Pictures and Home Sweet Reutlingen

I’ll begin with pictures from a busy, modern Frankfurt and an enticing, beautiful Dresden.

After Berlin, Frankfurt, and Dresden the last couple of weeks, I was ready to stay in one place for more than five days.  I, along with several others, chose to stay back in Reutlingen this past weekend.  I cannot describe what happiness it brings me to be able to have laundry completed, my room “cloroxed,” letters written and mailed, etc.  For the past week or so, I have had such an intense desire to feel put together, for I haven’t really felt that since I arrived in Germany.  For me, feeling put together usually entails cleanliness and productiveness.  I’m happy to say, my weekend has been just that and more!

Beyond my accomplished “to-do lists” for this weekend, though, is the grace and heart warming moments I experienced.  The nature surrounding Reutlingen University is absolutely breathtaking.  This weekend, I woke up early each morning to go for a long run amongst the Swabian Alps.  When trying to convey the beautiful nature that exists in my “backyard”, I am simply at a loss for words.  Even though the pictures don’t quite do it justice, I’ll let them speak for themselves.

Returning from these runs always leave me feeling so fulfilled.  But, I was especially uplifted when I checked my mailbox Friday morning and found a surprise from a sweet, loved one.  A little friend of mine by the name of Kyle (age 8), sent me a precious paper friend, by the name of Flat Stanley. Having never heard of this before, I read the description:

“Our class read a story called Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown.  A big bulletin board fell on Stanley and made him flat.  In the story, he travels to different places around the world.  We each made our own flat person (mine is in this envelope) and we need you to show him/her around your area.  he/she is very fragile, as you can see, so please take good care of him/her.  Please dress Flat Stanley in clothes that are appropriate to where you live.  Please take pictures with him/her in interesting places in your are and send any souvenirs or brochures back with him/her.”

And I thought that I was filled with joy while taking my run!  Let me tell you, this paper Flat Stanley completely warmed my heart.  My adorable Kylie thought of me, even hundreds of thousands of miles away.  Just picturing her precious face when Flat Stanley returns to her with pictures from all over Germany is a priceless, beautiful thought.  I bet that she will have the best Flat Stanley story in her class, and at that age we all remember just how important that was.  So, I began my photo shoot with Flat Stanley this weekend:

You don’t always have to be visiting the most phenomenally beautiful cathedral in Dresden or the amazing architecture in Frankfurt to experience such pleasant moments; it can be as close as your backyard or as inexpensive as a paper doll.