Austria

Isn't that great?!?!?!
As you can see on the left, we've added in the latest info on where we're at with support raising. It's really been great to see God provide and challenging to wait for his timing and way of doing things. We are in the process to trying to be in touch with as many of you as we can. We hope we can catch you by email or phone or in person over the next few months!
Keep checking back to see where we're at! :)

Jars of Candy

A couple days ago, Anne filled three different jars will different kinds of candy. She took them to school to have a contest for her students. These 3rd graders had the whole week to calculate and guess how many pieces were in each jar. The winner would win that jar of candy! (only one jar per child, please)

Well, yours truly thought he'd give it a go. Guess for jar #1: 260 jelly beans. Guess for jar #3: 50 chocolate eggs.
Answer for jar #1: 260 jelly beans!! Answer for jar #3: 54 chocolate eggs!!!!

OOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH YEAH! Can you feel that???!!?!?!?!? OOOOH OOOOH! Who's your daddy!?!?!?!? (that was my victory dance)

I skipped jar #2 because I don't remember what I guessed or the actual number. But I was relatively close to that one also.

What will they think of next?

This is something new to me. Is it a guiboard? Is it a skatar? I'm not sure, but you should definitely check this out!!!

German Word of the Day #2

die Sossenschuessel (dee SOsen shoosul) - the gravy boat

German Word of the Day

verfallen (fair FALLen) - to expire, decay

Comments Please

Well, I just found out about a new dimension I can add to our Blog. And so I did! Maybe it's not that big of a deal, but it's worth a try.
It's a way for you to make comments on the posts we make to our blog. So if you want to try commenting on this, or any post, just click on the link below that says "Comment" and then a number in parentheses (which happens to be 0 right now, since it's brand spankin' new!)

So be the first! Make a comment!

Pile Number Three

Anne and I have been gradually going through our entire apartment and sorting things into 3 piles (very large piles, mind you).
Pile One - Things we are taking with us to Austria.
Pile Two - Things we aren't taking with us to Austria, but are going to store somewhere. (Our smallest pile)
Pile Three - Things we are selling.
Pile number three is definitely the biggest. So, are you interested in taking a gander at it and maybe buying a book or two, a board game, 7 oz. rubies, a table, framed pictures, or Christmas decorations? Come on over!

Get me out of here!!!

Aaawwwwwwwwww yeah! We're taking off tonight, right after work, to fly to Florida. We're excited to have some DOWN TIME. Plus it's going to be warm - instead of 20 degrees, which it is here today.
And, by the way, we'll get to hear one of Anne's favorite things to hear on an overhead speaker. As you arrive in the airport in West Palm Beach, and are waiting to pick up your luggage, you hear a deep, resonant voice announcing "Welcome to the Palm Beaches." I'll be taking in that listening bliss in - oh, say, 9 hours. :)

Amazing Photo of the Day

Ey or Ay, Eh?

Just a few days ago, Anne told me that I say her mom's name (Meg) incorrectly. "What are you talking about!?!?"
Well it turns out that there is a difference that I have never noticed between the way she and her family say Meg and the way I do. I say Meg as in "pay" or "bay". Anne and the Luginbills say Meg as in "elephant" (the first syllable). And that goes for egg, and also peg and keg I suppose. So, the way I tell myself to pronounce my mother-in-law's name is "Mehg" not "Mayg".
I wonder if this is the difference between the Midwest and the West Coast. Do you have any idea?

German Word of the Day

deutlich (DOYT leesh) - definite; precise; clear

Me Yeti, you Penguin

This is a funny and amusing game - maybe an Antarctic/Himilayan version of home run derby. Have fun :)

All Talk

Mike (Anne's brother) and his friend Ryan are staying at our place for a few days. It's fun. Last night they ordered a pizza for themselves and were talkin' it up how they were going to destroy and murder it.
The pizza arrives and they go to work.
Not long after that, Mike leans back on the couch with one piece left on his plate. Ryan taunts him "So - annihilating that pizza, huh?"
Mike tries to make up some excuse, but can't.
Score: Ryan 1, Mike 0

(quotes not exact)

Amazing Photo of the Day

oh really?

Great perspective

Chris Webber of the Sacramento Kings has been unable to play basketball for almost a year, due to an injury and a short suspension. He's first day back is today, but check this bit of an article out from the Sacramento Bee Newspaper:

Webber has become accustomed to dealing with self-manufactured troublesome situations and often unrelenting criticism. He said he's trying a different approach for handling crises.

"That's how life is," he said. "I'm glad I went to see the 'Passion of Christ' (on Sunday night) because like they say, 'It's easy to love those that love you.'

"For the (Kings broadcaster) Grant Napears that know everything and people out there that didn't like me from Day 1 coming in, it just makes me go out there and say, 'You know what? I have nothing against you. I love you. I'm going to keep working hard, and I have nothing against you.' "

Ahhhhhh

I'm feeling pretty accomplished after the weekend. I think Anne is too. We sent out a few more stragglers after the onslaught of letters around the country last week. Even better - we talked through and made a calendar of the next 5 or 6 months. It outlines when we go to training in New York for 2 weeks, to when we'll be finished with work, and even when we're going to sort through and pack up the stuff in our apartment. I love it - it's all organized and systematic. One day, the closet and drawers in our extra bedroom, then the rest of that room, the living room, the kitchen, etc. I think it will help us stay sane over the next few months. And get this - Anne was much more the instigator in this whole idea.
WAY TO GO ANNIE!!

Interesting Fact of the Day #2

It is impossible to lick your elbow.

Go ahead. Try it. :)

Interesting Fact of the Day

Q: What is an activity performed by 40% of all people at a party?

A: Snoop in the medicine cabinet.