Frankfurt, Germany Town Square

This was our first learning experience on how to ride the train.  Elder Colton and his wife took us and the Asplund's on the train to downtown Frankfurt.   It cost us each 2 Euro's and it was standing up room only.  That was quite the experience.  Hey kids it kind of reminded me of TRACKS when we have ridden it in Salt Lake.   Well now I will try to enter some of the pictures that Dad took of what we saw.   It was mainly a walking tour and we didn't do any shopping or go into any cathedral's or museum.   They said we would do that another time.  Because this was to teach us how to ride the train.  I'm not ready to try it on my own because I don't know if I remember where to get off and then where to get back on.   I guess we need to be shown again.  

One thing of interest is the buildings in the town square have all been restored except one of the buildings was not bombed and  so it is the original.  It has a restaurant in it and I think a shop of some kind.  The buildings are called half timber houses because of the unique designs.    Also, in the square is a big plaque that the German people put in the ground that tells the story of how Adolf Hitler made them bring their books to the town square and burn them.   Frankfurt was known for their intelligence and love of reading books.  It was the gathering place of the scholars and book writers but Hitler said that the Nazi's were the intellegent people and wanted  the books burned.  The plaque says that this burning the start of the destruction of humanity.  It is said that he stood in the Magistrate building and watched this burning.

Frankfurt Town Square

This is the plaque in the square that tells about the burning of the books by Adolf Hitler.

The middle building is probably where Adolf Hitlet stood during the burning.

Just a church in the town square.

Bridge of the River Main next to the
square.

Outside one of the shops.  Huge Nutcracker.  There are shops with
lots of these.  They are not cheap.

This is the only building that survived the bombings in WWII.

Another church in the square.

They cut their trees and shrubs way back
but I understand they are beautiful
when they bloom.  The trees are starting
to bloom now.



I believe they said this is a government building and there
is something about walking across that bridge to
pay your taxes in the old days.



This is Justice She does not
have a blindfold on becaues
they say she is looking at
the magistrate building as
to say I am watching.

After we walked around, we went to Pizza Hut for dinner.   It was really good.  They even had more things on their menu than back home.   We had a pizza and had some for lunch the next day.   It cost us 22 Euros.

Oh I forgot to tell you, I needed to use the restroom and so Sister Colton and I went to the restroom.  Guess what you have to pay to use the restroom but the waitress knows the Colton really well so she gave us a token to use.   I wouldn't even think about carrying a Euro with me so I can use the bathroom.   After dinner we walked to the train station and rode the train back to close to our work.   We walked a block and drove home.   It was a fun night.

Letter to Scott's family March 29, 2011

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Dear Scott, Kristin, McKayla, Sterling and Lincoln,

It was so good to hear from you.   I love the e-mails.   I thought I would be okay with just SKYPE but I realize that the e-mails really help too.   I am so excited about your new Denali or Yukon.   I hope that it serves your family well and that you love joining the rest of us with that vehicle.   We really love ours so hopefully you will love yours too.

Scott thanks for getting us set up on the internet so we can watch videos.   We haven’t watched any for a while became I have been using my computer but it seems like we get to watch one or two a week, which is great.

Our new thing to do is go to the grocery store.   We really do need to find something different to do.   I think we have found a couple of stores that might be less expensive so we will keep looking around.   Jens from work is taking us to a couple of stores and going to help me understand what I am trying to buy.  I think I will have Sister Asplund go too because she wants to know how to buy things and what she is buying.   I love the adventure.   We turned in our plastic Coke and soda bottles yesterday and that was cool.  We got a refund for almost 5 Euro.   So I guess we have drank a lot of soda.

  

I got my first haircut yesterday.   I paid 15 EUR.  She did a good job.   It is a lady from the Philippines that cleans house for the Mission President and prepares meals for big functions at the mission home and then every two weeks she comes to an apartment of one of the missionaries in the building next to the office and cuts hair for the missionaries.   She has a son who was born totally deaf but he has had the implants and now he is doing pretty good.  He is 15 years old and she is a single mom plus she is supporting her father in the Philippines.   She seems to be a hard worker and she was very nice.   She actually told me she thought I was in my 40’s and couldn’t believe I had 10 grandchildren.   Nice way to get a big tip – tell me I look younger than I am.   It was a great self esteem builder. 

 

The German lady who works with finances came to train Dad yesterday and trained him for 3 ½ hours so we didn’t get to lunch until after 2:30 p.m. and I was so hungry.   Dad was getting teased about how she really liked him because I guess she can be pretty stern but Dad was a good student.   He admitted to me, he isn’t really sure what he learned but it will all come together once he has a payment request and has to actually do something with the programs.   She talked to me after and I’m not so sure she likes me as much, oh well.   (It was cute because Brother Asplund was telling me, how she liked Dad because he even saw her pat his arm.)   Poor dad, she speaks English but with a very strong German accent.  You know he has a hard time with that so he just smiles.

The weather is starting to be rainy over here and the skies are gray overcast.   I like it so much better when the sun is shining but that is probably why things are getting green and the trees are starting to bloom.   Everyone has flower pots on their homes and the fields are getting green.  

I am learning how to make a lunch for us each day.   That is interesting but we are doing pretty good with that.  I usually bring my caffeine Diet Coke for Dad and I to share at lunch.   If you have any good ideas for lunch, let me know. 

Dad is funny with our car because it is really small and it shifts on its own hard.   He keeps threatening to have me drive it because I am laughing at him.   I’m afraid to drive it because I will probably do worse than him.   I am just grateful for a car and for having to walk everywhere even though that would be good for me.  I would spend less at the grocery story because I would have to carry it all home.

I think we will watch conference on the internet.   We will watch Saturday morning session at 6:00 p.m. here and we will see if I can stay awake to watch the afternoon session at 10 p.m.   I think we have decided to stay home and not go to the church to watch the broadcasts.

Well, I guess I will close.   We love you guys and appreciate all you are doing for us.   Scott we hope your business really does well and that you can feel good about what is happening and hopefully that Kristin will be able to stay home and be a stay at home mom.   I know you are working hard for that to happen.   You are in our thoughts and prayers.  Love ya,  talk to you on Skype soon.

Mom and Dad, Grandpa and Grandma Paxton

Hey MaKayla,

 

Just a note to say, I love you.   I understand you probably are going to grandma Vickie’s house this weekend and you will get to see Camron.   Actually you probably just got back by the time you get this letter.   Did you and Camron have fun?   Did you like riding in your new car?   Was it comfortable?   How is your playroom?   Are you keeping it clean?   How are all your babies doing?   Are your Barbies fun to play with?  I bet you are a really good big sister to little Lincoln.   Give your mom and dad a kiss for me.    I love you tons and love to talk to you on Skype.   

Love, Grandma Vickie

Hi Sterling,

I love you too.   I love your kisses you give in the air to me when I am on SKYPE.   How are your trucks?   Are you having fun with them?   Do you love your new baby brother, Lincoln?    I bet he loves you as his big brother.    I love you.   See ya soon on Skype.   

Love Grandma Vickie

Dear Lincoln,

You don’t know me yet but I am sure we will be best friends when I get home.   You sure are cute.  I’m glad you have a great big sister, MaKayla, and a big brother, Sterling, to give you lots of hugs and kisses.  Maybe they can give you some from me.   

Love ya,  Grandma Vickie

Letter to Quayde Youth Detention

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Dear Quayde,

It was so good to hear from you.   I am glad to hear you are hanging in there and that you are going to have plenty of credits to graduate.  We know you will make the best decision for yourself as to where to go after you get out.  Just think about all the options and then I suggest you talk with Heavenly Father and tell him what you think you should do, and then ask him if that will be a good decision for you.   Hopefully you will feel good or uneasy with your decision and then that might help you know what to do.

Tell the Cowan’s hello for us.  I’m glad they are taking good care of you.   We do miss our Monday nights with you too.   Thank you for saying you miss us because you never know if you are making any kind of a difference in anyone’s life and we are glad to know we have made a difference in yours.   I do want you to know that you always made us feel that you were glad to see us and that made us happy and so we always looked forward to the next time.   You have a wonderful smile and great personality so always use that gift to bless the lives of others around you. 

 

That is exciting to get your CTR ring when you graduate.  Remember to always look at it and it will help you make correct choices throughout your life.   Remember there are a couple of things you can take with you when you leave that can help you in your life, 1) the scriptures and 2) your CTR ring.   I hope your family is doing well and that your brother is safe.   We think about you often and are praying for you that things will work out well for you and that you will find happiness and love in your life.    

Letter to Bryan's Family March 29, 2011

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Dear Bryan, Candalyn, Mason, Jayden and Madison,

It was so good to hear from you.   I can’t thank you enough for the letters.   I thought I would be okay with just SKYPE and the e-mails but the letters have really added to everything here.   I actually look forward to Tuesday’s to see if I have another letter from you.   I’m so afraid I am going to be sad when I don’t get one so please keep them coming.

I love your drawing of the Smith’s home.   I really hope that you can rent your house and that you can get that loan you were talking about so you can buy the Smith’s home.  I hope you can get it before someone else gets it.  It would be fun to have you so close for us.   I hope it won’t be bad for your guys.   Just think kids you can walk over to Grandma’s any time you want and Grandma can walk over to your house too.  Maybe we could all go for walks together.   I think that would be lots of fun. 

 

I got my first haircut yesterday.   I paid 15 EUR.  She did a good job.   It is a lady from the Philippines that cleans house for the Mission President and prepares meals for big functions at the mission home and then every two weeks she comes to an apartment of one of the missionaries in the building next to the office and cuts hair for the missionaries.   She has a son who was born totally deaf but he has had the implants and now he is doing pretty good.  He is 15 years old and she is a single mom plus she is supporting her father in the Philippines.   She seems to be a hard worker and she was very nice.   She actually told me she thought I was in my 40’s and couldn’t believe I had 10 grandchildren.   Nice way to get a big tip – tell me I look younger than I am.   It was a great self esteem builder. 

 

The German lady who works with finances came to train Dad yesterday and trained him for 3 ½ hours so we didn’t get to lunch until after 2:30 p.m. and I was so hungry.   Dad was getting teased about how she really liked him because I guess she can be pretty stern but Dad was a good student.   He admitted to me, he isn’t really sure what he learned but it will all come together once he has a payment request and has to actually do something with the programs.   She talked to me after and I’m not so sure she likes me as much, oh well.   (It was cute because Brother Asplund was telling me, how she liked Dad because he even saw her pat his arm.)   Poor dad, she speaks English but with a very strong German accent.  You know he has a hard time with that so he just smiles.

The weather is starting to be rainy over here and the skies are gray overcast.   I like it so much better when the sun is shining but that is probably why things are getting green and the trees are starting to bloom.   Everyone has flower pots on their homes and the fields are getting green.  

I am learning how to make a lunch for us each day.   That is interesting but we are doing pretty good with that.  I usually bring my caffeine Diet Coke for Dad and I to share at lunch.   If you have any good ideas for lunch, let me know.  

Dad is funny with our car because it is really small and it shifts on its own hard.   He keeps threatening to have me drive it because I am laughing at him.   I’m afraid to drive it because I will probably do worse than him.   I am just grateful for a car and for having to walk everywhere even though that would be good for me.  I would spend less at the grocery story because I would have to carry it all home.

I think we will watch conference on the internet.   We will watch Saturday morning session at 6:00 p.m. here and we will see if I can stay awake to watch the afternoon session at 10 p.m.   I think we have decided to stay home and not go to the church to watch the broadcasts.

Well, I guess I will close.   We love you guys and appreciate all you are doing for us.   We hope things with our house move along well and you can move to a new place, hopefully the Smith’s home.   Love ya,  talk to you on Skype soon.

Mom and Dad, Grandpa and Grandma Paxton

Hey Mason, 

Just a note to say, I love you.   It sounds like you have some pretty big projects at school.   I’m glad you have such great parents that can and will help you.   Hang in there.   This will just prepare you for middle school and so when you get there next year, it will be much easier because you already know what to expect.   How’s your spelling coming?   Are you still doing good on your tests?   How’s the algebra coming along?   How is scouts?   What have you been doing fun with scouts?   What is your favorite thing to do?   Are you and Jayden playing Black Ops?   You better not get too good or when Grandpa gets home, he will have a really hard time.   I guess you will just have to teach him.   Take care.   Talk to you on Skype soon.  

 Love, Grandma

Hi Jayden,

Congratulations on your Pinewood Derby race.   I really liked your truck.   You did a great job and that is awesome you took 2^nd and 3^rd place.   You are getting really good at it.   Maybe next year it will be 1^st place.   Are you still loving school?   Have you read any books you really like lately?   Do you still have your mom and Dad as your Primary teachers?   Are you ready to move to my house so you can move to a new place?   I sure hope you get to live close to us.   That will be so fun when we get home from our mission.   I love you.   See ya soon on Skype.   

Grandma

Dear Madison,

How are you doing?   I painted my nails last night and thought about you.   My nails are growing pretty good now and so that is good.   I don’t have your fancy machine to put decorations on so they are just plain.   Is Princess being nice to you?   Are you still doing good in school?   What is your favorite subject?   Have you done anything fun lately?  Who are your best friends?    Well I love you and miss your hugs.   Take care and I’ll see you soon on SKYPE.  

Grandma

Letter to Christie's Family March 29, 2011

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Dear Christie, Scott, Barrek, Kasen, Camron, Hudson,

It was so good to hear from you.   I love the e-mails.   I thought I would be okay with just SKYPE but I realize that the e-mails really help too.  Thank you for taking care of all the things that come through the mail.   It is comforting to know we don’t have to worry about things.

Christie, I think I will have you send my temple clothes.  There is a black bag in the closet and then my dress (skirt and blouse) are hanging up in the closet I think.   In the hall closet is a bag with the temple clothes from Michael.  Look those over and see if they are something Dad can use and then send those too, please.   If there is room in the package please put in a couple of my perfumes from the cabinet over the toilet.   Always send us a few packages of microwave popcorn from the cupboard, possibly some spaghetti mix (not Western Family), Fettuccini mix, ranch dressing mix and whatever other mixes that can be used to cook chicken and pork.   Take out enough out of the bank for the shipping and the stuff you need to buy at the store.   Maybe you can’t get any of the other things in and if you can’t, it is okay.   Just a little wish list.  Not really needed.    Gravy packets might be nice too.

  

I got my first haircut yesterday.   I paid 15 EUR.  She did a good job.   It is a lady from the Philippines that cleans house for the Mission President and prepares meals for big functions at the mission home and then every two weeks she comes to an apartment of one of the missionaries in the building next to the office and cuts hair for the missionaries.   She has a son who was born totally deaf but he has had the implants and now he is doing pretty good.  He is 15 years old and she is a single mom plus she is supporting her father in the Philippines.   She seems to be a hard worker and she was very nice.   She actually told me she thought I was in my 40’s and couldn’t believe I had 10 grandchildren.   Nice way to get a big tip – tell me I look younger than I am.   It was a great self esteem builder.  

The German lady who works with finances came to train Dad yesterday and trained him for 3 ½ hours so we didn’t get to lunch until after 2:30 p.m. and I was so hungry.   Dad was getting teased about how she really liked him because I guess she can be pretty stern but Dad was a good student.   He admitted to me, he isn’t really sure what he learned but it will all come together once he has a payment request and has to actually do something with the programs.   She talked to me after and I’m not so sure she likes me as much, oh well.   (It was cute because Brother Asplund was telling me, how she liked Dad because he even saw her pat his arm.)   Poor dad, she speaks English but with a very strong German accent.  You know he has a hard time with that so he just smiles.

The weather is starting to be rainy over here and the skies are gray overcast.   I like it so much better when the sun is shining but that is probably why things are getting green and the trees are starting to bloom.   Everyone has flower pots on their homes and the fields are getting green.  

I am learning how to make a lunch for us each day.   That is interesting but we are doing pretty good with that.  I usually bring my caffeine Diet Coke for Dad and I to share at lunch.   If you have any good ideas for lunch, let me know. 

  

Dad is funny with our car because it is really small and it shifts on its own hard.   He keeps threatening to have me drive it because I am laughing at him.   I’m afraid to drive it because I will probably do worse than him.   I am just grateful for a car and for having to walk everywhere even though that would be good for me.  I would spend less at the grocery story because I would have to carry it all home.

I think we will watch conference on the internet.   We will watch Saturday morning session at 6:00 p.m. here and we will see if I can stay awake to watch the afternoon session at 10 p.m.   I think we have decided to stay home and not go to the church to watch the broadcasts.

Well, I guess I will close.   We love you guys and appreciate all you are doing for us.   Scott, we hope that you get the perfect change that you need and that it will be just what the family needs too.   You are in our thoughts and prayers.  Love ya,  talk to you on Skype soon.

Mom and Dad, Grandpa and Grandma Paxton

Hey Barrek, 

Just a note to say, I love you.    How is scouts?   What have you been doing fun with scouts?   What is your favorite thing to do?   What new game are you playing on the Wee?   What is your favorite game?  Can you beat Kasen?   What good books have you read lately?   Have you seen any good movies?  I can’t wait to show you the money from here.   Talk to you on Skype soon.   

Love, Grandma

Hi Kasen,

Congratulations on your Wrestling matches.   I can’t believe how good you are doing with that.  That is awesome you took 2^nd and 3^rd place.   You must be quite the little wrestler.   Keep it up and probably one of these times you  will be in 1^st place.   Are you still loving school?   Have you read any books you really like lately?   Are you still loving that Hudson a lot?   I bet he loves you as his big brother.    I love you.   See ya soon on Skype.

  

Grandma

Dear Camron,

How are you doing?   You are getting so big when I talk to you on the phone.   I heard that Uncle Scott and Aunt Kristin are coming to Cedar and so you probably got to play with McKayla.   She says you are her best friend.   I hope you had lots of fun.   Have you done anything fun lately?  Who are your best friends?   Have fun in pre-school.   Well I love you and miss your hugs.   Take care and I’ll see you soon on SKYPE.  

Grandma

Hi Hudson,

I look forward to giving you lots of hugs and kisses.   You have great parents and brothers that love you.   I will just count on them to give you hugs and kisses from me.   I know we will be great buddies when I get home.  Give your mom and dad a kiss for me.   

Love ya,  Grandma

Learning Curve

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Dear Bob and Jo,

I hope this finds you well and that things are going well for you.   We are loving it here and learning a lot. 

 

Our new thing to do is go to the grocery store.   We really do need to find something different to do.   I think we have found a couple of stores that might be less expensive so we will keep looking around.   Jens from work is taking us to a couple of stores and going to help me understand what I am trying to buy.  I think I will have Sister Asplund go too because she wants to know how to buy things and what she is buying.  She and her husband arrived the same day we did.   Marv works with them in the Centers for Young Single Adults.   I love the adventure.   We turned in our plastic Coke and soda bottles yesterday and that was cool.  We got a refund for almost 5 Euro.   So I guess we have drunk a lot of soda. 

 

I got my first haircut yesterday.   I paid 15 EUR.  She did a good job.   It is a lady from the Philippines that cleans house for the Mission President and prepares meals for big functions at the mission home and then every two weeks she comes to an apartment of one of the missionaries in the building next to the office and cuts hair for the missionaries.   She has a son who was born totally deaf but he has had the implants and now he is doing pretty good.  He is 15 years old and she is a single mom plus she is supporting her father in the Philippines.   She seems to be a hard worker and she was very nice.   She actually told me she thought I was in my 40’s and couldn’t believe I had 10 grandchildren.   Nice way to get a big tip – tell me I look younger than I am.   It was a great self esteem builder.

   

The German lady who works with finances came to train Marv yesterday and trained him for 3 ½ hours so we didn’t get to lunch until after 2:30 p.m. and I was so hungry.   Marv was getting teased about how she really liked him because I guess she can be pretty stern but Marv was a good student.   He admitted to me, he isn’t really sure what he learned but it will all come together once he has a payment request and has to actually do something with the programs.   She talked to me after and I’m not so sure she likes me as much, oh well.   (It was cute because Brother Asplund was telling me, how she liked Dad because he even saw her pat his arm.)   Poor Marv, she speaks English but with a very strong German accent.  You know he has a hard time accents and with hearing sometimes so he just smiles and she thinks he is understanding her.

The weather is starting to be rainy over here and the skies are gray overcast.   We have had a lot of sunny days since we arrived which we were told is unusual and that we must have brought the sunshine with us.  I like it so much better when the sun is shining but that is probably why things are getting green and the trees are starting to bloom.   Everyone has flower pots on their homes and the fields are getting green.   It is really starting to look pretty.

I am learning how to make a lunch for us each day.   That is interesting  trying to come up with things to eat.   If you have any good ideas for lunches, please pass them on.  There is a little store next to our office so sometimes we run over there to get a drink or something but most of the time I try to plan ahead.

Marv is funny with our car because it is really small and it shifts on its own hard.   He keeps threatening to have me drive it because I am laughing at him.   I’m afraid to drive it because I will probably do worse than him.   I am just grateful for a car and for not having to walk everywhere even though that would be good for me.  I would spend less at the grocery story because I would have to carry it all home.  We are hoping to walk around our town and stuff when we get time and the weather is nicer.   There is a river we can walk by and the town is really quite cute.

I think we will watch conference on the internet.   We will watch Saturday morning session at 6:00 p.m. here and we will see if I can stay awake to watch the afternoon session at 10 p.m.   I think we have decided to stay home and not go to the church to watch the broadcasts.

Last weekend our neighbors that are senior missionaries took us to Fulda.   We left late in the afternoon so we really didn’t get to see as much as we would have liked but we saw the Residence and the Cathedral.   Both really impressive.   I do have to tell you the funny part was trying to find a place to eat dinner.   Finally we found what appeared to be an Italian Restaurant – not sure that it was.   Anyway, the menu is all in German, of course, and so we can pick out a few words, like Pizza and basil.   We asked the waiter if he spoke English and he said a little.  Anyway he was trying to explain what was on the pizza and he said like salami or that is what I thought he said which is their pepperoni over here.   So I said that would be fine.   It was a pizza that he hand tosses.   Anyway we got the pizza which is covered with this fresh green stuff (basil) and so we cut it and start to eat it.   The meat looks a little like bacon uncooked but I ate it thinking it probably isn’t uncooked bacon.   It was really thin sliced a little hard to eat but not extremely bad tasting.   The couple we were with ordered the same thing and all of sudden we hear her say, I can’t eat this raw bacon.   Marv and I looked at each other and at the pizza again and started to laugh.  We pulled off the bacon and ate the pizza and green basil.   Not Marv’s favorite thing.  

Anyway at work I was telling one of the guys about our experience and he looked at me like I was so stupid.  Then he proceeded to tell me that I was eating raw bacon and that they love it.   It won’t hurt you he said.  He then told me of another favorite dish, which is raw hamburger on a bun.   Trying to tell me that it is really no different than eating a steak rare.   I eat my steak well done.   So I hope we don’t order the hamburger somewhere.   That could really be a waste of money.

Well, I guess I will close.   You are in our thoughts and prayers.  

Love ya, 

Marv and Vickie

Office, Asplund's and Bad Vilbel

This is our office building.  Dad, Grandpa works on the top floor.  I work on the second floor.

Us and the Asplund's, who came the first day we did.

I tried to send some pictures but decided to put them on the blog.   I thought you might like to see where we live and work at this point in time.  We moved to Bad Vilbel on March 10, 2011.

Dad, (Grandpa) works with the Asplund's in the Center for Young Single Adults.  He is doing the finances and they are the coordinators for all of Europe.  We are getting to know them and really enjoy being around them.
This picture is before a meeting we had with the head of the Church's Finances over all of Europe.   We sure got fed good the first week we were here.   This is in a nice meeting room and I was invited to join them for part of their meeting seeings I do the finances for S&I for all of Europe.

Looking from where we  park to our apartment.

Vickie at front door of apartment.

The way we walk home from downtown.

Looking back toward town.

Vickie by loaner car at apartment.

Looking toward steps to walk up to our apartment from town.

We haven't gotten out too much to take pictures of our town but hopefully one of these days we will and we will send you some pictures.  There is a river that runs through town and I understand it is a favorite spot to go walk.   I am looking forward to taking a walk especially when the spring flowers are coming up.   Our apartment has 2 bedrooms, 1 1/2 baths and is pretty nice.   There is no carpeting just rugs on the floor over laminate flooring in the bedroom and living room and then the hall and kitchen has laminate flooring that is kind of different.  There are lots of throw rugs on the floors.   Our beds are different because it is like two twin beds together and we each have our own bedding and comforters.  They have big square pillows and just a comforter each.   It is very different.   It makes it easy to make the bed because you just straighten out the comforter and pillow and the bed is made.   The bathroom is all done in tile on the floor and on the walls.  It looks really nice.  It has a tub and a separate shower.  It is a very nice place and we hope we don't have to move again but it is really expensive so we will see what happens but for now we are enjoying it.   The kitchen has a dishwasher, microwave, stove, small refrigerator, freezer and a clothes washer.  Our clothes dryer is in the bedroom.   We have had to learn how to run our appliances because they are in German. The dryer doesn't vent to the outside so you have to remove this thing that collects water from the clothes.  It is pretty interesting. 

Arrival in Frankfurt, Germany

I know we have been here for three weeks now and so it is time to update my blog to let you know what we have been doing.   We love it here and we have had lots of new experiences.   I want my family to share in some of these experiences.

When we arrived we were picked up at the Frankfurt airport after our 9 1/2 hour flight from Dallas, Texas.  We arrived at 7:05 a.m. on Saturday morning, March 5, 2011.  Both Marv and I had to sit in different rows so we didn't get to sit together.  Both of us only were able to stay up once during the flight because we were in the inside of the middle row and didn't want to bother the people around us.   So our legs were really swollen but it felt good to stand up.

They took us to our temporary apartment, which is an apartment that is used for General Authorities so you can imagine, it was very nice.   It had two bedrooms and one bathroom with a dishwasher, washer and dryer.   We stayed up all day so we could try to adjust to the time difference which is 8 hours ahead of Utah.   Neither of us had very much sleep before but the Davies took us to the grocery store to get some food and cash.  They had put some juice, fresh fruit, cookies and chocolates on our pillow for our arrival.  That was so very kind of them. We loved our apartment.

2nd Bedroom

One Balcony

Bathroom

Hall toward bedrooms and bathroom

Kitchen

Laundry Room

Looking from Living room to Kitchen

Living room and Dining room

Master Bedroom

Look at that luggage.  Vickie by Closets

Residence in Wursburg, Germany Saturday, March 19, 2011

This was our first official Senior Missionary Excursion.   We traveled to Wursburg, Germany and the first thing we visited was the Residence of the Prince-Bishop Johann Philipp Franz von Schonborn in the 1700's.  It was very wonderful and we couldn't take pictures inside but we can share the outside with you.  We bought postcards of the inside so you will have to wait to see them later.  I hope you enjoy these pictures.

 The Residence of the Prince/King in Wursburg

 The Hall

A lot of Wursburg was destroyed during WWII.   This was a very ornate and beautiful palace. 

Letter to Quayde, the young man we taught in the Youth Detention

Friday, March 18, 2011

Elder and Sister Paxton

Frankfurt Mail Pouch

Church Office Building

50 East North Temple

Salt Lake City, Ut  84150

Dear Quayde,

I hope this finds you doing well.   You are so very close to getting out.   I hope that your schooling is coming together and that you will be able to graduate in May like you were planning.   Do you have new Family Home Evening Parents?   Do you like them?   Are you able to keep smiling and making the best of your time?   Do you have any new boys?   Have you played UNO recently and did you win?

Sorry this has taken so long to get to you but I can’t believe how crazy things have been for us.  It has all been good and a learning experience also.   The MTC kept us really busy from about 7:00 a.m. until about 8:30 p.m. and then we usually had reading assignments for the next day.   We learned a lot while there but we were definitely tired at night.   I (Vickie) ended up getting sick with a bad cold while there and just today, I am finally feeling much better.   I usually don’t get sick but this bug hung on for three weeks.   So far Marv is staying well and hope he stays that way.

Well, we flew out on March 5 early in the morning and made it to Dallas and after a 4 hour layover we were back on the plane heading to Frankfurt, Germany.   Both flights Marv and I were not sitting by each other so we got to talk to new people but I really would have liked to have sat by him.   The 9 ½ hour flight to Germany was not as bad as I expected except it was hard to get up and move around because the chairs were so close together and I would have to make those sitting by me get up and I didn’t want to disturb them.   We did have movies we could watch on a screen in front of our seat.  The earphones weren’t the best but when I remembered I had some, I put those in and for the last half of the flight was able to hear the movies better.   I think I was just too nervous to sleep so I didn’t.   I only had about an hour of sleep from Thursday morning until what would have been Saturday night there for you because we stayed up when we got here to try to adjust to the jet lag.   We actually did pretty good but by about 4 p.m. here each day, I would feel really tired.  But now I think we are adjusted and things are great.

Let me tell you a little about Germany.   First, the put us in an apartment temporarily that is used for visiting General Authorities and it was really nice.   After about 5 days there, we had to move because one of the couple’s  husband had a stroke and they needed our apartment because it had an elevator so they found us an apartment in a town nearby but that required us to get approval for a car to use, which they gave.   We are living in one of the nicest apartments for senior couples in the Area apparently.  It is very nice.  It has two bedrooms, 1 ½ baths, a dishwasher, microwave, washer and dryer, a TV and DVD player.   It does cost more than the others but I guess we will just pay the difference and go without something else.   It is about 15 to 20 minute drive from our office so fairly close.  This is located in a very cute town, we call it the Park City of Germany.   We understand a big portion of the millionaires live in this town and it is a town with hot mineral waters apparently.

Now the driving over here is very interesting.   You definitely have to have a GPS to get around.   There are a lot of one way streets and you can’t always go one way to get somewhere and take the same route to get back.   There are street lights all along the roads and each lane has its own light so you have to watch carefully to know if you can go in your lane or if you have to stop or turn.   The drivers are pretty nice over here.   I would say most people will use public transportation to get around instead of using their cars because it is hard to find a place to park.   The streets off the main streets are very narrow maybe wide enough for one car and then cars are parked on the side and somehow some of these streets are two way so you have to pull over and let each other by.  It can be very stressful.   I drove today for the first time just from our apartment into work and I did fine.   We drive on the autoban but it does have speed limits contrary to what people in the states have been told.   There may be sections that there are not speed limits but so far on the parts we have driven there have been limits and there are not very high limits – less than what we drive in the states.  For example, the sign may show 80 but that is really 50 miles per hour in the states.  

Food is expensive to buy in the restaurants.   We went with another couple to a restaurant the first week we were here, one they really liked and we ordered a cheeseburger and fries and a drink and it cost us 20 Euros or $30 American.   It was a good hamburger but I thought it was pretty expensive.  Also you have to buy water at restaurants, they do not serve free water and of course none of your drinks are free refills.   A drink in a restaurant is typically around $3.00 US dollars and they aren’t very big.   The food has been good.  Marv and I have actually split a meal a couple of times and it was plenty for us.   We have had lots of pizza since we have been here because that is what people have ordered to feed us.   We actually went to a Pizza Hut and it was like back home but with more variety.  We have had Croatian food, which has been my favorite restaurant so far, we had Chicken Cordon Bleu with a salad and vegetables and it was all very good.  We have had Thai, Mexican and a hot dog from a vendor.   I have bought food to cook at home and that has been fun guessing a little about what I am buying but so far we have liked most everything.

The weather was beautiful when we got here.   The sun was shining for the first two or three days and you really noticed all the spring flowers beginning to break through.   We have gone into a little cold spell the past few days and I have decided my coat is not going to be warm enough in the dead of winter so I will need to buy another one before we enter winter next year.   There are a ton of apartment buildings here and most people live in apartments because it is too expensive to own land and your home like we have.   The buildings are really close to each other.   We learned how to ride the train and go downtown.   The shopping places are huge.   I have never seen so many stores in one place.   We didn’t shop but just walked around.  

The people have been so kind to us and treated us as royalty.   We are both trying to learn our new responsibilities.   Marv is doing Finances for the Centers For Young Single Adults and I am doing the Finances for the Seminaries and Institutes in all of Europe.   Marv may have to do some traveling with his position so I am hopeful they will let me tag along.  

This Saturday we are going to Wurzburg and I believe see a castle over there with a group of people.   I will let you know what we see and how it turns out.   It will be a new experience.

Quayde, now I will give you my missionary pitch.   Please read the Book of Mormon because I know that you will find answers and peace in your life.   I would love to hear what you are reading about and how you feel.   Moroni 10:3-5 (last book in Book of Mormon) is a promise of how the Book of Mormon can bless your life.   I challenge you to read this and take the challenge to read it.   You have a couple of months before you are out and if you read a little each day you might get it read before you leave but then I encourage you to read it when you are out every day.  It will bless your life.

I best get this in the mail.   We are hoping and praying for you.   Take care and we miss our Monday nights with you but we love what we are doing and the people we are meeting.  

Sincerely,

Elder and Sister Paxton

Our Arrival in Frankfurt, Germany

Our Arrival in Frankfurt Germany

We arrived in Frankfurt, Germany, on American Airlines Flight 70 from Dallas, Texas, at about 7:05 a.m.  After getting through customs and picking up our bags we met up with the Asplunds and the four of us proceeded to try and find Brother Davies.   We found Brother and Sister Davies and they welcomed us to Germany.   They loaded all of us and our bags in a vehicle and we were driven to where the Asplunds were going to stay.  They are staying in the building next to the office building.

 We were told that the apartments aren’t as nice and they were moving people out of them so I was glad we weren’t staying there.   Then the Davies said they were taking us to an apartment that was above theirs temporary.  We were expecting to go to an apartment in Bad Vilbel.   Apparently the apartment we were going to was one used for visiting General Authorities and in a building owned by the church.   We were in the top floor which is 3^rd floor in Germany but 4^th floor in America.   There was an elevator so that was really nice having to get our luggage up there. 

When they opened the door and showed us around, I was so impressed and fell in love with it because it was really nice.   It had a 2 bedroom, where they had a computer set up in one with a printer and a twin bed and closet.   It was nice.

The main bedroom was huge with lots of closet space and a balcony and carpet on the floor.   The bathroom was nice with a shower and a heating rack for your towels so that you.