Wednesday, April 24th, 2019 - Such a great day! Bracken and Taryn arrived at 8:55 a.m., then Alison came in about 4:00 p.m. due to her missing one of her connecting flights because of the lateness of her other flight getting out. But, we all relaxed and just enjoyed seeing each other--plus we had fun playing Crown Five--which wasn't finished, but George was getting beaten at the time! The next morning (Thursday), we took Bracken and Taryn to the car rental place in downtown Frankfurt and Gpa George, Alison, and I started on our six hour journey to Paris where we were training our new AAA.
The timing was perfect because Alison got to go along with us. She hadn't been back to Paris since they lived there in 2003 - 2006 (I believe). Anyway, it was so fun having the time to talk together as we traveled. One of the greatest blessings of our calling is to meet wonderful members all over the Europe Area. Our new AAA in Paris is going to be fantastic, and Alison actually remembered him from when they were in the same ward together! While we were in Paris, we visited some of the most wonderful areas with Alison--including the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Versailles, Notre Dame (they are already working on it after the big fire--it will be rebuilt, for sure!), the Paris Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Temple where we were able to do a session, the wonderful pastry shops where we had to try their fantastic macaroons of every kind, and even stopped by John and Alison's home where they lived the three years when John worked in downtown Paris. We left the next day (Saturday) and drove the six hours back to Friedrichsdorf. We picked Bracken and Taryn up about an hour after we got home.
The tunnel by the flame where Princess Diana died.
Enjoying the grounds around the Louvre.
Our new AAA we came to train in Paris. Amazingly enough, Alison knew him and his family when they lived in Paris about ten years ago.
Afterwards, we met some friends of Alison's, who again she knew since the days she and John lived in Paris. We had wonderful crepes in a cute little restaurant there.
The next day, we wanted to visit Versailles before we left for home, but it was absolutely freezing and the lines were horrendous for the wait. However, George had dropped us off and my phone wouldn't work in France, so due to an amazing miracle, we met a man and his wife from Alabama who allowed us to use his international texting phone, and George finally found us! An absolute tender mercy, for sure!
We loved going to the Paris Temple and doing a session there. What a beautiful temple it is with spectacular grounds!
We had to stop at the little bakery, which was near the house that John and Alison rented when they lived in Paris.
Fortunately, the woman in the front house let us in the yard to see the house John and Alison rented, but unfortunately the people who rent it now were out of town, so we didn't get to talk to them. But, it was so fun reminiscing about this beautiful house and garden (and Floppy and Doodle, the ducks that adopted their family and came every day for a handout!)
We just had to stop in the canola flower seeds, called Rapeseed, to try to get the perfect picture!
The timing was perfect because Alison got to go along with us. She hadn't been back to Paris since they lived there in 2003 - 2006 (I believe). Anyway, it was so fun having the time to talk together as we traveled. One of the greatest blessings of our calling is to meet wonderful members all over the Europe Area. Our new AAA in Paris is going to be fantastic, and Alison actually remembered him from when they were in the same ward together! While we were in Paris, we visited some of the most wonderful areas with Alison--including the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Versailles, Notre Dame (they are already working on it after the big fire--it will be rebuilt, for sure!), the Paris Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Temple where we were able to do a session, the wonderful pastry shops where we had to try their fantastic macaroons of every kind, and even stopped by John and Alison's home where they lived the three years when John worked in downtown Paris. We left the next day (Saturday) and drove the six hours back to Friedrichsdorf. We picked Bracken and Taryn up about an hour after we got home.
Sunday, April 28, 2019 -All five of us were able to get ready and drive into Frankfurt and made it with ten minutes to spare before church started at 9:00 a.m. We were pretty proud of ourselves! Hah! We had a wonderful church service, and then headed for downtown Frankfurt to stroll around the Town Square, walk across the Locks of Love Bridge, and go inside the huge cathedral there. On the way home, we were so excited to see a field of the bright yellow flowers plants that we had wanted to take pictures in front of all the way home from Paris, but could never get inside the fence they had around them. Then, here in practically our own backyard, we were able to find a field with no fence. Wow! We were so excited! It is actually what they make canola oil out of and is called rapeseed. Weird name, but that's what it is! When we got home that evening, Alison fixed us a wonderful chicken, rice, salad, vegetables, Sunday dinner!
Monday, April 29, 2019 - Today we went by the office to let them all see where we worked, plus introduce them to our co-workers in the finance department. I am always so proud to do that because it helps our family see what our job entails, plus I LOVE having our co-workers meet our family who they only have seen pictures of before. Then we headed for Heidelberg. I have to chuckle--we have now gone there five times in the last month! Hah! But, it was great! George had seen it one too many times, so he stayed in the car and came to get us afterwards, which made it so we didn't have to walk so far--a real blessing. We then went downtown Heidelberg, strolled the main street and squares down there, ate lunch, and finished off with yummy gelato! That evening, we sadly had to take Bracken and Taryn to the airport as they continue on their two-week celebration time for Bracken graduating from BYU with a major in Economics. So proud of his hard work and can't wait to see what is next in store for them!
Tuesday, April 30, 2019 - We got up at 4:30 a.m. and then headed out the door for the airport again--this time taking Alison to the airport for her flight home. Wow! We LOVE having our family come, but it makes it so hard when we have to bid farewell. We all had such a great time together! Then we went back to the house, slept for about an hour and a half, then headed downtown Frankfurt to the dermatologist to get George's stitches out--which wasn't fun! They had become in bedded, so they really were difficult to get out. After that, we headed for work, and here we are. We had so much work to catch up on, but I think we are finally on top of it again--at least for today. Tomorrow is Germany's Labor Day, so the office will be closed. Maybe we can catch up on a few things at home!
There were so many birthday celebrations in April - my dad turned 96 on April 16! He told me he was definitely "going to try" to be there when we come home!
Bracken on the 18th - He's such a great organizer and hard worker! We have loved getting to be around him and Taryn, who were married in November after we left for our mission in September.
Kyle, on April 20 - I really don't know how we would have survived without him on this mission--especially while we served in Russia. He knows people around the world who are always so kind to us because they LOVE Kyle so much!
Mason, April 21st - He is such a joy to be around and always has that great big smile. He puts his all into everything he does!
Connor, April 22nd - Such a wonderful young man who definitely loves the Lord and loves his family. So proud of his hard work in college and all he does!
And last but not least - Happy 19th Wedding Anniversary to Jeff and Amy. The years have flown by and now they are so busy raising three great kids and a little caboose--little Copeland always makes us smile!
Bracken on the 18th - He's such a great organizer and hard worker! We have loved getting to be around him and Taryn, who were married in November after we left for our mission in September.
Kyle, on April 20 - I really don't know how we would have survived without him on this mission--especially while we served in Russia. He knows people around the world who are always so kind to us because they LOVE Kyle so much!
Mason, April 21st - He is such a joy to be around and always has that great big smile. He puts his all into everything he does!
Well, that's a wrap for the last two weeks! I'm sure it is waaay too long, but this is definitely my journal, so hopefully you will understand why I have to document everything!
Love you all so much! Keep up the great work! Gma Laura
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