Happy Holidays

As you have now figured out by my recent posts, I have been busy playing catch up on everything following our return from Texas on 22 December. We missed most of the holiday time here in Berlin, but still have enjoyed some decorations. We plan on being here until 2013, so we still have ample time to persue more Christmas festivities in the coming years. We made it out to one Christmas Market and took a few photos you will see below!
Craig did get the Christmas Newsletter done and that went out via USPS on Wednesday. If you can't wait for your mail or we missed you via email send me an email and you can have a copy.

Mother was discharged from the hospital on the 27th and is a motivated participant in her Rehab program at Clairmont in Longview in preparation for her return to Eastman Estates.

We want to wish all our friends a Happy New Year and we are looking forward to a 2011 as a year of travel and adventure. We want to praise our Lord for the blessings of 2010 and seek out new ways to serve him in 2011.

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Chuck's Retirement

A unexpected plus on my trip to Texas was the opportunity to attend my brother retirement ceremony. Chuck retired from the city of SouthLake with 35 years of work for the state of Texas. With an excellent retirement plan, Chuck is cruising on to his next phase of life. He and Mary love traveling by car and are plotting out future road trips.

I felt so honored to hear his supervisors and friends all praise him so highly.

Here are a few photos

Mother - Callie Bloomberg - A trip to Texas

I almost didn't even apply for the job in Germany knowing that my Mother is 88 years old and had been having increased medical difficulties since her diagnosis with CML (Chronic Myloid Leukemia) about 3 years ago. The medical treatment for this disease has proven a delicate balance between benefits of the treatment and side effects. Yet, I did apply for the position and when I finally told her about it, her response was "Nancy, that is wonderful, you and Craig would have so much fun." Her pure attitude of support was so convincing that I took the job and moved to Germany, all the while knowing her health was a delicate balance. Well, the balance is now tipping toward the decline. Following a week of increased inability to even stand, mother checked herself into Eastman Estates, Assisted Living Facility in Longview, Texas. She did move in great style having my sister, Margaret, run her around and purchased new furniture for the big move. So on 15 November, she moved into assisted living. That was going well until she required hospitalization 2 weeks later. At this point Craig and I made arrangements and flew back to Longview. We arrived there on 2 December and she had been discharged from the hospital and was back at Eastman Estates. The doctors reports have not been good, yet her spirit and drive continues. Following medication adjustments and physical and occupational therapy she was making good progress. Anyway Craig and I enjoyed almost 3 weeks in Texas with numerous hours helping Margaret out with Mother. As she continued to make progress and stabilize we made plans to return to Germany on 21 December. We returned to Germany and while we were not yet recovered from jet lag, mother was again hospitalized on the 23rd with uncontrolled blood pressure and now a diagnosis of CHF. She has continued to have a great spirit and Margaret has provided a home cooked Christmas dinner delivered at the hospital. The plan is for a hospital discharge in the next day or so to receive therapy at a Skilled Nursing Facility with a hopeful return to her new home at Eastman Estates. The medical reports are not good, yet we know her life is in the Lords hands.

I just want to say Mother has been the best Mother in so many ways. She has been a dedicated Christian all her life and together with Dad they made a Christian home that was truly lived. They helped so many people over the years. Mother loved entertaining in her home. She loved cooking for a crowd and playing bridge or other games after the meal! She has been a friend to so many and yet last week I sat in her room addressing her Christmas Cards to so many of these friends, some new and some lifelong.

Here are a few photos from our recent trip to Texas. Timothy came down and visited for 2 days, bringing his girlfriend, Milenda to meet us and to meet his grandmother. We all enjoyed his visit. My neice, Callie Jackson came from Memphis and helped Margaret get ready for Christmas and then came again with her husband, Raines and children Emily and Logan to celebrate Christmas early with Margaret and Mother.

Euro American Christian Family Retreat in Rothenburg

On Saturday November 20th we headed south our of Berlin to attend the Euro American Christian Family Retreat in Rothenburg. This has been an annual retreat in Germany for many years to provide an opportunity for English speaking Christians to learn and fellowship together in this beautiful setting. This year Reid Lancanster came from Oklahoma to lead the singing and teach us more about our legacy of 4 part harmony. The main speaker was Patrick Boyns of the British Bible School in Corby, UK. He provided outstanding lessons from Nehemiah. Also Dale and Vickie Hawley from Minnesota provided insights from her cancer history. All this provided a well balanced event. We enjoyed fellowship with Andreas and Janet Rineheart and also Andy Wheatley who worship with us in Berlin. We enjoyed their fellowship throughout the several days and delighted in meeting new Christians from around Germany and Europe. Actually those were present came from 15 countries! Events such as this continually prove to us the closeness we can feel with our fellow Christians wherever we are! It was a real time of spiritual renewal. We were able to take advantage of some free afternoon hours and supply our stock of American goods by a visit to the Commissary and Px at Illesheim. We also took a side trip to visit the Roman Museum and Historical site at Weissenburg. We were there from Saturday to Tuesday and experienced our first German snowfall. Enjoy the photos!