Meal for the Homeless

One of our church's missions projects is organizing meals for the homeless in Frankfurt on the third Sunday of every month. This weekend it was our small group's turn. We partnered with another small group from our church to do this. Our group was in charge of making a meal, while the other group would serve the meal and worship with the homeless on Sunday evening.

Friday morning, Rachel and I went grocery shopping. We were making Shepherd's Pie for about 80 people, so I had my list with approximate quantities of each ingredient. We were able to fit everything into one cart at Aldi's. Fortunately, no one questioned why we were buying 16 packages of ground beef, 20 boxes of instant potatoes, etc.. We also gathered up a few flat boxes for transporting the meal and dessert safely. We lucked out with Aldi's stocking enough quantities of our ingredients and had to make just one more stop for the frozen vegetables because Aldi's only had one bag.

Once Rachel's station wagon was filled with the food and extra boxes, we made our way to the Kopp's house. Our big cooler was very useful for the meat and vegetables to stay in overnight as none of our house refrigerators had enough space. I left Katerina the recipe with the breakdown of quantities for each large pan incase some people arrived before I got there.

When we arrived Saturday morning, the smell of onions in the house was overwhelming. The assembly line for the meal had already begun in the kitchen. The stove was covered with pans and the various ingredients were scattered on the kitchen island.

Each family made a dozen or so cupcakes and brought them for the dessert portion. The girls were excited when they saw all of the cupcakes on the table they were going to decorate. They immediately sat down and were given the task to decorate them after Hanna frosted them. Christopher sat across the table from the girls to frost and decorate.

With the construction of the first pan, we realized somewhere along the way, Rachel and I had figured out the wrong quantity of potato packages per pan. We adjusted the number of packages per pan and it worked out with the original planned amount of liquids. 

With our first pan complete, the assembly went smoothly and everyone had a job or two to do. Just once the gravy boiled over, but it was quickly cleaned up. 

We made our own Shepherd's Pie and added cheese in the potatoes. We stuck it in the oven to melt while we finished up our fourth and final pan. 

The time went quick with everyone working together to prepare the meal. It was a fun time for us and we enjoyed the social lunch afterwards. We are very thankful for all that God provides for us and grateful that we can help provide for others.

Our four pans and 108 cupcakes were safely delivered on Sunday evening.  They were greatly appreciated by all as there were no leftovers.

I figured out later how we ended up with so many potatoes. In the store, Rachel and I were determining the number of packages in each box required to make the correct potato portion per pan. The number of packages needed became the actual number of boxes we purchased. We ended up with two times the amount of packages needed, but they do not expire for a year, so we will use them for the next time we do this project.

Good Grief!

Late Thursday afternoon, Eric finally received the phone call  informing him the Frankfurt immigration office has issued him a work permit.  An appointment was quickly made for Friday morning in Hofheim to complete his permit.

Eric met a representative handling the permit along with the government employee. About 15 minutes later,  he was handed his completed work permit and told he was all set to start on March 1st. Startled since he was supposed to be able to start immediately, Eric pointed out the date was incorrect. Phone calls were quickly exchanged between the relocation office and the government offices and yet after a bit more waiting, the matter was cleared up. The Frankfurt office now had to issue a temporary working permit for the last few weeks in February. 

While waiting, he learned the one Frankfurt employee who processes the permits for the US is probably the worst government employees in Frankfurt as other country's permits are turned around in a few days, if not a few hours. 

An hour later, the fax arrived from the Frankfurt office to the Hofheim office for a temporary permit. The Hofheim office processed it quickly and Eric could officially now be employed.

Knowing the German government could possibly alter our future plans this past month was quite unsettling. With communication being so slim and the process taking longer than anyone anticipated, the   situation seemed to keep getting worse before it got better. Even though it was trying at times to be patient, we knew God would provide and protect us throughout this ordeal. We praise God for watching over us this entire time.

Looking back now, yes we would have done things different to minimize the waiting, but then again maybe it was God's plan for Eric to be home with us to partake in our daily routine and bond with more than just the dog. We are grateful it is over with and can move forward, but we will miss his presence during the week.

Chicken Noodle Soup week

The weekend was low key as the flu bug visited Emmie late Friday evening. We continued with our Star Wars movies to pass the time.

Monday afternoon was Adeline's last drum class. The class did a little performance for us. They started with the conga drum and then each took a turn sitting at the drum kit and hitting the the bass drum using the pedal. Adeline liked the class, but it is not her favorite instrument to play.

Adeline has three German tests scheduled throughout the week. Eric and her have been reciting her poem about cats, practicing her dictat (grammar and spelling words in a paragraph which her teacher will read aloud and she will write), and reviewing the information from her housepets topic they have been learning about. It has been great to have Eric at home because I have to ask our friends for assistance on for the correct pronunciation.

Emmie recovered in time for her Fasching party at the kindergarten on Tuesday. She was excited to get dressed up in her cat costume. Her teachers liked her costume which she designed. She stayed in her costume through the afternoon as her music class also celebrated Fasching with traditional music and singing of songs.

Eric learned in the afternoon that the one Frankfurt employee who handles all of the permits for the US has been out sick. This now explains why the progress status has not changed in over a week.The office is now instituting a quick action plan to handle all of the paperwork that has been piling up since this employee has been absent. He has been informed his will be given high priority as soon as they locate it.

Bandit has adjusted and is now exhibiting more energy and being more playful. He has the morning routine mastered. He will come and sit on our shoes till we put his leash on him so as not to be left behind. He is the star at both schools as the kids, parents, and teachers all like to pet him.

Late Wednesday, the flu bug hit Adeline. Thursday, she stayed home from school and missed her dictat. Fortunately, the extra sleep helped in her recovery.

Puppy Love

We are all in love with our new puppy, Bandit.  He has helped us get through the frigid temperatures and dreary days this past week.

Saturday night, our first night home with him, was going well until Emmie came in our room. She woke Bandit up when she came in asking for a drink of water. I managed to get Emmie back in bed and Bandit back in his cage and only lose about an hour worth of sleep. Bandit was an early riser on his first morning, but he was quiet enough so the girls could continue sleeping. However, they did not sleep in long as they were excited about playing with Bandit before church.

Eric dog sat Bandit while we went to church. When we came home, we found Eric sitting on the floor with Bandit  curled up in his lap.  Eric said when we left, he sat by the door and whined for a few minutes.

Bandit's presence has been a great help in getting the girls up and ready for school. They rise earlier and get ready quickly so they have time to play with him. The girls like Bandit to walk with them to school, so I have been doing it separately in the morning. On the way back, I have to carry him home because his paws start to hurt because it is so cold.

Eric took a trip to Ikea on Tuesday for organizing Bandit's stuff and to get floor pillows for us. When we first put them on the floor, Bandit immediately jumped on one and curled up on it. It is entertaining to watch Eric and Bandit duke it out for the pillow because as soon as Eric gets off, Bandit immediately is on it. Bandit now has his own pillow to lay on, but prefers sitting in our lap while we are sitting on the pillow.

Bandit has been a mellow easy going puppy and sometimes acts like a senior dog. Sometimes I forget he is still young and it is these few times he has marked his spot on the carpeting to remind me. He has discovered he can fit under the couch, so this has become one of his new places to lay his head.

We had a little snowfall on Thursday, so the girls were excited. It was not enough to play out it in, but it did bring smiles as they dragged their feet and hands through it. Bandit also had fun in the snow and would have stayed all morning out in it, if the temperatures were not in the single digits.

Thursday evening, Eric attended a farewell party in Munich. It was a nice evening dinner with his former company.

We are still waiting on Eric's work permit. He has been told the same line all week from the relocation lady, "It should be done any day, and if not, I will get an update in a day or two". Meanwhile, Eric and I are getting a partial taste of life after retirement with each day that passes by. 

Bandit

The short story is we went for a drive on a very chilly and sunny Saturday and came home with a dog.

Below is the long version.

Eric and I have been discussing the idea of getting another dog, a Labradoodle, after our summer trip to the US. Initially, we thought it would be great if we could pick out a puppy while we were in the US and bring it back with us on the plane. After speaking with a few Michigan breeders, most summer puppies would not be able to go home till September. This would be too late for the puppy to come back with us and I did not want to put a puppy in the cargo area. When we found this out, we started looking into our options of obtaining a dog here.

While searching for breeders in continental Europe, we discovered the Labradoodle is not a common breed here and the wait list can be up to two years for a specific type. Our other option was to find a breeder in the UK as they are more common there; however, we would have to find the travel time to pick up the dog and bring the dog back to Germany with the proper paperwork.

Surfing the web earlier in the week, we came across a picture of two apricot 16 week old F1 mini-Labradoodle puppies for sale - one resembled a Poodle and the other a Labrador Retriever-  from a breeder within a few hours of us. Eric contacted the breeder to find out more information about the puppies and her future litters. She informed Eric she plans on having a chocolate litter in the late summer as she breeds chocolate labs, sent him her website, and then said the one puppy was spoken for, but the other one was still available. 

Friday morning, the breeder emailed Eric saying the people backed out and both puppies were now available if we were interested. After some discussion and obtaining more information about the puppies, we told her we would come and look as it was a good time for us to become familiar with the feel of this breed's coat because it can vary so much and the potential size.

I immediately called our landlord, Alex, to ask for permission for us to have a dog. I quickly explained the situation and apologized for not asking in person as the circumstances came about quicker than planned, but we wanted his approval if it all worked out and we were to get one of these puppies. He said we could have a dog as long as he could play with it.

It was a cold, but sunny Saturday, so we went for a drive to look at the dogs. We told the girls we were going for a casual drive to get out of the apartment as they asked where we were going. The puppies were older than what we were looking for, so I was not getting my hopes up. I did put a little box with a blanket and the camera in the trunk just in case. When we got closer, we informed them we were just going to look at some dogs and not to get too excited about bringing one home. When we pulled up in the field the breeder asked us to meet her in, he ran to our car. I immediately noticed he was cuter than the picture. When Eric opened the door for Adeline to get out, he tried to jump in the backseat. While we were standing around and talking with the breeder, he came and sat at our feet while the other dogs continued playing around. At that moment, I knew we were not leaving without him. They called him JoJo (YoYo).

She took the dogs back to her house as it was very cold out. Meanwhile, we returned to our car and discussed if he would be coming home with us.  We then asked the girls which puppy they liked if they could pick. Both girls stated the one that looks like a baby Colby. 

We joined her inside to see the dogs again. This is when she shared with us this was the last litter from her older chocolate lab who had great mannerism. The father of the litter, a chocolate mini poodle with apricot around his nose, arrived, so we saw his size and his disposition. She was in no hurry to sell him even though the people who put a deposit on him backed out as she felt he was a good dog for future breeding. After some more conversation and a quick trip to the ATM, the transaction was complete.  Before we left with him, she said her good-byes to her JoJo and sent with us a starter kit containing a leash and collar, and huge bag of dog food.

We were super excited to have him be part of the family and relieved she would care for him during our summer vacation. Our 18 week old 14 lb. puppy settled into the box between the carseats and rested his head on the box's edge as we drove away.

On the way home, we discussed his name. Adeline has several friends named JoJo in her class, so it was not an option for her. Adeline suggested Max, but the Wendel's son has the same name along with some of Emmie's friends. His official name is Jesse James of Funny Paws, so we brainstormed off of this and came to an agreement on Bandit. It fits him perfect as his facial hair characteristics create an outlaw-like mask appearance.

We quickly stopped in the large grocery store to get treats and dog dishes when we got closer to Hofheim. When we were pulling out of the parking lot, I noticed a pet store sign pointing in the direction of the store which was at the end of the road.  I quickly ran into the pet store to find better dog dishes and a few toys. The entire time, Bandit, stayed in his box while the girls petted him.

Meanwhile, Sarah returned my phone call while I was in the pet store. I quickly rambled about how we just acquired a puppy and wondered if she still had her pet cage that she was not using and if we could borrow it. Thankfully she still did have it and would bring it over in the evening since they were planning on joining us for dinner already.

We arrived safely home and the girls took Bandit for his first walk down the street. When they came back, Alex just pulled up, so it gave him the opportunity to meet Bandit along with our other neighbors who were returning home.

In the house, he sniffed around, checking everything out as I quickly picked up stuff off of the floor. The girls offered their furry rug for him to lay on, established his dining area, and Adeline took him out frequently in the backyard.

Sarah and Jorge joined us for dinner and could not believe how calm he was. They were amazed at how quiet he was and that he just laid on the floor while we ate and conversed. After they left, I made room for the cage in our bedroom and prepared his bed with a blanket the breeder gave me.

The girls said good night to Bandit before going to bed and were sad he was not sleeping with them, but we explained why it was better for him to be near us right now. He easily went into the cage and whined a few times when the lights went out, but after a couple of reassurances we were still here, he fell asleep.

Bandit

The short story is we went for a drive on a very chilly and sunny Saturday and came home with a dog.

Below is the long version.

Eric and I have been discussing the idea of getting another dog, a Labradoodle, after our summer trip to the US. Initially, we thought it would be great if we could pick out a puppy while we were in the US and bring it back with us on the plane. After speaking with a few Michigan breeders, most summer puppies would not be able to go home till September. This would be too late for the puppy to come back with us and I did not want to put a puppy in the cargo area. When we found this out, we started looking into our options of obtaining a dog here.

While searching for breeders in continental Europe, we discovered the Labradoodle is not a common breed here and the wait list can be up to two years for a specific type. Our other option was to find a breeder in the UK as they are more common there; however, we would have to find the travel time to pick up the dog and bring the dog back to Germany with the proper paperwork.

Surfing the web earlier in the week, we came across a picture of two apricot 16 week old F1 mini-Labradoodle puppies for sale - one resembled a Poodle and the other a Labrador Retriever-  from a breeder within a few hours of us. Eric contacted the breeder to find out more information about the puppies and her future litters. She informed Eric she plans on having a chocolate litter in the late summer as she breeds chocolate labs, sent him her website, and then said the one puppy was spoken for, but the other one was still available. 

Friday morning, the breeder emailed Eric saying the people backed out and both puppies were now available if we were interested. After some discussion and obtaining more information about the puppies, we told her we would come and look as it was a good time for us to become familiar with the feel of this breed's coat because it can vary so much and the potential size.

I immediately called our landlord, Alex, to ask for permission for us to have a dog. I quickly explained the situation and apologized for not asking in person as the circumstances came about quicker than planned, but we wanted his approval if it all worked out and we were to get one of these puppies. He said we could have a dog as long as he could play with it.

It was a cold, but sunny Saturday, so we went for a drive to look at the dogs. We told the girls we were going for a casual drive to get out of the apartment as they asked where we were going. The puppies were older than what we were looking for, so I was not getting my hopes up. I did put a little box with a blanket and the camera in the trunk just in case. When we got closer, we informed them we were just going to look at some dogs and not to get too excited about bringing one home. When we pulled up in the field the breeder asked us to meet her in, he ran to our car. I immediately noticed he was cuter than the picture. When Eric opened the door for Adeline to get out, he tried to jump in the backseat. While we were standing around and talking with the breeder, he came and sat at our feet while the other dogs continued playing around. At that moment, I knew we were not leaving without him. They called him JoJo (YoYo).

She took the dogs back to her house as it was very cold out. Meanwhile, we returned to our car and discussed if he would be coming home with us.  We then asked the girls which puppy they liked if they could pick. Both girls stated the one that looks like a baby Colby. 

We joined her inside to see the dogs again. This is when she shared with us this was the last litter from her older chocolate lab who had great mannerism. The father of the litter, a chocolate mini poodle with apricot around his nose, arrived, so we saw his size and his disposition. She was in no hurry to sell him even though the people who put a deposit on him backed out as she felt he was a good dog for future breeding. After some more conversation and a quick trip to the ATM, the transaction was complete.  Before we left with him, she said her good-byes to her JoJo and sent with us a starter kit containing a leash and collar, and huge bag of dog food.

We were super excited to have him be part of the family and relieved she would care for him during our summer vacation. Our 18 week old 14 lb. puppy settled into the box between the carseats and rested his head on the box's edge as we drove away.

On the way home, we discussed his name. Adeline has several friends named JoJo in her class, so it was not an option for her. Adeline suggested Max, but the Wendel's son has the same name along with some of Emmie's friends. His official name is Jesse James of Funny Paws, so we brainstormed off of this and came to an agreement on Bandit. It fits him perfect as his facial hair characteristics create an outlaw-like mask appearance.

We quickly stopped in the large grocery store to get treats and dog dishes when we got closer to Hofheim. When we were pulling out of the parking lot, I noticed a pet store sign pointing in the direction of the store which was at the end of the road.  I quickly ran into the pet store to find better dog dishes and a few toys. The entire time, Bandit, stayed in his box while the girls petted him.

Meanwhile, Sarah returned my phone call while I was in the pet store. I quickly rambled about how we just acquired a puppy and wondered if she still had her pet cage that she was not using and if we could borrow it. Thankfully she still did have it and would bring it over in the evening since they were planning on joining us for dinner already.

We arrived safely home and the girls took Bandit for his first walk down the street. When they came back, Alex just pulled up, so it gave him the opportunity to meet Bandit along with our other neighbors who were returning home.

In the house, he sniffed around, checking everything out as I quickly picked up stuff off of the floor. The girls offered their furry rug for him to lay on, established his dining area, and Adeline took him out frequently in the backyard.

Sarah and Jorge joined us for dinner and could not believe how calm he was. They were amazed at how quiet he was and that he just laid on the floor while we ate and conversed. After they left, I made room for the cage in our bedroom and prepared his bed with a blanket the breeder gave me.

The girls said good night to Bandit before going to bed and were sad he was not sleeping with them, but we explained why it was better for him to be near us right now. He easily went into the cage and whined a few times when the lights went out, but after a couple of reassurances we were still here, he fell asleep.

Cold start

February has started off cold and the weather man predicts it will only get colder for the next week. We have been hearing about the deep freeze in Eastern Europe and now we are starting to experience it.

Unfortunately, Eric has learned February first will not be his new start date at McKinsey &  Company as his work permit is not ready yet. Two work permits were being processed at the same time for him - one for his current company and one for the new company- in mid January. When his current firm called to cancel their permit because he gave his resignation notice, both permits were stopped. After a few phone calls, the new company's work permit for him was put back into the system again. This process normally takes about two weeks, so the relocation company has been informing Eric it should be here any day as the status states it is being worked on. We are praying it arrives sooner than later.

Thursday morning, I cashed in my Groupon gift to escape from the stress and craziness from the past few weeks. My hair and make-up were professionally done for a studio photo shoot. The large loft was sectioned into various areas with different themes at each location. Although there are few more wrinkles in these photos than my senior high school pictures, I had a fun time and felt reenergized after the experience.

Friday morning, we picked up an Audi A4 to test drive. The wagon was nice and gave us more luggage room, but it did not fit as well in our garage parking spot. Plus when the girls sat in the backseat, they did not have as much room for their legs like in the SUVs. Driving around in it,  just helped us to eliminate one of our options. 

Emmie brought home a note stating the Kindergarten would be reinstating the classroom Fasching parties in a few weeks. Each class would celebrate on a different day and two of the days two classrooms will be partying. We are unsure how a weeks worth of partying throughout the building is better for the faculty to handle than one day of 160 children dressed up and celebrating. We are happy for Emmie and her friends as we know they will have a ball.

Friday afternoon, we attended the last happy hour at Eric's former office.  This was the last one in the office, as the office was moving to a high floor in the large PWC building the next week. They were not allowed to bring the various beverages and snack items, so it was a cleaning out the kitchen themed party. It was a nice time and it gave us the opportunity to say farewell to everyone.