Düsseldorf Visit

Guten Tag!

I have found myself having time today to put an entry in, so I'm taking this opportunity! Kim has a birthday party today, and I just dropped him off (YAY!!) haha so its a bit easier just with Dominic. Kim is just so hyper sometimes so its nice to have him gone for a few hours.

So what have I been up to lately? Well, I just got back from visiting my boyfriend Florian in Düsseldorf this weekend. I had a GREAT time there. The first whole day (friday) we went downtown to do some shopping for some shoes I needed for my dress. Him and I went to a classical concert that night so I had bought a nice dress to go in. I am pretty proud of Flo because he is more than happy to come along and give his opinion and just help me out in general. :D He never complains actually when he comes with me. He may make a joke or two about "women and shopping" but its all in fun! :) I think he is the first guy that really appreciates shopping with his girl. Ha but maybe as he reads this he may just shake his head. lol Either way, even if he did hate going around to the different shops, I'm grateful he came and didn't complain to me. :D I ended up getting some really nice black shoes.

Now, I know that he prob wouldn't brag about this because I know it was straight from his heart, but I just wanted to tell you about this experience we had because I am SO proud of him. :D :D First let me tell you a little history first.

So in Düsseldorf, they have this system for homeless people, where they go to this local place to buy a stack of newspapers for cheap, then they go out on the street and sell them and whatever money they make from selling the newspapers they get to keep! Its actually nice because they work for the money they earn. :) Well, the first visit I was on in Düsseldorf Flo and I walked up to one of these guys and bought a newspaper. Flo then told me that he can never pass one of those guys by without buying a newspaper and told me how it worked.

Ok: so this last visit on friday we happened to pass by one of these guys again, where Flo got his money out and paid for a newspaper like usual, yet just as we started to walk away, Flo turned around and invited the guy for lunch with us!! I was in shock but so happy that Flo did that! We got to know the guy and found that this guy had been on the street for 8 years because nobody would hire him for a job because he had been out for so long. (there was prob more reasons but they were speaking german the whole time and I didnt quite catch everything..) Anyway, I was SO proud of Flo for being such a great example of what its like to be Christlike. The guy was pretty shocked too! :D

That night we went to this concert, and the place we went was REALLY impressive!! Here is a picture of the place we went to:

That is what it looks like inside!! Flo and I sat on the very bottom floor and it was really really nice. There was a half asian/half german girl who was only 20 or 21 years old playing piano with the Düsseldorf orchestra. It was really nice (and she had an AMAZING red dress on as a side note..).


The next morning Flo and I went to the ward house to play basketball! :D I haven't really played in at least a year!! It was fun, he won *cough cough I let him...cough cough* haha ok ok...truth is he is a pretty good player and I was sooo rusty! :) Well after him and I finished our game of one on one, a couple guys from the ward joined in and Flo and I were on a team and we lost but not by far, we both were really tired from before. :) Needless to say, I am actually pretty sore today from it. :D


Well, we wanted to go to Cologne that day afterwards but we didn't end up going because we waited to hear from his friend but it didn't work out. We have planned to go for the past 2 times I have been but haven't gone yet, however we WILL go next time I am up there :D Another thing we will do when I am up there is get pictures of us together! :) I keep forgetting I have my camera until the very second I'm about to leave to come home. lol


Well I will post a few pics of what Düsseldorf looks like (from the internet) so you can have an idea of where I am at. I should have some to come that are taken by me later on. :)

City at Night

This place is really cool: there is a restaraunt in the top of this building that looks over all of Düsseldorf. I would LOVE to go there someday!

Düsseldorf Airport

Hey All!

*Just a quick entry*

As usual there isn't too much new going on. lol well other than I might be coming to Utah in May for a week because ticket prices are pretty cheap right now. :D I have to look into my budget and figure that out. Other than that, I have been studying my scriptures quite a bit and started a new website called "Latter Day Insights" and I just basically write what I have studied on. It also explains alot about what "mormons" are.
Well as for other things, I have this huge desire to want to travel like crazy lately. I wanted to go to France this weekend but it wont work out with time, and then the next weekend I go up to Dusseldorf again. The next weekend after that is conference and I am not sure whats going on with that weekend, but I would really like to travel in April and May (now that its getting warmer!! :D)
I MIGHT go to Barcelona with a friend from high school who is living in france right now. I should really explore Zurich a bit more because if people come to visit I have no idea what to show them since I am pretty clueless myself.
I need to see a doctor about my neck because it seems to hurt slowly but surely more... so thats needing to be in the works. It just seems like everything is about money money money. :( I am not THAT wealthy...well someday I hope to not worry about money.
Oh I guess I could talk about how I go to a family home evening in an area of town about 40 min away by tram, but its well worth it for me. Its ALL in german and it helps sooo much. I am prob the youngest random person there besides the missionaries..but there are just couples including the stake president and his wife then two sets of missionaries a couple missionary and then some random people who are investigating the church. Its really a great missionary opportunity and I have REALLY been feeling the need to share the gospel lately. I think my time to start sharing is here. :D Well anyway, I have to get going and pick up kim from school and make lunch. :D I will write more later on.

I found this on the internet and really would like to share it:

"In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features except for the one wall covered with small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endless in either direction, had very different headings. As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read 'Girls I have liked.' I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one.. And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was.
This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn't match. A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching.
A file named 'Friends' was next to one marked 'Friends I have betrayed.'The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird, 'Books I Have Read,' 'Lies I Have Told,' 'Comfort I have Given,' 'Jokes I Have Laughed at .' Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: 'Things I've yelled at my brothers..' Others I couldn't laugh at: 'Things I Have Done in My Anger', 'Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents.' I never ceasedto be surprised by the contents.
Often there were many more cards than I expected. Sometimes fewerthan I hoped. I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I hadlived. Could it be possible that I had the time in my years to fill each ofthese thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature.
When I pulled out the file marked 'TV Shows I have watched', I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of shows, but more by the vast time I knew that file represented.
When I came to a file marked 'Lustful Thoughts,' I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content..
I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded. An almost animal rage broke on me. One thought dominated my mind: No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!' In insane frenzy I yanked the file out.. Its size didn't matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it.
Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh.
And then I saw it.. The title bore 'People I Have Shared the Gospel With.' The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand.
And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that they hurt.They started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key. But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him.
No, please, not Him. Not here.. Oh, anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own.
He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one? Finally, He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me.I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn't say a word. He just cried with me.
Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end ofthe room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card. 'No!' I shouted, rushing to Him. All I could find to say was 'No, no,' as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn't be on these cards. But, there it was, written in red, so rich, so dark, so alive. The nameof Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood. He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side.
He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, 'It is finished.' I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written.
'For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.'-John 3:16. 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. '-Phil. 4:13. "

Little things you learn from Little Ones..

Since I have been working with children non stop for basically the past 6 months here in Switzerland, I have decided to make a small list about the top 3 things I have learned so far.

1. You cannot rush children. That's right folks...I'm sorry to say that if you wait till 5 min before you have to leave..its not going to work, especially with children under the age of at LEAST 8. Almost EVERY single time, they remember at the LAST possible second they forgot something, or an unavoidable runny nose or lost sock or shoe has gone missing...or a diaper change if you are lucky. ;)

2.If you ask a child for help...you have to be VERY specific and put your question on repeat like your ipod...because you will be repeating the explanation about 10 times or more, and probably STILL have to do it yourself anyway in the end. :D

3. Watch your EVERY move because a child follows or repeats what you say when you least expect it and usually when you least want them to repeat it..

Update on Life

Hello Everyone :D I hope things are going well for everyone :D
I must give an update as I really havent said much on my personal life here in Switzerland on this new blog. First I had to recreate it because I am afraid I had some stalker ex-host parents trying to find me and get me in trouble for one reason or another. (they are crazy..) ANYWAY. :D :D
Where to start? I watch two boys, Kim and Dominic and they are so much fun to watch. Well of course when I am tired they can be a bit much but overall they are two sweet boys who are very smart! I mean smart! Kim especially is always explaining how things work and loves to watch science shows. :D
Anyway, Kim is 5 and is going to the local kindergarten down the street and I walk him home every day which can be a fun adventure. :) We are always make believing something or another. Yesterday we both had rockets and ran home (thats how fast the rockets were!!) ;) He is always full of energy and loves helicopters and anything to do with firemen. Its great! As for Dominic,he is almost 3 and is always full of personality. Always laughing and I just cant help but feel happy when he is around. :) He is quite a big boy for his age and I really feel will be an athlete at some point in his life. He is amazing with playing any game that has a ball in it. I really love this family, they are amazing. They are always fun to talk to and I really feel relaxed and like I live with a second family. MUCH different than the last. :D
Well, recently *and I hope he doesnt mind me writing about him.. :D ) I have met someone pretty special to me. :D His name is Florian and he lives in Dusseldorf, Germany. He is 23 and is studying Safety Engineering. He also works as a volunteer for the local fire dept. (I must admit I used to say I could never date or marry someone who works for the fire dept or police force....just because i would be nervous all the time for safety..) however!! I havent felt that nervousness at all..well until AFTER I hear the stories they have done.. ;) but I know the Lord is watching after him so I have no fear about it. Anyway, I will post more about him as time goes on :D I'm sure you will hear more about him. I know alot of you were wondering who this new man was in my life. :D ok now that I prob embarassed him a bit...haha (dont worry hon..its just friends and family. :D )
As for other things in my life I am really getting more serious about my german and needing to learn it. I have been here for 6 months now and I still cannot speak it so well. I am looking into night school here for german lessons. Also I have heard of a choir that tours around in germany and switzerland that is an LDS choir and am really thinking about joining. It would be for the weekends so we will see how much time is required for rehearsal, etc and then i will decide what to do with that.