There's a time for everything under the heavens...and there is a time to heal or what can also be known as rest. Dictionary.com defines healing as; to make healthy, whole, or sound; restore to health; free from ailment.

Everyone desires peace and rest. It's so easy to allow the hustle and bustle of life consume you with all of it's demands. To get caught up in the chaos happens before you can bat an eye. We are so busy with work and bills, housework and yard work...Making sure that everyone and everything is taken care of. And for some of us that could mean A LOT,  a lot of bills, responsibilities and people...And you know what I mean if  you have a large family at home, aging parents or a slew of friends that all need something, which is mostly your time. This not only takes a toll on you but can also affect your kids making them restless, unsettled and out of control. Sometimes, more often than not, we need a time out! A time to rest, a time to relax, a time just to do whatever it is you feel like doing without any thinking or planning involved! A time to meditate, a time to pray, and sometimes a time to reconnect with God.


Here is what a recent study says about getting rest:
​As we rush around madly trying to squeeze as much as we can into every waking hour, the latest news that lack of sleep can cause depression, weight gain and even premature death comes as grim reading. Many of us are so busy we see rest as “a weakness - a waste of precious time,” Dr. Edlund says, 'but rest is, in fact, a biological need. All the science shows we need rest to live, just like we need food.' He says what we need is “active” rest - this can make you more alert and effective, reduce stress levels and give you a better chance of a healthier and longer life. Dr Edlund describes four different kinds of active rest: social, mental, physical and spiritual (using meditation and prayer to relax).CLICK on link to read more...http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1313812/Why-rest-good-sleep-long-dont-just-slob-TV.html


This last week was that time of rest for our family including our oldest daughter Ashley and granddaughter Isabella who has been going non-stop! After a very crazy year, full of changes and lots of excitement, we strategically planned an island getaway. Well, for Ashley and Bella it was their island getaway on Mallorca. But for us, the quiet time with Ashley and Bella was our island getaway! Our time to rest and heal...

Airlines:
​Eurowings

Restaurants:
La Cueva (Tapas)
Dolce Freddo (Ice cream)
Hard Rock ​

​The Germans love their festivals and with good reason! We never lived near Munich during our residence in Germany so Okoberfest is something that we never really frequented. We lived way up in the North in a small city called Bremen. There is a fest that they hold in Bremen each October, it's similar to a state fair in America, for the last two weeks of the month. And in the years that we lived in Bremen, I believe we only missed going one time due to our travels. And now that we are living in Spain and knowing that we are only a two hour flight away, the kids expressed their strong desire to visit the Freimarkt this October.


All the years that I lived in the states while my three oldest kids were growing up, we rarely ever attended the state fair. It was expensive for one, but the safety issues were always a concern and I never really seen a need to go. However, living abroad for so many years has opened my views in a new way, including taking kids to the fair or what we call the Freimarkt in Bremen.

Here in Bremen, to go to the Freimarkt is tradition. It's almost unheard of, if you live in Bremen not to make a yearly visit to the Freimarkt. But putting that aside, there are great reasons to spend the day together as a family at the fair or Freimarkt.


History-
There's the history aspect of how and why a fair started. Here's a little history about the Bremen Freimarkt... The Bremen Freimarkt was first held in 1035 and is one of the oldest fairs in Germany. With more than four million visitors each year, it is also considered to be the biggest festival in Northern Germany. It is celebrated for 17 days in the last two weeks of October, somewhat extended from Friday to Sunday. The area covers approximately 100,000 square meters on two areas: the so-called "Kleiner Freimarkt" (Small Free Fair) on the market square, and the main area at the "Bürgerweide" adjacent to the Main Station and the Exhibition Center. On 16 October 1035 Emperor Conrad II gave the "fair justice" to the city of Bremen. In the first centuries it was a free market for one day on 9 October. A showman with a carousel appeared for the first time in 1809.


Overcoming fears-
Spending the day at a fair gives ample opportunity for kids to overcome fears or weakness. I personally do not like rides that spin up high in the air. And I have NEVER been on a roller coaster, at least one that loops! Our kids each have different challenges when it comes to rides and crowds. One doesn't like rides that are too high. Another won't ride rides that are too fast. And one of our kids hate crowds. But over the years that we have attended The Freimarkt, we have seen progress with each child in overcoming their fears! Last year, our son that refuses to ride roller coasters decided he was going to overcome his fears! Without pressure he jumped in line and with each step that took him closer to the coaster his courage grew. Before we knew it, he was whizzing down the tracks with his mouth wide open as he screamed in anticipation! But afterwards, he came to us with accomplishment in his eyes and victory in his voice!


Money management-
Because fairs are usually very expensive and the more kids you have the more it ends up costing, we always set limits. We make a budget as to how much can be spent per person and they are given the free choice as to what rides or games they want to do as long as it fits into their budget. This teaches them how to manage the budget they are given. But also grants them the liberty to choose and gives clear limits knowing that they can't run The Bank of Mom and Dad dry!


Family fun time-
A fair is a great place to spend time as a family. We walk together from ride to ride exercising patience as we wait on one another until the ride is over. We play, eat, laugh and even dance together while enjoying The Freimarkt. Our family makes it a point to stay strong as one unit, one family. And being at The Freimarkt is no exception!

Gluhwein is a German specialty drink cooked in big pots...
​It's a mixture of red wine, adding sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, anise and orange zest. It's served piping hot.

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For more photos and more about the Bremen Freimarkt visit:
https://www.freimarkt.de/en/

​Or for other things to do in Bremen visit:
http://www.bremen-tourism.de/

Come on, admit it! Sometimes we need to spice things up a bit in our marriage, right? The everyday humdrum of life can effect our relationship in a way that takes the excitement and romance out of it. And it usually creeps in when we're least expecting it. We don't want or mean for it to happen, it just happens. We get so caught up with life, our jobs, our kids, our commitments, we often allow our spouse to fall to the wayside not paying enough attention to their wants or needs. Not spending enough time alone, talking discussing, planning the future or sharing our thoughts, feelings and concerns can be harmful to our relationship and to the marriage itself. But I have the perfect solution, TRAVEL!


Being American and having lived outside of the United States for over 14 years, I have come to realize that most Americans don't prioritize or even value travel like the Europeans do. I did live in the states until my early 30's and also had the same mindset as the majority of Americans. Work came first, then kids, then the marriage. And there was never time or money to take a vacation. The focus was on working, paying bills and buying stuff. A vacation was a rare luxury that I never gave too much thought to. But my thinking has changed drastically! Marriage NEEDS to be our main priority. And then all of the other things fall in line, with travel being included! Without a strong marriage, we cannot function as a family unit. And without vacations, our ordinary lives often remain, well, ordinary!
​

Here's a few ways that travel can spice things up:

​New adventures- New is always good! David and I love to try out new places! We make it a point to travel to a destination once a year that we have never been to before. It is exciting to see new sights, experience new foods and new cultures together. And we always make it a point to talk to people within our surroundings. It is incredible the things you can learn about worldviews, culture and different lifestyles if you just open yourself up to others. Last year, we met a couple from England while in Langkawi, Malaysia that inspired us with their story of how they spontaneously decided to take a trip around the world for one year! To hear of their experiences and challenges motivated us to see travel in a new way and all the while developed a long lasting friendship!

Problem solving- Solving a problem together adds to your relationship, even if it gets hot during the solving! Just a few weeks ago, we found ourselves stranded for 3 days during what should have been a simple and short trip. I have to admit, it was a very frustrating situation to begin with. And the problem-solving did have a short moment where things began to heat up. However, as David and I brainstormed, researched options and attempted to book other flights, we realized that our working together was what brought the results. We made the best out of the few choices that we had and in the end, we were thanking and applauding each other for the ideas that resulted in a great trip.  

Patience- Patience is a virtue. Meaning:To be able to wait for something without becoming frustrated is a valuable character trait. We all know that in marriage, this is not always easy. However, when we are in new surroundings, experiencing new things together as a couple, we are often faced with situations that require patience. Four years ago, we were on the island of Langkawi, Malaysia on vacation. And we decided to rent mopeds so that we could venture out around the island. I used to ride dirt bikes all the time as a kid in the deserts of Arizona with my cousins. So, jumping on a little moped and putting around was no big thing, I told David. I didn't take into consideration that it had been over 25 years since I had ridden motorbikes and assumed I would just hop on and take off! Well, I took off all right! I hit the gas after climbing on and sped across the small road almost crashing into a car parked on the other side! Things change as you get older! David was forced to exercise patience as I relearned how to drive and maneuver the moped. And in doing that we got some good laughs, at my expense of course!

Is there a way that travel spiced up your marriage? Any experiences that you would like to share?
​We would love to hear from you!
​

​
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And join in on our wild adventures of culture, personality and fervor! ​

Accommodations:
Hotel in Langkawi- Berjaya Langkawi Resort 
​Hotel in Langkawi- Holiday Villa Beach Resort
Hotel in Penang-  Holiday Inn Penang

Airlines:
Lufthansa
Air Asia
Euro Wings