Out of the Loop

One of the consequences of living abroad is that we miss the Canadian/American holidays. And I don't just mean that we physically miss celebrating them with our family and friends, but that it's very easy to forget all about them until like the day before (if we're lucky) or sadly even sometimes after the fact. It is even more apparent to me as the lone Canadian in our group of acquaintances (many of them American)--acquaintances that will gladly hold a 4th of July barbeque or plan a massive (American) Thanksgiving feast so the invitations to such events conveniently remind us of their celebratory purpose. But I'm all alone when it comes to celebrating or even remembering my Canadian holidays and it's just weird to live through, say, Canada Day (July 1st) like it's a totally normal day either because it's not a special day to anyone else or I've just plain forgotten its importance (I dare say this year I was oblivious on July 1st about my nation's birthday until someone mentioned it to me sometime in the evening..."them: 'Hey isn't today Canada's birthday?' me: 'Uhh, hey, yeah!'...doh!).

It happened most recently with Canadian Thanksgiving. For all you Americans out there, we Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving on the first Monday of October, not at the end of November. It was always one day off school and was always a welcome break after the first month of hard work. Well, this year I TOTALLY FORGOT IT WAS COMING until I called home the Saturday before and my parents mentioned it'd be nice if I called back when the whole family was over on Monday. I was so stumped as to why the whole family would be over! But then it clicked. And I really tried to be thankful that day! But it's just so different being away from a group who is also celebrating. I guess I've learned that's what makes a holiday a holiday!

So if anyone would like to remind me of the other Canadian holidays throughout the year (isn't there Family Day sometime in February? and Victoria Day in May?) I will work harder to be totally aware of them and enjoy them to their fullest. And hey, don't take advantage of being able to naturally remember and celebrate all the holidays with other co-celebrators and rememberers. That we could all be so lucky (and not so forgetful!).

Yeah Baby!

Well here's the official blogger world announcement: Grady and I are expecting a baby! The picture below is from my doctor's appointment this past Wednesday. It's an unexpected surprise but we are overflowing with joy for this wonderful gift from God. I've had a bit of morning sickness but am just now starting into the second trimester and the sickness (thankfully) seems to be fading a bit. And get this, the baby is due the exact day I was, 25 years ago (April 24). What are the chances!

baby Maass at 12 weeks

Bamberg

Grady and I, along with our Canadian friend Phil, traveled to Austria last week as this year's "birthday trip" for Grady. We made an overnight stop in the historic town of Bamberg and Phil snapped this picture of us in front of the Town Hall. The fall weather here in Germany has been unbelievably warm and sunny and it's great to have the chance to take advantage of it while it lasts. The darkness and chill of winter will settle in all too quickly when it does!