Greetings from Germany

Dear friends,

We are arrived in Germany! What a way to arrive though. The morning of our departure, I carried Peter down to the hotel lobby for breakfast. I did not even get to pour my coffee and he threw up right there, in front of all the poor people trying to enjoy their breakfast. He and I made a hasty exit back to the room to get cleaned up, all the while my brain is thinking, "We have to get on a plane today!" Thirty minutes later let me know that this was not a one time deal. Thirty minutes later brought the realization that we were in for a long day. We found a urgent care center that was kind enough to prescribe some anti-nausea medicine for not only Peter but some extra "just in case". We loaded up the van and headed toward the airport. On the way there, I looked over at Tony and knew. He was sick too. He somehow managed to get all of our belongings into the airport before succumbing to the illness. We got on the plane, got to our seats, and took off. The girls and Peter were with me and Tony and Jack were behind us, sleeping. The girls were keyed up and watched the movie. Just as they finally drifted off to sleep, I heard it. Jack was the next one. All night, on the plane. Anna and I did eventually get the bug too, but at least we did not have to go anywhere!

We got settled into our hotel, which is more like an apartment. After six days here, Tony passed the German driver's test and we have our van, which means we no longer have to depend on the kindness of other band members to take us where we need to go.  I will take the test this coming week.

House hunting has been our latest task. There is no available housing on base, so we will be living in a German village. They are so quaint. No cookie-cutter houses here. No sir. There have been some very interesting features to say the least. Hopefully we will be moved into a house by the beginning of March.

I have no pictures to share because I still do not have our things! I am using an old laptop and my phone does not work over here. The landscape is so pretty. Lots of rolling hills and small, tree-covered mountains, with villages tucked in here and there between lots of farmland.

Yesterday was the best day so far. Some Army friends from Georgia have been over here for several years. They are about two hours from us, but they made the drive and spent the day with us! I tell you, after they left, I sat down and realized what is important. Good friends, simple times, and good beer. Yep. You don't need much more than that.