Frohe Weihnachten

Even though we weren't able to physically be with family this Christmas, Daniel and I were able to Skype and/or FaceTime with so many of them on Christmas or soon thereafter. It wasn't the same & there were moments it was hard being separated by a screen more and than a few miles, BUT being able to see them and be a part of their day, even through an iPad screen was somehow meaningful. AND, at the end of the day, Daniel & I were together.

Merry Christmas from the Langstons.



Daniel & I enjoyed a quiet morning together, exchanged gifts & consumed Daniel's delicious sausage gravy and biscuits. Have to thank my father-in-law for the recipe on this one.

Later in the afternoon our neighbors joined us for a full fledged turkey dinner. I successfully cooked my first Christmas turkey AND had waayy too much fun with all the fixins to accompany the main attraction . . .we've been picking at the leftovers all weekend.

 

As we do not yet have a kitchen table or chairs, we were able to barrow a folding table and five metal chairs from Daniel's office. Folding metal chairs are far better than no chairs.

 

We finished our night with Skype "dates" with both families and a final Christmas movie, snuggled on the couch. The time difference worked in our favor this time around as we were able to "do our day" before most of our family & friends in the states were even awake.

Friday we got up and drove to Bamberg, Germany. A small town about three hours away, know for its half-timbered buildings, hills and narrow, cobblestone streets.

 

Bamberg's Old Bridge Town Hall. Legend has it that the citizens of Bamberg asked the bishop for land to build a town hall. The bishop would not grant such a request so the citizens rammed stakes into the river Regnitz to create an artificial "island", on which they eventually built the town hall you see pictured. 

 

 

 

St. Peter & St. George's Imperial Cathedral - 1012

 

 

"New Residence" in Cathedral Square

 

 Old Court

 

 

 

St. Michael's Monastery. Sadly, we couldn't go inside because of restoration work, but enjoyed walking around the outside, admiring the architecture and grounds just the same. 

 

 

Our final stop, Altenburg Castle.

 

 

Perched on top of Bamberg's highest hill, Altenburg Castle is one of Bamberg's major landmarks. You can't see it too well in the pictures, but at this point on our hike up the very steep hill, it started to flurry.

 

As the snow started to come down harder, we decided it was best to start the drive back. We stopped back in town for a quick bite to eat and hit the road.

 

Oh what a trip! What should have taken us an hour to drive, took us F O U R   H O U R S. That's right, in 4 hours we had driven less than 120 klm. Between the weather & the traffic because of the heavy snow fall, what should have taken us just over 3 hours to get home took us right at 8 hours. Silver lining is that we were home and we were safe. Daniel deserves some kind of award after a drive like that. Thanks for keeping us safe baby!

 

Tomorrow is back to the grind for Daniel. For me, un-Christmas-ing the house?  . . Otherwise known as packing up the Christmas directions and taking the lights off the tree.  

 

Christmas in Germany

To be completely honest, these last few weeks leading up to Christmas have been filled with a mix of emotions. For anyone who knows me, you know that I love ALL THINGS CHRISTMAS. It's literally my favorite time of the year. The trees, the lights, the brown paper packages tied up with string. The peppermint candles, the smell of wood burning fire places as you drive through the neighborhood, the Christmas songs in church, Michael Buble on repeat, White Christmas on TV, cookie exchanges , Christmas Markets - the whole lot. It's the most wonderful time of the year.

This year is proving to be a little different. Even though I'm an "adult" now, this is the first year I will be away from home for Christmas. Even typing that is hard. Throughout collage and our first two years of marriage, we always managed to find our way home for the holidays. Germany is a little far for that this year. I am really missing family and friends.

Realizing I won't be seeing my sweet nieces and lively little nephews on Christmas morning, that I won't be waking up to Mom's breakfast casserole, that I won't be able to barrow any of my sisters' clothes to complete my Christmas ensemble, that I won't  get to hear my father read the Christmas story are all hard things to digest.

Before you feel sorry for me, or roll your eyes with a, "Poor you! Living in Europe, traveling all over the place." It's not all bad. Christmas in Germany has been a spectacular thing to experience. The Markets, the music, the lights, the glühwein. The Germans know how to do Christmas. And, I am learning all over again what it means to know that the Lord is near. In church on Sunday we talked about peace. A message my heart was eager to hear. The Holy Spirit was alive, comforting and convicting. God is faithful, of that I am certain. He is faithful to give me a husband to hold me. He's faithful to give me family that constantly reminds me I am loved and missed. He is faithful to provide a job. He is faithful.

Starting new traditions in our own little family has been fun too. Since it randomly happened two years in a row, we've casually decided that it will now become a Langston Family Tradition to make chili the night we decorate our tree. Two weeks ago for my "birthday weekend" Daniel and I went and picked out our perfect tree. After a quick stop off to pick up the missing ingredients, Daniel whipped up a batch of chili and I added some corn muffins. Let me tell you, my man can cook some chili.

 Daniel's unit's Christmas Party also feel on birthday weekend.

 

Another birthday weekend event - the Saarbrücken Christmas Market.

My birthday cake dessert.

 

At 7 PM, "Father Christmas" flies across the town center and tells the story of Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. Even though it was in German and then in French and we couldn't understand any of it, it was still something magical to experience.

The following weekend {last weekend} Daniel and I rode with the Coopers to Deidesheim for their Christmas Market. It was so fun to get out with friends and walk around, sip on some glühwein and explore the many handmade treasures.

 

On our way back to the car, we purchased some tasty candied nuts. They were gone within five minutes of walking in the door.

Another fun thing I've gotten W A Y   T O O   E M O T I O N A L about is our Christmas cards. Cards I ordered weeks ago that are now lost, somewhere in the state of New Jersey. After "fighting" with Snapfish for three days in a row, it seems there is nothing they can do but resend the order and have it arrive December 24th. The poor employee that had to listen to me cry as I gave the sob story about being overseas and wanting to send Christmas cards home to friends and family. Bless his soul. I did manage to pull it together and apologize by the end, but I'm sure I wasn't the merriest of customers to encounter. So if your Christmas card from the Langston's arrives a week or two AFTER Christmas, now you know why.

In other news, I am going through in-processing at one of the elementary schools here to substitute teach. The hope is that by the time Christmas Break I over, I will be in the system and able to start working the first or second week of January. Patience. A virtue I am constantly re-learning.

Daniel and I plan to stick around here for Christmas day. We both decided that it was important to us to wake up in our home on Christmas. We're going to enjoy a nice Christmas lunch with the Coopers and then hopefully Skype with family later in the day. Friday we might venture out to do some more sightseeing. TBD.

Hoping you experience the joy & peace of the Lord this Christmas season & always.

Ireland Part II

After spending the better part of the day exploring Killarney National Park, it was time to head to Dingle. Our B&B in Dingle was our favorite - "The Quayside B&B". Formerly a barn, the bed and breakfast occupies the entire second floor, while three businesses (a toy shop, a small market and another shop that is escaping me at the moment ...a coffee shop maybe? ) share the downstairs with the B&B.

 

Like our other stays, we woke up to a traditional Irish breakfast, complete with some of the strongest coffee I have ever had. Morris, one of the owners and our talented cook joined us mid-way through our meal. After asking us where we were from, our plans for the rest of our holiday and inquiring as to Daniel's Irish heritage, Morris proceeded to share several stories from his childhood as a young lad growing up in Ireland.

 

 

This breakfast was by far my favorite. The food was good, don't get me wrong, but the conversation is really what made the morning so memorable.

After checking out of our B&B we decided to wonder around the charming town of Dingle before heading towards Slea Head for our scenic drive.

If this building doesn't scream, "I belong in Ireland" I don't know what would.

 

 

THIS building is  1. A Bar  2. A Hardware Store AND 3. A bike rental store.
ALL - three - in - one.

Across the street from our B&B.

 

Time to head towards the Dingle Peninsula to do the Slea Head Drive. 

 

S L E A   H E A D   D R I V E

Shout out to our tiny little car for helping us navigate the NARROW and extremely WINDY roads.

Daniel found this sign quite comical.

Our attempt at a selfie thwarted by the wind & the zoom on our camera.

 

All along the way there were perfect little places to pull our car over to get out & explore, and of course take pictures and climb on large stone walls surrounded by sheep - the usual stuff.

 

The entire drive is about 30 miles.

 

If you're ever in Dingle, Slea Head is a MUST SEE!

 

From Dingle we headed towards Ennis - no particular reason we picked Ennis other than it seemed like a good mid-way point to make our way towards the Cliffs of Moher first thing Saturday morning. We wanted to beat out all the tour buses that roll in early afternoon-ish.

 

T H E   C L I F F S  O F   M O H E R

 

Although it was the cloudiest day of our entire trip, the views were still unbeatable.

 

 

 

O' Brien Tower

 

Paying 2 euro a person, you're able to climb all the way to the top of the tower.

 

The view from atop the tower.

 

{Thankful for the sweet couple who offered to take our picture

in exchange for us returning the favor!}

 

 

If you squint, you can see O' Brien Tower all the way back, to the left.

 

Despite the mud and foggy-ness, we walked all the way to the tower and all the way around the other side. With views like these, how could you not?! Our boots still have mud on them.

 

After spending several hours at the Cliffs it was time to find some food!

 

Heading back towards the airport in Kerry for our flight out the next morning, we made our final stop in Co. Clare.

 

But first, food!

 

"Durty Nelly's Pub"

And of course some shopping at the wool factory. ...I believe if I didn't loose count this had to have been the 9th "woolen factory" type store we went into on our trip.

 

 

The last stop before our final B&B and flight back to Germany -- Bunratty Castle.

{Can you see Durty Nelly's to the right?} 

 

From here two very tried tourists headed straight for our B&B. We were the only guests staying at this particular B&B so, after getting the pick of the rooms, we unpacked and took the owners advice and headed to another local pub to grab a bite to eat and catch some live music.

 

Sunday morning, after a two hour delay in the Kerry Airport we headed home.

 

 

My apologizes if this post took F-O-R-E-V-E-R to load because of ALL the pictures.