Lest I Forget

Nowadays, I will be doing some task and think, "This is the last time I will do this in Germany." The days are slowly dwindling on our European assignment. We must go back to our home country. The emotions involved are so contradictory that the whole family is struggling. Yesterday, we went to daily Mass (it was the next to last time for that), and after returning home, I was so tired out that I didn't have it in me to do any schooling, and I thought, "Let them just relax and play." They are just as unsettled as their mama apparently, for chaos and arguing quickly filled our echoing, empty house. As soon as dinner was done, we headed for the bowling alley to release some stress. It worked. Tears turned into hugs and laughing (the chocolate chip cookies might have helped too). The previous day we went on a field trip (another 'last') that a friend so graciously set up for our family. We learned how brass instruments are made. Most of us were spellboun...

On one of the first truly spring days, we joined our Catholic Homeschool group on a field trip to the Wildpark in Potzburg. Being my introverted self, I was nervous about going. But I am so glad that I got myself and the kids there because it was a fabulous day! We started with a hike that was at least 2 1/2 miles. It was invigorating, and as I was huffing and puffing that last bit, I realized I have been like a hibernating bear through the winter. I have been very sedentary these past months. Then we saw the animals! Did you ever see the original Disney's "Jungle Book"? The scene with the buzzards trying to decide what to do, shrugging their shoulders, saying "I don't know. What do you want to do?" Buzzards walk just like that! Imagine! Then came the part that my kids will not soon forget. They got to actually let falcons fly up and land on their arm! Owls too. Oh, what a joy watching their faces. Me, I am not so brave, and I must admit I was a little...

One of the first poems Jack studied this year is "The Children's Hour" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. We came to the following stanza: They almost devour me with kisses, Their arms about me entwine, Till I think of the Bishop of Bingen In his Mouse Tower on the Rhine. We had to look up this reference because we live close to Bingen and well, a Mouse Tower just sounds interesting. After reading about it, we knew we wanted to go see it for ourselves. Imagine our surprise to discover that it is only a few hundred yards away from the museum where we learned about St. Hildegard of Bingen last year! The weather was cold and windy and we could not access the castle or the tower from where we were. We will have to revisit this site again when the weather is more agreeable. We actually started our day in Mainz, which is about 25 minutes away from Bingen. We went to the Gutenberg Museum. We paid the entrance fee, and the clerk told us that there was a live demonstration ...