April 2015 in Germany

We waited and were patient.....and our world has awaken!  Easter is in the right time of the year to remind us there is life after death.  We are so grateful for all our Savior did for us.  Conference was inspiring and add so much to our celebration of Easter.

We had Zone Conference on Wednesday the 15th, and after our meeting we attended the temple .  This is the Temple President's home.  The white building on my right shoulder is the Friedrichsdorf Chapel where we held conference.

This is the path going from the chapel to the temple.  The grounds are beautiful and well-kept.

Many of the sister missionaries have purchased jackets, vests or even dresses that are typical of the area.  One of the Elders has been buying clothing on E Bay and all of us appreciate his efforts and good taste.

Sisters Castleton,  Johansen, and Matheson wore their purchases that day.

Elder Dittmars was born here, raised in the States, met Sister Dittmar at  the Y.  They are serving in Family History for a few more months.  She has the most German clothes.

 

He dresses the part, too.  Wonderful couple.

During the winter when the trees were bare, I noticed some round balls in many of the trees.  I thought some really big birds must build some very unusual nests.  This spring I began noticing some very big black birds building nests.....but not like the round balls.  There is a group of trees that we pass on our way home from Frankfurt and one day I took a picture of the big nests.

U

Still couldn't figure out what the balls were.....Any guesses?

This is one by our apartment.   Keep guessing....I'll tell the answer at the end of the post.

We went for a walk on Saturday through the little town of Friedrichsdorf.  Everything is cobblestone.  The buildings are very picturesque.  There is a market every Saturday and you can buy meats, breads, fruits and vegetables, cheese, bakery items, and flowers.  The market and the town closes down around one o'clock.  Restaurants and grocery stores are open through the evening, and then everything is closed on Sunday.  You can see that it is close to one.....very few cars on the street.

The first time we went to the Saturday market, we were with the Cahoons and had our first pastries.

It was a beautiful day in our neighborhood!

Over by the Rathaus.....Rat House...City Hall......is this old telephone booth filled with library books.

We didn't check any out.....they were all in German !

Friedrichsdorf is the home of the original zuibach toast.  I bought it for my babies when they were teething.....it's very hard and dry...and very messy.  This is what we call "the toast" corner.  It's a land mark that we depended on when we first got here.  People give directions.  "...go to the toast roundabout, turn left....".

Today was Stake Conference.  It was 45 minutes away on Darnstadt.  Nice drive, nice meeting.

It's been a great month.....Conference was wonderful.  Our Area President was the Seventy who talked about life being more than a 4 inch screen

Tomorrow night is Devotional for the Senior Missionaries.  I decided to serve root beer floats.....I should have checked first.....no root beer!  Can you believe that!  Add that to the list of things we are used to .....and can't get!

We will be traveling to Lisbon, Portugal on Thursday.  We have a 10 hour lay-over, but will be treated to a tour by the people we are traveling with.  Then it's on to Cape Verde.  Keith will be training some of the brethren there.  We are pretty excited to be going some place!  We will be coming home Sunday night.

Sorry we missed your foot of snow last week.  Enjoyed the pictures of the biggest snowman in Herriman and the cutest little girl enjoying the snow in West Jordan.

I don't like this picture of me, but it will have to do.  This is Elder Kearon.  In our meeting with him last week, he asked if we have been brave enough to do some sight-seeing on our own.  We told him we have been to several places around here, but now that the weather is better we will try to go more places.  Keith said we want to go somewhere neat for our 50th anniversary in June.  Elder Kearon looked at Keith and said,  "That's a very good idea......especially if you want to celebrate number 51!!

Sending love and good wishes your way.    

Love, Elder and Sister Saunders

PS......those balls in the trees?   Mistletoe !!!