The Hague Netherland Temple & Denmark/North Sea

So Im about a two weeks behind on my blogging and I thought I would catch up before the weekend hit and I would have even more to write about. Its crazy to think we have less then two months left, so these last weekends will be crammed with things to see before we get home. So to catch up June 5th Chris and I got up early and left to do a session in The Hague Netherland Temple, I had called about a month in advance to see when was the best time to come and if they rented clothes. They did not rent clothes, but after talking to the sweet worker she said that they did have a few extra clothes and they would hold them for us. So Chris and I woke up to hit the afternoon session. We got there and we couldnt find the parking lot for the temple, but what we learned was that cause of cost reasons of land there, the parking lot was actually built underneath the temple. So you drive to the first gate and you hit a button, there is a camera there so I figure if your in a suit and tie they will open it for you. You then drive down this tunnel where then a garage door opens into a secure parking lot very James Bond let me add, I thought it was super cool. We walked upstairs got all are stuff and attended a session in Dutch. The spirit that fills you even though in a different language is undescribable. Its amazing the peaceful feeling that you get from just being in that building, Im so grateful that Chris and I got to go it was an amazing day.....


On June 12th Chris and I headed to Denmark it was all together about a four hour trip. We were headed to a town called Tonder, the moment we got into that town I feel in love completely this town was beautiful. The building were so old but so well kept that it was just beautiful. We walked the streets of the quiet city and looked for souvenirs. We found a way cool store where everything inside is antiqued, its beautiful if I could I would of bought that whole store, it was so my style. What we found though for our souvenir for Denmark was two old European cars that I LOVE!!!! I cant wait to put these in my house I dont have a pic of them but they are awesome!!! Here are pics of Tonder......




After Tonder we drove to Romo. Romo is on a Danish Island right next to Denmark and to get across there is a land bridge from Denmark to the Island. There in Romo we went to the beach of the North Sea. This beach was very different for one of the facts that you can drive right on it. The sand is so compact with the shells which makes that possible. For another reason that its different is that its very windy there, which brings the kite boarders. So you look out into the water and there are kites everywhere its beautiful. We went out and played in the water and surprisingly it was warm. We took tons of pictures then headed home and watched some World Cup! It was an awesome day! With all that we have done and seen I still miss my family and friends so much and cant wait to get home and share our adventures, until next time...........

Poland- May 29th

While we are here I have wanted to try and see as much as we can while we have free travel. So Chris asked what I wanted to do for the weekend and I told him I wanted to go to Poland. and the first thing that came out of his mouth was, "Why?" I wanted some hand made pollish pottery and to be able to experience I place that once went through communisim. Chris was hesitant but agreed. We woke up really early got ready and left for Poland at 6:30 in the morning. Poland is a little over five hours for where we lived so we stocked up on treats and were headed. And I'll admit I had no idea what to expect and this trip will probably made me realize how lucky I am to live in a place of dreams and freedoms. We hit the German/Poland border and it was night and day difference the roads were not maintained and there was nothing to be seen for miles. I had no idea what to think because for a good half hour there was nothing but thick forest until all of a sudden I spotted this......

This is a Soviet Union watch tower, and I cant even imagine what all took place here in this spot. What was seen who was betrayed and who was lucky enough to sneak through. Now its in the backyard of an elderly mans home,and if I could only speak his language, I bet he has some amazing stories. To Thinks of a place and a time that was so cold and as we kept driving the feeling didnt really change. We got to Bolsaweic where we were going to get the pottery, and I understand why Chris asked me why I wanted to go there. I have never been to a place that had so little hope, the people even the buildings. Everything was old grey stone and cold. It seemed like a dream was never possible for any of the people there, until we say this.....

The one sign of hope and a dream of starting new. Chris and I went and looked at the pottery and I came home with a haul. I got eight plates, a fruit bowl and a teapot. and while we were in the shops we came out and three boys, I would say around 16/17 years old were around are car and the wiper blades were up. It scared me so I just stood still but Chris on the other hand started talking in very forcefull Russian. I wish I could of gotten a picture of their faces, cause I know they were not expecting that. They started rambling stuttering in Pollish and kept pointing to the car. and I guess what they do there is they wash your car and windsheild and then wait for you to pay them. The sad thing is, is that Ive worked in to many peoples mouths that I know how to spot meth mouth and I couldnt contribute to that habbit. They left and we headed back home. and as we left I looked around and through all the gray you could see where the people were breaking boundries. The apartment building were all gray but the balconies would be painted and not just with any colors but the brightest colors they could find. It made me smile I hope they keep breaking out and reaching for there dreams. I am so proud to be an American and know that any dream of mine is possible I hope one day the people of Poland can one day feel that too. Until next time......

21 Baby!!!

So thats right I'm 21 now and boy will this birthday be one that I never forget. Well first off I got to spend my birthday in Germany not a lot of 21 year olds can say that and second all my gifts came from Russia.. Here is my birthday story...

I had been staying in Frankfurt with Chris' cousins Kevin and Marnie while Chris was on a business trip to Moscow Russia, they were opening up a brand new Grimme Russia company about 200 km away from Moscow and that week they were preparing for their grand opening. Kevin and Marnie were very nice for letting me stay and making me feel welcome especially since they have only meet me once. I had a lot of fun making crafts, talking, and playing with their kids. Chris got home friday night late, he called me and told me he made it safe and that he would come and get me saturday on my birthday. So I woke up the next morning hurried and showered to get ready so I looked good for when my husband got there. Little did I know he left early and with unlimited speed on the autobon and no traffic lets just say he got there in awesome time. He surprised me with a big hug and a Happy birthday. Marnie got up and made an awesome birthday breakfast which she gave me the recipe so when I get home I'll try it seriously the breakfast was amazing. We finished getting ready I talked to Chris about his trip and how succesfull it was and that he was glad to be home with me and that he woke up really early to get me birthday gifts from Moscow. So of coarse I was super excited but he said I couldnt open them until we got home. He said they could break and with little kids we didnt want to take the risk so I agreed. The rest of the day was nice spending time with Kevin and Marnie and their family. Their daughter Lauren had a ballet recital and it was fun to watch that and help get her ready, she was the prettiest ballerina up there.

For dinner we had fondue, which was the first time I have ever had it and let me tell you Im hooked the stuff is amazing. I really like the bread and cheese. We sat around talking, laughing and eating. The kids were bummed cause I didnt have a cake but out of nowhere Marnie comes in with a rice crispy treat with a candle in it. Everybody sang and I blew out the candle she was even sweet enough to get me a beautiful necklace. We thanked them said are goodbyes and headed home. On the way home I got two phone calls both from the two guys Chris shares an office with Andreas Herdt and Alexander Bishcler. and let me remind you they speak german and russian english is their third language and not that great but in broken english they wished me a happy birthday the russian way, where they wish you health happiness and so on. It was very sweet they both are great friends.

We got home got somewhat settled and Chris brought out the presents, three of them! I was so excited so here is what he got me.....



This is a music box that plays the prettiest song Its what the cathedrals look like there...


This is a "Matroschka" or nesting dolls this is the prettiest one I have ever seen the pictures doesnt do it justice. Each one of these dolls are handpainted then signed at the bottom plus the artists sign. This artist sign was the flowers I can wait to show this doll off. This is the biggest set you can get not height wise but inside there is 15 pieces which is the most the smallest one is not even 2cm big its tiny but each one are beautifully detailed. Here is my doll...




and last but not least I finally got my Shopka. Its made of white leather and artic fox its beautiful. Super soft and super warm I was so excited I have wanted a "girl" shopka ever since I have seen chris'. Here is my beautiful shopka...




I had an amazing birthday, I wish my family and friends could of been with us to celebrate, but like I said this will be a birthday I will never forget. Thanks Chris for making this birthday so special I love you so much!! and Thanks so much for to all of you for the birthday wishes for not being with family and friends I felt so loved Thanks to everyone. Until next time......

Where we have been living

I seem to really enjoy some things more here in Germany than I do in the States such as: cobblestone sidewalks, round abouts, The chocolate and pasteries, how green it is here with all the trees and plants and really the list goes on. We live above a really sweet family and they had us over for Easter dinner and gave us these Easter eggs:

This is Chris and I's drive to work:


We work for the company Grimme (some people really wear these at work)

and these are just some pics of the city Damme were we work. We have been truly blessed and are trying to take full advantage while we are here. We are so grateful for out Heavenly Father for this amazing opportunity.

Temple and lots of Flowers

The weekend of the 24th Chris and I headed down to Frankfurt to visit Chris' cousin Kevin, who is a dentist there at an army base. It was my first time meeting them, random we would be meeting the first time in Germany. They are an awesome family Kevin and his wife Marnie and their three kids Caden 7, Lauren 4, and Ava 2. We woke up that next morning and went to a session at the Frankfurt, Temple. It was an amazing experience different for me just because it was all in German!! but that sweet spirit of the temple just seemed to burn right through you. After that the weekend was filled with bike rides, a car game called "Geography", and laughing and talking till it was time to go to bed again. We had such a good weekend and are so grateful for family. Thanks Kevin and Marnie. Pics from the weekend....






This last weekend, the weekend of May 1st was probably one of my favorite weekends. I have been begging to see the tulips in Holland, so Chris decided to take me to the tulip park called Kuekenhof. This park is only opened for about a month and in this month millions of people come to this park. What makes this park so special, really you have to see it to believe but it a huge park of all flowers, and not just your ordinary tulips but what they call hybrid tulips. It was amazing so im sorry there will be a lot of pictures. The weather was so nice and the park was amazing I couldnt of asked for a better day. Thanks Chris I love you.





Sorry it just to hard to choose...






Sorry for the super long post but I just wanted to share with everybody. Until next time...

Fun in the Sun

Its been awhile and I wanted to update on the things we have seen and the places we have been. The sun decided to come out and everything is green and beautiful. Chris and I every week pick a place on the map and go to that place on Saturday. So being here for three months almost four we have seen our fair share. April 10th we decided to go to the Baltic sea. I couldnt believe how tropical Germany could look minus the palm trees of course. It was really windy that day but we are planning on going back and playing in the water and laying on the beach. Heres the Baltic sea....



April 17th we picked the city of Hamburg, which is a beautiful city with many rivers that flow throughout it. We looked up on the internet for the number one thing to do in Hamburg and other then clubs and discos came up a museum called Minitaure Wonderland. So we decided to try it out. What it is, is a huge train set, set to scale. They have taken countries and cities and re-did them in little size so that the train could run through them. Thousands of trains going through Switzerland, Las Vegas, Belgium, Germany and tons more they are still creating new worlds and it should be done aroun 2014. This place was amazing we spent hours looking at all the little details of the people and cars it was so much fun. Here are pics of the museum and Hamburg....





We have had a lot of fun and still trying to see as much as we can before we get home. Love you all lots until next time.