Deuteronomy 6:5-7 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise.
Our first full day back in Schonebeck was relatively peaceful. In many ways it was just like every other day we spent the previous summer. We awoke, ate a light breakfast, and then headed out for errands. We decided today that we should make our way to Magdeburg to find some summer clothes for Luci and Anjali who were down to minimal options to say the least. We also thought we might make our way to the Dom de Magdeburg, the church in the city center, to see if we could get a better picture in the sunlight (our first photo occurred during a deluge).
While shopping went well we encountered some challenges during lunch. This was brought about in large part because of me. David has been excelling in Tae Kwon Do but Sara and I both believe that it is important for kids to branch out into other areas which would include team activities. Anjali had brought up her desire to get back to swim team and David remarked that he no longer wanted to be on the team. I casually remarked that he was fine to not be on swim team but that at some time he would need to join a team sport. What ensued could best be described as torture. He became frustrated and angry at the idea and threatened that he wouldn’t do anything at all which caused me to get fired up and threaten to force him. Needless to say this did not make for the best lunch and the walk to the church and subsequent photo were not ideal.
We got through it all with some open and honest communication and in the end, as it often does, time heals all. We made our way back to the train station and headed back to Schonebeck. The kids have always enjoyed riding the trains and this time was no different. We arrived in one piece and then decided to go get some gelato in the main square. The kids had made friends with the women who ran the shop and the ladies were very surprised and happy to see us back again. One of them literally did a double take on seeing us.
Later this evening we met up with friends for a nice meal and some conversation. These were never in short supply in Germany and we were thankful as always for it. Sara and I remarked to one another on the drive home how much we appreciated this year of giving and receiving. We truly owe God the greatest debt of gratitude.
Sara's Daily Scripture and Journal 