Christmas in Germany!

 The crafty bug hits me around this time of year and I have enjoyed playing with greenery including mistletoe, sharp leaves, fir tree branches, candles, card-making, and knitting! Christmas music and Christmas movie favorites play in the background as I play!

                                       
After classes get out for Christmas break, several staff members who are not leaving Germany for Christmas head up to Adelboden, Switzerland! TeachBeyond has a chalet in Adelboden and gives TeachBeyond members a great deal which makes this possible. The Swiss Alps are only two hours away from Kandern and are a beautiful reminder of God's majesty and magnificence! The first picture is of the sunrise coming up over the mountain! Unbelievable and makes your breathe catch in your throat as it rises!

 Hiking is a must in the Alps! We hiked up to a beautiful waterfall and enjoyed trekking through a little snow. Some spots on the trail were a little icy and some of us did a little "skating"!

 Adelboden is where the World Cup will be held in January! We saw the slope where downhill skiers will fly at 80 miles per hour! I would love to see this up close!

 We did another hike a few days later which was higher in elevation and consisted of some serious bush-wacking which I loved!! Even found a slide at one of the restaurants by a ski lift that is not open yet. Just in case you are wondering, no, I am not grown up and hopefully never will be! We climbed and climbed and each time we stopped, a few of us looked up and could see more mountain waiting to be climbed. I think we drove a few people nuts since we had a hard time stopping and could not help getting over to see what was over the next climb! I know I got this from Dick and Carole!! Can't stop climbing!! We saw the cross from below and had to reach it!

Returning home, one of Santa's elves snuck in a few decorations and a tree! I was so surprised and excited to have a tree for Christmas!

Christmas in Germany would not be complete without attending some Christmas Markets! Freiburg, Kandern, Frankfort, Riquewihr, France, Colmar, France, and Lorrach to name the Christmas Markets I saw this year. A friend had to travel to Frankfort for travel reasons and we also visited Chipotle! The nearest Mexican food stop is Chipotle in Frankfort which is 3 + hours away! Serious Mexican cravings happen to BFA community members at times and reasons need to be supplied for a Mexican food run! It was a visit to the Spanish consulate, Chipotle deliciousness, and Christmas Market fun day!

Chistmas Eve and Christmas Day was spent with wonderful friends here in Kandern. I am truly blessed by the loving community around me! Thank you all of your prayers and support throughout this last year! I am looking forward to continuing to serve with you next year! God bless your holidays and don't forget some adventurous spontaneity with a splash of child-like laughter!