Back home in Germany

After returning to Germany, still not over jet-lag and being tired, we had some nice activities with family and the branch. The Cazier family came for a visit and joined us in our branch barbecue (Grillfest) on the 23rd. I got a few pictures of the activity. The first picture shows a view from near our apartment overlooking the lake and landscape between us and the Bodensee (Lake Constance). It also shows the kind of weather we have had here lately - very cold and rainy. The rest of the pictures are at the Grillfest.

Here is the view from the hill behind our apartment. The lake is in the distance and there is even a large zeppelin hovering over the lake, but it is not easy to see it  unless you look very closely.

Grillfest pictures.

... including Elders Richman and Smith.

The Caziers

Wow! (and after time for a breather...)

Yes, I realize it has been a couple of weeks since my last post. We have gone through a double jet-lag and a whirlwind of events in Utah and after a week or so back, I am finally getting to do a summary. This one will only cover our experiences with family back in Utah, so if you are not following our family events, you can wait until my next blog entry.

We had an absolutely fabulous time with family in Utah. Of course, the wedding was the high point, but we had some great family activities and many visits with family and friends. I will merely summarize those 12 days in a few pictures with a few comments. Enjoy!

Of course, the reason for our return to Utah...

The lovely couple right after the marriage in the temple in Saint George.

For those unfamiliar with the beautiful sights on the way between Salt Lake and Saint George, I included this shot along the highway near Fillmore. It is really dry here.

Now back to Saint George. Here is a family group picture at the temple (all but the grandchildren).

the temple entrance

the fun and fabulous reception in Saint George.

The traditional stuffing of the cake into the mouths of the newlyweds.

a picture of the color in Saint George. This is a round-about near Ivins.

Back in Salt Lake, there was a bridal shower luncheon at Olive Garden.

Fun activities on the roof.

... and a little repair work.

The family 5-K fun run at Majestic Elementary

Celebrating some birthdays

Fun and more fun with grandchildren

and a little one in the tree (is this a Papaya tree?)

Shooting air rockets in the rain

Yes, we brought back a lot of chocolate for the family. No, he really did not get them all.

I do not have pictures of the Open House in West Jordan. I was too busy visiting people. Andrea got some pictures and I will post them later.

Away to America

Well, the time came for us to head to Utah for our son's wedding. I really feel the effects of the change and finally got a little bit of time with brain clarity to do these posts. It is wonderful to be with family again, even though we know we will only be here a short time before returning to our assignment in Germany.

 Crossing the Bodensee (Lake Constance) on our way to Zurich for our flight.

 Very tired, but happy to be with family.

 Back in the kitchen with Adam.

 And a grandson splashing in the water

 and others at the house

 Modelling dresses made by Oma for the wedding activities.

Elders come and go, visits and sights

Here is a collection of pictures of missionaries and some of the sights in the area. We had transfers and were sad to see our Elder Thompson leave. Our new elder is Elder Smith. Among the pictures are district meeting pictures and a couple of pictures we took while attending a football game (American Football played by local "professional" teams.

 The district in our last meeting together before transfers.

 Elder Thompson leaving at the train station.

 Watching the football game

 Some missionary role-play practices in our next district meeting.

 The Bodensee apples. The trees are loaded this year.

 Sister B loves the cloud pictures.

 We visited a sister who loves to collect stuffed animals.

The church in Ittendorf.

Rutenfest 2014

I am going to put together a couple of blogs quickly to catchup a bit.

This is our second year of Rutenfest, the major festival for Ravensburg each year in July - celebrating the end of school.

The name "Ruten" means rod, implying the means of punishing students. I not sure why they want to remember that, but it is a very old festival, mainly honoring children and their rich heritage. There are several days of activities, including a lot of drinking, but our favorite part is the large parade on the Monday Rutenfest. I have a lot more photos in last year's blog post if you want to get more of a taste of the experience.

Elders Richman and Thompson among the spectators.

Can you spot Sister B in the picture?

This is the Blaserturm tower, right along the parade route.

The elders on their way out of the city, passing by the Mehlsack tower.

The Flood-gates of Heaven

This last week, as I prepared for a talk, started contemplating the concept of blessings. I began with the scripture on tithing, as that was my original theme, but got to thinking beyond the "windows of heaven."

"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." (Malachi 3:10 )

In the German Bible used here (not the Martin Luther translation), instead of "windows" it uses the word "sluices" which really means "flood-gates." Elder Bednar in October Conference uses the metaphor "window" to show the light "spiritual illumination and perspective are poured out through the windows of heaven and into our lives as we honor the law of tithing." ("Windows of Heaven," Bednar, October 2013 general conference)

Illumination is good and I always thought of the windows as being this source of blessings. I really feel that the Lord truly has blessed me with illumination as I study the scriptures and I have always had a testimony of the Law of Tithing, but as I contemplated the idea of the flood-gates of heaven, I though of that powerful metaphor. My thoughts were drawn to another scripture:

"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." (1 Corinthians 2:9 )  In Isaiah it reads "… him that waiteth for him." (Isa 64:4)

We cannot comprehend the blessings that await us if we but love the Lord and keep his commandments. We know from the revelation to Joseph Smith in section 130:

"There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated-- And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated." (D&C 130:20-21 )

I thought about how we pray for so many people, both here in Germany in our branch as also our family at home. I am sure that the Lord blesses the people we pray for, and the blessings are true. But how much more blessed are people as they truly turn to the Lord and serve Him. The blessings are as described in Paul's words "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man …" or, in other words, incomprehensible to us.

I thought about how the Holy Ghost works. People in the world can and do feel the influence of the Holy Ghost at times as they are introduced to the Gospel, or are influenced to do good, but the blessing of the gift of the Holy Ghost is only promised as we are obedient to the law of baptism and received the gift in the Lord's way. I feel that it is the same with blessings in general. People receive blessings every day, usually through the goodness of others. The Lord loves and blesses people, but the incomprehensible blessings come only when we love him or "wait for Him."

Our prayers and efforts to bless people are indispensable. The Lord truly blesses us, not only for our own good and benefit, but He blesses through us all His children whom we come in contact with. The greater blessing is when we can help others find the greater blessings that come from embracing the gospel and coming to know their Redeemer more in their daily lives and living the commandments that bring these incomprehensible blessings.