Sunday, June 26: Bike ride and Uschi!

We have been informed that it is an unusually rainy summer this year here in Germany. So far, our experience confirms this trend. It has been very wet and cold. Every time it seems to be clearing up, it invariably rains again about an hour later!
Anyway, Sunday morning we all slept in really late (still adjusting plus we were up late after the burst pipe crisis back home). After brunch, we decided to take a bike ride. My dad had bought enough bikes for all of us at a used bike auction and fixed them up to working condition. It was not raining at the moment, so we decided to risk it.

 We rode down past the Venekotensee, a really nice path along the Schwalm river.

On our way back, it started to rain. First it was just light sprinkling, but then it got harder and pretty soon it was really pouring and there was thunder and lightning. Fortunately we were able to stop at a restaurant (a tennis club) just before it got really bad. The timing was perfect; we arrived just when the Ireland vs. France soccer game was starting. We had some drinks and some of us had a piece of cake. Soon after, the rain stopped and we were able to ride home.





After changing into dry clothes were were invited to my old high school friend Uschi's house for the afternoon and to watch the evening soccer game (Germany vs. Slovakia).

We had such a nice time catching up with her. Her 3 kids are Paul (almost 18), Pia (3 days older than Alex, 16), and Franziska (11). We drank coffee, ate more cake, drank champagne, watched the game, then later ate a lovely soup and pasta salad for dinner (at half time). The game was successful (3:0 win), but more importantly, seeing Uschi again was fantastic!

Daryl, Uschi, Pia, Jost, Franziska

Pia, Paul's girlfriend, Paul, Daryl, Uschi, Alex, and Ben

After we ate, Jost called us outdoors to see the lovely double rainbow over the rooftops. It reminded me that there is hope and all the many difficult situations we are all facing, God will help work them out!