On Thanksgiving Day we started our shift at the Temple at 12:30. We stayed there for a couple of hours and then we were given permission to leave and attend a Thanksgiving Dinner with the Area Office Senior Missionaries in Frankfurt. We had a great time--there were about 60 of us there and we had wonderful food. It was a very nice Thanksgiving.
This is one of the Table Decorations. Yes, that is a real cabbage. We thought it was especially beautiful and creative.
This is a German Speciality. It is called Schwarzwaelder Kirschtorte or in English it is called Black Forest Cake. This is probably the only thing at the Thanksgiving Dinner that is truly German. These cakes are very very rich. The directions on the recipe says to not worry about the calories or fat just enjoy the taste!
Everyone enjoying the food!
First Snowstorm of the Season--this is looking out our window.
Getting Ready for the Beginning of Advent! 
It is amazing what the German people can do with everyday ordinary food. This picture is of Ursula Rauh--she is the mother of one of the young ladies that was serving a mission on Temple Square at the same time as Cynthia; they weren't companions but knew each other. Now Ursula and we are serving missions together. (Small world).
First Snowstorm of the Season--this is looking out our window.
Getting Ready for the Beginning of Advent!
Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. There is usually parties and celebrations, also concerts and programs.
Every year the Temple President and his wife hold Beginning of Advent in their very large apartment. The ladies from the temple get together the night before and prepare the food and then on the night of Advent there is a program and open house at the President's apartment. City officials and prominent citizens from the city are invited along with the Church leaders and the temple missionaries.
The following pictures are of the ladies preparing the food!
In this picture Carol Frost, Ingrid Morrill are preparing fruit kabobs. Erika Vollath is preparing dates stuffed with marzipan--yum!
It is amazing what the German people can do with everyday ordinary food. This picture is of Ursula Rauh--she is the mother of one of the young ladies that was serving a mission on Temple Square at the same time as Cynthia; they weren't companions but knew each other. Now Ursula and we are serving missions together. (Small world).
In some of the following pictures small slices of bread that is buttered is being prepared and then everyday ordinary food is arranged on them--they are very pretty and really taste quite good also.
Angelica Rehes is preparing a porcupine. This is a large grapefruit sliced in half and covered with aluminum foil. Then toothpicks with cheese and grapes is stuck into it to resemble (loosely) a porcupine.
Karen helping prepare the fruit kabobs
The temple at night.
The building in the middle is our new (soon to be) home. We will be moving there after the first of the year. It is a much bigger apartment--two bedrooms, a livingroom, and a kitchen. We will think we are living in a palace after leaving this tiny one-room apartment.
Angelica Rehes is preparing a porcupine. This is a large grapefruit sliced in half and covered with aluminum foil. Then toothpicks with cheese and grapes is stuck into it to resemble (loosely) a porcupine.
Karen helping prepare the fruit kabobs
The temple at night.
The building in the middle is our new (soon to be) home. We will be moving there after the first of the year. It is a much bigger apartment--two bedrooms, a livingroom, and a kitchen. We will think we are living in a palace after leaving this tiny one-room apartment.
Some of the finished product.
We had our first taste of cavier--not much to rave about!
We had our first taste of cavier--not much to rave about!
Advent
Don was assigned to help move the food from the Hostel cafeteria where it was prepared to the Villa. He kept snitching tastes--isn't that just like him?!!!!
This is an Advent Wreath. On the fourth Sunday before Christmas the family gathers around the table and lights one of the candles. They sing Christmas Songs and tell stories about the Savior; and then blow out the candle. On the Third Sunday before Christmas they light two of the candles and sing songs and tell stories--and so on until all four candles are lit. This way they work up the excitement of Christ's birthday and the children know more what the true meaning of Christmas is. This tradition was started by the Roman Catholic Church hundreds of years ago and has since been adopted by all of Germany and much of Europe. We think that it is a wonderful tradition!
Don and Karen at Advent
The stairs that we are standing on are in the Villa. There was a choir of young adults that performed at the Advent Program and the choir stood on these stairs to perform. The bass section stood in the balcony above the stairs. They sang beautifully. We think it was a wonderful way to start the Christmas Season!
This is an Advent Wreath. On the fourth Sunday before Christmas the family gathers around the table and lights one of the candles. They sing Christmas Songs and tell stories about the Savior; and then blow out the candle. On the Third Sunday before Christmas they light two of the candles and sing songs and tell stories--and so on until all four candles are lit. This way they work up the excitement of Christ's birthday and the children know more what the true meaning of Christmas is. This tradition was started by the Roman Catholic Church hundreds of years ago and has since been adopted by all of Germany and much of Europe. We think that it is a wonderful tradition!
Don and Karen at Advent
The stairs that we are standing on are in the Villa. There was a choir of young adults that performed at the Advent Program and the choir stood on these stairs to perform. The bass section stood in the balcony above the stairs. They sang beautifully. We think it was a wonderful way to start the Christmas Season!
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