Ahhhh, Summer Holiday

I know I am very behind on blogging lately, but I do have a good excuse this time. We just returned home today from a one-week trip to the Bavarian Alps where we spent time in Germany, Austria and Italy. We hiked, biked and swam. We got tan (okay, a teensy sunburned) and had to wear sunglasses every single day. Oh, yes, it was heavenly. We were joyful every day just to have the sun burning down on us. I decided that even when the sun is 'shining' in England it's not really shining. I never have to wear my sunglasses. It's still cloudy, generally. So the time in the mainland was pure luxury basking in the sun every day.

We left last Saturday and landed to pouring rain - not a way to start our holiday. However, the rain lasted only that one evening. The rest of the week was glorious. Our first day was spent hiking the Partnachklamm.

And I should point out I am fully aware that I had really bad hair in Germany. It is humid there which did not do much for my natural frizz. I should also point out the lack of 'safety' fencing on the ledge of this gorge. I was not keen on Aidan being so independent. I had a vise grip on his arm ...We made it!
Skipping rocks on the riverEnjoying refreshments at the biergarten on the way back down the gorgeIf you look closely at this photo you can see the Olympic rings on the small stadium. This stadium is from 1936, when the winter Olympics were held in Garmisch, Germany. The ski jump on the right is new, however. Garmisch is hosting the 2011 ski jumping world championship, and they are preparing for it already by installing the new jump. (The old jump is the small one on the left.)Patrick is roughing it at our "deluxe" cabin at the end of the day

Aidan and God

Every Sunday in church we give the children a few coins to put in the offering bag, trying to teach them a little about tithing. And in all actuality, Joshua is now tithing from his allowance which is what I did when I was his age. I am not using the labeled margarine tubs like my Daddy did - 'Tithe,' 'Save,' and 'Spend.' Joshua is pretty much just responsible to bring his 20 pence to church.

Anyway, when it's time for the offering, I tend to whisper to the children, 'It's time to give our money back to God.' And our church elder, Mr. Johnston, brings the tithe bag around to each row of parishioners. The children have great joy in putting their coins in the bag and look forward to giving money to God each week.

This morning, Mr. Johnston stood up at the lectern before the service began to give a few announcements. Which is when Aidan pointed and said, 'There's God.'

Shocked and a little mortified, I said, 'No, Aidan, that's not God, that's Mr. Johnston.' And I thought, How in the world has he come to believe that our elder is God? I mean, he's pretty holy and a great elder, but he's not God!

And I said again to Aidan, 'That is NOT God, that is Mr. Johnston!' And he said, 'Oh. Mistah Johnston.'

And then I said, 'And THAT is Pastor Andy.' Just in case he got any other funny ideas about labeling any man 'God.'

It wasn't until it was time for the offering and I was telling the children to get their coins ready to give to God that it struck me - God - Mr. Johnston - was getting ready to come around with the offering bag ...