Almost seven years ago, Nate and I moved here as
newly-weds. We had no idea what our future
held, or the beauty that would bloom from our live here. Never in my wildest dreams would have ever imagined
my life to be such an adventure.
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| Seven years ago. |
I will forever hold
our life in Germany close to my heart.
So much growth and healing took place here, something I never thought
would be possible. We learned to love
more, and live better.
When Nate and I originally moved here, we had nothing but
suitcases with clothes, and I had a couple of boxes with books, and are leaving
with a whole house, and two children, I called that blessed.
Germany is where live started to make sense for me, and
where I were able to grow with my husband, depending on him, supporting him,
and loving him. This is where we established
our marriage life, and what we wanted our marriage to be like. I am happy to say so far is has been a
success.
We had many adventures traveling to several cities in
several countries. We have had the opportunity
to return to some countries several times.
We visited England, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Switzerland,
Austria, Poland, Germany, Italy, Greece, and Croatia. We have experience different cultures, food,
and customs. We have grown and learned
from these experiences, to adapt to difficult and challenging circumstances. (I would post pictures from all our tips but
it would be never ending, so I am sticking to my love for Germany.) We grew.
Here we grieved and mourned the loss of our unborn child,
but in return we were richly blessed with the birth Ian and Hayleigh. I cannot imagine my life without them.
Ian Keith Cook
10 September 2010
Hayleigh Elizabeth Cook
22 August 2012
I will always be bias about Germany, just because all the
sentimental things that took place in my life.
I learnt to be a wife, and grew in that role, later I become a mother,
and I am still growing in that role. I
leant to manage a house, and that finally evolved into making a happy home for
my family.
Things I am going to miss the most about Germany….
Fall
Fall is my favourite seasons. Germany delivered. There is nothing like driving in the back
roads, and seeing these canopies of red, yellow, orange, and brown leaves. It is absolutely breath taking. I am also a huge fan of pumpkins, and all the
festivals, pumpkins displays, and patches – well it just makes me happy.
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The country side
We live kind of a way from the base, and being surrounded by
farms is also beautiful. I love the
scenery and the calmness that accompanies it.
Nothing like driving down the street, and seeing the excitement when
they see the cows in the field, it never gets old. It is also just gorgeous, and it never got
old.
Castles
Castles are cool.
Even though they are very similar and you only have to visit a handful
to get your fix. There is nothing like
driving around, and seeing a castle on a hilltop. It is still exciting, and cool – we still get
all giddy over it.
The visible change of
seasons
I love seeing seasonal changes throughout the year, from the
blooming buds in spring, to the coloring leaves in fall. Germany has the most visible changes I have
ever seen, and it is so pretty. I am
going to miss that when I am in West Texas.
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Neighborhood
adventures
I am going to miss the fun little stream across the street
from our house. We set out on many
learning and discovering opportunities there.
This pictures makes me happy.
Flowers everywhere
What more is there to say, spring and summer is just a
gorgeous. Germans love their flowers.
Christmas time
Another favourite time.
It is very festive, and the Christmas markets are definitely something
to experience. Food, snacks, and
gluhwein overflow. I use to love all the
little booths, the lights, and the candied nuts.
Cathedrals & Churches
Old churches are simply gorgeous. Everywhere you go, you will find a church or cathedral. They are all similar, yet uniquely
different. I loved the sound of the
church bells on a Sunday morning.
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Hiking trails
We mastered walking in the winter this past winter, wanting
to use our double stroller with the kids.
The trails are beautiful, safe, and clean. I am going to miss the green, and woodsie
feel.
The bakeries
There is literally a bakery on every single corner
here. We have grown so accustom to it,
and Ian is madly in love. There is
nothing like a fresh warm pastry or pretzel while exploring old towns.
Beer
I have never been a huge beer drinker, but German beer is
delicious. There is nothing more to it,
it is just amazing.
The food
We have grown to love all the food here, and the different cooking
styles. My favourite parts are markets,
and going places to pick your own fruits and veggies. The different restaurants are also pretty
amazing, and mostly little hole in the wall places, every few chain restaurants. What is not to like about that?
Tomorrow all this will come to an end. Life as I know it, is pretty much over, and
that is so hard for me. I am finding it
hard to describe all my feelings and emotions.
We have been through so much here…
Looking back on it, I made some pretty amazing friends – and
nurtured friendships that will last an eternity (I love you Alicia and Monica),
I had to greet several friends, I had to learned different customs, I had to
figure out the German way, I had to learned how to recycled (and I grew in
love), I had to learn that everything is closed on a Sunday and all holidays
(it is not even open for the morning), I had to adapt and learn the military
way, I had to learned to plan trips myself, I had to learn so many things. But I am grateful for my new skills.
Here I am on my last night in Germany, and the things I want
to take away from here – I become a
wife, and a mother, and I learned that I am in desperate need of my Savoir
Jesus. That is enough for me, that is revolutionary,
and life changing. That has become my
life.
I am thankful for this beautiful opportunity, to grow and stretch
myself, in ways I never thought possible, and I will forever hold onto these
experience.
This is it, the last page in this chapter of our lives,
before we start a brand new page, full of opportunity and discoveries. As I mourn the loss of my “old” life, I will
rejoice in the new adventure before me…
This is it - I came
to Germany somewhat empty and broken, but I am leaving happy and full. A beautiful life was birthed here, and will
it will continue to grow somewhere else.
I will stretch my wings, and I will fly, and I will find the beauty in
the unexpected, just like here.
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| Six and a half years later - a happy and full heart and life. |
Good-bye Germany
You will forever hold a piece of my heart.
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