Another Side of our Story

Our little city's coats of arms!

 Rauenberg, the little city we thought would become our home...everything has changed now.  My blog posts so far have really shown the fun and exciting side of our move.  We have certainly enjoyed many things since our move, but there is another side to the story.  Moving to another country is fun and exciting, but it is also extremely challenging and isolating.  I thought I would share a little from this side of our story. 

When we arrived we immediately felt that our house did not feel like a "home".  We tried to ignore this fact and make the best of our situation.  There were plenty of challenges to distract us during the day.  Opening bank accounts, calling countless midwifes in search of a home birth option, shopping in general, finding a school for the kids, a doctor for the kids, finding the doctors office (!).  The list could go on farther, but first I should mention that this all had to take place in German, a second language I have not had the privilege of studying, but instead have taking the "sink or swim" approach.  At the end of the day, the endless echo in our house, and hearing every step or move anyone made starting driving our stress levels really high.  Let me just pause here and say with a smile that anyone who knew our family would probably not have used the word "quiet" to describe our children!  We are a loud family!  Two weeks ago neighbors from both sides (we are living in a condo) came together to inform us that we were being too loud.   They emphasized that they could hear EVERYTHING, when we gave the kids baths...everything.  I asked what we could do to make the situation better.  Their answer?  Please keep the kids quiet and off the stairs in the morning.  Wow.  The only way we could fulfill this request would be to move into the basement.  This was the last straw, we knew that we could not live like this.  Last week my kids got into a fight (yes, my children do occasionally have disagreements that escalate quite quickly :-).  Later that morning one of the neighbors asked if we had a terrible accident...I guess she thought we were dying or something.  Living under a microscope is not fun.  So last week we gave notice on our house.  Three months notice is required here, so we are moving at the end of May!  If Matt's family did not think we are crazy before, it is certainly confirmed now.  Germans do not just pick up and move.  It is much more common for them to live in a distasteful apartment for 13 years while they search for the perfect home (a real example from one of Matt's co-workers).  Now there is a new item on our "to do" list:  find a house.

Meanwhile, we have contact with the moving company about once a week regarding our boxes.  Over three months after shipment they still have not arrived.  Our sweet kids pray every night that our boxes with their special toys and stuffed animals will come the next day.  We have learned to live without our things, but anticipate some familiar items!  It has been frustrating to deal with customs in England, the port where are boxes are being held.  

The kids are doing better all the time.  The kindergarten situation is improving, and we might have even made a friend or two.  We invited our first friend next week...the kids miss playing with friends.  They beg me to just walk by their friends houses in hopes that they might be in their yard.  It is cute to walk down the streets and hear kids yelling out "Hi Rebekah, hi Daniel!"  In a town this size we see someone they know just about every time we go out.  It makes us feel like we might have a place here.  Yet behind this excitement, lies a dull ache, because we are about to put the kids through another move.  We think it would be better for our family to be closer to our church and the people in our church.  We are very isolated a feel far away in the town we live in now. The decision on a house and a town is making us feel very torn.  Our children have been through so much...it is just hard to know what is best in our situation. 

New challenges rise every day, and we long for a place to call home.  Just when we feel almost completely worn down Sunday arrives and we are refreshed to be with other Christians, and to hear God's word preached.  God is certainly sustaining us and we are SO grateful for His church!

So there is another little snapshot of life in the Funk family!

A cute little hotel just across the street from our condo

FASCHING! (english = carnival)

Fasching is an event that occurs the week before lent (lent is the six week period before Easter, which is basically characterized by self-denial.  No rich foods, no alcohol, no parties, etc.  It is a catholic practice).  Not all cities in Germany celebrate this week long party...the protestant based cities do not celebrate to the same extent.  But our little city celebrated big time!  The kids had a party for three days in a row (dressing in costumes, walking the streets of the city singing and dancing, and going to the city hall for a party and meeting the mayor).  These three days of parties were followed by three days of vacation! There were city wide parties every night, and stores stayed open extra late.  Adults and children alike dressed in costumes and went about their daily business for a WHOLE WEEK!  The kids thought it was great, and still talk about it.  Now we are in the lent season and no such parties are going :)  Here are a few pictures:

Our bat man and princess

Going to school in pajamas, for a pajama party!

Everything was decorated...even the bakeries and stores

One of Daniel's teachers...he took this picture.  She is a very nice teacher!

The school is all decorated!

Daniel made a traditional "fasching" picture, he was very proud of this.  Please note his choice of pajamas to wear to school.  Polar bears and camo.  He was so determined and said he thought they "matched".  lol.  I love this boy!

Rebekah in her traditional "fasching" hat made of news paper.  Good thing I got this picture, because when we got home and Lukas got a hold of this hat we found out that the design was very fragile :)