Ever played "Curses"? This young man had his wrists glued to his head!
















And this was an old thresher at a farmer's market is Erbach, to our east. We drank the most delicious freshly pressed apple juice (Apfelsaft).



And this is what it looks like behind those old "half timbered" buildings. What is "half-timbered" construction? A "half-timbered" building has exposed wood framing. The spaces between the wooden timbers are filled with plaster, brick, or stone.

In Medieval times, many European houses were half-timbered. The structural timbers were exposed. The construction methods used in half-timbering allow buildings to be easily dis-assembled and put up again elsewhere. This has helped salvage houses which would otherwise have been destroyed to make way for new development. At any rate they are very charming.





















We have tried to write this blog faithfully every week but we may be cutting back to monthly! There are just a lot of things that require more of our attention. We are having so much fun that sitting at the computer doesn't sound all that exciting. However, we want to keep in touch with you all. Here goes . . . .

Bruce was recently named as chairman to a committee for a seminar for military families. After two planning meetings the seminar will probably take place on Sat., Dec. 6th, with a follow up seminar on Jan. 24th. This will be a stake wide affair. There will be a keynote speaker followed by 3 sessions, the last a panel discussion for answering questions from the audience, and then lunch. The title of the seminar will be "LDS Military Workshop" and the sessions will be on stress, communication, and support sources. There are many families that are in the midst of deployment and all the issues that surround that. This seminar is intended to be mostly a help to them. I don't know how he gets in the middle of these things but this is another big one. And we're off!

We have had some really fun times with the young single adults at the Institute Outreach Center. Just last Friday we had a Lasagna Cook off and Game Night. They did the cooking and there were 4 large dishes of lasagna. It was great as 18 people came to dinner and I didn't have to cook. Then they played 3-D Twister which involved 3 Twister mattes, 2 on the wall in the corner. Nobody was injured!

This coming Saturday is a Mystery Train Tour and the following week is the Halloween costume party. Sounds like fun!

In addition to the above duties we are also involved with Stake Auxiliary Training twice a year and we also participate at each ward/branch conference. It keeps us busy we often find the opportunity to help the wards become more aware of the needs of the young single adults. They get lost easily.

A couple from the States called us and told us they were going on a Military Relations mission and that they would be replacing us in February. What? We think their mission call will probably be to Africa or Egypt. That is usually how it goes. Someone in the Military Relations department in Salt Lake probably confused our release date with someone else. At least we think that is what happened. And even though the department may give an indication as to where a couple will go, the final decision is up to the Lord and he often has other ideas. You see, we were told we would probably go to Aviano, Italy. We are glad we were sent here!

The Fall season is very beautiful here. We have had moderate sunny days with lots of colored leaves. They are now falling and we have some rainy weather every now and then. Snow flurries were predicted but didn't happen. It will soon enough.

We hope your Fall is a lovely one too. Our clocks will be turned back one hour next Sunday, Oct. 26th. That will be ahead of the States. So, those of you that are 8 hours away or 9 hours away, that will increase 1 more hour for a week or until your clocks are turned back also.

Elder and Sister Karn