Bye Now

Man oh man has it been a crazy couple of days! My birthday was on Thursday, and as anyone who knows me knows, I'm not a big fan of my birthday- i never remember how old i am anyways, its just another day!

Anyways, I did indeed, have a lovely birthday on Thursday. Friday was busy as usual, I invited a lot of folks over for a going away party. It was good to spend some time with them. We were able to grill lots and lots of food and just chat and shoot the breeze. As the sunlight faded we came inside for some dessert and then played some games and chatted.

Tomorrow we are doing a group breakfast of Pamcakes (also known as pancakes but these are made by Pam) and then back for some more packing. I have most of the "stuff" packed that I have, now its just clothes and trinkets. What to take what not to take. Baaaahhh! So much stuff. Anyways, after that we head to Leipzig for Saxon Singing. It is the first time it will be in Leipzig so that is exciting! After that we are going out to a little Mexican restaurant around the corner from the center for a "team dinner" with the entire American gang. That sounds gangsta- the american gang. Ha. Then its back hopefully not to late!

I saw an old contact at the store today, Conny, I read with her last year. She went on holiday (vacation) and then had knee surgery and has had some serious issues with her knee so we took a break. Anyways, I saw her randomly today so that was nice to get to say goodbye.

Thats all for now. No tears yet. I got close in team meeting today- but I didn't.

Be good and do good!

Sarah B

We can only see a short distance ahead, but we can see plenty there that needs to be done. ~Alan Turing

Survival

Yesterday was amazing. No other words. Just amazing!

The day started early with a trip to Limbach which is about 30 minutes away. I visited Lars' class. He would be a junior in the states-I have been to their class a few times now and it is always a blast! We played a different version of Taboo and then the picture game (pictionary meets telephone). They loved it!

I caught the bus back to chemnitz and then we were off to Burkhardtsdorf for our LST Baseball party. It was raining so we didn't get to play outside. That was probably for the best though because I realized Sunday that there were no real bats just a plastic one.... so we played in the gym with a tennis ball. The kids had a blast!


We came back and I took a little nap before movie night. Movie night went better then I could have thought! We had 9 people and watched To Save A Life. I was a little worried with it being a little more in your face about Christianity. We had some really great discussions about life being about the transformation not the destination and so on. It was great!

Today I saw Klause for the last time. We met for coffee and chatted for a little over an hour. It was sad to say goodbye, but it only gives you a chance to say hello again.

Thats all I have for today. Tomorrow morning I will work on packing some and then I have a reader, Kendra and Joel are coming for coffee and then Amanda is coming over for supper!

Have a great day! Be good and do good!

Sarah B

A friend told me that each morning when we get up we have to decide whether we are going to save or savor the world. I don't think that is the decision. It's not an either-or, save or savor. We have to do both, save and savor the world. ~Kate Clinton

Whew!

That was a busy weekend!

Friday I had a reader then went downtown to pick up some last minute things for senioren essen (the seniors evening where we made them food and provided entertainment). I grabbed some lunch downtown the up to the church for some last minute prep. Meeting back at the house then off to Leipzig for Ladies Night!

Ladies night was a blast, we had 10 people total and I think everyone had a good time! We were able to chat and play some games! After I made it home, Alex Karen and I watched Grey's Anatomy because it was the musical one which I thought was amazing! Karen and I ended up staying up til nearly 2 just chatting!

Saturday I hit the ground running again! Forgetting to set my alarm I over slept (which hasn't happened since my sophmore year in college!!!). I did some shopping for the weekend then went up the church to get set up for senioren essen. It was big hit, everyone had a great time!

After that was finished around 7:30 or so Karen and I went over to Steffi's for her 21st birthday! I enjoyed seeing her New Zealand pictures and spending some time with her family. Karen and I were both worn out so we came home after that and hit the sack.

Today was just as busy- church this morning then Larry and Pam invited Karen and I for lunch which was amazing as always when Pam cooks. Came back to the house after that to clean up a little for Movie Night tomorrow night then started some baking. Sven came over around 3 to help me bake. At 5 we had sport and we had an awesome turnout at sport- 19 people!! We had 3 teams which hasn't happened in a while! It was a good time! Then back to the house and finish the baking and getting questions lined up for movie night. We watched a movie and relaxed for a bit before I skyped with some family. Now its 12:30 and I'm about to hit the sack!

Its been busy but its been great! I have to start packing this week. Still sending out applications- I reformatted my resume this week so hopefully that will help some. I have a job in OKC that just came open last week that I will apply for.

Thats all the news I have from here!

Please pray for our movie night Monday night. I am hosting this month and we are watching To Save A Life. It covers a wide variety of topics- I've got a few narrowed down though- life isn't about the destination but the transformation- what is the difference between religion and faith- how does the film define Christian and how is that different from what we know?

Be good and do good!

Sarah B

Do not think of knocking out another person's brains because he differs in opinion from you. It would be as rational to knock yourself on the head because you differ from yourself ten years ago. ~Horace Mann

Good Days Are Here Again

The emotions are starting to hit and I don't think last week helped any at all. 13 days left. This time in 2 weeks I will be on a flight to OKC. The crazy-ness is about to start. Here is a short run-down of the upcoming 2 weeks:

Wed: go to the church @ 10 for senior food preperation; 12:30 reader at the house; trip downtown for last minute things in the afternoon and laundry.

Thursday: train down town- train to another small village. morning with a friend and lunch. back to the house. 3:30 reader downtown; evening make sure everything is lined up for friday.

Friday: reader @ 10; downtown before lunch for fruit for the senior food on Saturday; back to house, meeting @ 2; be in Leipzig by 6 for Girls Night then back to Chemnitz.

Saturday: up and to the church for all last minute preparations for senior food night. Seniorenessen starts @ 5 then after that to Steffi's for her B-day celebration.

Sunday: worship, prep for Monday,5 sport

Monday: get up early take bus to small village, speak to class, take bus back to chemnitz. Leave Chemnitz by 11:45 to head to Karen's school for LST party/Baseball; Movie Night @ 7 (which I'm hosting)

Tuesday: Breath

Wednesday: Pack 1 bag

Thursday: reader in the afternoon

Friday: Reader @ 10, meeting @ 2, Friends for dinner @ 7

Saturday: show visitors around chemnitz in the morning. Head to Leipzig for Saxon Singing @ 4; Dinner with the team afterwards.

Sunday: worship, lunch, good-bye coffee @ 3 @ the church. lots of crying anticipated.

Monday: not planning anything, make sure all bags are packed and ready to go. Run any last minute errands. Cry.

Tuesday: head out at 6 am to dresden. the end.

Its going to be an emotional 2 weeks, I can feel it now.

Part of me would be just fine getting on a plane and not saying goodbye but I know I can't do that. So goes life.

Still looking for a job and sending out resumes all the time. Tomorrow will be the last day I will have to actually work on sending any out until I get back. It would be much easier going back if I knew I had a job waiting for me. It is all taken care of, I know that, but man the waiting is killer!

Thats all I got folks! Be good and do good!

Sarah B

Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have. ~Eckhart Tolle

Sucky Days

Its been about 2 years since something really bad has happened to someone close to me. For that, I am very thankful.

However in the past few days really bad things just keep happening to those around me. A friend from college lost her baby boy last week. I can't even imagine the pain they are going through, but they are a strong couple and are surrounded with love right now.

Snickers was put to sleep yesterday. Yea, she was old, but it was really sudden and still very sad.

And to top all that off, one of my best friends lost a really good friend suddenly this weekend. It sucks when you see your friends hurting, it sucks even more when you know they are hurting and there is nothing you can do for them.

But, through all that blessings are still all around. Saturday was also the choir concert in Dresden and there was a great turnout! The place was packed!

This morning we were also packed at worship which is always a good problem to have! We had a wonderful turnout and lots of guests!

Be good and do good!

Sarah B

Saying goodbye doesn't mean anything. It's the time we spent together that matters, not how we left it. ~Trey Parker and Matt Stone

Confidence

Isn't it assuring to know that we walk confidently with the Lord knowing that indeed there is a master plan and it is all for His glory?

I have to keep reminding myself of that as I apply for jobs. I sent in 6 internship applications today. Who knows! Im applying for everything I can! Although the internships are with Southwest Airlines and that would be awesome! Just saying!

When I feel stressed I bake. Yesterday I made a chocolate pie- I think im going to make another one tomorrow! Steffi and Miriam are both coming over for supper and just to chat. Crazy how fast time flies.

Saturday is the singing concert in Dresden, Sunday is Leipzig again!

Thats all I got folks! Be good and do good!

Sarah B

The longer I live the more beautiful life becomes. ~Franks Lloyd Wright

Ladies Retreat

This past weekend was the English Ladies Retreat, I went last year and had a good time. This year I was a bit iffy about going, it was a good time last year, but it was a lot of money for a short amount of time yada yada. Anyways, I decided to go again to at least see the people I met last year and spend some quality time with the folks that went with us.

It was an amazing weekend! I met some amazing Godly women and I am so very glad that I went! We made it on time, which was nice (last year we were about 4 hours late)! I was an amazing small group with a military lady, an older english lady, a texan who was visiting her daughter, a volleyball player who came over and met her husband and came back and got married, the wife of a business man who works over here, a lovely lady from China who married a german man, and another american that married a german man. It was a great group, a nice variation of people from young to old. I'm very glad that I went and was able to meet all of those great women!

Please keep Susanna in your prayers, she is going to Frankfurt in the morning and has her interview at the embassy on Wednesday to get her visa approved. I'm sure everything will be fine, but it is still a stressful situation.

Be good and do good!

Sarah B

Some people are still unaware that reality contains unparalleled beauties. The fantastic and unexpected, the ever-changing and renewing is nowhere so exemplified as in real life itself. ~Berenice Abbott

Fun Experience

And by fun I mean embarrassing. Sending out resumes- oh what a joy! I sent one in yesterday to a travel agency, and while they wanted experience and I have no actual experience in the field! I have indeed traveled a lot, I decided to give it a go. I sent in my cover letter and resume. A few short hours later I received an email from them saying that they only received one page of my resume and asked me to resend it.

My resume is only one page.... awkward I know. I opened the PDF that I sent and you could barely read the bottom line, it was enough to know there was more written but you would not be able to make out the words. I waited a few hours and responded apologizing for the mistake, and correcting the format to be more easily readable, and assuring them it was only 1 page.

Fail.

Tomorrow I will be calling and getting things started with my stocks. Oh the joys of moving countries! Next week I will try to get in to get a new visa for my stay here seeing as mine is currently 4 months expired, and then I will need to go unregister for Chemnitz and tell them im moving back to the states because they track people!

And thats all the news I have. I want to ask for your continued prayers for those in Japan. As far as I can tell, everyone that I know over there is okay and so are all of their family, however they are the lucky ones. Please continue to keep everyone in Japan in your prayers, the trials to come are great and tension is sure to rise.

The picture up there was the sunset on Saturday at our area wide singing, it was a beautiful day!

Be good and do good!

Sarah B

To regret one's own experiences is to arrest one's own development. To deny one's own experiences is to put a lie into the lips of one's life. It is no loess than a denial of the soul. ~Oscar Wilde

Church Growth

I just have to say I am in absolute amazement at the way God is working in Leipzig! I was able to go and spend some time with Mark and Karen this past week. I went on Tuesday afternoon and attended the English Bible Study they have once a month in Leipzig and it was great! There were 3 visitors who have all been visiting a handful of times.

It was awesome just to see the potential that is taking place there, the growth!

Tuesday I spent with Karen and Mark, Mark had class in the morning so Karen and I walked around their neighborhood and strolled downtown since it was a nice day. We met up with Mark and had lunch then strolled around downtown a little longer. I caught the train back that evening, all in all it was a great trip! I even got to meet one of their contacts who seems like an amazing young women, im kinda of sad i won't get to know her better!

I also met with Isabel this week, we had a very nice chat and were able to just relax and discuss the book and talk to each other.

Thats all the news I have in news! Still sending out resumes, nothing in response yet. I am planning on taking the GRE for grad school when I get back then I'll start sending out applications.

Be good and do good!

Sarah B

Whatever you are by nature, keep to it; never desert your line of talent. Be what nature intended you for and you will succeed. ~Sydney Smith

Resumes

Ive been sending out Resumes this week. So far I think ive send out 4 or 5 all in the OKC area. I am looking around but trying to stay in OK or North Texas.

I also got my ticket changed yesterday. I went to Dresden early yesterday morning and moved it officially to the 12th of April. I met Bri for lunch, it was nice to chat and just hang out for a bit.

Then we met up with Kendra and Joel and all caught the train to Chemnitz. They were coming for the big choir concert this Saturday!!! Getting close!!! I hope we have enough room! Usually we went our a place but this year we decided to just host it in the church.

Thats all the news I have here. Have a wonderful week!

Be good and do good!

I shut my eyes in order to see. ~Paul Gauguin