I'm so proud!

1

See that number just above? Not only is that number a represenation of the best position you can have in sports, or a number that stands for exactness, nor does it refer to that song by Nelly (I am number one!), although that would ring true in this situation.

It is what my genious husband scored on the test he had on Wednesday, receiving his middle diploma.

Here let me show you what that means in American vs. German grading terms:

Uh, yeah... I have the smartest, hottest, husband around.

Watch out Columbia here he comes!

Headlines of Faith

I was privelaged to be asked to give a talk in Church today. I always love giving talks, not because I enjoy being nervous or getting up in front of people, but because it forces me to study a specific topic of the Gospel that I need specifically in my life at the time. It goes to say that every topic of talk I have ever been asked to give has always been one that I have needed desperately at that time in my life. Funny how that works, isn't it?

So, since I love my family, my friends, and you my reader, I'd like to share the sacrament address that I gave today with you. I hope that you seek to read it with the spirit as it was prepared, written, and given with such.

Headlines of Faith
McKenna Åkebrand | Sacrament Meeting Address
July 26^th 2009

As modern day followers of Jesus Christ we pattern our lives after the things we are taught from our childhood. Things like hope, faith, and prayer become second nature to us; they are a part of who we are.

We keep the commandments willingly, and as the world would say, blindly. We refrain our human bodies from things like smoking, drinking, and swearing. We strive to stand in holy places, filtering ourselves from actions that are sometimes appealing and otherwise accepted by many around the world. We seek things like prayer, spiritual guidance, and the love of our Savior, when others rely on chance or crossing their fingers. Simply branding life as just “the way things are,” “the way that I am,” or “that’s just how things go for me.”

Some go through life expecting the worst and hoping for the best, when really we should be expecting the best, or in other words living in faith in order to endure the worst.

The apostle Paul taught in the very first verse of Hebrews 11; “Now ^faith is the ^substance {or in other words, assurance} of things ^hoped for, the ^evidence of things not seen.”

Have you ever thought of Faith as an assurance, as evidence? I think we often confuse faith for wishing, or wishful thinking. When actually faith is the result and the reward for hope, the blessing that comes from living “blindly.” Faith along with hope is anything but wishful, it is “expectation based on experience.” (Hope: The Misunderstood Sister by Larry Hiller, Church Magazines)

This week I came across some news articles written several centuries ago that I found to be great examples of men and women just like us, all over the world who have shown the miracle and power of faith, in Jesus Christ.

As I read to you the headlines I ask you to imagine the “newspaper articles” that would precede each headline. I am sure you may be familiar with some of them.

- Man builds Ark expecting floods in cloudless sky

- Woman gives birth to baby at age 90

- Large family leaves home, and country in search of promised land

- A man forsakes life with Pharaoh to defend Hebrews

- Young boy defeats Giant with slingshot

- Woman gives her only son to serve in a tabernacle

- Man worships God after finding his entire estate burnt to the ground

- Man gets throw in lions den because he prayed

- Man sees the finger of God light 16 stones

- God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ appear in Grove to young boy

Each of these men and women in these events, were just like you and I. Not just mere believers of Jesus Christ, but faithful followers striving to live the principles of the Gospel.

Their experiences with faith were written as follows:

…And there were many whose faith was so exceedingly strong, even ^before Christ came, who could not be kept from within the ^veil, but truly saw with their eyes the things which they had beheld with an eye of faith, and they were glad… (Ether 12:19)

…Wherefore, by the ministering of ^angels, and by every word which proceeded forth out of the mouth of God, men began to exercise faith in Christ; and thus by faith, they did lay hold upon every good thing; and thus it was until the coming of Christ.. (Moroni 7:25)

… And as surely as Christ liveth he spake these words unto our fathers, saying: ^Whatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is good, in faith believing that ye shall receive, behold, it shall be done unto you… (Moroni 7:26)

…And Christ hath said: ^If ye will have ^faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is ^expedient in me… (Moroni 7:33)

...And it did work for them according to their ^faith in God; therefore, if they had faith to believe that God could cause that those spindles should point the way they should go, behold, it was done; therefore they had this miracle, and also many other miracles wrought by the power of God, day by day... (Alma 37:40)

...Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that ^miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of ^unbelief, and all is vain... (Moroni 7:37)

… Thus God has provided a means that man, through faith, might work mighty miracles; therefore he becometh a great benefit to his fellow beings... (Mosiah 8:18)

…And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Noah, and of Sara, of Nephi also, and of Moses, Hannah, Job, Daniel, the Brother of Jared, and of Joseph Smith:

Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained ^promises, stopped the mouths of ^lions,

Quenched the violence of ^fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made ^strong, and waxed valiant in fight… (Adapted from Hebrews 11: 32-34.)

What newspaper headlines will we create? What modern miracles can we have in our lives if we but strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ?

“Faith is a principle of action and of power” (Bible Dictionary, 670). It requires us to do, not merely to believe. Faith is a spiritual gift from God that comes through the Holy Ghost. It requires a correct understanding and knowledge of Jesus Christ, His divine attributes and perfect character, His teachings, Atonement, Resurrection, and priesthood power. Obedience to these principles develops complete trust in Him and His ordained servants and assurance of His promised blessings." (Kevin W. Pearson, “Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,” Liahona, May 2009, 38–40)

So, let us re-familiarize ourselves with the teachings we were taught as youth, making a conscious effort to put more faith in our Savior Jesus Christ for I know that he lives. I know that he loves us, and I know if we put our trust in him miracles will happen in our lives.

I leave these things with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Semester is OVER! Josef is FREE!!

Let me just say life is so much better when my better half is under no stress! I actually remember now why I love him so much. Don't say you don't know what I mean because you all know. :)

He deserves a super pat on the back for all the hard work he has put in to school. His grades are Å-mä-zing!! He's got a 1.5 grade average which is pretty much an A- in U.S. terms or a 3.5 gpa. It's only that bad because his really bombed his Linguistics class. Whoops!

He's applying for Columbia University once he holds that Middle Diploma in his hands and then J and M are off to NYC next summer. We are hoping for Scholarship! Keep us in your prayers.

Josef is looking for a new job as Hugendubel decided to lay off all of their students. Scharde!! (Bummer) Seeing as we just got the biggest phone bill of our life, our end of the year heating bill which we had to compensate for the more-than-we-thought engergy that we used, and we still have a few more debts that need to be payed with money that we don't have. So I'd say we are at a desperate time for finances, and Josef loosing his job has put a lot of stress on both he and I. That's another story that you don't need to be troubled with.

•

As for me.

I am working summer camp as a teacher for the 2 year old class. It's going good although I am really ready for a vacation (which I won't get) on the beach. The weather was great at the start of July but has been overcast, rainy, and freezing according to summer definitions and you know what, it's really ticking me off. The kids are adoreable though and are finally starting to get in the routine and behave better and participating during singing and activities better than they were in the first few weeks.

As for Photography... oh wait, don't you need a camera in order to do photography?? Yeah, still waiting on one of those. Business is slow and I don't have any interesting families at the moment. I have access to a friends camera if ever I did have someone interested but there aren't many bites and I am really not sure how to advertise around Frankfurt. To say the least I am quite discouraged about it. Bleh.

On the bright side, I looked into universities in NYC and have decided that I will apply to several Art schools for the Fall 2011 school year. I will take some time right now to focus on putting a portfolio together with the images I already have, so come January I will apply, apply, apply and hopefully be accepted to a photography school in New York City, baby.

•

And as for just the two of us.

We had a good day. I came home, took a 1/2 hour nap after work, and then Josef and I went to the dentist for free (Aaah, Did I mention that I love the German system?) Josef got a cleaning. I got 2 cavities filled, you know the usual. Seriously, that's the usual for me. Then we walked around the Zeil, stopped by Douglas, tried on our favourite purfume's, came home, Josef had an oven pizza, I ate left-overs. We've been sniffing eachothers necks and wrists like puppy-dogs all evening and are now we're going to start Family Home Evening then watch a movie together and it's only 9:00. Usually that would be the time Josef arrives home and we would start eating. I sure love the simple life. It's really not something to be taken for granted.

•

So, that's it for now. Nothing cool going on, nothing cool planned. Sorry to disapoint, as I am sure you'd all be looking forward to acheing jealousy, if we were finally going to go to Greece or Venice for our "Honeymoon" on our 2nd anniversary comming up, but that like everything else is quite distant in the future. Bleh, bleh.

Have a good FHE. I know I will.

Josef and I at Das Städel

Did you know that Josef and I live in a city with some of the most renowned museums and other great historical sites? All within our grasp. In about 10 minutes we could quickly be on the Main River that houses a line of some of the most incredible museums in Europe. The museums that are part of what Frankfurt is known for.

And now's the part where I list off all of the museums I've been to right?

Funny, only two come to mind...
-The Museum of Modern Art.
- The Seckenburg Museum.

Wow! Impressive eh? Concidering that if you know me, you know that I am a lover of art. Ok so the Museum für Moderne Kunst might make sence to see. Yeah sure Josef and I been there twice together and I have been there 3 times total, each on the fourth Saturday of the month, and the admission was free. Each time I went I left the museum concerned that I'm possibly not a true lover of the arts. More than 1/4th of what I saw, I didn't like. Yes, some of it was interesting, some of it was well done, but most of it was just not what I, as an artist, apprechiate.

I've been to the Seckenberg Museum twice, (or is it thrice as well, I can't remember) my attendance mostly used as an intrument of child entertainment. It's very similar to the Beam museum in Provo, but to the 10th degree, and also includes a few dinosour bones. I took my aupair kids there a few years ago and on another occasion for a play date with sister in-law, my neices, and two little girls I was babysitting.



Last Sunday I marked another more prestigious museum off my list. It's about dang time that I saw some real art.

Josef's cousin was in town and oops, Sunday was the only day we would be able to take her as it would be closed on Monday and she would be leaving Tuesday. This museum is a "must see" for art lovers, as she is also one. There was no question that we had to go, starving, fasting bodies or not. And go we did. And guess who I saw?


Hooray!! My 2nd real life Matisse. Although, this would more appropriately count as my first because the one I saw at the BYU Art Museum was only a tapestry that wasn't even made by Matisse himself. I was rather starry eyed at the time anyway, so it didn't matter. Matisse is my first love and I hold a special place in my heart for his art.

Oh, it was beautiful. And I was inches away from it.


And did I mention? Who else I saw while I was there?...


Here I am sipping champenge with Monet, and we're obviously disgusing the fabulous wall colour he's presented upon.

I can't say I know all the names, or I'd definately be lying. Although, I did recongnise a lot of the paintings.

It's moments like that were I say to myself, "I'm in Europe baby!" And I love it!

Here are a few more pictures from the museum and from the day. It was soo hot and so georgous that day.

Josef sitting casually with just some insignificant, ahem, Rembrant, behind him.


On the bridge enjoying the weather and watching the triatholon runners, running along side the river.


Meet Emily. Josef's 2nd cousin. Without her we wouldn't have gone to the Staedel for another million years or so.


Aren't we cute? I'll quote the image descrption I used on facebook: "I just love this boy, despite his unwillingness to look unconcerned in all photographs." I am pretty sure it's his trademark.

Infested

The images shown in this post or commentaries are entirely those of the individual's photographed and do not reflect the lifestyle of Åkebrand Household LLC, it's affiliate or subsidary companies.

This post is rated PG-13 for grafic images.


•••••


Here in our kitchen, like in any other kitchen, you'll find your average house hold fly.


Although, for me after the sixth, seventh, and eigth one, I started to become concerned.



So I did what any one would do and bought some flypaper. And played myself a little game of camillion.




Within the amount of 4 minutes or less. I snatched up, uh, I'd estimate about 22 shiny green flies. Huh that gives me an idea... how about I google 'shiny green flies' right now...

click the image to read, or see the site here.

I quote:

"When huge numbers of flies suddenly appear inside the home, homeowners become very distraught and often don't know what to do. The flies often look somewhat like houseflies, but may be shiny green, blue, bronze or black. These shiny, metallic colored flies are called blow or bottle flies. They congregate around windows and produce a buzzing sound."

"The first possibility is there is a break in sewer pipes...."

"A second possibility is garbage that has not been taken out often enough. During the summertime, flies can lay eggs in meat and vegetable scraps in your trash can and can go through an entire generation in less than a week. When fly maggots finish feeding, they often crawl away and pupate in dark, secluded places. Sometimes these maggots or pupae (shown at right) are seen by homeowners who do not know what they are. Vacuum them and discard the bag. Those missed will emerge later as flies."

" A dead animal carcass will produce a flush of flies."

Sing it with me now: "EEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeWWWWWWWwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!

I think option 2 would fit us best, although Josef did suggest this morning, that it could have been a dead neighbor that lives alone. Yes, that really was his first conclusion. Mine was more reasonable seeing as Josef spotted one of these in our garbage can last week.


You now see what happens when I refuse to nag Josef to take the garbage out. Honestly, I thought to myself that entire week of stench, that I would just zip my lips about the garbage and see if he'll inciate taking it out, all by himself... I suppose I've learned my lesson.

So the conclusion to this story is not a dead neighbor as Josef suggested this morning, it's that nagging will prevent shiny green flies. So go a head ladies, nag all you want!! It's well worth the energy.

José as of late.

It's June and Josef is full in fill force with only one more month of the sping semester then hooray, hooray it's summer break (for him at least.) I'll be working summer camp at school and he'll be free living, enjoying the beautiful Frankfurt summer sun.

Although, as of yet, summer for him still seems quite a ways, away. Spring semester began in April and has criteria of a full semester packed into three quick months. Mmm, yeah, I heard you breathing in through closed teeth on that bit of news. 

Eh, it's no problem for me as long as flasely lead my brain into thinking that; No, McKenna, you do not have a husband! He's only a figure of your imajination. Although, you are obligated to pretend as if one exists, and carry on doing the laundry for two, grocery shopping for two, and cleaning for two. Yeah, sure you'll see him, but not until 8 or 9 at night, but he'll be too busy with papers and projects that he won't have time for you. You'll go to bed at 1 or 2 am hoping that with those few extra hours you can create a real conversation with him, but the lights will turn off and the only words spoken in the evenings will be, "good night," and "I love you." Seven hours later, you'll hear, "good morning,"  his singing and sound making, you'll eat a quick breakfast with him, but then it's off to the University, again. Yes, McKenna, get used to it!

He's a trooper, and I'm attempting to be. 

Right now he's really enoying his feild of study, now, after a few semesters of feeling lost and insecure with his major, then switching to Film and Media Sciences. He is really taking off and loving his decision to change his course of study last semester. "This is really what I love," he'll say, and I fully support him. He really has a talent for it and is finally able to get out of the business and economics world and into a more creative world. Ah, I could just hug him right now, but he's at Hugendubel, working til, yep, 8 o' clock. Argh. 

For him film class, he's working on a short film, and taking it very seriously. He's quite like me and wants it to be perfect and professional or not at all. I won't spoil the plot but he's using one of the peices he sings in the Vocalis Chior uh, maybe you've heard of it...'Immortal' by J.S.Bach and has come up with a very interesting way to film the struggle between life and death. His neice Saphira is the main charactor and she has done an excellent job in acting and enduring "Director-Josef's" strickt directing. There has been some sweat, and tears so far in the production and before it's over I am sure some blood will be spilt, even if it is his actors who come with knifes and pitchforks and take it from him in the end.

Polski | June 4th and 5th 2009

Country count number six. Slowly but surely, visiting the world.

I've now walked the grounds, met the people, heard the language/dialect, used the currency, eaten the food, of; The US (naturally), Canada (by trade-ly), Germany (obviously), Sweden (amazingly), England (with out a doubt-ly), and now ('da da da') Poland! (As a matter of factly).

Ok, so six aint that high of a number, expecially when 1 and a half of them don't really count. I mean come on, the U.S. and Canada aren't so foreign. Hey, I'm trying. When you live in a foreign country, or Germany, which I don't really concider foreign anymore, and you don't have a car, seeing the sights aren't really a priority. No matter where you live, your main focus is; your home, your family, your job, a.k.a.: everyday life. Just as most residence of Utah never go skiing, and the French never visit the Eifel tower. McKenna does not see or visit a new country or German castle every weekend. I've never seen the Neuswanstein Castle, nor been to the black forrest. Ok? Now, to the point. I'm attempting to make this relateable to you, so no one feels the need to envy or look at my life and say "Wow, she's got it all." Let me describe it to you in these terms... I see on many a' friends blogs or facebook pages, occational trips to St. George and Las Vegas, or an occational California Disneyland trip. Yep, that's as exciting as life gets in Utah. I've been there man, I know. So now I live here and it's quite the same. Occational weekend trips to the nearest most exciting places around you. This includes day trips to Poland, for girl getaway's, and shopping for you guessed it, Polish pottery. So, I was asked by a woman in my ward if I would like to join them on a two day one night, 6 hour drive, polish pottery trip to Bolesławiec, Poland.

My brother K, served a mission to Poland so there was no doubt that I would say "Yes, of course!" If only to make him jealous, or to check off another country on my list. You think of Poland as one of those, 'eh, if I see it, I see it' type of countries, but oh no. It's well worth a 13 hour plane ride and a months' stay to see, a place the retire to, or visit often. I LOVED IT!!! Maybe it's because I'm comming from Germany, but Poland is so much more charming, quaint, friendly, and beautiful in it's own way. The people are gorgous and friendly. The language is unique and the people adore when you attempt to speak it. Just as we crossed the border, you could recognise immidiately that you were there. In Germany the feilds and farms are so vast and organized. In Poland they are small and wild. As if they were untouched and left free standing for months. It seemed so stress and worry free. Everything was old, unkept. None of the buildings were freshly painted. Farm homes from the outside looking to us like it's been abandon for ages with wooden planks on the windows. Yet, I would find often, the doors wide open and people working or relaxing inside. Their rode signs were hand made, hand painted. The rodes small. Everything had so much charactor and layers of life. You could see the work of centeries ago, left to let time take it's toll. It was beautiful.


The following pictures were taken along the same street, or surrouding vicinity of our hotel.
Gardens uncombed.

Cinderblock telephone poles.


There was not one place that did not have life. This farm house looked wrecked, yet just beyond the 'no tresspassing' signs fesh linens were hung out for drying.

Handpainted speed limit signs.


This man was just chillin' with his friends in their backyard. Talking about life. Then I came along and they all started speaking to me, gawking at my camera. This man gesutred to me, I assume he was asking if he could "take a picture" (or in other words "take" what takes the pictures,) while I proceeded to snap away at them. I asked first, of course, but they didn't understand me. I don't think he was too happy about it, and all three of them scurried off pretty quick, But hey, I got the shot right? Thank goodness for not knowing the language, I probably would have been too scared to ask, knowing that they could have said no to me. And no matter what they were saying to me, all I could do was smile, laugh, and snap a shot.






The following pictures are of the bed and breakfast we stayed at called The Blue Beetroot. Owned by a lovely British couple with a beautiful Polish staff.



The kitchen and front desk.


The restraunt. OH MY GOSH!!! THE BEST FOOD EVER!!




Our room. The family room with three twin beds, with an extra bed room, shower room, and bathroom with tub off to the side.







Me posing for Michelle (one of my travelling buddies) at the hotel.



The town center











And O, the Polish pottery




We went to store, after store, after store filled with this stuff. Meeting fellow American's, (mostly American's) and some Germans along the way.





On the final day I decided to get a tea set, and salt and pepper shakers at the store I deemed to be my favourite.






We also found some very unique peices of pottery. I think they were gearing towards a certian sales audience, wouldn't you say?

This one I find particularly funny. Pottery representing three different cultures; the U.S., Poland, and a symbol no longer recognised as culturally acceptable by the German people.



And a final request by me before we headed home; to visit a Polish super market to pick up the following list given to me by my brother, K.





This man was kind enough to help me to though the store attempting to find the things on my shopping list. Me not speaking any Polish, and him not speaking and English. He was so nice and helpful. Now if only we could all treat our foreigners like that.


I went into the store with 20 sloti (about 5 eur) and came out with:

Bulki (as bro-K suggested)


2 liter's of my 2nd favourite juice in the world. Black Current Juice.



A cheap equivalent (or not so equivalent) of strawberry jam that we had at the hotel restraunt.

as well as these apetizers we were given at the hotel for dinner dipped in fresh cream cheese with garlic and onion flavour. Yum!

And onther suggestion by my brother was some Kurbis juice. I really don't think this is what you were referring to K, but this is all they had and it was delicious none the less.


see the complete picture albums on facebook.

You guessed it... Primary Chorister

Props to Holli and Heather who guessed Primary Chorister, because that's what you can now call me.

It's slightly terrifying to know that I am now holding the reponsibility to teach these kids the primary songs that they'll remember throughout their lives. I now have to be super creative and musically talented. Yeah sure call me creative, but by no means can I sing the high notes of some of these children's songs, I've ended up mouthing or screaching out those high notes and am surely pretending to lead all songs as if they are 4/4. My O' my do I need one of those signature leading techniques. Hmm, shall I go with; the traditional 2,3,4 hand sway, the bladed hand, geturing notes moving higher and lower, leading by actions, or the all out both hands flailing-about orchestra leader movments. Maybe I should get one of those cool sticks!

Yesterday I began teaching them a new song, so I drew up some pictures to go along with the song. I'll give you a sticker if you can guess which song it is... or I'll send you an ice cream cone if you can write the words.

New Calling for Me

Can anyone guess what it is?...

I am bummed to be out of Young Women's but excited to be in _________ where I seem to be comfortable, or at least I thought I was. Standing in front of the crowd of wiggly ________ gave me a bit of a scare my first week, but I seem to be comming along. I've had some practice teaching the children in Daycare some _____, I've created quite the chior out of them. I only hope to do the same in _______ and also attempt to live up to Sister Pead, who was the _________ while I taught in ______ in 2007.

The B.å.Z is now un-private!

Yipee! No more excuses for not reading my blog.

Be sure to become a follower and get updated when I actually write something on here. (Since it's not very often that I do.)