Today

• woke up to a phone call from carolyn.  amazing start
• drove to puma in herzo
• had 3 great classes at puma
• stopped the car on the way back to pick a sunflower
• paid €.60 for said sunflower, assured it was well worth it
• coffee at bleck’s in mögeldorf
• hanging out with fp
• basketball in lauf.  1st time to play in 3 months.  shot is still on!
• talked with zach while making a salad and basalmic pasta.
• called carolyn
• spent some time writing

now i will:

• eat a bit of ice cream
• brush said ice cream off of my teeth
• go to sleep

i think:

• it has been a good day

Learning to Teach.

Somedays, I just like my job.  For my second lesson today, only one of my students showed up, which although an initial disappointment, allowed me to really work with this one girl.  She plays soccer in the area, knows most of the players on Carolyn’s old team, and is just generally passionate about soccer.  So, we spent most of our class discussing the future of women’s soccer, the flatback four, playing professionally versus playing for fun, and all other such things.  As often happens, I began to think that this was irresponsible of me as a teacher, that we should be discussing grammar and vocabulary.  But truly, she wouldn’t stop talking about soccer.  

I really think that this is such a great way to learn.  When someone is passionate about a topic, they are so much more focused on articulating themselves, in learning the proper vocabulary and grammar, and they have so much more fun with it.  As I continue to teach, I believe that I will find the most joy when I am able to tap into the passions and goals of my students.

Leave Room

My Mamaw used to say, “Leave room for dessert,” as Zach and I heaped mounds of fluffy mashed potatoes and brocolli casserole on the last remaining edge of our Thanksgiving Dinner plate.  Leave room?  I even tried to take little bits of everything, and I still have enough to feed Ethiopia for 2 weeks, as my mother would not let me forget.  For one day though, eating yourself until you turned blue in the face seemed okay.  Maximum capacity.  Fullness.

 

So I know that it is the middle of summer, and July has relatively nothing to do with Thanksgiving.  We are in the midst of picnic and barbeque season, when we also find creative ways of eating too much.  So why this lingering memory of a cramped buffet line in Mamaw and Pappy’s old apartment in Arvada?  

 

I guess I’ve been thinking about fullness lately.  Being full to the brim, to the edge.  I think that I do this with my friends and community.  I have said, okay, I will commit to him, him, her, and her…making a checklist of the friends who I would like to stay in touch with.  And yet, as much as I want to span the distance of the Atlantic and continue to be a friend to people in Seattle and Denver, sometimes, I realize that it is too much to manage.  

 

Furthermore, maybe it would be healthier if I had enough room in my social circle to allow for new relationships.  As I continue to deepen in my understanding of friendship and community, I become more and more convinced that it is necessary to grow and develop in fellowship.  On the one hand, this means striving to deepen the relationships that we already have, but on the other hand, it means allowing room for new friendships to take root and grow.  

 

As Carolyn and I have decided to remain in Lauf for another year, we are sad to be away from many our our good friends in the States, but in a way, I will be greatly interested and excited to see how the LORD will reshape our community when we come back.  

 

If new friends can be as good as Mamaw’s blueberry cobbler, then they are most definitely worth saving room for!

 

Jeez, Louise

As we say in Franken in moments of exasperation: “Almächt!”

I’ve noticed a certain trend in my blogging, in which my entries skip over very fun and exciting times of life because I am simply too involved in the momentary to sit down and attempt to reflect.  I need to work on my blogging discipline.  

In the last month, I’ve traversed 7 different countries and have been able to spend quality time with many of my favorite people in the world.  

It began with a beautiful drive through Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and Idaho with Carolyn on our way to the Tuggle wedding in Twin Falls.  What an honor it was for me to take part in the festivities, and to bear witness to the union of these two incredible people and friends.  All of the groomsmen got to stay at this wonderful house on the very edge of the canyon, and my favorite thing was to wake up early, (jetlag induced) get some coffee, and just relax.  It’s always nice to get away from the routine of things and just take some time to be still.  The wedding was very fun, and DJ Rage brought the house down.  Risky move playing YMCA in the #2 slot, but I think it paid off. 

We danced until the early morn., slept a few hours, and then I got on the road again, this time with Nick, Chris, and Brandon, and had another fun drive to Seattle.  

I flew out of SeaTac Airport a day and a half later, spent 3 days readjusting to Germany, and then my parents arrived for a 15 day vacation with Carolyn and I.  

During their time here, they experienced the best of what Fraconia and Germany have to offer.  Rich food, friendly people, beautiful surroundings.  Their time in Germany was unusually serene, and I’m glad for it.  Among others, we saw Regensburg, Schwäbisch Hall, Rothenburg o.d. Tauber, Nürnberg, and Lauf. 

Then, after the first full week, we rented a car and made a 6 day tour through Prague, Salzburg, and Lucerne.  Each of these places impressed us in their own way, and although each stay was short, I think that my folks at least got a good taste for the culture and people there.  Mostly though, I am thankful for the time which we were able to spend together.  I am thankful that they had the chance to come and see my home, to share this experience with Carolyn and I.  I truly believe that we will cherish many memories from those 15 days forever.  What a blessing to me!

So, the left early on the 15th of June.  I then worked on the 15th and 16th, and then got on a plane again for Seattle, this time to bear witness to the wedding vows of Joe and Amy Thomson.  I really appreciated the attention to detail in their ceremony, and they chose many good Scriptures and Songs to include in the wedding.  Amy also has family from Japan, so her two little cousins taught me how to say “Hello, my name is Drew,” in Japanese.  I may have already forgotten though.  Come to find out, Japanese and German have nothing to do with one another.  Dang it.

During these 5 days in Seattle, I also had the extreme pleasure of staying with Patrick, Taylor, Chris and Nick, and I was also thankful for time spent with them in their amazing Ballard home.  I also got to spend time with a few other friends and I pray for the day when the LORD once again blesses us with a community of friends.

So now I am sitting on the balcony, with the white laundry hanging next to me, feeling the breeze chase itself around Kriemhildstraße.  It is a good feeling.  Carolyn and I have one more week together before she returns home, and I am enjoying the opportunity to just focus on her.  I can’t wait to get married to that girl, she’s the best.

So that’s the long and the short of it.  I will put up some pictures soon.  Until then, stay happy and healthy, and enjoy wherever it is that the LORD has you. 

Blessings, 

Drew~

Pics from the Day

Dad and Carolyn after Bratwurst and goood mustard

Regensburg from the Steinbrücke

Bridge Architecht

Grafiti

A Photo of Clouds

Postmodern

Recycled Roman Wall

Rain had passed

The Car we bought Cassie

Mike & Amy have arrived

…and it’s gonna be a crazy 15 days!

Anathallo in Nürnberg

Saw these guys (anathallo) tonight with Carolyn and Stefan.  They played a strong set, shuffling around a small stage, exchanging instruments with one another like children standing before a mirror, unsuccessfully trying to choose the right Sunday outfit.  The fact of the matter was that regardless of the combination, their music was enchanting, explosive, and genuine.  Whereas the opening act, Sam Amidon, had enough stage space to splay his banjo, violin, and guitar wherever he pleased, Anathallo’s 7 members seemed rather layered one on top of the other, fitting for a band which focuses wholly on layering of various instruments and vocal harmonies anyway.  The best example of this polyphonic stratum being Italo, during which nearly every member found a mic, a few blocks of wood, or just their own two hands, and made music together like a gigantically joyful organism.  

 Glued together by a collective talent and cohesion, they stomped, shouted, and whispered songs old and new, as well as a great cover from a Chicago band called Ribbons of Song which I particularly enjoyed because it had to do with following a dream, even past the point of no return.  It definitely spoke, and as it was played with only a guitar and two voices, the quietly still stage was as much an attention-getter as the banging marching band drums and trumpets of other songs.  

Anathallo played a great set, and I am definitely glad that I fended off jet lag and decided to go see them.  It was a good show, a good night, and now I am looking forward to a good, peaceful sleep!

Guten Nacht Freunde, 

Drew~

Seattle to Nürnberg

Today: Slept in, Hi-Life in Ballard, 28 Bus to Downtown, Sotto Voce, Pioneer Square, Elliott Bay Books, Café Umbria with Pattie, Hombow in the Market, Fádo, 8th Avenue Jam Sesh with Kram, Pack, Sleep.

Tomorrow: 8:30 plane to Amsterdam, 4 hour layover, 13:30 arrive in Nürn, 18:00 Youth Group, 20:30 collapse at Kriemhild.

Colorado

I’ve been in colorado for 26 hours.  I love my hometown…mein Heimat.  I’ve gotten to see my Mom, Dad, Cassie, Kimmie, Zach, Ash, Mo and Titus, Lloyd and JoeMoe, Aunt Julie, Charlie, Uncle Ward, Lisa, Stacey, Steven, Kyle, Kevin, Karissa, and Jenna.  In about 45 minutes, I’m meeting Carolyn and her folks at 3 Margaritas (my favorite Mexican restaurant in Broomfield) for dinner.  After that, is Old Chicago’s with the Bros. 

Then, we drive at 8:00 tomorrow morning for Twin Falls.  What a life!  

Love and Peace, 

dk~

The Weekend in Review

• Going to a college wine party after meeting Philipp at Mata Hari on Friday night = Great fun
• Having 4 friends over for a long dinner on the balcony night on Saturday = Even better
• Playing Ultimate in Nürnberg with people from around the globe this sunny afternoon = also not bad.
• Knowing that I would get to hang out with Carolyn tonight after a weekend of her in Wolfsburg = Priceless