Good Food and Secret Sisters!

My friend's love language has most certainly got to be cooking ;)...now I know that isn't an actual love language, it's her way of gifting/giving herself and her time to people, but let me tell you, the woman should have a cooking show!

She had spent the whole day before we arrived making food, all of our favorites, so that we would have a special visit and lots of time to sit and chat. I did sit at her kitchen table and talk, while she rewarmed things, we put dishes together and taste tested things...it was all amazing, from chicken wings with her homemade bleu cheese sauce, little smokies, spinach dip, ham and cheese rolls, and so many other appetizers on our first night (sorry, no pictures.) Then, on the second night, she made chicken and beef enchildas with homemade beans, homemade salsa, Mexican rice, and guacamole. Delicious!

...and of course, everything looks better (and tastes amazing) when it's served on Polish Pottery ;)!

You've got an amazing kitchen my friend, and I can still say that after being in your kitchen in Colorado as well.

This year's Secret Sister program was another special time...and because we were going to be in Germany after the holidays, my Sister sent my gift to my friend's house.

She could hardly wait for me to open it. I got this lovely "Joy" ornament that I am going to keep out all year to remind myself to live in the moment, to live with Joy, to be full of Joy in all circumstances that life brings because we have the best reason of all to be joyful, and we celebrate His birth on Christmas day!

She also hand knit this lovely prayer shawl in my favorite colors. I could hardly believe it when I saw it, so very lovely and soft and just perfect!

When we got back to Kyrgyzstan, I hung up my new Joy ornament and the mini Aachen ornament that I purchased in the local gift shop we walked into from my previous post (the one where we were shocked to find a Kyrgyz Nativity.)

They are both such precious memories of this holiday season and the time we were able to spend with our friends. This weekend, I'll be taking down our tree, but the Joy ornament I'll be hanging in my bedroom, by the mirror that I use everyday to get ready, so I can be reminded of the news that I've heard, and that we share, that causes such great joy for all people!

Aachen...and a Kyrgyz Nativity

On our second day with our friends in Germany, we drove the 30 or so minutes to Aachen, the legendary seat of Charlemagne and where over 30 German kings have had their coronations. Again, it was a place we had studied in our homeschool and we were excited to share this adventure as a family.

The streets were still decorated for the holidays. Strings of Christmas lights connecting all the street light posts.

Our first glimpse of the Aachen Cathedral as we came up the path.

This is our friend's excited face.

Another view of the Aachen Cathedral as we came around the side of it to enter.

The octagonal center of the cathedral.

Some of the stained glass windows with famous Bible stories and people depicted.

Every part of the ceiling was painted, decorated by hand, and different in pattern.

The legendary throne of Charlemagne.

Another section of ceiling that I found lovely.

And yet another. I love the blue and gold together, so very beautiful and Byzantine in it's look.

A look up at the organ.

Looking toward the ceiling and all the hand painted details.

The candles.

Walking into the choir area....

...you see these lovely windows and paintings on the walls.

Like the Cologne/Koln Cathedral is known for it's Gothic architecture and having the remains of the Three Wisemen in a shrine, the Aachen cathedral claims to have the remains of Charlemagne in a shrine and also a shrine to Mary, containing some of her personal items and also the swaddling clothes of baby Jesus. The picture above is the shrine of Mary and it is opened every 7 years to be inspected and shown to the public.

The paintings on the wall are original. During WWII an explosion took place that broke all of the glass and left the choir area exposed for some time before new glass could be made and restored. The area filled with water and the paintings were severely faded. Due to it being a historic site, by law they cannot restore anything, only keep it in it's current condition, so the paintings stay as they are, faded, as a reminder of the war and what happened to the cathedral.

I really like this music/book stand.

Sissi makes friends wherever she goes...including our tour guide who really took to her.

The floor tile work was just as incredible as the ceilings.

Saying their goodbyes after our tour!

Then, we went into a local gift shop and I did a double take....a Kyrgyz Nativity set? In Germany? Wow! The store literally had Nativity sets from all over the world, in every place that their organization works with local and improverished children. I think I owe a Kyrgyz Nativity to my friends now, she liked it.

Friends, together by the Aachen Cathedral.

...and more friends, 28 years and going strong. I pray our children will continue our legacy and continue to make efforts to get together through the years!

A day...or two...in Cologne/Koln

While at our Winter Conference, we were able to take a few hours and check out Cologne/Koln. We had studied the famous Gothic Cathedral in our homeschool and so we were thrilled to put our eyes on the building!

Our first view of the cathedral as we came out of the train station.

With friends, staring up at the immensity that is the Koln Cathedral.

We found a super neat hand carved, wooden nativity in a window and just had to take a picture. We miss seeing those kinds of things around town during the holidays.

Want to buy an old-fashioned, new camera?

Looking straight up at the cathedral.

It truly is an impressive structure.

On the outside of the cathedral, they have a display explaining the history and how the church remained even after the bombing during WWII. I would say our guys' accuracy was pretty right on!

A Roman arch that remains in the city center.

Walking past the front of the cathedral is just awe-inspiring!

And the detail work all around the doors and entry ways was thought provoking, made me do a bit of "Wikipedia" research as I was loading the pictures.

I really like how the light is shining on this one...pretty great shot with Gwangi's point and shoot camera (I didn't bring my nicer camera on the trip because of space in the luggage.)

The pillars and windows were a thing of beauty

The long aisle down to the lone Christmas tree.

We then took a little bit of a walk around town and I couldn't resist the ice cream cone coming out of the top of the building.

Another lovely church in Koln.

Or, the car, with wings, in gold, on top of a building...

Finishing up our circle tour and returning to the cathedral. You can't really get lost, because it's so tall!

One of the hotels all lit up for the holidays.

Our return to the conference center on the night of the 30th.

Then, when we checked out of the conference on New Years Day, we took the train back to Cologne to meet up with some family friends for two days, so we took the kids with us this time and revisited the cathedral and got a few more great shots.

They were just finishing up a service when we went inside.

Our friends called this the Minecraft window!

The kids, all together again! Cannot believe it's been over 4 years since we were all in a coop together in Colorado!

Looking up at the organ!

Friends!

My girl!

With my friend, Rachel!

I'm sure this cathedral is beautiful all the time, but with the lights and flowers and trees inside for Christmas, it was quite festive and yet peaceful. I love this kind of architecture and the way it makes me feel the immensity of the Father and the smallness of me!