Our trip to Garmisch thru pictures. Enjoy.

 We hope you enjoy some of the photos we took on our long weekend in Garmisch.  The army was sponsoring a marriage retreat for 102nd Batallion this weekend and we had the opportunity of attending.  It was a great time to spend with the family.  I've been down there 8 times now and I never get tired of it.  It makes me appriciate God's amazing ablility to create such a specatular world.  This place takes your breath away with it's beauty.

 This two pictures were taken from the balcony of our hotel room.

 We rented a row boat for an hour on Lake Eibsee.  The kids loved it!

 It got a little cold at the end.

 This is the lobby of the hotel.

 Last winter, Hans and I came down by ourselves and skied here.  This is one of the lifts we took.  It looks completely different in the summer time. :)

 Just one of the beautiful gardens in the area.  The people here really take care of their land.

Cutest Kid Contest

Hey everyone.  I just entered Eva and Gabe in a cutest kid contest.  I could use all your votes.  If I win, I get a free photo session with this photographer and a free print.  What you have to do is go onto this link: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=159118&id=112247258819248#!/pages/Wiesbaden-Germany/Holly-Nichole-Photography/112247258819248 and "like" it.  Then you find the picture of Eva and the picture of Gabe and just type in the word "vote" in the comments.  You can also just look on my profile on Facebook and vote for them.  Thank you all!

Lindsey

A tearful goodbye

 Why do I have to be left behind?  I would much rather be the one leaving.  Being part of the military has is ups and downs.  One of the ups is you tend to make friends faster and feel more connected to the friends you have.  At least in my case.  I have made some really amazing friends here in Germany.  We all seem to cling on to eachother and support and love one another so much.  Two of my very best friends are moving and leaving me behind.  Lisa is to my left and Brandee is to my right in this picture.  Brandee is leaving tomorrow morning.  Her husband is getting out of the military and they will be settling down in Missouri.  I have become extremely close to her.  She has helped me through a great deal in the four or five years we've been friends.  She is one of those people who would do anything for you.  She is a GREAT listener.  She doesn't try and "fix" your issues, she listens and lets you just vent.  She never judges me and seems to love me unconditionally.  She and our other friend Alisha Johnson are always there for me.  We used to be a lot like the three amigos.  I waited every morning for a phone call from Alisha to tell me what we were doing for the day.  Alisha moved away last year but I still try and talk to her on the phone at least once a week.  It should be more though.  When some friends move away, you know you will eventually lose contact with them just because of distance and time.  However, there are just some people you know that just won't happen with.  Alisha, Brandee and Lisa are some of those people.  They are truely friends for life.  I thank my Heavenly Father for putting these women in my life and at such a time in my life when I really needed them most.  I know he had a hand in bringing us together.  I love them all with all my heart.  I will miss you Brandee, but I know this isn't goodbye.  This is just a "see you later". 

 I love her family too.  She's got some of the most amazing children in the whole world.  She and Logan are wonderful parents and have done a great job raising five very polite, beautiful children.  I love you kids!

Lisa's family is moving next month.  Thankfully they are only moving about an hour drive south of here.  They will be in K-town for another year, then headed back to the states.  Lisa, that drive will be made many times in the next year!  I'll be needing my Lisa fix on a regular basis.  You are the salt of the earth and the most amazing person.  You truely are an inspiration to me.  Thank you for your generous heart and warm smile.  I love you so much!  My kids are going to miss you guys so much too.  I will be bribing my kids with visits to see you if they are good. :)

Anyone who has friends like these, are truely blessed and I hope you remember not to take them for granted.  Make sure you give them a hug this week and tell them thank you for their friendship and love.  So, this isn't goodbye, this is "see you later".

Out & About Discovery Group

 This is kind of a random post, but I thought I'd share a little of what's going on in my life.  Last weekend, we took care of four other children while their parents went to London.  We had them from friday til monday night.  Two of those kids are my kids best friends.  This little boy is Evan.  He's four months younger than Gabe.  His older sister Sierra, is Eva's best buddy. 

 I've started teaching piano lessons to two new girls.  They are identical twins.  We are actually doing a trade.  I will teach them for free in exchanges for them to help me out around the house or with the kids.  They are 11 years old.  This is Xoe.  Gabe LOVES her!  Both my kids love these girls like crazy.  Eva follows them around like a lost puppy.  Xoe even got Gabe to take a nap on her while watching TV.  He doesn't even do that for me.

 My friend Christy (Xoe and Xanthe's mom) and I started a new group for relief society.  It's called the Out and About Discovery Group.  The purpose is for women in our ward to learn about the different treasures of Germany.  Over the last few months we've done quite a few things.  We went to an outdoor swimming pool, an indoor swimming pool, a thermalbad, a german restaurant, we toured the cities of Wiesbaden, Mainz, and Eltville.  This month, we started it out with a tour of the castle "Burg Eltz".  I've been there one other time with Bill and Diane Knox when they came to visit me.  Last time I was there, there wasn't any scaffolding, but it's still amazing huh?  We had a good turnout.  It was a beautiful day for touring the grounds too.

 This is the group that came out.  We're actually missing a few people in this picture.  I'm really glad Christy and I started this group.  It keeps us busy and it gives us a wonderful opportunity to get to know sisters that we normally wouldn't.  I think it's really making the women in the ward feel fellowshipped.  It helps to eliminate the feeling of clicks or hard feelings toward one another.  I have really come to love every one of these women in the ward.  They each contribute something special or unique to the group.  It's interesting to see the different dynamics that each different activity has.  We get different ladies coming each time.  It gives all of them an opportunity to get to know one another.  Thank you ladies of the Wiesbaden Military Ward!  You all are wonderful women and are great examples to me!