"Good Friday"

As opposed to "Bad Friday". No but really, it was a great Friday. Being together with Family and friends of all ages was a great relaxing way to spend good Friday. And to think. I talked so bad about all the stress surrounding religious ceremonies during holidays. Okay, the religious ceremonial part did have a bit of a forced feeling. But the family relaxing with one another was a great thing.



We went for a walk with Mom (Larissa) our brothers (Gerald and Edgar) as well as Grandpa (Alfred). It was really a great time. Aside from the constant querling between the two brothers, which even provides a bit of humor, it was a great walk in the a mid-April "shower".



Our Grandpa recently had a few strokes. Those he's not lamed in any physical way really, we do notice that he can't get around like he used to. He's not longer as sure of himself or of the situations he finds himself in. We don't mind though. We love him all the same and try and let him know that he is loved and cared for just the way he is. It's hard for Grandma though, because she's always had a husband who's done alot for her and with her. It's a precious thing to walk with the elderly as they get close to the door of eternity. Looking forward to the days to come.



Our apartment is becoming more and more a home for us. It's funny how prepairing for a child will do that. I look around at all then things we are no drilling into the walls and new Furniture we're setting up in the baby room and I'm amazed at how happy I am here in these walls. God has really blessed us, and we take the blessing gladly. Of course we'll probably have to move again. At the latest, whenever another child comes. But till then, this is our home.



After family left yesterday some friends of ours came over. Siggi, Elina and their daughter Joela. (Sorry no picture) That was just great. My heart was touched to be able to enjoy their company. We draw so much from our friendships here. It is a wonderful community.

After those three left we had some more friends come over. Maggi and Makai. Makai is an American Armie Idiot. He's been stationed in Afghanistan the last year and has lots of stories to tell. Needless to say, he's not very impressed with the US way of dealing with the sitaution over there. Interesting guy. He's dating our cousin and they are a sweet pair.



It's a good life. I'm learning at this stage as if for the first time, what it means to lose myself and all that I have, in order to gain that which I could never lose. It's interesting how this process is never once and for all learned and then locked away. Pride and Self-Righteousness are of such a character that they always seep through in each new aspect of ones life. Before I know it, there I stand all alone with only myself, my pride and my hopelessness. God then shows me once again that it truly is necessary to lose all, even the things I hold most dear (family, friends, etc.), to which end I might gain everything.

By that I mean that God shows me how these things, which are so important to me, are meant to be enjoyed and lived out. He makes all things new, well and perfect. And He does it in such an unconventional way.

So, this ones for all the short people. Short people out there...hit the comment button or else...

Be Free

Tonight was youth group. We talked about Galatians 4 and what it means to be free to live out your faith in the way God has called you to do. Whether or not your faith ends up looking like the faith of the contemporary church or not. Christ does some crazy non-conventional stuff with people who are willing to step outside the doors of their churches to do ministry.




In my opinion it was a great evening. Though I am biased: I'm the one who leads it. I thought Martin (the guy on guitar) did an excellent job leading praise and worship. I've really been getting a kick out of seeing God reveal gifts in people in the last few months. It's hard because, believe it or not, some people don't want to allow themselves to do the thing they are really good at. Kind of like: if I'm having fun it can't be godly. Nevertheless, this group of young people is kicking some serious booty and takin' names for Christ in big ways. I'll post some pics of us helping out with the children's play mobil some other time.



I wish I had taken some before and after pics of our apartment, because the last two days have brought about a serious makeover inside our 4-walls. We've been moving stuff around and building new shelves for the "little sire". Yep, he's gonna have it good. Just hope he can stop kicking mommy long enough to let her breathe regularly. I need her behind the oven. ;-)



Kristine is doing really well with the pregnancy. She's been helping me with the youth group alot as well. Tonight she wasn't able to come. Tomorrow is Easter Friday and we've got family coming over. She did an all out cleaning operation with her mother this evening at our place. They were getting our apartment ready for the people to come over tomorrow. It's really not that many. Grandparents, parents, 2-brothers, Kristine and myself. Don't worry though. That's enough for our apartment.



I'll post ya'll some pictures tomorrow night of the festivities. We have a church service tomorrow morning from 10am to about 12pm. I'm not up on the whole, "lets squeeze in a church service on every big holiday of the year" thing. Why not relax and just eat together and have a good time. Why always the extra church service? (Easter, Christmas, New Years...)

Goodnight! My wife just called and she's wondering why I am. It's already 12:37am here.

Ikea

Yes that's right. Today we made the bi-yearly pilgrimage to the place of homage, known to singles looking for a good deal and young post-modern families looking for consumer cosmopolitan design in vogue. Otherwise known as "Ikea".

It was a great day. Although it did get off to a rocky start, as a result of my constant need to find a contradiction in most everything Kristine said. No it's true. I know you all can't believe it but I am someone who seems to always find confrontation. Although it may sound funny it really gets on my nerves and I'm seriously working with Kristine on communicating better. See...People can change. You all can think about me and ask every now and then if you like how it's going. I definitely don't want to be an old pain in the ass when I die. I feel God really pulling at my heart and all that is dear to me with this issue. He’s really humbling me and making me aware of my pride.

So, by the time we got to Ikea (about 45 min. later) we had worked at jons' morning confrontation. It was great walking around together, picking up a few last things for the baby. He's almost here now! Just about one more month to go. Here's what Kristine is looking like these days. It's hard to get a picture of her that she will let me post. But this one is really nice. Because of the scarf though, it's hard to make out her belly. But you get the idea.

Tomorrow is youth group. Easter church service is on Friday and we've still got to get some furniture moved around and built. I need to get some studying done for a history test I failed last semester and...I'm tired.

The Hit

In the blog world they say you can judge the quality of your blog based on your readers. Well I would certainly like to say that our blog belongs to the ranks of those emphasis blogs of ol’ that have long ago gone down in blog history as being…well how should I say it…a hit.

Well, for now we’ll just have to pretend that the reader counter is up in the hundreds and the comments are flooding in like wombats. We would like to thank all the people, who despite our consistent neglect to maintain this blog, have held to being our true readers. With this post we would like to say…well…thank You! (tear jerk).

Was a good day today. We practiced what it is going to be like having our own one and a half year old. Two couples today, who have graciously paved the way for our yet unknown baby future, were at our place just kickin’ it. You have to understand though. With a young child you’re never “just kickin’ it”. Because we are mature and ourselves prepared for parenthood, we were aware of this fact.;-) Nevertheless, the total exhaustion after they were gone is only describable to those who themselves either have children or work in a Kindergarten/Daycare or insane asylum.

So here we are. We survived. Hope you like the pics. For those of you who stopped sending money as a result one of my previous blogs, you are more than welcome to begin sending the double amount of what you were sending before. Kristine and I are in need of a vacation after today. In fact we are looking for a place to live after the birth of our child. There’s no way we can think up enough believable excuses, to tell our parents why we never pick up our kid at the end of the day. For this reason we thought it would be better to buy a house somewhere off the cost of south France.

To help us reach this goal, please continue sending money!


And if you are just joining us feel free to browse this blog without paying. If though you wish to become a regular attender, we will take your decision to the board of trustees and vote on approval.

Dumb in the head

Currently Reading:
I‘ve been sitting here in my church office for the last two days trying to finish a paper for school, which is already almost two months overdue. My History prof is angry with me and my mind is drawing blanks. Well things could be worse. I could be living in Uganda trying to flee military service.

It‘s kind of hard to have to face up to the reality that I definitely loaded too much onto my plate last semester. Working one half-time job and another 8-hour a week job, while studying over full-time, was really stupid. I now know that I at least have to write two tests again and may have to write a third over as well.

But really...nothing can get me down right now. School is not all that my life is made up of anymore. I think if I were 18 it would be a much bigger deal for me. As much as I want to be done as quickly as possible, I know it wont kill me to have to go another semester longer than I thought. What has jon learned from the whole experience? Do less and enjoy life more. With the baby on the way that has really become my priority. I‘m never home, we never go on vacation and as a couple we hardly ever do anything romantic or such. I‘m only 26 and I sound like I‘ve missed out on all the good stuff.

That‘s my goal really. In spite of all there is to do, to take time to pause with my girl and sip a cappuccino in a shamelessly priced café in downtown Pforzheim, Germany, or in some other beautiful black forest village.

I didn‘t see Kristine today. She was out doing her Proverbs 31 duties. I believe she performs them well. At least when I drive into the city the mayor always waves. (Or maybe that‘s the blue smoke that comes from driving a Honda.;-) Na, but really. Kristine is still tutoring kids in english and german. She works hard for her money! So you better...

And on top of all that she made this roast today that is just...uh yeah baby! Proverbs 31 here I come. Enough BS. It tasted damn good! I really love that woman. I‘m amazed with her. Today she had her birthing course. She just told me that I get to come to the last three appointments! I‘m excited about that. Finally the heavy-breathing thing.

OK. Because too many people have been commenting on the last few blogs I am going to restrict access to commenting on this blog to all the fat people out there. OK. All the fat people. You know who you are, and I love you ya so come on out with it. Skinny good-looking people just shut your faces, you guys always get to talk!

Golgotha

This is the hospital we may be bringing our boy to the world in. But because we're capitalistic consumers, we do have the choice. We'll send pictures after the visit to the next hospital as well.

No worries! We weren't there for anything serious. Just a "preview the hospital" appointment. We sat in a group of about 30 other couples listening to the head doctor talk about the day of reckoning. By the time he got done I think most of the women were thinking: "Am I doing the right thing here?" "How do I get my money back?" "Where's the ticket taker?"

Then you remind yourself that this sterile place with lovingly painted warm yellow walls is where you are going to soon be going, come hell or high water, in just a few short weeks. Then you just suddenly don't want to be you anymore. Forget the refund! Give me a new life!

At least that's they way I kind of second-hand experienced it. I wanted to assure Kristine that it would "all be good". Those kinds of statements don't even have the smell of truth. Let alone carry any substance. No, your lovely wife with the big belly is going to come to this Golgotha and be humiliated beyond belief and be beaten seemingly beyond repair. Then the most amazing thing happens. So the story goes. They put this unbelievably small and helpless life that you have been a part of creating, onto your breast and life begins anew.

To imagine, that something so beautiful can come of something so bestial is paradox and breathtaking. It's right!

pacify

Ok, this is to pacify all you faithful blog readers. Hah. lol.
Just got back from a weekend with the youth group. We took part in a seminar (designed especially for us) from the city youth league. We asked them about two months ago if we could help them out in any way.
We're now getting prepared to dive into Children's Street Work and hopefully some youth work in the youth houses of the city.
This is really cool because none of it has to do with church! We're just helping people in the city. It's actually the city youth league for which I used to work about a year and a half ago.

I need to take this moment to say: Nobody does it like Kristy. She's the best cook in the world. I'm trying to learn from her but the problem is she doesn't use a book. Maybe I can google a US-Spy satellite and get infrared pictures of Kristine doing her stuff. Then I could write down ingredients and what not that way I would have it later in book form. I think I could even eBay the book after it was down. Of course I would produce and publish it myself. I could make millions. Now...I need to find that satellite.

...well google didn't help, but maybe more time at home would. ;-)

Kristine's tummy is really huge! Again no photos. You'll just have to pull out that old apparatus from the closet called "imagination"! Use it before you lose it baby! Kristine thinks all the kicking is abnormal. Can someone tell her that it's normal? Even if it's not, it will really make my life a heck of a lot easier. You don't know how much will power it takes to say: "Yes dear, of course. That's how much all babies kick." To be honest: how in the world am I supposed to know if that's normal?! What is she asking me for?! I mean...come on. Dangit!

Well, all is well here. The homeless shelter here is closing but the government has granted us space in a new housing complex. You can stop sending money.

On a lighter note: School is going well. It's vacation time for another three and a half weeks.