We Miss Libraries!

Doha does not have any public libraries. If there are any, we haven't found them yet. The only library we have access to is the ASD school library. It is okay, but last week Abbey had a bad experience with an impatient librarian there, so she hasn't wanted to go back or even read the book she checked out. So, on Thursday after school, I took the time to take her back and help her find a book in the reading level the Reading Nazis demand she choose from. It helped her overall attitude, but when we got home that day Abbey said, "I miss our home library."

She's right, there is a big hole in our lives without our weekly trip to the public library where we can check out ANYTHING we want to, even a book that might be out of someone's reading level. I think libraries are about CHOICE and OPTIONS. I also think they are about tangible items that can be held, carressed, leafed through, dog-eared, misplaced, found again with joy, or abandoned out of sheer boredom. The internet or digital books just don't offer all those tactile opportunitites for interaction. Reading is about an experience and connection to a book, and libraries offer an infinite number of amazing book relationships.

I came across this quote and thought it was worth sharing. Here is your smile for the day: Daniel Handler said, "A library is like an island in the middle of a vast sea of ignorance, particulary if the library is very tall and the surrounding area has been flooded."

Ladies' Day Out

We had some special visitors for our stake conference this weekend. See if you can guess who they were from these photos. Last night was our stake conference meeting and it was WONDERFUL! We received a special apostolic blessing from our inspired Elder Holland. It is such a remarkable feeling to hear from an apostle of the Lord that the brethern know who we are and haven't forgotten about the saints in this faraway part of the world.

Today the Relief Society sisters got to go out on the town to show Sister Holland and Sister Caussee Souq Waqiff (try and say that three times fast!). What a fun day! As you can see, the ladies had a complete Doha experience.

We are so blessed, so happy to finally have an apostle visit our little Qatar, and the shopping trip was an extra special bonus. Elder Caussee is the first French general authority, and he serves in the European area presidency. His wife is so sweet, and Sister Holland is as dear in person as she is from the pulpit. Last night Abbey got hugged three times by Sister Holland (one of those hugs being sandwiched between me and Sister Holland) and once by Elder Holland. She said she will remember this the rest of her life. So will I!

Alles Gute im Deutschland!

We got back from Germany late last night. It was a trip of a lifetime. There aren't enough words to express all the experiences, emotion, and enjoyment of this adventure. As I walked down the streets of Berlin and looked at the faces of certain people, whether is was imagined or real, I felt some strange DNA recognition. I felt like I was among MY people. That might be a little far fetched, but I could feel a connection with the pricks of my German heritage coming more fully into focus.

Berlin is a beautiful, historic city with magnificently detailed architecture and friendly people. The food was divine. What a delight it was to eat! A German bakery is a thing to behold, almost a holy experience. I'm sad I forgot to take a picture of all the delicacies! I now know why one of my dad's favorite places to take us on our Saturdays with him was the German bakery in SLC. Also, I think Brett got his fill of bockwurst for quite awhile. The hotel we stayed at was elegant, and even though our luggage told the people there that we were a bit out of our league, they were gracious anyway. We now know first hand why the word "ritzy" has its roots in the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

My trip to Castrop-Rauxel and Herne was emotional and quick, but so worth the six hours on the train. My cousin Gudrun was such a wonderful hostess and helped me walk the streets where my dad grew up. She took me to the house where he was born. She indulged all my picture taking and even helped me recreate a photo from my dad's childhood where he is standing underneath the window of his apartment building. I met my Uncle Walter for the first time and enjoyed visiting with him, Aunt Trude, and my cousin Gerd even though my German is terrible and they speak little or no English. Uncle Walter proudly showed me a wall of old black and white photos that included ones of him working in the local mine, riding a motorcycle, and posing for the camera in his best outfit. With a big smile he stood proudly at his gate when it was time for me to leave. He posed for a picture and then waved good-bye to me until we were out of sight - just like my dad always did. It touched me deeply and I couldn't explain my tears to Gudrun. As night came and I found myself riding the train back to Berlin, it finally sunk in, what my dad had done when he immigrated to Canada from Germany at the age of 18. He changed the course of not only his life forever, but mine too.

The old and new history that Brett and I were able to visit was overwhelming. We walked the bricks in the road that still preserve the line where the Berlin Wall once stood. We even bought a piece of it to bring home with us. We marveled at the people getting their photos taken at Checkpoint Charlie, remembering how many people were trapped in East Berlin, some dying for freedom. We walked the square at the Brandenburg Gate where Hitler watched his glorious troops march in parade around the Victory Column where the Gilded Goddess of Victory (Golden Else) stands vigil, and also where President Obama spoke as "a citizen of the world" last July. We walked through cement blocks in the Monument to the Murdered European Jews that splays out on the block across the street from the new American Embassy. We traveled to Potsdam and saw the beautiful palaces of the Prussian King Frederick the Great. Then, as icing on the cake, we visited the Freiberg Temple in what was once East Germany and walked into that beautiful, miraculous building that was built BEFORE Mr. Gorbachev tore down that wall.

As a teenager I remember being almost embarrassed that my dad had a German accent, that I had a German last name, and that my family was not the imagined typical American family. Of course, I was young and so unaware of what my German heritage meant and what it embodied. My pilgrimage to Germany brought new depth and understanding to what my father endowed me with. I hope somehow he forgives me now for not realizing, not knowing what it cost him to give me his name, because now I know even more how much my dad loves me.

The Brandenburg Gate

Schmeckt Gut!

The Victory Column with "Golden Else"
Here is a shot of me inside the maze of concrete blocks making up the Monument to the Murdered European Jews - odd name, huh.

My cousin Gudrun served me a delicious lunch of what she called "Oven Soup" that was made with chicken, cream, vegetables, peaches, and other things she didn't know the English words for.

My Uncle Walter, Aunt Trude, and cousin Gerd

My Uncle Walter proudly showing me some of his history wall

Auf Wiedersehen Onkel Walter!

Here I stand in front of the house where my dad was born - Herne, Germany

Here Brett is standing in front of a piece of the Berlin Wall - this is a monument across the street from our hotel.

Here Brett is standing on the brick line that runs through the street, marking the place where the Berlin Wall once stood.

I spent a lot of time waiting for trains. I had never ridden on a train before this trip. Potsdamer Platz is the area of Berlin where we stayed.

This is the Prussian King Frederick the Great's summer palace called Sanssouci in Potsdam. The name is French for "without cares." Oh how I wish Brett's conference had been during the summer months! The snow was terrible for sightseeing, but brought all my stereotypical dreams of Germany to life. On the train I felt like I was in a scene from Dr. Zhivago - yes, it was that cold.

Here is one of the happy accidents from the trip. At Potsdam, as we were making our way around the large parks by the palaces, we walked into the Church of Peace and found a replica of the Christus in its inner courtyard. The original one is in Copenhagen, but this one was included in the construction of the church in the mid 19th century. It was beautiful.

All over the Potsdam buildings we saw winged cherubs - fat naked babies with wings. I guess they were very popular with the Rocco style. All we could think about though when we saw them was our chubby baby grandson Kimball - but he is waaaaaay cuter!

Our last full day in Germany was spent in the Freiberg temple. Freiberg is a small town nestled in the mountains near Dresden in what used to be East Germany. Our experience in the temple was remarkable and so humbling to be among German saints - who didn't speak English, by the way. It was very interesting trying to rent temple clothes using sign language and my VERY terrible German. We met the temple president and his wife. President Monson called him to be the first stake president there in Freiberg 25 years ago, then he became the first mission president, and now he is the temple president.

Can you see the fatigue setting in on Brett's face? Six hours on a train or waiting for one will do that.

Here is one last shot from the day we left Berlin. This is the only standing part of the wall and it is near the Check Point Charlie guard house. It is quite ironic that there is a wall around the old Berlin Wall protecting it from souvenir hunters.

So there you have a short synopsis of our adventures in Germany. I wish you all a similar trip at least once in your life. What a blessing!

Wedding Bells!

Congratulations goes out to my brother Randy and his new bride Jane! They were married yesterday in New Mexico. I wish them all the wonderful blessings a marriage will bring.

I was lucky enough to meet Janie in Utah at my dad's funeral in December, so I got a glimpse of her sweet personality and devotion to my brother. Brett and I look forward to getting to know her better. Our Abbey really wants to meet Janie and get to know her as well. She and Uncle Randy have this special connection. In her prayers most nights she prays for Uncle Randy and forgets the rest of us. When I told Abbey about Uncle Randy's new girlfriend and the possibility they might get married, she had a look of concern on her face. After I showed her this picture I took of Randy and Janie at the funeral though, she looked relieved as she said, "Oh, she looks nice." So Janie, you passed the Abbey test so far. Keep up the good work!

If you want to read all about Randy and Janie's romance you can help them win a trip to Hawaii and New York on Classmates.com. Just go to the Classmates.com web page, click on love stories after you register, and vote for Randy Drawe. You can also go to the Regis and Kelly website and vote for them there (two different voting situations). There might be some annoying free registrations that you have to go through, but it is worth the hassle to read this love story.

I think this renaissance in my brother's life is a good thing, and I, along with Abbey, pray for him and for Janie that their lives together will be blessed with peace, joy, and strength. We love you guys!

Afternoon Tea at the Park

We spent the afternoon at the park. ASD had no school today, so Abbey, Felicity, and I packed up a picnic "tea", as Felicity called it (because it was after 3 PM), and we met Brett and Jesse at Doha's most spectacular park. The frizbee came along too, so Brett ended up with a sore back from all the showing off. Abbey and Felicity had a roll down the hill, we had cucumber sandwiches - yes, being British, Felicity couldn't help herself, and we took some interesting photos (some I shouldn't have taken, right Fliss?). Here are a few shots of our day. By the way, the tower in the background is called Aspire, and it was built for the Asian Games in 2007.

Check out Felicity's Prada sunglasses she got for her birthday. She is a real Qatari now.

Yeah For Abbey!

I just want to give a shout out to our Abigail. She received this STAR STUDENT award at school last week. It is for excellent work in writing, reading, math, and citizenship. She pretty much ROCKS! Thanks for working so hard Abbey!