this is what fairy tales are made of

Tucked away at the base of the Bavarian Alps, in Germany, sits the Neuschwanstein Castle.  This is not just any castle, but, the castle that Walt Disney modeled Cinderella's Castle after.  It is the most visited castle in Germany and ranked the 13th most visited in the world.
The town we are staying in is two and a half hours away from Neuschwanstein Castle
Ryan had today off from treatment and does not have to be back until Monday morning...
We're in Europe
WE'RE IN EUROPE!!

The tour was a total of 24 Euro for all 5 of us (about $26. US dollars)- 12 Euro per adult and kids under 18 were free. It was a breathtaking, once in a lifetime experience.
This, you guys, is what fairy tales are made of!

P.S. After leaving Neuschwanstein Castle, we headed into Austria (just to say we've been there) and then into Switzerland- It is 'off season' here in Europe so we are getting amazing deals.  for 80 Franc (or $81.32 US Dollars) we are staying the night at a hotel that overlooks the town of Lucerne, Switzerland.

let the ozone begin

Our road to Germany took 4 months and three days.
We learned that Ryan's Lyme had not been beat, like we had thought, on September 15, 2015
Ryan walked into the treatment facility here in Schwabisch Hall, Germany on January 18.
We are so thankful to be here with our Ry.

My cousin Luke called me in late Sept. (15) to let me know that he had a phone number from a patient (Luke is a dentist) whose son had Lyme Disease.  Luke had spoken with his patient about Ryan and his patient graciously agreed to share her number with me.  During this time, I had begun the process of trying to find the contact information for Olivia's family.  I have mentioned Olivia several times in blog posts- she had Lyme and had gone to Germany in the Spring of 2015.  I had followed her story closely (by way of her Facebook page...Olivia's Lyme Fight) and knew that her treatment in Germany had been a success.  I had not been successful in reaching Crystal, Olivia's mom.  When I called Luke's patient, we ended up talking about Olivia.  Out of the blue, I asked if she knew how to get in contact with Crystal- She happened to have Crystal's mom's phone number- When I called Crystal's mom to see if she would be willing to share Crystal's number, I not only was able to speak with Crystal's mom but I was also able to speak with Olivia, who was visiting her grandma that day.
God is all about the details- He arranges just what we need right when we need it long before we even realize how important His arrangements will be.  He is in every situation working it for His Glory and our good....can I get an amen :)
Talking to Olivia and then, later on, Crystal, is what God used to bring our family to Germany.
Crystal is who gave me the treatment facility's contact number, she is who gave me the information about the housing available near the facility- she is who talked me through many details regarding what the treatment was and how it was adminstered.  Hearing Olivia tell her story, on the phone, made me realize that there was hope for Lyme available...

So here we are, in Schwabisch Hall, watching our Ry complete his first week of treatment.
This week consisted of blood work tests, body inflammation test, some sort of IV Antacid, a vitamin B shot, IV Vitamin C, multiple other things, and finally, today, IV Ozone
Ryan will have 3 treatments per week.  This week he was at the facility for 4 days.  Monday (18th) was the assessment followed by Tue. Wed. and Today with treatments.
We are one week down with 11 to go.

Below are some pictures of Ry's Ozone treatment- Blood is removed by way of IV and stored in a glass  holder.  Ozone is put into Ryan's blood as it is in the glass holder and then, after the ozone is placed in his blood, his blood is put back into his body.

driving and grocery shopping

Matt and Isaiah headed to the treatment center with Ryan this morning while Elle's and I went grocery shopping.
There has been so much that Matt and I appreciate about Germany.  From less than a week here, we already notice the sense of orderliness everywhere (at least from Frankfurt down to Stuttgart).  People are not warm and friendly but they are helpful- there is something authentic about the helpfulness they extend.  It's rare you will get a smile but it's common that same person that did not return your smile will stop and ask where it is your trying to go (so they can help navigate you there).  Over all, they seem uninterested in American's or what our life is like back home, but not showing it through any sort of disrespect.  Their actions say that they are content with their life and their culture and not looking to make American's a novelty.  We appreciate their straight forward approach to life along with the sense of history this country wears beautifully.
Driving has been completely fascinating.  You've got people passing you on the Autobahn going over 150 miles per hour but not driving crazy (it's so hard to explain- you must just experience it).  Matt keeps commenting that you don't see all banged up guard rails on the freeways (from wrecks) nor do you see police patrolling everywhere.  Germans are aggressive drivers but not road rage orientated (they just glare and shake their heads- tssking at you the entire time- Like a school teacher that caught you doing something you were not supposed to do).
All that being said, to get to the grocery store, I needed to drive myself this morning- it was the first time I have driven since we landed.
It was so much fun :)
Praise the Lord for the navigation system the car has (we rented some sort of VW brand car that looks equivalent to a a short version of an American Hearst- The back end of the car is really long)
 People drive fast and the roads are pretty narrow so you have to be on your game.  The grocery store I was going to was 6 miles away- getting there was the easy part...
Grocery shopping is still a guessing game- you have to go mostly off of site and hope you get it right- I googled the name for different sorts of nuts before I went so I would know what not to buy (I'm allergic to nuts) and totally winged it for the rest of what we needed.  There is a larger grocery store within walking distance to us but the size and amount of groceries they have gives me sensory overload- The store I went to is smaller with less variety.  I'll work up to variety- just not yet.

You put 1 Euro in the slot and then can pull out the chain holding the shopping cart attached to the other shopping carts in front of it.  When you return the cart, you reinsert the the key (on the end of the chain) and get your Euro back

This bread is SO GOOD!  Ellie and I eat it, as toast, at 3:00 a.m. when we are both sitting awake with our jet lag

You don't see a lot of plastic- food is mostly stored in either glass or cans.  Total side note, this applesauce is delicious!

I needed balsamic vinegar- I hope this is it....I tried to ask others at the store but could not find anyone who spoke English

Thecoconut is finely ground- looking forward to trying it

This was the only coffee creamer I could find- 12% feet means 12% fat

Flour

you bring your own bags or buy your own bags- the 2 on the left are bags I brought over from Oregon.  The 2 on the right are bought from the store (.10 euro each)

first treatment and the mercedes benz museum

Ryan began his first treatment this morning  He and I left just a bit early so we could stop by a bakery on our way.  The center is within walking distance to our apartment and the bakery is one of the shops on the way.  I ordered a Canadian Bacon pizza roll (yum!) and Ry ordered a peach turnover.  When we arrived at the center, Ry's IV was ready to go.  At this point, he will have 3 treatments a week for 12 weeks.  Thankfully, the treatments should not leave him feeling poorly but instead leave him feeling better and better as each week goes by.  The treatment sessions last for about two and a half hours each.

We've been trying to get out during the afternoons so that we can stay awake.  The 9 hour time change for our family and the 12 hour time change for Isaiah has been difficult to adjust to.  We have found that if we are home from 12-5 pm we all end up falling asleep (and then have a hard time sleeping during the night).  This afternoon we went to the Mercedes Benz Museum in Stuttgart....
WOW!  It was impressive!!

just pictures

The view from our living room window as the sun is coming up

Schwabisch Hall (this is just down from our apartment)

One of the many bakeries selling delicious pastries

Buying meat at the grocery store- pork seems to be the predominant meat, at least where we are at

This was lunch today.  It costed 1,80 Euro's (roughly $2. American).  Under the mozzarella, tomato, and lettuce was a dill/yogurt/cream cheese spread.  The bread would be comparable to American french bread

We walked into a flower shop and they had these eggs for sale at the counter....I couldn't buy them cause they did not come out of a refrigerator (but instead just sitting on the counter) BUT I did do a happy dance in my heart that they were white 

This is the flower shop that was selling white eggs.  I wish I could have captured the smell- it was exquisite- The flowers on the table are sold separately - I'm guessing it's so you can make your own bouquet.

Euro's are coin until you get to 5 Euros- then they turn to paper.  It was really weird using the paper Euro for the first time- It reminds me of Monopoly money.  It felt like I was using counterfit cash.  Matt told me after he used it for the first time that he felt the same way.

Yes, I know this is in here twice...White eggs in a brown egg country deserves a second look :)

The knob on this door and the wreath are what earned this picture to be posted here.  It's lovely (like Germany)

Doors like these are still in operation (and functional).  BEAUTIFUL!