They boast to have the two largest cuckoo clocks in the World.The one on the right is the oldest (38 years old) and the entire little house is the cuckoo clock. On the back side you walk in and there is a little shop and the daughter-in-law of the man who built the clock runs the exhibit. The inside is all of the workings of the clock. He built a replica of the small clocks but out of wood many times larger. They showed us how the bellows work for the cuckoo to come out and sing. It was very interesting inside and then you go out to a beautiful park setting with benches and nice gardens to watch the chime and movement on the clock. It was well worth the 2 Euro to see it. We visited the newer larger clock, but it was very commercial and more money. The cuckoo was not very impressive and it was not near as nice as this original.
The woodcutter chops the wood about every 2 minutes. There is a working water wheel on the side.
I like authentic. The man who built the clock had many wood carvings around and he had a complete child size tractor with attached roller all carved from wood.
Every shop in town was a clock shop. Thousands of clocks that are all made there. So, the Hills are alive with the Sound of Music every 30 minutes as many of the clocks chime and cuckoo.
This Church was built in 1645.
I have been preparing for our Senior Couple Conference that will be in two weeks. I have been asked to do a presentation on meal preparation for 2 and also ideas for feeding large groups. With so many vegetarians here, they also want me to share recipes for cooking for them. I have been looking for a recipe of potatoes and Brots that I could share with them. So far the recipes they fix are all American foods. It is hard to find many of the ingredients and 50% of our missionaries are from Europe. So, I want to share more local recipes and ideas so that we can use the local markets and foods. I think the other Senior Missionaries want them to have the comforts of home, but to so many of them, that does not mean the same thing. So, back to my quest for recipes - On Wednesday we cook every other week. I arrived Wednesday this week to help the other Sister and she was cooking the exact thing I had been searching for. German Potatoes for a large group. She is from Peru and speaks Spanish as her native language and a mix of German. No English. So it is always fun to communicate. With a little help I was able to get her recipe. I have been so blessed to have experiences like this happen that seem so small, but make such a difference for me. I have had fun experimenting with new foods and finding some new favorites. I am grateful to share my knowledge and love of cooking for others with the other Senior Couples. I have a tough act to follow - the speaker before me is teaching how to make apple strudel and he will bake it while I teach and then we will get to sample. I will let you know in two weeks how it goes.
This past week has been a very challenging week with my family. The very difficult decision to move my Dad to Utah to a new Assisted Living facility has tried all of us in ways we had not expected. It is hard being so far away. Saturday, family members gathered and packed his current apartment and got him ready to move. Sunday my sister, Pam was able to take him to her home in Utah for a few days until his furniture would arrive and the new apartment set up. Unfortunately, some family members did not want him to leave his current home or Idaho. None of us wanted him to get older and need more care. However, that is life, especially when you are 97 years old. I especially did not want to have to move him as I handle all of his financial affairs. I had just spent the past year getting everything in order after my mother passed away. We had all of his payments electronic and going smoothly. It takes months to change and get new services and billings and the mail where it needs to be. We had a good system going. I wanted the change before I left for Germany. That was not to be. So for me, I would now have to handle things from Germany. It has been very busy and trying as I have to work with my time zone of 8 hours ahead and taking care of changing all of his things. We have learned, it takes many people to make this all happen. So, he is in Utah and will move into his new home on Monday. He is happy and looking forward to it. He misses his exercise class this week, but will get a new routine and life will be good.
In all of this, there have been some very hurt feelings and strained family relations.
Last week I shared the 21 Day Book of Mormon challenge we are doing. I am so grateful for this study and learning the past 14 days. It could not have come at a better time. I have needed the teachings each and every day. I can't believe how every day has been just what I needed. On day 13 this week I had an amazing experience. 3 Nephi 14:1-27 How Can I Strengthen My Relationship with My Loved Ones? WOW - I needed this. When I started reading I thought, oh, this family member needs to read this or that family member needs to read this and the more I read the more I knew it was just for me. I needed it. The conference address that goes with it is April 2012 Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Merciful Obtain Mercy"
"The topic of judging others could actually be taught in a two word sermon . . . .STOP IT!"
He tells of a mother who was concerned about two of her children that had not talked to each other in a very long time. She asked him to speak in conference about that and she knew her children would listen and follow his council. He told how there have been strained and broken relationships since the beginning of time. Cain and Abel. He tilled the ground of his soul with envy and hatred and allowed these feelings to ripen until he did the unthinkable - many tragic stories in the Bible of similar circumstances where we justify our own feelings of resentment. He said, "we ALL need a Savior who allowed for us to Repent and forgive." He said we never have righteous anger or that judging is OK. Paul said to the Romans, "Those who judge others are inexcusable. I the Lord will forgive who I will, but of all men it is required to forgive."
Pres. Uchtdorf said, "Don;t judge me because I sin differently than you. We are all sinners. We all want mercy for the sins we have committed. Don't deny grace for others that we desire for ourselves." He said, it is easy to love those who love us, even the wicked can do that. Love our enemies, bless those who persecute you. We need a change of heart to forgive. When we are filled with the love of God, something good and pure happens.
"There is enough heartache and sorrow in this life without our adding to it through our own stubbornness, bitterness, and resentment. We are not perfect. The people around us are not perfect. People do things that annoy, disappoint, and anger. In this mortal life it will always be that way. Part of the purpose of mortality is to learn how to let go of such things. That is the Lord's way.
Lay your burden at the Savior's feet. Let go of judgment. Allow Christ's Atonement to change and heal your heart. Love one another. Forgive one another. The merciful will obtain mercy."
As Russ and I read and studied these words together, we talked about all that had happened this past week with family. We saw it was easy to judge and to be angry about some very hurtful things that were said and done. When we focused on what we needed to do and not what others needed to do, it made all the difference. When I laid the burden at the Savior's feet in fervent prayer and study, I experienced a change of heart. A peace came that I had not had in days. I am so grateful for these words of wisdom that were placed before me at just the right time.
We had Zone Conference in Zurich Switzerland today. It was a beautiful overcast day and a nice drive. It is always nice being with the other missionaries and our Mission President. We had great training and then the 3 Senior Couples prepare lunch for everyone. We had Taco Salad and Texas Sheet cake - We each prepare our assignment at home and bring it to the conference. We left at 7:00 am and arrived back home at 7:00 pm. We take our missionaries with us and it is always fun to be with them. They are always happy when Sister Grimmett is driving.
One of the other Missionary couples serving in our District is from Utah. They received word early this morning that their neighborhood had been evacuated during the night. They built their dream retirement home and lived in it 4 months before they came to Germany on their mission. It is vacant while they are here and they just kept getting pictures of the mountain burning and getting closer to their home. Please keep them in your prayers. It is not looking good this evening and the fires have spread to over 68,000 acres. This is when we have to,"trust God enough to accept the reality that he knows perfectly both what we have to offer and what we desire - that is a special form of trust." Neal A. Maxwell
We had our first "Get to know the neighbors bar-b-q tonight." Everyone was invited by our neighbors and about 9 neighbors came. It was nice to meet the people we have been passing or seeing the past 8 weeks. They said they usually have a Christmas party as well. We took Salsa and Chips - they said they were expecting it to be Texas hot and afraid to eat it. It was hotter than I usually make it, but they could have taken it hotter. We told them about our tradition of delivering chips and salsa to our neighbors at Christmas time. They said, they people who lived in your apartment before you (the missionary couple we replaced) delivered cakes to everyone last year. We told them to expect Salsa. They said, we don't do that in Germany. They said they had never heard of giving a gift to neighbors.
We are so grateful for each one of you who read our story. That means you have had an influence in our life in some way. We enjoy hearing from you as well. Have a great week and keep praying for those who are effected by all of the natural disasters that are happening around the world. Do something good today.
Beautiful pictures! Keep up the good work!
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