Senior Trip to Rome

Luke and the senior class (all 70 members) took off to Rome, Italy yesterday. This week-long trip is a highlight for the grade 12 students of BFA. We can't believe our son is finally among this group. Here's Luke (left) sitting on the bus beside his friend Adam just prior to the bus pulling away.

Tyler was kidnapped!!

The other day Tyler was kidnapped by girls from one of our dormitories. I took this picture just has he was being tricked into looking into the dorm's van. In this picture you can see one of the girls, Dena, just moving behind him to shove him into the van and slam the door on him. After they had him they sped off back to the dorm for the afternoon. Tyler had a good time actually. It's quite a privilege to be kidnapped by the girls of BFA :-)

"KD" news

KD had a visitor over the other day. The big black lab is "Cinder". Her parents are Dan and Michelle Tebbe. Cinder was just amazingly patient with our hyper-excited KD. We loved watching them play. We read that it is important for puppies to have time with other dogs for socialization.

Home Ec. Class

Opening day of our new Independent Living class. The senior students are learning how to do minor clothing repairs. Cool.

Just an ordinary day

Today was just an ordinary day. Here's a shot of me speaking to the student body at the start of the week. Mondays we hold "matins" before school starts. It's a 10 minute time to make special announcements and consider a thought for the day. There's Sandee in our main office helping a student and working with the Front Office team.

Here's Tyler "holding court" with some of his fellow sophmores at a recent party.










We can hardly believe that Luke is a senior this year and will soon graduate - Class of 2007. Our own HS graduation was 30 years ago in 1976. It doesn't seem like that long ago.







As you can see Luke is into photography and music. I like this picture - you you can see Tyler off in the distance.

Sept 23, 2006 - Stuff

"K.D." the dog. KD is doing fine and adjusting to her new home in Germany. We forgot how much work a puppy is. But we also forgot how much fun they can be. Everyone who meets her loves her and she loves them! She is a big hit with our students. Tyler loves to carry her around since KD is such a "chick-magnet".



That's me on the right about to fire the starter pistol for the Cross-Country meet that BFA hosted. Firing the starter gun is one of my favorite perks that come with being the Director of Black Forest Academy :-). It doesn't take much to make me happy, does it?

Trip to Paris

After 20 years living in Europe, I FINALLY made it to Paris, France. I got to go there to attend a workshop/seminar on Effective School Board Partnerships. Sounds exciting, right? Well, at least the view was exciting! Check out what was right outside our meeting room. It was hard to concentrate.


I love this drummer's face. He was part of a street jazz band. Really good.









Notre Dame Cathedral. Where's the football stadium? Where's the hunchback?














An artist painting the Arche de triomphe (sp?). I would love to do what he is doing!







Did you know that the Eifel Tower "twinkles" every night on the hour? It is amazing!!

Sandee's back!! Look what she brought.

Sandee surprised us and brought a female Bichon puppy with her from the USA. We are still trying to settle on a name for her. Sandee is just happy to have another girl in the house.

Sandee flew today

Well, Sandee left today for Ohio for one week to the USA. Me and the boys will spend extra time together. We will eat very well due to Sandee's very good planning. I hope the days go fast.

BFA Elementary Opening Assembly

Today I got to speak at the opening assembly of our elementary school. That is always a pleasure. I have some students opening a surprise during my talk. In addition, I got to have a part in the annual first grade "Gingerbread Man chase". Around me are our five first graders.

Opening Ceremony

This year at the opening ceremony I told the tragic story of John A. Sutter, the "Kaiser of California". Sutter was born and raised in our town of Kandern, Germany. Later in life he emigrated to California where he became one of the richest men in North America. At the height of his success gold was discovered on his land. This triggered the famous Gold Rush of 1849 and he signaled the end of Sutter's fortune. Sutter lived the remaining years of his life depressed and bitter. This story served as a warning to "not store up treasure on earth where moth and rust destroy and thieves break in an steal".

Please notice the banner behind me that Luke designed.

First Day of School

Tuesday, 19 August 2006, first day back at school. Tyler starts 10th grade and Luke starts 12th grade today. Wow. Luke and his friends Billy, Nathan and Timo. The seniors carry in the flags of the world during our opening ceremony.

BFA Banner

Luke designed these banners for BFA. It shows the theme for the school year..."Light in Vessels of Clay" taken from 2 Corinthians 4:6-7. We are a bit disappointed that the banner is somewhat "washed out". We will go back to the print shop to see if they will correct the coloring.

Staff Conference 2006

Sandee is visiting with Jen Stemple, a fellow C&MA missionary serving at BFA during a coffee break at Staff Conference. Jen's husband, Sam, is BFA's Chaplain.

Boys over for supper

We had a good group of guys over for supper. Sandee made a big pile of taco shells for these 8 guys old friends of Luke and Tyler's. Front row: Adam (parents work in Kazakstan), Tyler, Rouce, Luke, Timo. Back Row: Tim Lee (Parents work in Russia), Billy, and Nathan.  

Bike Race by BFA

Look what came by BFA today! A bike race came through our town right past the front of Black Forest Academy. We don't know what race it was. I can tell you Lance Armstrong was not in this race. It gave us about 10 minutes distraction and all staff on site came out to watch and cheer.

First School Management Team Meeting

Today we held our first SMT (School Management Team) meeting of the new school year in the new conference room. This is a fine group of leaders in the ministry of Black Forest Academy. We are discussing many details of the school opening. 

Tyler's 16th Birthday

August 14, 2006 Tyler turned 16 today!! We are very proud of this boy of ours. He had some friends over tonight for a little party with cake, and ice cream. Most of his guy friends are gone for various reasons so he invited the girls! And his friend Tim Hildebrand and his brother Luke, of course.













Tyler loves rubber chickens!! Now he has a second one to go with his first one. Is that a rubber cow in his other hand?!?













16 candles really puts out the heat! 

New Staff Orientation

Here's Tim welcoming BFA's newest staff members to Germany. Today we welcome these wonderful people to our team. Just think, only two more weeks to go until the students arrive and school starts again.