't you love thrift stores?

Ivan's Priesthood Preview

It is so crazy for me to sit back and realize that my son will soon be old enough to be ordained a deacon in the priesthood.  Wow!  Where has the time gone?

The Frankfurt Stake had a wonderful evening planned for all the boys about to turn 12.  (Ivan turns 12 on November 24th!)  There were a lot of families at the Priesthood Preview meeting.  First we all met in the chapel.  (There was a small group of us who were English speakers only and so a very nice lady sat near us and translated the meeting for us.)  After the welcome and introduction the boys and their families were divided up into 3 groups.  Each group met in separate classrooms.  In each classroom there was a teacher that taught an aspect of the holy priesthood.  One room (actually this one was appropriately held in the chapel where the sacrament is passed) was the discussion of the sacrament, what it means and what it means to be able to bless and pass the sacrament.  One classroom was taught the history of the priesthood and it's restoration through the prophet Joseph Smith.  Forgive me, but I don't remember what was taught in the 3rd classroom.  Please keep in mind that this was all done in German.  At this point, the parents were allowed to be in the class, but we took a backseat so the boys could all sit together.  Ivan (and one other boy in our group) had the nice lady sit with them, but we were too far away to hear.

The stake Primary President spoke in the meeting.  Her talk was very good.  I could tell how much she loves the children and these boys who will soon be leaving primary.  Her own son also happened to be among the boys turning 12.  At the conclusion of the evening, everyone was served a brownie and some ice cream.  Also, the primary president gave a gift to each boy.  It was a framed picture of a scripture and picture of a boy wearing the whole armor of God.  She also gave the boys these little flashlights to remind them to follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

Here are a few pictures from the evening:

Ivan received this beautiful invitation in the mail to attend the Priesthood Preview on November 15, 2013.

Ivan with stake Primary President.

Treats at the end of a great meeting!

Guitar Cemetery

I had the privilege of visiting the guitar cemetery with Jay today.  About a year or more ago he bought a resonator guitar here when he flew to Frankfurt for a TDY (we were living in Jerusalem at the time).  

He told me all about this place over the phone.  Who would have thought I would be seeing it first hand later?  Well, it wasn't anything what I imagined.  

Have a look:

Enter the cemetery with caution.

These have seen better days.

Note the casualties of Rock, Blues, and Jazz (to name a few).

A Moment of Silence.....

Seeing some hope here.

One of these ought to do.

Found a heart beat.

Can definitely apply CPR to this one.

CPR

Exiting the guitar cemetery.

Adopted...one broken guitar!

What Goes Up Must Come Down

Hello friends and family.  Tonight was our church's Stake Conference.  It was a great 2 hour meeting!  The German members are powerful and humble.  Listening to their talks and hearing their testimonies really brought the Spirit and it was like being on cloud 9.

The entire meeting was in German so we had to use little boxes and an ear piece for translation.  This device is kind of freaky because the person translating is trying to talk softly so as not to disturb the people around him or her.  It kind of sounds like they are whispering in your ear - up close and personal. Zowie!!

Unfortunately, Emily and Ivan sat on their own (Jay and I sat behind the speakers because we were singing in the choir.)  They did not have a translator.  Emily said she understood a couple of words.  Ivan was so sweet and said he didn't understand what they said, but he could feel the Spirit so powerful it was like a burning fire.

The unhappy herald of this evening is that on the way out of the church parking lot, I got pulled over by the police.  They (there were 2 of them) pulled up beside me in the car.  I was driving and Jay was navigating.  They motioned for me to roll down my window and they told me to follow them.  They took me directly to the police station.  It wasn't that far away.

They took my passport and driver's license.  I asked them if I had done something wrong and they said, "no."  Well, how weird is that?  The police pull you over and you haven't broken the law?  Well, it doesn't take much to realize that no matter how innocent you may be, you always break the law anyway.  As it turns out, all of our car documentation - proof of insurance, etc. etc. etc. was at home.  (Why?  Trust me, this would be another long story.) Anyway, so, because of this, it turns out that I had broken the law afterall.  These German policemen are specially trained...I can tell you that much!

They took Jay away.  I know, I know - I was the one driving.  I don't get it either, but, like I said, they are specially trained.  Jay calls me from his mobile phone and says he is sitting in a room all by himself and he has no idea what is going on.  By this time I'm beginning to feel all happy feelings draining away and something like panic is setting in.  I call the US Consulate to ask them what to do or if they will help us.  Meanwhile, between phone calls, I entertain myself by taking pictures of the police car that pulled us over (picture below).

Before the consulate can make a decision about helping us, Jay comes skipping out of the police department with a big grin on his face.  He had the great idea to show them proof of car insurance via the internet.  So nice to live in the electronic age :o)  and, thankfully, that was good enough for our German friends.