Travelers...

About 2 weeks ago, Rick got on an airplane to go to Germany and Uncle Karl, "UK" got on a plane to visit us here! Karl was able to stay for 2 weeks and Rick was only gone for one so they did get to see each other! We had some wonderful visits with Karl and Rick was able to call each day and send some pictures. It was also Popop's birthday and Alex and Addison made sure they had enough candles on the cake!

Alex is so generous to share his apple with Addison...

 Addison was hired on to power wash Omi and Popop's driveway. He is almost done. The hardest part is time! I think we need an extra 3 hours a day. Really.

 We took a tour of Old Salem Village in Winston Salem, NC. The village was started by German immigrants. It was fun reading the names on all the homes.

 This nice lady demonstrates how to cook on the open hearth. We were so hungry at this point we were ready to grab the bread and run!

 We discovered a tree with some big fruit falling all over. Not edible though...

 And cooling off in the town water area was refreshing for Alex and Addison. Those hand pumps just add fun to the work. Unless I guess you need to do it all the time!

 This is the Single Brother's House... set up similar to the Amish...

 Now, turn your head because I can't rotate! This settler taught us how to take flax and turn it into thread. We learned where the term "flaxen hair" and "toe head" originated!

 And a few days later, Karl was able to see Alex in his first match of the season. Alex is on the 18U Greystone team and they are playing some tough competition this fall.

 Atley LOVES taking care of her baby. She is so compassionate and caring towards people and animals. She really has a beautiful heart. People often compliment her on her looks and tell her she is beautiful and I tell her that she is so beautiful on the inside. That is where it is most important. We talk about how people can look beautiful on the outside and when they talk, they appear to be actually quite ugly. But also, people who may not have especially good looks (according to our media) on the outside become outrageously beautiful when you know their heart.

 Never one to waste a moment, Rick scooted into NYC while he had a layover wait in New Jersey!

Here we are saying goodbye to Rick as he departed for Deutschland. Notice who is driving! BTW, just finished reading the biography book, Bonhoeffer, by Eric Metaxas and STRONGLY recommend it. I found it fascinating, although it is a long book. And you may wonder what is the connection to Rick leaving? Bonhoeffer was German and it is about his life... 

 Popop had a birthday!

 And I'll huff and I'll puff!!!!

 Rick took in a lot on his tour of Germany but this was one of the pictures he sent. Martin Luther was here at this church. Just watched the movie, Luther, (highly recommend as well! And you can stream it from Amazon!) )  and after reading about the Reformation it was fascinating to see Rick linked in history here.

And while Alex was at his lit and speech class, and studying, the rest of the school went downtown to the science museum. They just added an new wing  with lots of hands on activities. They are discovering a cure for something here! They will let us know when completed!