1 November: I started a part-time job at the library as one of their technicians. I have never enjoyed a job more than this one, and I know it is a blessing to me. The opportunity simply "fell into my lap" as I was small-talking with the head librarian one day and she mentioned how they were losing many employees and needing to hire more very quickly. I expressed an interest, interviewed at the job fair the very next day, and had a job offer within two weeks. Such a blessing -- especially considering how the sub job at the high school was stressing me out even when I wasn't there! I am convinced that Heavenly Father knows me very well, and knows what is best for me too.
8 November: Tracy, Bryant and I traveled up to Lissie's Creative Connections performance in Oberwesel am Rhein. We were glad she was chosen to participate in this week of creativity, and impressed with her choreography and dancing abilities. She is a natural performer and we love watching her . . . just wishing we were a little better at photographing and videoing. Thankfully, it was posted on one of the DoDDs websites. Jeanette and Jessie were sweet to travel all the way from Kaiserslautern to watch her too -- and on a school night!
21 November: I finally got an MRI of my right shoulder and arm and found out what is really wrong with it after falling down on it (hard!) in September -- tendonitis (BLAH!) which can take up to a year to heal. But I am hopeful that physical therapy and diligent attention to the PT exercises will quicken my recovery. Boo to pain, pain medicine, and sleep deprivation!
22 November: Thanksgiving (and Rachel's 15th birthday) with the Clarks and the Walls (+ sweet baby Hazel). It is always a pleasure to spend time with these lovely people. I think I imprinted on Hazel. I need to cuddle her again soon. We also got to Skype with Christian and Taylor and my Aunt Kay in Montana. So great that Christian and Taylor could go for a visit and get totally spoiled. I'm so pleased that Christian feels a connection to the ranch my father and grandfather grew up on. It is also the place of some of my happiest childhood memories.
23 November: Tracy, Lissie and I got to watch Bryant and his Vfb Rauenberg beat the first place team (St. Ilgen) and thereby earn the rights to first place in their soccer league. Great job, Bryant and teammates. Watching you play soccer is one of the reasons we love living in Germany so much.
24 November: Thanksgiving (again!) with our good friends the Kloses and the Roses and the sister missionaries. Everything turned out great, even though my menu is not exactly traditional (no sweet potatoes or green bean casserole) and I no longer stuff a turkey. Crockpot turkey roasts -- yes!
30 November: Lissie skipped two of her favorite things (ballet and a stake youth dance) and finished her BYU college application essays - all FOUR of them. Hooray! Didn't it used to be only two? Or was it one?
Goodness! We have so many things to be thankful for, and this is only the beginning of a proper list. Thank you, November, for reminding me to write some it down, even if I did it in December!
I decided to add a few Montana Thanksgiving pictures: Aunt Kay teaching Christian to make apple pie, Thanksgiving golf, Thanksgiving Dinner, and Second Cousins:
