They Spoke in Tongues,  but not Me:

You are my "great cloud of witnesses" observing as this journey unfolds. Because of your presence you encourage me.  Thank you.

However, you want "real," correct?  Believe me when I say not all days have been glorious, but then again, that's life.  Actually today was really good, except for a small segment.  I have already told some of you that God has a keen sense of humor.  He has the last laugh in two places at least with this venture.  I'm a South Florida native (yes, they had hospitals down here even then).  Well, my thin southern blood is going to freeze up there in Kandern.  Who in their right mind would trade the warm winters in Naples for cold, gloomy, dreary, damp, rainy winter days in Germany?  Me.  That's the first joke.

     The second has a little history that goes back to high school.  I took two years of Spanish with Mr. McAvoy (good romance language name, right!).  He was o.k., but studying language was not.  In fact, even thought my grades were satisfactory, I disliked it so much that at Florida State University one of the criteria for selecting my major was that it NOT require  a foreign language. Well, I succeeded then, but look at me now.  I'm voluntarily working at learning German!  I'll bet He has a wry smile on His face listening and watching me mangle my tongue trying to say some of these sounds.  Not only does my mouth and throat not want to contort the right way to produce the correct utterances, I can't even remember which words to use.   They have a different pronoun for the subject form from the indirect object, or the direct object, and maybe even the object of the preposition PLUS its gender depending upon the word that follows it in some places and the word that precedes it in others!  Now try keeping all of that straight at the beginning.  Guess what small segment of this day was the exception to it being a good day.

   In addition to trying to learn German, I'm still working on "homework" for ACSI certification before leaving, awaiting the outcome of Ruth's relocation efforts as it affects how I proceed, finishing up business matters and routine health appointments, and have yet to begin preparing the house for leaving and packing.   The list is long and the time is short.  Thank you for praying for me in these matters.  ("I CAN do all things through Christ who strengthens me." and "Faithful is He who calls you who also will do it." are good daily reminders.)