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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

As a survivor of sexual abuse, I have come to realize the importance of giving sacred space and time for grief work. As a man, I can look back on early years of my life and never recall any healthy conversations about the importance of grieving, not only over death, but all my losses, whatever they might be. One of the great losses of my life was when my innocence was damaged and taken from me and my trust in someone was manipulated and taken advantage of. Father Peter saw

Many survivors of sexual trauma shared with me the hurtful things people say and do, even in the church and within the family. Although not intentional, people don’t know what to do and say. Sexual trauma is an uncomfortable topic. Tip #1. Compassionate Listening Just listen. You don’t need a degree to offer compassionate listening. The temptation for many of us is to fix or advise. Or to avoid hearing someone’s pain. Sexual abuse is an uncomfortable topic. Do not o

5. Practice Self-Compassion Self-Compassion is a gift you can offer yourself and is a part of the healing process. Survivors of sexual trauma tend to blame themselves for what happened. Over the years I have heard: “I shouldn’t have gone out with him.” “I shouldn’t have gone to the bar.” “I should have seen his true intentions.” “I should have fought back.” “I should have reported him.” “Shoulds” are like ingesting small amounts of poison daily. You feel awful. And slowl

1. Write Your Story. Read it Out Loud. 2. Find a safe person to read it to. Sharing it breaks the chains of shame. 3. Find a good therapist. Interview. 4. Find a support group. Important to know you are not alone. 5. Know the truth vs toxic shame 6. Practice Self-Compassion Daily 7. Practice Self-Care Daily 8. Spend time with God Daily Practices: God’s love each day and Meditation on Psalm 139 and scriptures. Here are some suggestions for

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. I will blog once a week in April and May about statistics, manifestations, tips for survivors and those who accompany them, and true stories from guest bloggers. There is hope with God to overcome the effects of trauma and become the person you were created to be. You are not alone. Statistics and Manifestations Did you know that one in three women and one in six men will experience some kind of sexual assault in their lifetime? Sex

As I reflect on the gifts from God this year, one was a new home community. We are Christians from different traditions, different churches, who long for a like-minded community. The leadership rotates to create and lead a spiritual practice. After a brief teaching, we separate throughout the house and outside, to spend 20 minutes alone with God, reflecting, journaling, and praying. Then we come back together and share whatever is comfortable, from what came up during our

San Diego Safari Park Joy is more than just a feeling; it’s a deep-rooted attitude that all will work out for good for those who love God. As we explore the scriptures, joy can be found in many aspects of our lives. Whether it’s through worship, nature, community, or even trials, the Bible has beautiful verses that remind us to choose joy. “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” – John 15:11 Jesus is talking about how much H