The Garden May 26-June 1

Working in the Garden has been very therapeutic for me especially as we take the time to just enjoy the peace and serenity of the area and not worry so much about how much we are getting done.  I am so used to just digging in and getting the job done and this past week was a new experience.  My daughter, Emily, posted the following story and personal experience and it was very touching to me.  I could so relate and know that "The Garden" teaches so much about life and me personally.

As shared by Marissa Widdison:
A couple of women were walking around Temple Square this week and said something like, "I thought these gardens were supposed to be breathtaking." I realized that they were in a part of the grounds that -- while USUALLY overflowing with flowers and beautiful plants -- is currently all torn up.  They are visiting between seasons, when some planters are bare. (That stage doesn't last long here, cuz the grounds crew is really on the ball.  But it exists.)  These overheard comments and ensuing realization made me ask myself:  Do I ever judge people based on a single snapshot of their lives --maybe at a time when the are "torn up" somehow -- and wonder why they're not more breathtaking?  Or am I patient and willing to focus on the parts of their landscape that are thriving?  Do we forgive OURSELVES for needing time to replant?  Or are we embarrassed by the times when our metaphoric planters are bare as we transition to new growth?  Sometimes it's easy to understand the need for patience when we are working with soil and seeds.  I hope we can have a least as much, and hopefully much more, patience as we work with fellow human beings.  (including ourselves?)  We are each on a journey through  many different seasons.
Emily shared her personal feelings:
"Wow! I love this post and still needed this reminder.  It took me a hot minute to "grow" in Utah and has taken several years for me to finally start filling like my buds are coming out and it's not just dirt sitting there.  I have had some of the most empty soil over the last 5 years and some days wish I could go back and meet some of the amazing people in my life then and show them my flowers/beauty.  I felt very alone probably when there were so many who wanted to reach out but I was so guarded.  Didn't feel worthy enough, good enough, pretty enough, rich enough (cause we were poor).  I am so grateful that I started watering my dirt and blooming where I have been planted.  BE kind to others, they might just be in an off season switching up things balancing their levels, adding and taking away things to prepare amazing soil to grow and blossom.  Be there for people when they are in the dirt even if it's hard because when they blossom you don't want to miss out!"

 We are serving this mission to help people to "grow" in their understanding and love of Jesus Christ.  I am so grateful that Emily is in the Spring of her life and is blooming.  Even at my stage of life, I have experienced the bare transition times.  I have had to find the "flowers" in new things or in areas of my life that I could draw upon that were my strengths to get me through the bare spots.  As a parent we watch our children in their lives and want to help them grow.  This concept applies to our service as missionaries as well.  We find many people whose planters are bare and we plant the seeds of the gospel of Jesus Christ with them.  We have to be very patient as we work with them, nourishing their ground with the good word of God (the scriptures).  We watch as they learn and increase in knowledge and wisdom and begin to grow.  Most people we just plant seeds with, but it is wonderful when then grow and we get to see the plant and the buds appear.

John and Denise Sivo, friends from Texas who recently moved to Salt Lake City, UT came to visit us at the end of a Travel Tour.  We spent two wonderful days with them showing them our little piece of Germany.  We are so grateful they were willing to take a detour and come to Freiburg.  We started on Sunday with lunch and then headed to the Black Forest.  They said they would like to see the garden that we volunteer at so we stopped in at Bosch College and the Garden.  We had made a friend of Jowita, one of the students back in October when we were guest speakers on campus.  We had spent time with her until she went home for Christmas break and then we had no contact with her.  She did not respond to any of our contacts.  We knew she was going to graduate in the next few days, but did not know exactly when.  We so wanted to see her again and wish her well and find out where she would be continuing her studies.  I had looked for her the past two weeks on Fridays and we could not locate her.  So, we are showing the Sivo's the garden and students and their parents started coming from the buildings into the garden.  It was graduation day and they were having tea and coffee in the garden for everyone.  I was so hopeful we would just happen to see Jowita.  Just was we were getting ready to leave the garden area, I saw a girl and a family come down the stairs into the garden.  As they got closer she called out, Sister Grimmett!  I was so excited that we were able to meet again.  We met some of her family and her boyfriend.  She had been so busy with final classes and tests this last semester.  She had finished her classwork and went home for 4 weeks to study for her final exams, so she had not been at the school.  She was accepted to Washington and Lee University in Lexington VA.  We planted seeds with her last Fall and we look forward to watching her grow and to see where life takes her.  It was so good to see her and to wish her well.

We rented this beautiful Mercedes car to travel around in with our friends.  It was easy to get spoiled and enjoyed traveling without worry about the miles.  We will do the same for anyone who wants to come and visit!
The missionaries felt cheated they only got to ride in it one time.
We then went to Schauinsland (a big mountain) that we could drive to and look out to see the whole Rhine River Valley and Freiburg.  It was a clear day so you could see the French Mountains as well.  We returned to Freiburg and went to the city center and visited the Munster (Cathedral)  They were having a concert and we could not go in but after walking around they opened the doors and we were able to hear the last song and then see the inside.  We ended with a stop at the gelato shop.  A perfect end to a wonderful day!

You can't come to the Black Forest without going to Triberg and seeing the World's largest Cuckoo clock and Germany's highest waterfall.  We have been many times and still love going.  It was a fun day of hiking, eating and enjoying good company.

This is the inside workings of the clock.  We had gone on Saturday to visit a lady not far from Triberg and to also check out the restaurant to get Black Forest Cake.  We were so looking forward to sharing the good flavors with them.  We hiked, had a picnic lunch and headed to have our Black Forest Cake.  The shop was closed for construction and all of the other restaurants were closed on Monday for normal rest day.  So we headed on to our nest stop - Titisee.

 We had our friends and fellow missionaries, Elder & Sis. Bretzing from Mesa, Arizona come on Friday to visit Triberg.  We are getting really good at showing people the clocks, waterfalls, and all things Triberg! 

 This is the front of the Cuckoo clock.  It is in a beautiful setting and always nice to visit.  We learned a lot more about the clock making this trip.  Every time we go we have learned more about how they are made and the many different kinds.  We have looked at and admired so many different clocks, but we finally decided on one and had it shipped home.  It will be a good reminder of some of the things we enjoyed while we were here and we hope the grandchildren will enjoy it as well.  We made sure to get one that can be turned off at night so everyone can sleep when they visit!

 A boat ride around Titisee.  John and Russ just enjoying the ride.  We had such a good time being with friends enjoying such a beautiful place. 







We showed them the  Hotel that Annabel worked at when she lived in Titisee - so fun to see history. 

We have had some amazing food this week.  We like to eat at the local establishments in the little towns we visit.  We have not been disappointed with the recommendations we have been given.

 This is true Black Forest eating.  Grilled chicken breast with spaetzle and vegetables.  This was one of the best meals I have had.
How can I say that - we have had so many good ones.  Let's just say we need visitors so that we can go again.

 Bratwurst with potatoes and salad is a staple.  These meals along with Cordon Bleu and Pork Schnitzel are the specialties of the area.  Both of the restaurants we went to this week also specialized in the local wild game, but no one was brave enough to try the deer liver and onions and kept with the traditional foods.

 None of the food compared to the long awaited dessert of Black Forest Cake.  We were so looking forward to taking the Sivo's for some cake just to find that it was closed for construction that day.  Much to our delight it was open on Friday and we got to indulge again.

This is the inside of the restaurant in Triberg.  It is all things Black Forest and it was a fun day.  We arrived early for dinner and after we were finished eating the crowds started coming.  There was live music that was so entertaining and we decided they wanted us to stay the whole evening because they don't bring your check and hope you will stay and drink the night away.  We both had drives home so we were on our way.  Great way to end the week with great friends, delicious food, and spectacular views.  All in all a great week to begin our 11th month on our mission.

Our Elder Letort sprained his ankle on Thursday playing football with the Zone Leaders.  He has had to stay off of it for a few days so we got to drive them a few times.  He is from France and Thursday night the missionaries cooked with a friend they are teaching.  They made crepes.  They gave me a plate of them when we took them home.  We were told we were getting an additional fridge on Saturday and would need the Elder's to help unload it.  Elder Letort said, sure - my companion can help and can we come early for breakfast.  So, we couldn't say no and had them over today.  I made sausage, egg, cheese stuffed crepes with hollandaise sauce.  They turned out so good with the crepes they had given me.  Elder Letort had never had a crepe like that.  He even took pictures to save and show how they were made.   I told them it was a staple food for scouts but that they use flour tortillas.  It is amazing how fancy something can look and taste just by changing it to a crepe and adding a nice sauce.  I will add that to my recipe collection.  We had 8 RSVP for Sunday Lunch to I have been cooking and shopping all day and planning for cooking assignments on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  I am so glad to have an additional fridge. 

Enjoy the last few weeks of Spring.  Summer is trying to come and we are hoping for a longer Spring.  We have had a full week and we are so blessed to be having the experiences and being with such wonderful people.  These are just a few of the highlights with so much more happening every day.  So grateful that we continue to be blessed as we serve.
Viel Liebe,
The Grimmett's