NEWS RILL

Yesterday was a fantastic day!  We visited Neuschwanstein, which is the castle Ludwig II built on top of a mountain.  It looks like something out of a fairytale.  As incredible as the inside of this castle was, it barely compared to the setting of majestic mountains surrounding it.  Unfortunately, King Ludwig was only able to live in the castle about 4 months prior to his death.  In fact, not all of the castle’s interior was completed.

Sue and I decided not to take the bus back into town.  Instead, we walked the 3 miles over a mountain and along a creek.  We even took photos of a beautiful swan along the way.  We couldn’t help looking back over our shoulder and sometimes even walking backwards just to get one more glimpse of the snow toped mountains.  Wow!  What a beautiful place our God has created for us to enjoy.  This is truly a once in a lifetime experience.

Today we head to Munich.  Trust things are going well with all of you.

Blessings!

Bobbie

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Sorry there are no photos with this post.  It’s not that I haven’t been taking any.  Matter of fact, I’ve been taking tons.  Everything is so beautiful it is hard to decide what pictures not to take so I’m just taking as many as I can.  And, YES! The photo below of the Eiffel Tower is one I took - not one I took off the web! 

Right now I’m on the hotel’s computer in Fussen, Germany and am just thrilled they have one I can use to send an update to you but photos will come later. 

Also, guess I should let you know the keys are different on this keyboard so if you see a ‘z’ in a word that doesn’t make any sense, just change it to a ‘y’.  That’s the most difficult change to get use to.

We were in Salzburg yesterday.  What a facinating place.  We took the Sound of Music tour and yes, even had to join in on some of the songs.  The next day we walked throughout the city and enjoyed seeing all of the incredibly narrow streets, tall buildings and obscure passage ways lined with awesome shores although I haven’t spent too much - yet!  

We’ve met some fascinating people on the rail until we realized we have first class tickets - from then on we’ve been alone in our first class coach. Ü  

Today we took the train to Füssen, Germany and are looking forward to seeing the Neuschwanstein Castle nestled at the base of the Bavarian Alps.  The mountains are absolutely majestic and we can’t wait to see them tomorrow since it was fairly late when we arrived.

Wish you were here but am very glad we are! 

Until next time…this is Bobbie and Sue signing off from Füssen, Germany.  Auf wiedersein!

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Wonders of all wonders…I flew with only one small suitcase and a backpack!  For those who know we well, that is probably a real shocker.  But trust me, walking up and down the stairs of the subways, made this one of the best decisions I could have made regarding this trip. 

The flight overseas was absolutely wonderful!  Thanks to Stan Moser, Sue and I were able to fly first class so most of the nine and a half hour flight from Dallas to Frankfurt was spent either eating or playing with the gadgets and exploring all the options on our private DVD screens.  After arriving in Frankfurt we took the train (again, first class accommodations) to Paris.  (Are we spoiled yet or what?) With only a couple hours of sleep on the way over, we both slept a good 10 hours and then were anxious to explore everying we could possibly see in Paris.  We spent the next two glorious days walking throughout this ancient city, rich in history.  I think we figured we walked 9-10 hours on Friday.  Needless to say we were a little sore the next day so decided to take the boat down the Seine River stopping at various landmarks along the way.  The weather has been absolutely perfect - high 60s or low 70s with not a cloud in the sky.  (A lot like Tucson, but that’s where the similarities stop!) 

Today, Sunday, we took the train from Paris to Stuttgart, where Colonel Martha McSally took us out to a wonderful dinner at a quaint little German restaurant where we enjoyed sitting outdoors and catching up on what all she’s been doing during her 15 months stationed over here.  

Right now we plan to head to Austria tomorrow but plans are subject to change as we consider other options.   

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Wednesday, Sept. 17^th AM

 

A warm, heartfelt, overwhelming THANK YOU! to Sue’s husband, Stan. Thanks to Stan flying over a million miles with American, Sue and I get to reap the benefits – first class upgrades, which we cashed in for this trip. Yes, we’ll be ‘roughing it!’  Also, a huge thanks to Sue who worked hard at exploring all the great possibilities and developed an outstanding itinerary for us.  I’ll be leaving Tucson at 9:45 a.m.  Sue leaves Nashville a little after 10 and we meet in Dallas to catch the 9 hour 35 minute flight to Frankfurt.  I have a close connection so pray I don’t run into any problems.  I’ve already asked Sue to do whatever it takes to delay the departure if I’m not there.

 

Thursday, Sept. 18^th 7:20 AM Frankfurt time

 

While all of you will still be sleeping, we’ll catch the rail at the airport to the main rail station in downtown Frankfurt. Our first class ticket on the Eurail awaits at 1 PM, but if we get through customs in good time we may be able to catch the earlier train.

 

Four hours later we arrive in Paris where we then head to the RER (subway). We’ll use our best French possible and order ‘un billet si vou plei.’ (Please pardon – our spelling is probably as bad as our French!) But ‘un billet’ will buy us 10 tickets on either the RER or the bus in and around Paris. After our RER ride we catch a bus, and then we’ll have about a 2-block walk to our hotel while we gaze at the Eiffel Tower! Yes, our hotel is real close to the tower.

 

Friday-Saturday

 

Paris, Paris, Paris! Yes, we will see and do all we can while trying NOT to look like tourists! Hopefully we’ll be able to post some pictures when we stop at an Internet café for a break.

 

Sunday, Sept. 21^st

 

We depart Paris and catch the Eurail to Stuttgart. Our friend Colonel Martha McSally will pick us up at the main train station. Since we don’t have a cell phone that works internationally, our plan is to meet at the Starbucks in case we don’t see her.

 

We’ll spend the rest of the day and I’m sure into the night catching up with our friend.

 

Monday, Sept. 22^nd

 

Today we head to Fussen, Germany, which is in the Bavarian Alps. This quaint little town is the home to the most famous of King Ludwig’s castles. It’s the castle that the Disney castle was modeled after. Check out great pictures here or go on googleearth.com and see the incredible pictures that others have posted in and around this town.

http://www.mediaspec.com/castles/schwan/index.html

 

Tuesday, Sept.  23^rd

 

Today we’ll probably tour the castle and hike around the area exploring and finding great cafés. I know how to order café (coffee) and apfel strudel, so I’m sure we’ll be eating real healthy while we’re gone! We also know- Ich habe ein bier! See if you can figure that out. Too bad we don’t drink!

 

Wednesday, Sept.  24^th

 

Sometime today we will catch the rail to Munich. While in this area we definitely plan on doing a tour of Dachau Concentration camp. How sobering to think of the atrocities done in places like this. I’m sure it will be an experience we’ll never forget. Here is one site, but if you google it you will find many. http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/article.php?lang=en&ModuleId=10005214

 

Thursday, Sept. 25^th

 

 More of Munich- possibly a bike tour around the city or more apfel strudel. We’ll hop the rail to Martha’s in Stuttgart sometime today, depending upon when she’ll be home from work.

 

Friday, Sept. 26-Saturday, Sept. 27th

 

On Friday, Martha and her golden retriever, Penelope, will be going with us to Interlaken Switzerland. Europe is very pet friendly so she’ll do everything we do- well almost. We plan to take the train to the top of the mountain, which is the highest altitude in Europe. Be sure to look around this site- this area is beautiful! We also will do some hiking. One of the most scenic trails requires a cable car ride to the trailhead!

http://www.interlaken.ch/index.php?id=53&L=3

 

Sunday, Sept. 28^th

 

Not sure which route we’ll take back to Stuttgart from Interlaken, but all of Switzerland looks amazingly beautiful. We’ll try to post some great pictures as we can. We will stay with Martha in Stuttgart tonight.

 

Monday, Sept. 29^th

 

Today will be an easy day. We may visit some sights in Stuttgart, and then the rail up to either Frankfurt or Mainz. We will probably stay in Mainz because that is the spot we leave on our Rhine River cruise tomorrow.

 

Tuesday, Sept. 30^th

 

Our Eurail pass entitles us to a free riverboat ride along the Rhine River. We can ride the boat or the rail all day on one ticket. So our thought is if we see a castle or town we’d like to visit, we’ll just hop off at that city and then board the rail to catch up with the riverboat at the next town. Check out our ride here: http://k-d.com/ Click the British flag at the top right corner to view in English.

 

Wednesday, Oct. 1

 

We’ll spend our final morning in Frankfurt – maybe one last café and apfel strudel before heading home. We fly into Chicago and then back to Tucson and Nashville… hopefully with lots of great memories and tons of pictures!

 

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Sept. 6, 2008 was a huge day in Warner Robins, GA.  Southside Baptist Church hosted the Freedom Fest with an attendance of over 10,000.  One of the highlights for me was the opportunity to interview the artists who performed that night.  You’ll no doubt recognize the names - Rush of Fools, Barlow Girl and ending the evening was Big Daddy Weave.  I wish I could sit down and tell you everything but since that’s impossible here’s the over view of my interviews and some photos I hope you’ll enjoy.

Barlow Girl - These adorable gals are not only sisters, they’re friends.  When I asked about boyfriends the comment was “Who has time?  We’re on the road?”  So, any moms and dads out there who happen to be reading this post, this may be one way of avoiding having to use the baseball bat to keep the guys away.  This family stays on the road! 

Rush of Fools - Only together a couple of years, this group has already received several Dove nominations.  Their 2007 hit, Undo, was the most played song on Adult Contemporary Christian radio stations.  And, it’s no wonder.  These guys are awesome on and off the platform.  I had the privilege to sit down with them and three of the four wives of the band.  Drummer, Jamie Sharpe, is still single but I’m not sure how long that can last.  I was so impressed with hearing Kevin talk about the passage in the Bible from 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 how God has chosen the foolish things of the world, from which they got the name of the band.  When I asked Wes, who’s only been married to Michelle for two months, how tough it was to be on the road, he shared how they talk or text a lot - anytime day or throughout the night.  From the smiles on the faces of the gals, it’s apparent they look forward to those calls, even at 3 a.m.  The hardest thing as JD shared about being on the road so much (over 250 days this last year) is “not being there when she needs me” but he went on to explain how he knows she needs to rely on God through those tough times.  Perhaps it was because I got a rare glimpse being able to not only interview the guys but three of their wives, that this group has a special place in my heart.  I encourage you to join me in consistently praying for them, their marriage and for the door of opportunity God has opened for them to spread the Good News.  And, pray especially for their wives.  These are precious young women and although they’ve known the guys before their recent popularity these last couple of years, have only been married a short time.  

Big Daddy Weave - I was able to interview lead singer Mike Weaver.  This is one of the most personable guys you’ll ever want to meet and it doesn’t take long to tap into his spiritual maturity.  Mike talked about his desire to share the Truth (John 14:6) with today’s generation.  He emphasized how people are looking for something real - that’s why reality shows are so popular these days.  It was a total delight to meet and spend time with him.

Be blessed and don’t forget to pray for the Christian artists who are blessing you with their songs and using their talents to bring God glory.  

   

 

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Recently, I had the privilege of attending the Governor’s luncheon in Dubuque, Iowa.  I was especially interested in hearing what Governor Chet Culver, the youngest governor in our US history,  had to say about the recovery of his state after the devastating floods and tornadoes ravaged many of its communities earlier this year.  While I’ll share some of the details he included in his address at the luncheon at a later date, today I want to focus on the question I posed to the Governor, his response and perhaps some tools that will help you cope when faced with a crisis.  

While most of the immediate intervention focused on providing for the physicals needs of housing, food, water and medical attention, my question to Governor Culver dealt with the provision for the emotional needs.  I was pleased to hear that a substantial amount of money had been designated for counseling for the many who had been displaced and were dealing with loss.   For many, their loss was compounded after waiting patiently to return to their homes after the clean up only to be faced with further disappointment when they learned they would not be allowed to move back in due to mold or structural damage to their home.  My heart ached as I tried to mentally put myself in their situation.  How were they coping?  What act of benevolence might momentarily ease some of their grief?  What kind of help do they truly need?  The questions bombarded my mind as I imagine they would for you, also.

One thing I’m certain those who sought couseling received was a list of strategies to help them cope.  Here are just a couple of things they were probably encouraged to do, which might also help you when faced with a crisis:

1) Talk about it.  You don’t have to hold things inside.  It’s important to feel free to talk about where you were at the time, what you were doing and how the news of the situation impacted you.  Talk about your initial thoughts and concerns.  Talk about whatever it is that’s on your mind.  Often talking to those who were also impacted by the event can help you not feel so alone but keep in mind that each individual experiences the trauma in his or her own unique fashion.

2)  Allow yourself to feel the emotions associated with the trauma.   There are healthy ways to express your emotions without hurting others.   One way is to journal your feelings.  Write out how you feel and what you’re thinking as it relates to both the event and how you’re coping.   

 3) Tell yourself the truth.  Because depression is a natural part of the mourning process, it is important to be aware that you will experience some irrational thoughts.  You will need to dispute the distorted or irrational thoughts and replace them with truth.     

I hope this will stimulate your thinking concerning other helpful strategies.  I may share more later but I’d also love to hear from you regarding what has helped you successfully deal with a tragedy in your own life.

Blessings!

Bobbie

 

    

    

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Thought I’d give you an update on what’s been happening…

1) Brent is engaged! He and Anjali are planning a September 2009 wedding in Phoenix where her parents live. Currently, Brent and Anjali are living in Lawrence, KS so they will also be having a reception/party in that area for all of their friends and co-workers. It’s also possible that some family may decide to attend that event instead of the wedding since it would be closer and more affordable than coming to AZ.

2) Brigette, Skyler and Steve went on vacation for about 10 days and then Steve flew back home for work but Brigette and Skyler kept heading across country. They’ve been gone now for around 7 weeks. They had a terrific time in PA with Mark, Marianne and the boys, went to NYC, etc. (Thank you guys for showing them such a wonderful time. Brigette couldn’t believe what all you did with and for them. She was so appreciative and couldn’t say enough about it.) The list of things they’ve done and the people they’ve been able to see is way too long to go into here. Perhaps I’ll share more at another time.

Here’s what’s been keeping me busy…

1) My web site for women is almost ready to launch. My learning curve is pretty long and slow since this is new territory for me. I’ll let you know when it’s ready so you can take a look at it and give me your input. I’m working on the web site with my friend, Penny Williams, which will make it a lot easier to keep the content fresh and updated regularly. Oh, here’s some pretty exciting news. Carol Kent has been asked to speak on the Moody broadcast concerning prison ministries. Carol is excited about our web site and especially the counseling and coaching component to the site. If we can get the site up and running before the broadcast on the Moody network, she has said she will be glad to promote the site along with her prison ministry, Speak Up For Hope. Both her web site and our counseling services for this particular population are geared specifically for family members - not the prisoners. We’re pretty excited about getting that exposure for the site right off the bat. We’re aiming for a launch date of the first of September for our site and the Moody broadcast isn’t until around the 23rd so we should be okay.

2) I’m heading to Germany on Sept. 17 for two weeks. I’ll be going with a friend, Sue Moser and we will be staying with a mutual friend, Colonel Martha McSally, who’s stationed at the Air Force base over there. Martha’s list of accomplishments is incredibly long. She was the first female, A-10 fighter pilot instructor and also the first female serving as Captain over a squadron at DM AFB in Tucson to be sent to war. But it’s the woman that’s truly amazing. Sue and I are looking forward to seeing her as well as the sites. We are hoping Martha will be able to take some time to travel with us some but Sue and I are also looking into what other countries we want to visit while there. Switzerland is a given but we’re also looking into Austria, etc. We will probably get the three-country pass, which means we will get to visit four different countries counting Germany. Should be fun! If you have any recommendations concerning where we should go and what we should see, let me know.

3) Work is going well. I just got back from an eight-day trip to our Wisconsin/Iowa market and will be heading to GA the first of September for a big music fest on the 6th. Also, I think you know I’ve been serving as a liaison between our new markets and the corp office here in Tucson since the women’s ministry (WOV) has been totally set aside in order to assimilate the new stations. Anyway, I’ve been traveling quite a lot. It’s been fun. We are also looking to purchase yet another station, which I am very excited about. They have also asked me to plan some events for Randy where he can present his new curriculum on Intentional Living. So, they are keeping me busy. Guess that’s good for job security.

4) I’ve also been involved with a group called Lady Leaders and in January started a group on my side of town, which was meeting two times a month for breakfast at one of our restaurants. I was the main speaker but had another gal who spoke when I was out of town. Well, the founders of Lady Leaders has decided to disband LL altogether so my leadership team on this side of town are meeting to re-organize and re-brand our group. Our first meeting is schedule for 9/11 at our home. Since I’m looking to simplify my life, I’d like to brand these meetings the same as the web site that Penny and I are working on. Penny’s okay with this so I’m hoping my leadership team is okay with it, also. I’ll keep you posted.

Whew! Makes me tired just to think about all of it. Bob is doing fine. He’s been my greatest resource on all of the above projects and I don’t think I could do any of it without him and his continual support.

Hope all is going well. Keep in touch!

Blessings,

Bobbie

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