McKenna Marie: November 2011

Monday, November 28, 2011

The thoughts of November

I guess it really does take me to live in Germany to actually realize how beautiful the land is, where I am from. Not that I hate Germany, in fact, I love it here (for the most part... as in, when I am not acting like a pessimistic grinch. Which seems to be quite often anymore, unfortunately.)

We take things for granted, my friends. Yes we do.

Though I have never been a very good mormon and let's face it... I probably will never be. I still find joy in reading and listening to the prophets and apostles talks.
One in particular was a talk by David O. McKay on an experience of Helen Keller's. He said:

' Have you ever read Helen Keller's comment on a girl who had just taken a walk in the woods, who in answer to Helen's question 'what did you observe?' replied, 'Nothing in particular.'
' How is it possible,' Helen asked herself, 'to walk for an hour through the woods and see nothing worthy of note? I who, cannot see, find hundreds of things of interest to me through mere touch. I feel the delicate symmetry of a leaf. I pass my hands lovingly about the smooth skin of a silver birch, or the rough shaggy bark of a pine. In the spring, I touch the branches of trees hopefully in search of a bud, the first sign of awakening nature after her winter's sleep. Occasionally, if I am very fortunate, I place my hand gently on a small tree and feel the happy quiver of a bird in full song. ' At times my heart cries out with longing to see all these things with physical eyes, but if I can get so much pleasure from just mere touch, how much more beauty must be revealed by sight? And I have imagined what I should most likely see if I were granted the use of my eyes- even if it were just 3 days.'

End of talk. Not necessarilly a talk from David O. McKay, but it was a good story. You have to agree.

I think we ought to all be like this. Find beauty in everday life.. even if it does seem to be terrible.
Which actually seems to be a hypocritical point from me anymore.
Living in a foreign country at the age of 17 with a completely different family with different views, going to school with strangers that I don't completely understand, trying to do homework in a foreign language (that I still haven't seemed to get a firm grasp on) The struggles kind of get old anymore. But, even though there are plenty of things to complain about, there are plenty more to praise.

Last week was Thanksgiving, which I technically didn't celebrate. Unless you count the sweet generosity of my host mother's 'Thanksgiving' made for the fam on Sunday. Which included a Turkey, along with sauerkrout, potatoe dumplings, pumpkin soup, and something that was supposed to be stuffing. It did taste good though! I must admit.

But in honor of Thanksgiving I feel it is appropriate to share some of the things I am thankful for.
even though this exchange sucks sometimes, I am so thankful to have been able to come here. I am so thankful for the loving family and friends that supported me. I am so thankful for the struggles that make us stronger. I am thankful to be me and to have had the chance to have grown up in such a good family with good morals. I am thankful for the ability to travel. I am thankful for the beautiful earth. I am thankful for the ability to learn, our many resources to learn and the fact that we can always keep learning. I am thankful for beautiful human beings... inside and out. The list is endless, my friends. I am so blessed, and I take so many things for granted.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Herbst Ferien

1 week and a half ago, it was Herbst Ferien (Fall break)
The week started off with me going to my host mom's Marathon in Frankfurt for that first weekend. Which I think I may have mentioned before.... possibly.
Anyways, much to my advantage, it was very interesting. The finish line included the runners running into the fest halle while running on red carpet... Exaclty what a runner would want to do.

here is a blurry picture of european runners. Hopefully it meets your liking.

I love German architecture. Frankfurt.

and here is a picture of the Frankfurt marathon winner. You guessed it right, he is a Kenyan.

Anyways, my goal was to tell you about my adventure across the border.
So, where to begin?
It was Tuesday morning, I had just back from my run. When all of a sudden a woman from my ward (Erlangen ward, that I have attended 3 times).

Side note: This woman happens to be the mother of 6 kids and the wife of a BYU professor. And, they just happen to come from Springville. Springville, as in only 2 miles away from where my house is. Coincidence? I think not.

Anyways, she called me and asked me if I would like to travel along to Salzburg, Austria with them. As in, get ready in 1 hour. I gladly accepted.

Before I arrived to the train station though I didnt realize that they actually had 6 kids. And I didn't realize I would make the 7th.
See where I am getting at?
It was a complete Von Trapp family reenactment.
I was the oldest (16 and going on 17 in exactly 1 week), followed by all the rest. And the rest fit the exact description of the other children in the movie. Same age, same gender. All of it.

Pretty funny, aye?

Anyways, we took a Sound of Music tour. As nerdy as it may sound, it was actually pretty interesting, for the most part. We not only got to hear history of the movie, but we also got to hear some of the history of salzburg.

P.S, this is the lake in which Julie Andrews and all the von Trapp kids fall in while they are in the canoe. And also the lake which is behind the von Trapp family house.