"Can't it stay summer forever?"

When we lived in the heart of Europe,. it was relatively easy to drive to the Mediterranean Sea.
We went to Greece, twice.

         and to Spain

Another summer, we went to Hungary with our friends, the wonderful Erlacher family.
Hungary was  amazing! The iron curtain was still up (but not for much longer)  and prices were incredibly low, especially compared to our home in Switzerland.  John noted that our whole family of nine could go out for a delicious dinner, including dessert, for the price of one person's meal  in Switzerland.

And it was the same in Czechoslovakia.
We took an excursion to Prague while we were staying at a family vacation village in northern Austria. We were really close to the border. John would ride his bike up to the warning signs and crossings.
picturess

And of course we took excursions closer to home:

at Insel Mainau, the flower island

Neuschwanstei

                                 Looking at our house and village down in the valley.

3 September

This is the date when I was baptized and became a member of the church, at age nineteen. I had investigated, studied, fasted, prayed and thought about it for a long time, almost two years. It was a very good decision, one I have never regretted. Quite the contrary.
I'll always feel indebted to all the good young missionaries who visited our family, and gave us so much. It was a special time.
When my brother and sister and I first visited the church in Linz on a Sunday morning, we found a small congregation in a humble little building. We were slightly late, and when we walked in the door, they were singing a song, with devotion and a very good feeling:  "Erstaunt und bewundernd"

                                  I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,
                                  Confused at the grace that so fully He proffers me.
                                  I tremble to know that for me He was crucified,
                                  That for me, a sinner, He suffered, He bled and died.
                                   Oh, it is wonderful, that He should care for me,
                                   Enough to die for me!
                                   Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me.

     Hymns, #  193