The Heymann Family Journal

A friend at church told me about this movie. I am sure it will not come to Germany so I'll have to wait for the DVD. But many of you can see it. I love Juergen. We will be married 18 years next week. I do think our strength comes from the love of God. I don't expect everything from him. He can not be my all in all. I have to receive my strength from God. Juergen gives me so much. He is a true servant. But that also comes from God. I still want to see this film. I know so many simply need to see it. For these folks I cry a tear. I can not imagine how hard it must be in a difficult marriage. I've seen miracles. I've seen marriages turn around. Not every marriage can be saved but many can be saved! Your love is not a fight, but it is something worth fighting for

This is a poor copie of the picture Nicole drew.

We are finally getting a new window put in our roof. I will finally be able to breath well when I sleep. This photo is the beginning of the job. I'll post a photo when the project is finished! Already it is amazing to me the light this one hole in the roof brings to my dark room! I love it!!! The window is in. It looks great!!! I can not wash it for two days but what do you think? Now I want to paint my room. White just will not do! I have to keep the white ceiling, but the walls need some color.

One of the best things I ever learned from my mom was life is not fair but life is good. I must have said,” that’s not fair" allot when I was a child because I really recall her saying "whoever said life was fair"? Tonight Thomas was worried that Philip got more TV time then him. He started a fencing class today and did not know I did not allow Philip to watch TV when he was gone. He seems obsessed with fairness lately. It is hard to be "fair" when you have 5 kids with 5 very different lives. For example, Thomas just got a very expensive drum set for his birthday. He plays the drums and he needed them to practice. I will not spend so much money on Philip this year. That's not fair. It is a hard lesson to learn but I'm doing my best to teach it. You see, life really is not fair! So many things are totally out of our hands. At some point we need to trust that even if it is not fair, God is still good. Most of the time it is better then we deserve!

...it was like a horor movie! I was cleaning up the dinning room. On the sideboard there was a box that holds nuts. I opened it up and shut it at once! I felt like screaming but instead I laughed. The box must have had 100 plus moths! Oh man!!!! I did not bother trying to clean the box, it went straight outside into the trash can. I'm still shaking and laughing!

Living Water: Powerful Teachings from the Best-selling Author of The Heavenly Man Brother Yun. I just began listening to this book. I bought it on audible.com It's 8 hours long and I'll tell you if I think it was worth it. In my last post I wrote that good teaching helps build a person up and helps you from losing heart. There are many great sources of good teaching on line. I buy audible books because I don't always have time to sit and read. I often have time to listen to a book while I drive, and cook, and clean. Invest in your spiritual health. Feed your soul!!!

Discouragement is something that causes people to lose heart. Why is it dangerous to lose heart? You lose your joy, passion, and fire. It is pulled out of you when you lose heart. King David knew that when people lose heart they play into the enemies hand and are then easy to defeat. Do not lose heart by fixing your eyes on the discouraging circumstances life hands you. Surround yourself with people that encourage your passion for God. Build up your spirit by good teaching, read, listen to good sermons, pray, and worship. Discouragement is common. It's like mud. But you have a choice to roll in it or walk past it.

It's a beautiful fall day. I planted a few hundred flower bulbs in my back yard. Germany is right next to Holland and we get bulbs for pennies at the food stores. Spring flowers are my very favorite. Every year I plant a few hundred new bulbs and I'm beginning to run out of room. Yesterday I bought the kids new sports shoes. I kept the shoe boxes for the shoe box Christmas project . Those shoe boxes do not need to be handed in until November. It's a pretty good time to begin thinking about putting a box together. It is the only Christmas some children will get. Please try to put a shoe box together this year!

I took antibiotics for 10 days about a month ago. I had to do it because of a very serious infection. I can not tell you how tired, totally wiped out I have felt since then. A few days ago I started to take Probiotics and chlorella . With in two days I am starting to get my energy back. I’m not 100% but maybe 70% better. I want to encourage you to take care of the health of your largest immune system organ, your intestines. Maybe you are not just old and worn out, maybe you are just not getting your good bacteria?

Joe Lieberman just wrote a resolution declaring the recently completed troop surge in Iraq a "strategic success." Lieberman is a Democrat-turned-independent. The Democrats need him to keep their majority in the Senate. I'm sure this new resolution has not made them very happy! It is generally known that John McCain wanted Joe Lieberman to be his VP but that at least 6 states would have walked out of the Republican convention in protest. He would have lost the backing of his party. I like Sarah Palin. She does bring a fresh face to the party. I do not agree with Joe Liebermans pro choice stance, but I do think he would have been the very best choice McCain could have had. We need a bipartisan government to fix the big mess in America. Practically I think McCain could not have won (well still may not win) without Palin. If McCain can win (and the economy is so bad it's bad news for him) then I'm sure Lieberman will find a place in McCains cabinet. I can not see how ...

For Jessica's 17Th birthday Nicole and I took her shopping. She would not hold still for a photo. We had lunch together, and then shopped for books. I think she had a good time. I know I did! Yesterday I gave Jessica a piece of cheese to eat. She handed me another piece and wanted me to feed it to her. Instead I put it into my own mouth. Jessica looked deeply into my eyes (deeper then I think she ever has) and laughed. I guess you would just have to be there to know how wonderful it was to have her look at me so clearly.

This is about the question of Israel launching a pre-emptive strike against Iran before the US election. Some think they will do it because they know that Bush will not try to stop them. What do you think? You know, they have done it before. Both Obama and McCain have also taken a very pro Israel position. Will they actually bomb Iran soon? I have been watching Russia and Pakistan but have over looked Israel lately! North Korea is also an issue too. What an unstable world!

I like to watch God TV when I clean the living room. This morning I saw Rory Alec explain a program God TV runs in Africa. They give 10% of the money that comes into the ministry to projects that help the poor. One of the projects is water wells . They now have 9 drilling machines in Africa that are operating. They dig very deep wells that pump 50,000 liters of fresh water per hour. These pumps are solar operated. They enable local people to stay in their towns and villages during the dry season. 90 % of all sickness in Africa comes from poor drinking water. Children are unable to stay in school because the families must travel to sources of water. Communities have trouble being established because of a lack of clean water. Live stock and food crops can not grow well because of a lack of water. It is a very good ministry. It does not cost much to help bring good water to a community in Africa. Perhaps you can also give to this project? To help pay an African's water ...

In the last election one of the groups that helped Bush win were the "security mom's". These were women that thought security was issue number one. This year the issue number one is not just the economy but more specifically energy. One of the key appeals of Palin is her understanding of energy. Sarah Palin appeals to a large number of moms who just want someone who can help them afford the gas they need to drive their kids to the soccer practice. One of Obama’s big problems is he is too complex. Hungry people worried about the cost of rice and cooking oil have brought down at least 5 governments this year. People don’t stress about the big stuff they don’t understand. You ask anyone in America what their big problem has been…the cost of gas will be at the top of most of their lists! I remember a saying my speech professor use to say when I was at the University, “Keep it simple stupid”. One thing that Biden and Obama can not do well is keep it simple!

Breaking the Fast A lone man eats in a soup kitchen set up for Ramadan outside a public housing project in Paris. I wonder how many Christians would be willing to fast and pray. I tried fasting for a whole month, I couldn't do it. I listened to a sermon by Derek Prince the other day about service. He said we need to be willing to fast and pray (an investment) to see God move in our church and family and nation. I don't think we need to fast a whole month, but maybe one or two meals per week would be a good place to start.

Yesterday Juergen and I met with the counselor of Thomas. He started to see a Christian family counselor last spring to help him deal with anger. Anyway, I'm writing about this for two reasons. First I want to encourage people to seek wise council when they need it. It is not unspiritual to get a better perspective when you need it! We found our counselor by asking our pastor for a recommendation. The second reason I write this is to tell you that she said Thomas does not need counseling anymore. He is better! We were very worried about him last spring. We don't worry anymore! He is SO MUCH BETTER!!! I want to thank God for giving Thomas peace. He was always a great kid, but now many people start to notice! Thomas was at a little hole in the wall restaurant Juergen takes the kids to buy Turkish Food. Even the owner of this place said to Juergen, "Thomas has changed. He is such a good boy now". I want to encourage people to get help if you need it, and ...

I can only please one person per day. Today isn't your day...and tomorrow don't look good either.

I just read this and thought it was interesting. I really honestly question Palins readiness to be the President. The thing is, I also question Obamas rediness! The good news is, Palin is not running for President! Obama is running a huge campaign -- Palin was just a small town mayor! Believe it or not, this one was actually trotted out by Obama himself. "My understanding is, is that Gov. Palin's town of Wasilla has, I think, 50 employees. We've got 2,500 in this campaign. I think the budget is maybe $12 million a year. We have a budget of about three times that just for the month." Apparently, Barack missed that she's become the governor of Alaska in the interim. Why would he compare his current duties with her former duties? Well, since he announced his candidacy, Barack Obama has raised about $22 million a month. That's a large organization for sure, unless you are directly comparing it to Sarah Palin, who is handling state revenues that are about 61 ti...

I am catching up on my political news. I wanted to watch Sarah Palin's interview with ABC. It was all about National Security. Clearly she is no expert. She came across too defensive. I think she should say "I do not know" instead of trying to look certain about things she is no expert at. We want leaders that are ready on day one. I think if Palin takes a role as VP she will be OK. If McCain drops dead on day one then Palin will have a pretty steep learning curve. If Obama wins, I feel he also has much to learn! We had better have a great Secretary of State, either way. Dealing with world leaders is actually the job of the Secretary of State not the VP. In the last video he asked Palin a few questions about the things she does know something about, energy. I'm not sure, but I think people underestimate the politics of energy. Russia threatens many countries over energy (like we will cut off your gas if...). It really bothers me that Russia is in Venezuela getting re...

That is pretty close to the USA. What are they doing...trying to start a new cold war? They are threatening Europe's oil and gas supplies, now threatening America. It's a clear message, stay out of our business. If we want to take over small former Soviet Countries then stay out of our way. At least that is my read on it. What do you think? Up date: I have been thinking about the cold war. I grew up in those days when we had to do these drills in school. The fire alarm would go off, and we would dive under out desks (like that would really protect us from a bomb). I remember the arms race. I remember the cold war. I think it was no accident that Russia sent nuclear capable bomber aircraft to the western hemisphere on 9-11. How cruel and insensitive to threaten us on 9-11. I had to cry remembering the fear of growing up with the Soviet threat. What is Russia doing? Why are they doing this?

I have to agree with what Obama said yesterday, this is getting silly! Maybe he did/or did not mean to call Palin a pig but "what has that got to do with the cost of rice in China"? Mccain would have been better off not making a political ad about it. He and Obama should get down to business and start talking some issues! In the mean time, I'm voting for the pig and the old fish! I feel sort of sorry for Joe Biden, no one talks about him and he even said Hillary would have made a better VP pick. We all know that Obama would have been better off with Hillary, did he say it so we would feel sorry for him? That VP debate is going to be one to watch! I'm sure they have people preparing Sarah Palin 24 hours a day. How in the world could Biden prepare for that debate? They were so sure it would be a walk in the park!

Today is September 11Th. I remember that dark day the world seemed to stop. For me, It was followed by months of anxiety and fear. I was unable to sleep, I felt compelled to watch the news. I was waiting for some kind of peace and a new feeling of "normal”. I finally had to turn my TV off. It stayed off for two years. I'm sure the world has moved way past that day, and we are basically unaware of or even apathetic towards all those who have labored to give us this new feeling of security. Explosions have gone off in London and Madrid. Terrorists have been arrested in Germany and many other places. It is amazing to me how normal and safe I actually feel. I guess that is a good thing. You can not really live your life in fear. I do think we are a long way from being truly "safe". So much more needs to be done to build bridges of understanding and respect between cultures that are now enemy’s. There are a handful of moments the whole world shares. Generall...

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"Whoever slipped that Valium into Barack Obama’s coffee needs to be found and arrested by the Democrats because Obama has gone from cool to cold. Somebody needs to tell Obama that if he wants the chance to calmly answer the phone at 3 a.m. in the White House, he is going to need to start slamming down some phones at 3 p.m. along the campaign trail. I like much of what he has to say, especially about energy, but I don’t think people are feeling it in their guts, and I am a big believer that voters don’t listen through their ears. They listen through their stomachs". This is from Thomas Frieman of the New York Times .

In the South, they are familiar with the phrase "lipstick on a pig." As in, you can put some on one, but it's still a pig. Barack Obama of Illinois used the phrase during a campaign stop in Lebanon, Virginia. "The other side, suddenly, they're saying 'we're for change too,' " Obama told the crowd. "You can put lipstick on a pig. It's still a pig. You can wrap up an old fish in a piece of paper and call it change. It's still going to stink after eight years. We've had enough." He said "lipstick" and he now says he did not mean he was not talking about Palin, and "old fish" and he isn't talking about McCain. I think he better get his act together! You don't attack or speak down to women! http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=5765514 This election was not really John McCains to win, it was Obamas to lose. If he loses this election it will not be on issues. He is going to lose because he, and ...

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Straining to Reach Money Goal, Obama Presses Donors .

I was talking to a friend of mine this morning about a legal case here in Germany. A woman gave birth to a child (actually I think it was more then one child) then killed the baby(s) and put it (them) in the freezer. This isn't the first time this has happened here. It isn't an everyday thing, but you hear about allot of violence and neglect of children here. Most Germans have only one child. They also tend to look down on women that are "just mothers". Title and position are pretty important here. I do think this is starting to change, but it's still this way. Germany has a women Chancellor. Women hold many high positions of power. German women are not educated to think the can not achieve, they just don't value house wives. When I first had Jessica and Nicole, we lived in Southern California. I was the only women in my neighborhood that did not work. I felt pretty "looked down on" too. Then Martha Stewart came along and elevated the ...

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We had to get up early this morning to get the kids ready for school. Sarah begins her new kindergarten next week. The others started back to school today. Juergen took a nervous Thomas to school for the first time. He begins the 4TH grade in a new school. I hope it goes well. It is so hard to be the new kid. Today is Jessica's 17Th birthday. They will be baking a cake with her at school. I wanted to go buy her a gift today but Sarah is sick. I know Jess will not care if she gets that gift today. Maybe I'll just take her shopping Saturday. She can pick something out for herself.

Allot has already been made of the style of Sarah Palin. What kind of glasses does she wear? How did she wear her hair? What was she wearing? I never remember reading a single word about the style of Joe Biden. I do know that Italian designers have made cloths for Obama and many have looked at the style of Cindy McCain and Michelle Obama. Do you think those buttons at the RNC that read "Hottest VP from the coolest state" were an insult to women or just good fun? When do you draw a line between style obsession and substance? When does it start to under mind her intelligence? And when she plays the role of attack dog (this is the traditional role of a VP) are people going to call her a bitch? Joe Biden is the attack dog for Obama, and this is what is expected from him. Do we even know how to treat a woman that has power? I think women are Sarah Palins hardest critics. She was not the kind of women many wanted to break that glass ceiling. She is not a graduate from...

Tomorrow our beautiful Jessica turns 17 years old. That is unbelievable to me. Juergen and I never really know what to give her, or what to do for her. She never really wants much. We decided to take her to a cat show. She was a little stressed because of the crowd. Over all, I think she enjoyed it. She kept saying "Kitty, Kitty" in the car. This is one of maybe 5 words she can say clearly. School begins tomorrow. I know that her class will be baking cake tomorrow. I have very mixed feelings about Jessica turning 17. I guess it's no secret I had prayed for her health and healing. I will write more about this on my autism blog tomorrow. For today I am just thanking God for this beautiful mysterious creature I am so blessed to call my daughter.

I got up to watch John McCain's speech. I honestly thought it was awful!!! He just did not reach the bar! I read that there was a very big professional football game last night, so maybe no one actually watched the speech. It would be good if they just hear a few sound bites on the news. Sarah Palins speech was seen by 37 million people. John Mccain needs to do a much better job reaching the middle or moderate independent voters. He also needs to let Sarah attack the "other side", and he needs to tell people what he actually plans to do to fix all of Americas problems. I don't even want to look at the polls. I felt like he did a real bad job communicating his position. It was like watching someone who does not like to talk about them selves having to talk about them selves. He just was not comfortable and it showed. OK, hopefully he will be more effective during the 3 debates. I just can not watch!!! Oh, today is the birthday of Thomas...more on that later.

I have read allot of people are asking how Sarah Palin, mother of 5 does it? How can she be a good mom and the VP too? Well, it seems it is possible because of the great guy who she has been married to 20 years stays home with the kids. I think they care allot about their kids. They care that their kid’s needs are being taken care of. Mr. VP quit his job to stay home when their son was born in April. There are many children who do not have two parents at home let alone one that stays home. He seems like a really great man. She is very blessed to be married to such a secure person. My great guy helps me with the diapers, the laundry, and the cooking. He helps the kids with home work, and helps put the kids to bed at night. I actually stay at home but I would not feel guilty if Juergen stayed home while I worked. He is the one who works because his job pays much more then my former job (I was a pastor) ever did. I'm sure people put themselves in her shoes and think, how can she manag...

I got up at 4:30am to see Sarah Palins big speech. She showed the world that she could not be underestimated! It was great!!! I think it was the best political speech I've ever seen. I think Obama had better be worried. He broke the very first law of American politics. In America, all politics are local. He played to the whole world but belittled people in small towns in America. Now the election is going to be won or lost based upon the votes of people living in the blue collar towns of Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota and Virginia. His comments like they cling to their religion and guns are going to really hurt him! Sarah Palin is "one of them"!!! I don't think McCain chose this women to go after Hillary’s women, I think she was chosen to appeal first to the Republican base, and then to help win the votes of those normal folks in the small towns of America. She was brilliant!!! I was especially moved when she spoke directly to families with special needs childre...

I am wondering how Sarah Palin is doing today? Is she really “up to it”? It’s like she jumped into a tank of blood thirsty sharks. Obama’s camp does not need to say a word; the media is doing all the work for them! It has gotten really ugly! I also have to scratch my head over all the comments and press I read about weather she can manage her family and be VP. It’s not like she is a stay at home mom right now! She is the Governor of the State of Alaska! She has a 6 billion dollar budget and helps over see 300 programs! Being VP is a step into the slow lane. Apart from the criticism, it is really a much easier job. She will probably have more time for her family! I personally hate all this criticism. The average American will probably get pretty angry about the unfair attacks pretty soon. I hope people will start to say the press is going way too far! Do we really want a woman in a higher office? If so we had better stop trying to kill every woman that applies! No one is...

Obama was said to consider Virginia Governor Tim Kaine as a possible running mate. Tim Kaine became the governor of Virginia on the same day that Sarah Palin became Governor of Alaska. No one questioned his experience, Obama only decided on Biden to help cover his own lack of experience! The media never once questioned if Tim Kaine would be too inexperienced to be the VP. I cry foul!!! How big is the state of Virginia? What kind of reform did Tim Kaine perform during his time in office? Governors have always been seen as a good balance to Senators on a Presidential ticket because they have executive experience. Tim Kaine was a Governor and a Mayor. His experience is very much the same as Sarah Palins. During Tim Kaines time in office he banned smoking from public buildings and required 6Th graders to get Hep vaccinations. When news of the Virginia Tech massacre broke, Kaine canceled a trade mission to Japan and India to attend to the situation. During Sarah Palins time in office she pu...

I'm a mother of 5 and one has special needs. I forget which child has the special needs because they keep taking turns having needs. One week its Jessica's autism, the next week its Philips learning problems, sometimes Nicole has her issues and then Thomas has his needs...or Sarah has her needs too. I was sort of shocked that people jumped all over Sarah Palins poor daughter these past two days. Does the international media find it such big news that a 17 year old got pregnant?I read that the New York Times had 3 stories on their front page mentioning the pregnancy. I think they should call it baby-gate. I can only guess it was because they were all so desperate to dig up anything on this unknown personality. I can only hope they move on to some real news. I have to admire anyone who raises 5 beautiful kids with special needs!!! Jessica turns 17 years old next week. 17 is still a child. How dare they attack a child like this!

I was watching Larry King on CNN. There was a panel of Republicans and Democrats debating if Sarah Palins daughter’s pregnancy should be a issue. The Democrat said it should be an issue because the Republicans are always preaching "family values" and even(in some cases) say sex education should not be taught in school. So I thought the man has a point. I personally think Sarah Palins daughter should not be part of any national debate. She should be left alone. But the whole issue of family values, sex education, and abortion are political issues. I do not think you can legislate family values. Different people have different values. If one person believes in for example abstinence, and another believes in birth control this can not be legislated. The abortion battle will never be won as long as it is considered a value or moral issue. We will never come to an agreement because we do not all share the same values or morals. I do not believe abortion is a moral issue...

I read the story today that Sarah Palins 17 year old daughter is pregnant and that her husband was arrested in 1986 (that is how many years ago) for drinking and driving. First, she would not be the first person in the country to have a pregnant daughter. Bill Clinton can have an affair in office and still be a keynote speaker at the Democratic convention. Please!!!! It seems to me that people are really going out of their way to "dig up the dirt" on Sarah. It's her teenage daughter, have some respect! And a 1986 DUI ? Come on! That was 22 years ago! Please!!! Get real! So Sarah does not come from a spotless family. That would make her what? Oh, like us?

I think the nicest part of the weekend was just sitting in the garden of Juergen's brother. The weather was great. The garden is so big and nice. The kids just played and played while we could relax and drink coffee. I spent a great deal of time with my pal Ben. He is my 4 year old nephew. He just loved throwing a ball to our dog Mickey. I would encourage him by saying "give me 5", and then "alright"!!! It was too cute!!! What a kick he is!!! He got stronger and stronger as we played. I think he maybe getting a dog soon? Maybe four times the size as Mickey and not so loud!

Juergen's mom died in March this year. We are always thinking about Juergen's dad Richard. Our trip this weekend was mainly to see how Richard is doing. He seems to be doing pretty good. He still has to write many things down because his short term memory fails him (although I think his memory is better then before). He is well organized and keeps busy. Last week was his 50Th wedding Anniversary. He spent part of the day at the grave site. He was not bitter. He was grateful for the 49 wonderful years they spent together. He and I cried together by Waltraud's grave. We walked there with Jessica on Sunday. He loved her so much and recalls how beautiful and happy she made everything. She brought joy to their home. I was touched by his love for her. One thing that was sort of funny was our trip to a McDonalds together. We walked to McDonalds after visiting the grave. I bought Jessica a chicken salad. Richard and I both just had drinks. You could see the wheels m...

This does not make Sarah Palin more qualified to be the VP but I read that she grew up in the Assemblies of God Church. This is the same church I grew up in. She also shares my strong pro life convictions. I read that 9 out of 10 parents that find out they have a Down syndrome child will now choose an abortion. I spent part of the weekend with my Down syndrome nephew Benjamin. He is a real kick! I will post the photos and tell you more about our great weekend later. I believe Sarah Palin will do allot to help John McCain rally his conservative base. I believe I would love this women like my sister! We really do share many of the same ideals! I know she is going to need to prove she has the strength to handle the job. I'm sure she will prove it. She has my vote, and my prayer! On April 18, Sarah Palin gave birth to a 6-pound, 2-ounce son, Trig Paxson Van Palin. "We've both been very vocal about being pro-life," Palin told the Associated Press, speaking of he...