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We have heard it said so many times; “God loves you.” But does God like me? Are you one of the many people who have told me, “I know God loves me in my head, but I don’t truly believe it in my heart.” Or perhaps you know in your heart God loves you, but for some reason you still doubt it. Maybe your prayers go unanswered. You wonder, does God hear me? Perhaps you have been hurt by life. Or things didn’t turn out the way you hoped. And you wonder where was God in all

In Nuremberg, the Nazis found the ideal setting in which to carry out their activities. Part was due to the weather, since there was less rain and more warmth for Hitler to hold his outdoor propaganda speeches. Our guide said it was all propaganda and lies to the Germans and the world. Rallies were held, the boycott of Jewish businesses began, and the infamous Nuremberg Trials took place after the war. We went to the arena that Albert Speer (Hitler’s Architect) designed but

Day Seven: Wurzburg Wurburg was heavily damaged during World War II and has been completely restored. A highlight is the great Bishops’ Residenz Palace which was built in 1744. You can see the damage in the photo. We saw the sweeping staircase and magnificent ceiling frescoes by Teipolo. Long ago, the Bishop was the ruler until Napolean invaded and took over. Our guide said the bishop thought he was God. When this political leader told him he wanted a divorce, the bishop to

Marktheidenfeld is a lovely town in the region of Bavaria with a rich heritage dating back to medieval times. Timbered houses, restaurants, and quaint shops can all be found here. Our e-bike guide boasted of the great wine they make. We chose to bike along the river, taking in fresh air and the beautiful scenery. I enjoy exercising, mostly swimming; however, I like biking occasionally. I appreciate the assistance I get from this kind of bike. I used to have a Trek bike, but

Frankfurt’s Old Town-the smallest district in the city-is one of its most historic. Centered around the imperial castle, it held the title of largest intact medieval city in Germany until World War II and is renowned for its extensive collection of half-timbered houses. I just loved this. The Old Town has been rebuilt several times throughout its history. During World War II, the district was mostly destroyed by Allied bombs. Reconstruction began in the 1950’s to restore th

Baden Baden means Bathing Bathing in German. That is what we did and loved it. Natural hot spring water is abundant in this area. Long ago, when Hitler came across these waters, he thought it had no use. He was open to find minerals and metals that could be used for war. But the Romans thought differently and built their bath houses. Today there were two spas to choose from. One was nude. One was with a bathing suit. We chose the later! This spa had an outdoor pool, which

Our guide told us how these towns along the border between France and Germany long ago went back and forth over which country they belonged to. Hence, a German name, Strasbourg, but now a part of France. He also told us these border towns speak their own dialect of a combo of French and German. I asked how they get along now, considering the countries were enemies during WWII. He replied they get along well now and are at peace. They enjoy their beer and wine together, of

Breisach is a gateway to the Black Forest region and located in one of the warmest parts of Germany. Breisach boasts about its wine as it is home to Europe’s largest cellars and stores more that 160 million liters. The Black Forest is known for several fairytale origins with its gingerbread houses, romantic castles, and dark mist-filled woods. It is said that one can imagine Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, Rumpelstiltskin, or Snow White scampering into the woods.

We boarded the Viking Modi in Basel, Switzerland, and set off on the Rhine and Main Rivers for a 10-day cruise. What we love about cruising is our hotel moves. We unpack once, and then just get off each day to tour. When we return, dinner is waiting for us. Speaking of the food, it was wonderful. Especially the chocolate mousse. I was surprised I did not gain any weight. I think it’s because we are more active and the portions are small. A salad is served on a salad plate,

Basilica St. Michael (below, yellow color) was where the wedding scene, The Sound of Music, between Maria and Captain Von Trapp was filmed. Previously, I explained that acoustics were perfect so they did not need to build a sound stage. The Cathedral in Frankfurt was simple and yet beautiful. The sculpture below depicts Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, Jesus’ mother, and the women mourning Jesus’ body. God took care of him, even in death. A wedding is joyful. What gives y

Located in the Bavarian Alps near the town of Berchtesgaden, this historic site sits atop the Kehlstein mountain at an elevation of 6,017 feet. Hitler had it built as an entertainment and meeting place to discuss war strategies and plan the genocide. Our guide said that Hitler was afraid of heights, so he only went up there about 18 times. His mistress, Eva Braun, loved it and often went up for the day. The guide also stated that Hitler was claustrophobic, so the 40-story el

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart lived in Salzburg for his first 25 years. Born in the city on January 27, 1756, he spent his youth and early adulthood there before permanently relocating to Vienna at the end of 1780. As a gifted musician and composer, he left a legacy that lives on today. The yellow building is where he was born. Then his family moved to the pink building, which is now a museum. We went to a concert one afternoon in the recital hall where Mozart once performed. Ther

The Sound of Music Did you see the movie, The Sound of Music? A highlight for me in Salzburg was the Sound of Music Tour. This famous movie was based on the true story of the Von Trapp family, who escaped Austria during WWII and migrated to the United States. In Austria, Maria was sent to the Von Trapp home to care for and tutor just one child, who was ill and had fallen behind. Over time, as the children grew fond of Maria, they sensed something was brewing between her and

Leaving the deep heaviness of Krakow, we entered God’s stunning creation, Lake Hallstatt. Nestled in the Austrian Alps is the small village of 700 people. Our hotel, The Heritage, was simple and quaint and I recommend it We enjoyed the short walk through the town, filled with shops, restaurants, and churches. Busloads of tourists arrive daily at this beautiful spot and are welcomed by the locals, who rely on tourism. It rained for two days and was sunny for the other two

Have you seen the movie Schindler’s list? Oskar Schindler was a wealthy German businessman, a member of the Nazi party, a womanizer, unfaithful to his wife, had two children with another woman, and had a problem with alcohol. But he saved 1,200 Jews from extermination. Hid them in plain sight, right under the Nazis’ noses. He initially hired the Jews to work in his factory because of cheap labor. Hitler forced businesses to pay them much less. Then Schindler saw what w

During WWII, Hitler and his inner circle of commandants came up with the Final Solution to exterminate the Jews. There were 1,200 concentration camps, with six being designated death camps in Poland, and the largest one was Auschwitz. Our guide said that Auschwitz I already existed as a former Polish military barracks. Polish prisoners, Homosexuals, and Jews were sent to Auschwitz I and most of the structures are intact today. Needing more space, they built Auschwitz Birkena

I just returned from a trip to Munich, Krakow, Austria, and the towns along the Main River in Germany. I was so grateful to go with my husband, Ron. Over the summer, I will share my trip with you, posting on Tuesday and Saturday. We started our trip in Munich, visiting the Old City. In the photo above, you see remains of a Christian martyr, Die Heilige Munditia (c. 250–310 AD). Her jewel-encrusted skeleton is displayed in a glass ossuary at St. Peter's Church. She is traditi

Trauma Changed Us & Now We’re Rewriting Our Stories I did not know how sexual assault would impact me. Like many, I knew about the immediate impact. The shame, the guilt, the low self-esteem, the isolation, and I thought once I was out of it, all would be well. I thought once I was out of the house, the memories would stay there. Little did I know that I dragged them with me everywhere I went … in every conversation, in every room, in every city. That's what trauma does to

At 20 years old, fresh out of college and newly living on my own, one night changed the course of my life. One early evening after work, I pulled into the parking lot of the apartment complex where I had recently moved. I remember having a thought: drive around again before parking. I ignored it. After I turned off the car and gathered my things, a man suddenly appeared at my door. He pointed a gun at my head and told me to keep quiet. Fear flooded my body. I froze and did as

April is a month full of life for many. It’s spring. We celebrate Easter. We walk through the 40 days of Eastertide before Pentecost, where the Spirit of the Resurrected King is alive and active. Flowers bloom. Creation comes alive. New life is everywhere. But for a significant portion of the population, April is also a sobering month. It is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. For most of my life, I wanted nothing to do with that awareness. I didn’t want reminders of what had