Start of my Weekend

Today after my morning shift, instead of going home to eat or nap like I usually do, I went to the ocean for a swim. The water felt cold and refreshing!

My sister Melissa and our cousin Gabi

Jessica left for college today

I will miss her...

Chicken and dumplings at Dawna and Dave's tonight! They are the most hospitable newlyweds I know!

Letter from Sara

I got another letter from Springfield, an ultra-conservative Mennonite colony in Belize. In my last letter I had told Sara that I was dating a guy who wants to be a long-term missionary in Africa. Now she writes: "How far is Africa? Will you marry him? Will you abandon the children you work with? Will you leave everyone and follow him? How old is he? How did you meet him? I received your letter with joy, but it was much too short. Make your letter long."

In other words, she wants details! Ultra-conservative or not, a girl is still a girl. We want details!

Their church is going through a reform: They are starting to pray out loud. From what I understand of her letter, traditionally only the father did that at home.

Mom and Dad in Minneapolis celebrating Dad's new PhD













Dad's checking his mail before he's even in the house. So typical him!

Mien Oopa wud futz tachentijch
En hee bädet emmanoch fe mijch
Wan hee bäd sajcht hee Gottes Wäd
Toom Biespel hee tjant ütwendijch de Städ
In Hebräa Kapitel tien, fiefendartijch
"Schmiet jün Fetrühe nich wajch" - Ne, doo daut nijch!
Soon Krauft jeft mien Oopa mie
Wiels de Bibel haft hee en sien Hoat dijcht bie

b day

Earlier this afternoon, before my friends came over, our toilets were suddenly all plugged. Normally Dad would take care of that, but he's in Kazakhstan. (They are starting a Christian radio station there!) So Mom and Melissa rented a snake, which Chris (Elona's boyfriend) then used to clean out the pipe. I came to watch, and when Chris looked up and saw what I was wearing, he said, "That's my shirt!" Oops. Elona gave it to me!






We had baguettes with olive oil and balsamic vinegar dip (Gabi's recipe), sheep cheese, olives, fresh basil, cucumbers and tomatoes from our garden. And Mom made two Germans cakes - one with cranberries - SO good!