Hotel Living

Outside of the Vaihinger Hof

this part is the entrance to the restaurant and front desk...go through the 'tunnel' and you're in the outside dinning area - we've eaten there several nights.

We have been living the 'high life' in a hotel for 3 1/2 weeks now.  It has been long and drawn out, but so much shorter than many people moving here and the hotel 'suite' is much larger than the ones on base and other hotels, so I will not complain.  With such a 'large' family we get an entire 'suite' on the third floor, that I lovingly call the "Penthouse Suite".  Now, this 'suite' is not like any you have seen in the states.  We do have 3 rooms and 3 bathrooms and a hallway that we call our 'kitchen' (a old refrigerator that leaks and does not keep things too cold, a microwave we bought used, a table  that we have our food and appliances on.

one of the girls' rooms - notice G peeking? (and yes, T and I have twin beds too)

Our kitchen...sigh....

Since Germany doesn't get too hot, we do not have air conditioning at the hotel (most do not). So on those HOT days we had fans going and sweated up a storm while sleeping. Also, there are no elevators so
our prescense is known throughout our wing of the hotel when we leave or arrive as the stairs are old creaky wooden stairs and the stairwell echos BIG time. We have an amazing hotel manager, named Moosa.  He is an amazing help for all us Americans, translating for us, giving us local  info, just to name a few things he does for us. 

German Food

As promised I am finally ready to talk about the German food...mainly I have taken pictures to have you see what the German food is like.  Unlike what our family is used to....lots of green veggies and fruit, fish, pan seared chicken or pork, quinoa, brown grains, fresh smoothies, and lots of low or natural sugars (local honey, pure maple syrup, etc), I even started grinding my own wheat; we have eaten the opposite of what I believe we should be doing.  When we were in Las Vegas, our family ate low carb and low gluten and little dairy.  I found a few of us have intolerances and one of my girls is extremely effected by all the bleached flours, preservatives and sugars.  While we are not totally green and low carb and gluten free I did attempt to reduce a lot of the processed foods from our family's diet.  During our time in Vegas we were pretty healthy, my kids rarely were sick and I attribute a lot of it to our more healthier diet and living in a house with no mold in it.  I had a lot of enegry and my running was getting better.  Now, when we get orders and begin our traveling and TLF (time in a hotel), often we do not get a kitchen, thus causing us to eat out more often or eating more processed foods.  Well, its been about 5 weeks of this new diet for us and I have seen the ill effects of how a few of us feel and behavior changes.  My running and energy level has greatly suffered (not good for a homeschool mom of 4 active children)....

   I have found the German diet is made up of mainly beer, brots, and bread with lots of gravy.  If you know me that is NOT my kind of diet.  While I do enjoy a good German meal, say once every month, daily or weekly is not what I prefer for my family.  Here is a picture of our contential breakfast:
                            
Cereal, orange juice (often fanta), whole milk, cheeses, salami, bolona, and some other sort of mystery meat and fresh bread from the bakery up the street.  Really, it is not that bad for a day.  But this is not what we're used to on a normal day, especially for this omelet/egg loving girl. 

Now below are just a few plates/items we enjoyed for my birthday. 

schnitzel and pommes frites (breaded pork and fries) for the girls (ketchup costs extra)

forgot this name - a Swabian (our region) traditional meal - steak with fried onions on top, pan fried potatoes, 2 ravolis with a light sauce. Very good!!

This meal is pork with knudel and the pear with cranberry in it all over a light red wine sauce

Our new birthday tradition is to go to the Eis place (ice cream - think Italien gelato).  The birthday person gets to pick out a creation of their choice while the rest get a scoop of Eis of their choice. This is a coffee with liquer sauce over it (didn't know about the liquer part when I ordered, but a tastey treat nonetheless)

The is cheesy spetzle we got at the Wienfest

At the Stuttgart Wienfest...we tried some white wine and ordered a cheese plate for the kids. The cheese plate came with grapes, a few pretzels, and fancy looking cut cucumbers and large radishes.

Now, when you order in Germany you do not naturally get water, you order and PAY for it and NO ice is ever given with your drinks. Often water costs more than the beer and the water is mineral sparkling water so we have to order "Wasser no gas".  As you can see, very little green was pictured which makes me sad because I love my veggies.  The cost for a meal is more too.  Service is much slower, they are not in a rush like we Americans tend to be.  WHile I like the food, it is something that I am not used to eating so a once a month meal will suffice for this girl born and raised in the land of nutty fruits!!! 

tchuss (pronounced "cheers" - a friendly and less formal good bye!)

on a different note

This morning on my run, I just thought about my upcoming 'holiday' and what I would love to have for my birthday....
  *to move in our new place
  * a lot more grace and patience
  *the ability to cook in a kitchen with a working frig
  * to have my friends and family with me
  * to sleep in

But really, those will happen in due time and really aren't that big of a deal. Then God reminded my of a dear old friend who, 9 years ago, threw me a surprised 30th birthday during my husband's deployment.  While I was completely surprised, what struck me as amazing was when her husband came out holding their 2nd child to greet me.  He explained to me what Debbie had organized, but her father was very ill and she suddeningly had to go and be with him. I thought, wow, i am honored to have someone think highly enough of me to spend the time to organize this but also to have a husband willing to enterain the folks while his wife was tending to her father.  Really, they could have cancelled it and I would have never known the difference.  But, wait...there's more....that child that Andy was holding...well she later was sick. I recall her throwing up in the sink.  Boy talk about bad timing.  We all stayed for a bit and then left so Andy could take care of his family.  I left feeling so grateful for friends like that. 
   Now, fast forward 9 years later...they are fighting a battle no family/parent wants to fight, cancer.  One of their daughters has a rare form of bone cancer.  As i continued to run this morning, I prayed, Lord, please for my birthday, give us a cure of that terrible disease.  It breaks my heart for Debbie and Andy and their entire family.  What often, we see as an inconviences (ei: having 4 kids in 4 different schools), they would love to have ALL four kids in 4 different schools.  One can't, you see she is in the hospital fighting a tough fight.  Unfortunitly, they are not the only friends who are fighting that battle. Ellen started chemo again for the second time (it came back), Emily is a single mom struggling to pay the hospitial bills for her treatment, Julie and Melissa's moms are toward the end of their battle before they meet their creator.  
  So while I may not get a cure for cancer for my birthday; may I ask you all, on Friday, please pray for these and folks you know who have cancer.   Pray for perservance, that their faith is or will be strong in the Lord inspite of this terrible time they are enduring, pray for their friends to continue supporting them and meeting their needs even when they don't know how, and lastly continue praying for a cure and supporting cancer.  You may give to my friend's daugher's hosipital for children at

 

 

check out Ellen's blog - she is a much better writer than I ever will be...

Bloom Where You are Planted: God's Battle

ellenehayes.blogspot.com

 

Thank you friends for just reading this and praying, that is enough of a birthday gift for me.  :)

Getting Started

Well, I was hoping to get a picture of my kids in front of our hotel Vaihinger Hof...to post, but obviously, I haven't so this will have to do....
  Let me see...going back 2 weeks to get you all up to date.  We arrived here late Saturday afternoon and 'slept' for a few hours, up for a few hours and slept again for a few more until a uncharacteristicly late time for the Millers.  I took the girls for an 'adventurous' walk and later found out that Sundays are 'quiet' days and we're to keep quiet...really? On such a beautiful day, crazy.  On our adventure we found a nearby park; one that would never be deemed safe in the states, which my kids have called "Kidsboro".  It is their favorite park, and really basic, if they'd just let me take them to the few up the street...they'd think this one was tiny in comparrison.  But, hey, they are content so no complaints here.

For the next week, Trent improssessed while the girls and I explored around here and walked to one of the bases to explore what it had to offer.  We viewed a few houses.  Ironically, it was the first house that really caught our eye and felt that God brought it to us for many reasons, mainly that the landlord is a Christian, has 6 six kids (which is VERY unheard of in Germany) two of whom are missionaries, has a very open floor plan, has fruit and berry trees and 2 winter gardens (a personal prayer request of mine for my treadmill and quiet time and to grow some herbs and small veggies and plants.  We're in negotation right now and should hear back, hopefully, tomorrow!!!  We'll rent the two lower levels as the top level is rented to a young newlywedcouple (Christian artists)!!  It is extremely common in Germany to have a few families rent 'apartments' of homes.  We won't have to share anything other than an entrance and walkway!

Our trips to the castles will have to wait for another post along with our new high carb, low green, full of fat diet and our penthouse suite in our hotel!

Part 2 - The Arrival

We boarded our plan and Trent was with 3 of the girls way in the back while I was with A a few rows ahead of them. The flight was full of families so no one wanted to switch with us so we can be all together.  No biggie.  It is always fun sitting next to a child who is doing something for the first time; in this case flying.  She was excited to be next to the window, I think the gentleman who offered to switch didn’t like the alternative – sitting next to a 6 year old.  What amazed my sweet little Lee was her fascination with the flight map on the TV.  She would visually see where we were, how much longer it would take, how long we’ve been flying, and what time it was in Germany.  Cool stuff for a very visual child.  We both were impressed with our dinner; Lufthansa is a great airline to fly with, and shortly after our meal A fell asleep.  I; however, did for maybe an hour or two before I was awoken by the young boy sitting in front of us. Let’s just say we had the ‘privilege’ of sitting next to most people’s nightmare child…extremely squirmy, loud, a climber, and with a parent who slept the entire time. Oh well, at least A slept.

Upon our arrival to Frankfort, we had the pleasure of walking with a ton of carry on’s and 4 extremely tired children to the furthest possible connecting gate.  Seriously, I thought; but the children were amused by the walking escalators.  Whatever makes them happy.

Our next flight would be a very short one – 25 minutes.  Did I mention I like Lufthansa Airlines?  Tons of leg room and; my kids favorite, the gave them a basket of toys to choose from and a large chocolate bar (which was really yummy)

Now, this is where our adventure gets interesting again.  We get off the plan and proceed to baggage claim.  This time, we’re getting 3 luggage carts – we’re thinkers. We had an audience….all the folks picking up passengers were on the other side of a large glass wall with the best seats in town to view this ‘large’ American family attempting to get their 12 checked bags and 2 dogs.  Trent went to get the dogs, while I prayed they were still alive and tried getting our luggage from the luggage belt. I had the luggage carts lined up with girls bracing them for once we put our luggage on them.  Our first suitcase came about 5 minutes before the mad rush of suitcase.  Once the rush came, I just threw them aside into a heaping pile.  I hear the familiar barking of our dogs and was relieved they were alive and Trent and I continued to get the remaining luggage.  Because we were tired, our minds weren’t just working correctly so it took us what seemed forever to figure the right configuration of how the luggage will make it outside.  It was obvious that the person picking us up clearly knew which family with the dogs he was picking up. Again, we stood out.  I had a carrier, Trent and L…the little girls had carry on’s on their backs and wheeling a small suitcase.  We began to go out the doors where the pick-up people were.  And guess what happens again to my cart – it tips in the doorway. UGH, I once again wanted to cry but laughed.  With the help of someone (not sure if it was Trent or someone else) we reloaded and got it out of the way of many annoyed people trying to get through the door.  Our sponsor met us and took a cart and we moved out of the way.  Trent and G took the dogs out across the street to do their thing. During that time our sponsor began led us to the van that would hold our luggage. Well, poor L obediently followed as I mentioned to him “um, is there another way out for luggage carts” looking at the circular rotation doors.  “No, that’s it,” he replied and proceeded out with no avail.  Lauren, however, was just in the door with 2 German men as a backpack strap got tangled into the wheel of the cart jamming it and somehow jamming the entire door.  So here is my overly dramatic 10 year old with a jammed cart full of luggage trapped in a rotation door with 2 clearly annoyed men.  Now these 2 men have been watching us the entire time and did not even attempt to help us.  I felt so helpless for poor L on the other side of the doors with our 2 young ones.  After a few minutes someone got the doors unjammed and L escaped the fury of the rotation doors.  Guess what happens to me? Yup “timber”, the overstuff cart tipped over AGAIN!!  This time, a sweet young German lady helped me and I proceeded to escape the horror of the doors and, by the grace of God, got out of the terminal alive!!  All the while, Trent and G had no idea what had happen.  Our sponsor brought us to our hotel and he, Trent and the other driver walked the 3 flights up n down with our entire luggage.  And that was our adventure just getting to Germany, I am still not mentally well enough to think about what the next 3 years will bring us, but if it is anything like our trip here, well, there will be lots of laughter and great memories to be had. 

The trip to Germany....Part 1

So, this is taken from what I wrote to a few friends as we were beginning our adventure across the Atlantic Ocean.  Picture this...a family of 6, 2 dogs moving for 3 years, max'ed out on our allowed luggage allowance from the airline.  Our trip begins in Los Angeles, CA...
So...here's the first part....Millers at LAX...
  So we are picked up at our hotel...12 suitcases, 2 dog kennels, 10 carry-on bags,  4 extremely EXCITED girls and two parents thinking what in the bleep were we thinking? As we boarded the shuttle we quickly were the talk of the bus whether it was in English or another language. I am sure they all were begging to God, "please let us not be on their flight" and watching/hearing us was; I am, sure great birth control for the young folks.  After much maneuvering all our items were safely placed in the shuttle when we hear "MOM, where's the seat belts? Mom, are we at the airport? Mom look there's a green taxi. Mom why are we stopping? (Red light) Mom, are we there yet? How long will it be to the airport? To Germany?" Lord, help us, I thought to myself. So after the LONG drive of 5 minutes the driver stop several doors past our airline, which for this fit mom would be welcomed on a normal day...but today was no normal day....no, we're moving to Germany.  I proceeded out w/ what seems like 100lbs on my back, a 25lb purse, and 4 more carry-ons. I got 2 luggage carts for our items...so Trent begin to place our suitcases on these mini, luggage carts...all the while a bazillion people walked by and starred, even a bus load of security watched us like we were some sort of freak show...some help they were. SO 6 to 7 suitcases on my miniscule cart, a few kids w/ carry-ons I began the loooong walk to the doors....about 15 steps and the cart collapsed! Oh dear God, I thought to myself chuckling (I had to laugh on the outside because I was frustratingly crying on the inside begging for someone to help this family clearly in need). An airport worker began yelling at me "You have too much luggage". "Really? Didn't get that" I thought.   He helped us, got another tiny cart, loaded it for us and went on his way. So L pushed one, I steered it as I had 4 carry-ons and 150lb weight on my back and a 50lb purse w/ a little 5 year old holding my hand while Ailee is walking w/ us. G was carrying Toffee's kennel and poor T went thru a human obstacle course pulling/dragging 2 carts w/ a bazillion suitcases.  I chose to ignore all the stairs and go straight to Lufthansa check in booths. Now, I have an amazingly brilliant husband who got the lowdown when to check in the day before so he knew there would be no lines. Smart move Miller, we went straight up to a check-in person...if that was all....over an hour, a trip to the bathroom and a meltdown later, T was escorted outside to take the dogs out for one final 'relief'....
  Now security...T and I had already a plan I go first, G, L, A and J then T..in case of a bag search.....and yes we did get a bag search...of course in true chaotic Miller form.  It wouldn't be a 'normal, Miller adventure w/out bumps in the road....so we ventured the looooonnng walk to the international terminal and boy did we once again get looked at when our kids were clearly excited about the moving sidewalks.  Really, I am a gal who does not like extra attention...but when you have four girls you get attention.  We finally made it to our gate and I plopped in what felt like the most comfiest chair ever when our 3 little girls squealed w/ delight at all the planes taking off...every minute!! At one point when T was talking w/ A she, in true UP! form (u know the movie..dogs and "SQUIRRIL" part) she exclaimed AIRPLANE!! We all cracked up, in need of a much tension relief. 
  So now we continue waiting with children excited to get on the plane.  Really? They have no idea they will be contained for 10+ hours in a very confined space...
We pray our dogs make it to our final destination alive and well...and we pray that for T and I too, as well as lots of sleep....is that too much to ask for after our last few hours? I think not!!

Just the beginning

Wow, just trying to start a blog in the country of Germany has taken a while.  Why, you ask?  "it is so easy," I am told.  Sure if you are doing it in your native language.  I am not, however, in my native country.  We are in Germany and my computer knows it, thus everything is in German.  "Why are you in Germany?" You ask yourself...well that is where I will start this blog...but a few days prior to leaving the United States....but that will have to wait for my second post, IF I figure out how to even post this one!!
So as the Germans say 'see you later' - Cheers