November Notables - part 2

 I thought I would start off this post with a picture of the cat that lives at the Luschin home. When we visit there, we usually see him. Since we have grandkids who love animals I thought it would be a fun pic. Reagan, this is for you!!

 Monday night, Family Home Evening!

 Hayli, Mario, Elder Mitchell and Elder Plumb.

 Before it got real cold, we took an hour out of our P-day to walk one more time while the leaves were still colorful at the Schloss.

 I found the perfect Maple leaf.

 Walking down the path to the front gate of Schloss Eggenberg.

 Elder Tew is hard at his studies for his Institute lesson.

 We are on our way driving to one of our home teaching visits. The bicycle is just like a car here and if you are following a bike, you must be patient especially when a tractor is coming at you!!

 On Friday the 21st, we went to Vienna for Missionary training, District Meeting and interviews with President Kohler.

 A drive-by pic of Maria vom Siege Kirche (Mary of the victory church).

 At the end of a visit with Hannas and Ketty we took this timed pic. Humm, not too bad.

 I had to take a picture of little Timo sitting by his mother Uli at church.  They were all decked out in their Austrian attire. He is soooo cute.

 We were leaving the church when Haiko, an investigator, came riding back on his bike. He had some questions for Elder Tew.

 This is the picture that Haiko took of us and the church building.

 They are putting up the Christmas lights in the city.  This is only one street and every street is different.

 We celebrated Thanksgiving with our young missionaries on Tuesday 25th after District Meeting at our church.  We all contributed to the feast. I taught them how to fold napkins to make a lotus flower. It was such a fun afternoon.

 Our fabulous District!! (minus Elder Tew taking the pic)

 A silly pic with our precious flower napkins.

 And... here is my plate of the delicious Thanksgiving feast.- Turkey, potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, vegetables, roll, knödel, ( like stuffing in a ball) and for dessert... cake and whipped cream.

 Our cute Sisters Pentz and Bishop.

 Our Graz District has Thanksgiving Hands! We traced our hand and then passed them around so each of us could write something nice about each other. Then we each told something we are thankful for. It was great.

 Elder Tew and I went to visit Albert in the hospital and then Bro. Haas came to visit also. He brought some things he bought at the store for Albert. After a while he reached down and pulled out these flowers from the bag and gave them to me.  He said that when he saw them he felt like he should buy them for someone, but didn't know who. He didn't know we were going to be there, but when he saw us he knew he wanted me to have them. I was really touched because this brother in the Gospel has become very close to us and I was having a hard day. A tender mercy for sure. 

 This is Austria! It was hard for me to believe that they actually sell cigarettes at the hospital!! The lady at the information desk has them behind her glass window. What??

 We stopped for a few minutes at this "Oldtimer" hotel, resturant and gift shop to check it out. If you look closely at the wood cut out of the girl on the left, she resembles Elder Tew!

 Our Nathan's 33rd birthday was on Thanksgiving Day this year, Nov 27th.  Thank goodness for skype so we could see and talk to Nate and his cute family. Mabel, Jess, Elliott and Nate. 

 Our first Honey Pomelo. We found out it is a huge sweet grapefruit. Loved it.

 Our first Persimmon fruit and we loved this also! It is the size of a large apple. We thought there would be a huge seed inside like a mango but not so.  

 We were just leaving the YSA room Sunday 30th.

 All of the 6 missionaries serving here in Graz were invited for a lovely dinner at the Sander Family. What a happy pumpkin soup!! The face is made with pumpkin seed oil.

 The fun Sander Family. The mom, Marlen is an Opera singer, and Valentina plays the cello.

 Yumm! What a delicious Sunday Thanksgiving feast. Those fun flower looking things are potatoes.

 Some pictures of Grandma and Grandpa Tew for the grandkids! I put several pics of us in this post if you noticed. Sorry.  We just love you soooo much!!!

November 30,2014. The first Advent Sunday. We bought our Advent wreath this year and as tradition goes, we lit the first candle. Every Sunday till Christmas we will light another one until all four are lit on December 21st. We are hoping to take our new little wooden tree home with us, if we have room. Chocolate or tree? Hmmmm...  We love this time of year!!