Catch up

I have a bit to catch up from last week. Last week Günter took his niece and nephew hiking and another day to roman ruins and a cave nearby. On Thursday he took them and Niki to a Science Center called Ferrodrom where there are some things they can experiment with.

They had a slide that Niki loved.

Friday they took the train back to Bavaria. Overall they were alot better than I thought. I actually thought the boy would be complaining of being bored (since he usually does at all family gatherings) but he was surprising with his helpfulness and cooperativeness. The gilr (12 years old) whom I thought would play with the kids and help out more didn't. She didn't bring a brush (and when she did brush she let her long hair go all over the floors in the house and didn't pick it up.) Both kids had to be told to take a shower and Günter had to tell them after the first day that this wasn't a hotel and they could clear their plates from the table and load it in the dishwasher. They loved to play with Niklas but sadly they were rejecting of Jenna. I think they didn't understand that she has poor control of her muscles and would bump into them and they took it as being aggressive and didn't want her around--even though I tried to explain Jenna.

It was disapointing that their parents asked us (we didn't offer to take the kids) and they didn't send any extra money for entrance fees or even offer (we would have probably turned it down, but it would be nice if they had offered) and Günter took off 4 days of work. The parents never called to thank us or tell us the kids arrived safely back home. Finally the 2nd day they were gone I had Günter call and his sister did thank us but I wonder if she would have if he hadn't called. We decided if they ask again we will simply tell them no.

I have always been good at telling people my appreciation for their kindness but this helped me to feel what Heavenly Father must feel when we don't express gratitude for all the ways he blesses us (that we take for granite).

On Saturday we took the kids to a park in Kaiserslautern. Niki loved this round-about and would fling himself into papa's arms form it!

This is a unique slide that you have to help them get up but both loved sliding down.

Monday we had some guests over for dinner and yesterday I took Niki to his new music together class--the same one I had both kids in during the spring. Niki was happy to be back but once again he got all wound up and was not participating but running around the room acting silly. Afterwards I took him to the urologist. One of his testicals has not descended and since he was not circumcised (at Günter's insistance) we have found the foreskin has not been retracting like it should, so the doctor took a look at these things. He perscribed a very expensive nose spray (hormone based) that must be given 3x day to help the testical to descend and a cream be applied to the p*nis to help the foreskin to retract. Niki hates both, so we will see if we can be successful with it. It told Günter if it doesn't work then he gets circumcised!

Yesterday I had that TOPS group where I stepped down. After the meeting I went with the co-leader (whom agreed to be leader) to go over everything. I felt free to talk since I was done with the whole thing. The amazing thing was that we really cleared up some misunderstandings both of us had of the other and some things that happened. We both came to wrong conclusions and didn't want a confrontation so we just went along but didn't have a good relationship. Goes to show that being vulnerable and open really does relieve burdens and it didn't turn out badly at all! In fact, it was just the opposite. I ended up telling her why I was quitting because of all the problems and lack of support (and this was vollunteer so I don't think I need to take so much stress without being compensated). In the end she agreed with me on most everything and she hopes that I won't leave if she can help to work out some of the stressful issues. I felt this huge burden come off my shoulder. I really don't want to quit but want the stress to be much less. If that can happen I think I can stay.

So that is the update on things.

Posted by Krista at September 12, 2007 07:21 AM