A whole new trip...

It's Tuesday and we are together again. We have met in Prague and are staying at a friend's house. It's so good to be together after 3 weeks apart. Leslie was able to get everything done in order to move out of our apt. in Anderson and is now unemployed, which is providing freedom to enjoy this trip.
After developing a familiarity with Berlin, and the Kreuzberg area in particular, I am back to learner mode and starting from scratch. I don't recognize hardly any Czech words & there's new money to deal with too. It helps to have a friend here to help with ordering some food and train tickets etc. Tomorrow we'll do a Sandeman's walking tour and learn the history of the main sites. I'm pretty sure that more English is spoken around the touristy parts of the town, though we'll likely try to dine off the main streets to save money.
We are very excited to begin our dream trip of a lifetime...no kids, no jobs, and by the time we're done, no money. ;) But a whole bunch of amazing memories made together.

Foreign Firsts

I'm waiting in a salon to get my first haircut abroad. I don't speak German so this should be interesting. Leslie likes my hair shorter and seeing as we've been apart for awhile and I haven't had a hair cut since before graduation, I think it's about time. Rhonda Philips said there was a lady here that spoke English but I forgot her name, so we'll see who I get.
Nadine...that's who cuts Rhonda and Christian's hair. That's who I got I cut mine too. I think she's the only one who speaks English there. She did a good job on my hair too!

Berlin life

Today marks the last day of our time together as a team in Berlin. We have been together since May 7 and it has been very good. I'm a little sad about their departure, but mostly about the fact that I won't be around AU to connect with these teammates through the coming year. We have connected well and processed some meaningful experiences together. Anytime I encounter some of the profound WW2 sites that are the physical places where tragedies and atrocities occurred I came away pretty much speechless. The group was able to process thoughtfully through most experiences.

The best part is that my wife is coming to Europe and will meet up with me in a couple days. Yay! Leslie and I will meet up in Prague on Monday and I can hardly wait. I've missed her presence ad sharing some of these experiences with her. The difference in this period of separation is that she has had to finish packing up the house without me. :( We did what we could before I left, but she has been working for the last few weeks and still needed a certain amount of stuff to live from. The other difference is that while Berlin has been great, the best part of our time in Europe will be had together. I'm grateful for this time to nurture our marriage relationship!
Finish strong Les! I love you!
Nate.

The Beginning or The End?

Well... today was a big day.

Nate has graduated and we had celebrations this weekend.

Today, Nate is flying to Berlin and I'm looking around the apartment making a game plan to be moved out in 3 weeks.  We have done a lot all ready.

We have loved our home here and feel grateful for this apartment for the last two years.  This apartment holds the memories of many enjoyable times with friends and family.  Our first home together.  It has heard great laughter and seen several tears from us over the last few years.

Nate, sadly, had his last night here last night and won't be back to this apartment.

I will have us moved completely out by the end of the month before flying to Prague to begin our next adventure: Europe.  My favorite part of the next chapter is that we will be back together again.

I will miss Nate so much over the next few weeks, but do look forward to getting in visits with friends and family during this time.  I plan to make the most of it!

And...we plan to both read Forgotten God over the next weeks.  It will be nice to have a sense of being connected and sharing a similar experience through reading.

I'm not sure if this time should be considered the beginning or the end....either way it's lots of change.

Lord, help us!

Winding down...

Seminary has been a four year journey and it is coming to an end. My last major paper was submitted yesterday and I have 2 more little assignments to do tomorrow. That's because tonight is set aside for time with Leslie. It's our last night by ourselves in our home. Soon we'll have family joining us from all directions to celebrate the graduate this weekend, so I felt we needed to enjoy our time together before I head to Berlin on Monday and Leslie and I have to be apart for 3 weeks.
We drove down to Hamilton town center and had dinner at our favourite restaurant...Stone Creek Dining Company. I will miss that place!