Yes, we are alive, just in case some of you were wondering. We are still in the hotel. I know, you are all thinking what!!?? Well, if you're not, I sure am. I'm so sick of being in this dang hotel I could just throw up. When we first got here, they told us we'd only be in here for about two to three weeks. We are going on 30 days now. Yesterday we were told we could move into an apartment in Mainz-Kastel this friday. We scheduled the transportation people to come deliver all our household goods on Friday, since they showed up on Monday. Well, I got a call today informing me that the apartment isn't done yet and we won't get in until the 12th, which is next Thursday. I feel like crying! This whole housing situation has been extremely frustrating. People in the housing department don't know what they are talking about. You get totally different information from everyone you talk to in there. They aren't communicating with maintanance or with eachother. After this is all done, I will be filing a complaint!
I haven't been able to get to a computer very often since we don't get any wireless connection in our room. We have a huge tree in front of the window blocking any service. We do have cell phones those. We also bought an additional car since Hans has to travel an hour each way to work. We bought an old BMW that I drive around and Hans takes the corolla to and from work. Hans has stayed very busy. He has started another semester of his masters program. He does online courses. He gets home around 7 or 7:15pm and then does homework til bedtime. We will be glad when he's done. This is going to be very good for him to have his MBA. The kids and I spend our days playing with friends and finding anything and everything to do just to get us out of our hotel room. We've had lots of friends have us over for dinner so we don't have to eat frozen burritos or cup of noodles every night (we have a mini fridge and a microwave in our room).
It's absolutely gorgeous here right now. The leaves are all so many different colors. I love germany in the fall. It lasts forever. I'm just so happy to be back. The ward here has changed a ton, but it's still great. I however am not happy at all about my calling. Maybe I shouldn't say that, but I'm just trying to be honest. :) I was called to be in the nursery. I really don't think they should stick women down there when both their kids are still in nursery. There are 29 kids in there and 24 of them are active. The other woman down there happens to be one of my best friends though. She was stuck down there even though her husband is deployed and she has five kids of her own. So, she's never getting a break from kids.
Ok, this post has been extremely negative. I'm sorry. I really am happy to be back. I can't wait to get into an apartment and start a schedule of some sorts. We are planning a few trips for the near future and we're really looking forward to the amazing christmas markets. We're having fun hanging out with our cousin Renee and her family. She and my friend Lisa just ran the Frankfurt Marathon. I'm so proud of her. Renee ran a half marathon a few weeks before the full marathon and was 1st out of all the women. She's my inspiration. I'm so proud to call her my cousin. :)
Well, that's what's going on in our lives right now. Hope all is well with everyone else. Talk to you all soon. We can't call the states on our cell phones, that's why no one ever gets calls from us. We will be getting a home phone with international calling as soon as we get into a place. Until then, I'll be periodically checking email, blog, and facebook. Love you all.
Lindsey
11 comments:
It's good to hear from you! I'm glad you guys are surviving and hanging in there. I hope you get into your apartment soon! -Jen
I'm glad you're alive....hope you can get out of the hotel soon. That is no way to live for so long. Did you hear my exciting news?
I'm so glad to hear from you! Everybody in the family was wondering where you were. Now they understand.
I'm sorry you have to wait a few more days to get into the apartment. Grrr....
How are the kids holding up in such a small space?
What, you don't like living in a toxic mold dump. The smell will grow on you after a while....NOT!!!!
I'm glad your back...See you tonight for some yummy GLEE. Best show ever!
Alisha,
What news? Are you expecting? If you are, that's totally awesome!!! I don't want to get my hopes up and then me wrong, so email back and let me know. :)
Lindsey
Hope you are able to get out of the hotel soon. I agree hotel life gets old after a while.
Remember that we believe that men (and women) are called of God. I guess God has something for you to learn.... :) The faster you learn it the faster you get released. :)
Bishop Shumway
Yes, you guessed it!! I'm due in May. I'm so excited. I'm finally starting to get over the morning sickness phase and getting energy back. It's such a fun time of life:)
Alisha
So good to hear from you. Sorry to hear about your calling, maybe it will be short lived. I think everyone should serve in nursery but only 6 months to a year and IF everyone would accept that calling, then others wouldn't be in it for 3-4 years which is what happens. It's sad they put people in there that have young children and never get a break during the week, that happenened to me a couple times. I hope your housing situation improves and you can start having a normal kind of life soon. Best of luck with all that. We still want to visit you guys, just not sure when that will happen. Miss you.
Hey! Glad you're alive (and kicking from the sounds of it!)! I hope you get into your apt soon. I can't imagine being in a hotel that long with the kids! Are there other families in your same situation?
And have fun in the nursery! It is hard to never have a break from your own kids, but remember those nursery kids will love you unconditionally -- if you let them. You get to be the fun teacher, and their parents are the meanies. Give it your best shot and see what happens. I agree with Michelle-- everybody should serve in the nursery at least once, including the men. It gives them a new perspective. And the new nursery manual is much better than the old one!
I believe, like Bishop Shumway mentioned, that callings are inspired - but I've also been involved in callings where I have been the "desperation choice", not the "inspiration choice." We can all learn in a calling no matter what the reason might be but one thing that puzzles me is why young couples with tiny children or new families that just move into a ward always seem to be the ones that get called into the nursey. Sometimes I feel like that lesson Bishop Shumway may have been referring to is obedience. You will accept because you believe in obedience and you have been raised to accept what you are given. That doesn't mean that you like it. I served 5 different times as a Primary choirister and I didn't ever like it very much. I'm not creative and I'm quite stiff around a whole bunch of young kids - I do a lot better with older kids.
David & Tana are the nursery leaders in their ward. I asked David how he likes his new ward and he said, "It's hard to tell - we are in the nursery and we've yet to have a home teacher come. We don't know many people very well." I think that's important as a new couple is welcomed into the ward. Don't bishoprics get that?!?
Well, do your best - it mainly matters to the Lord what you do - not to anyone else. As long as you are good with Him, you will do well and hopefully He'll inspire your bishop to give you a new calling in a few months where you can grow in a totally different way.
I love you mom. Thank you for your comment. :)
Lindsey
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