Bern

On Sunday, after service at the Jahu Church in Biel, Lisa and I went out to Lunch with some youth from the church. I don't think I took any pictures there, but it was a nice place on the lake. I took the advice of Rafu and asked for French fries with my food instead of potatoes. I thought he would know better. I should have asked for a second opinion. It was still good eating. Later that day, Rahel invited us to go to Bern. We took many pictures and I posted a few here below.

 

The Bear is the Symbol of Bern. Bern means Bear.

 

Lisa and I are happy to have seen the bears.

 

This bear was especially talented. He could stand, scratch his back, and pee all at the same time!

 

The city.

 

This area floods sometimes, those cars would be under water.

 

The Clock tower

 

Entrance to the Munster cathedral.

 

Inside the Munster.

Detail of the ceiling.

These two must have payed a penance.

One strong gargoyle.

 

 

The Swiss equivalent of Washington D.C.'s capitol building.

Rahel used to work here every day.

 

The Aare river runs through Bern.

Neu Chatel

It has been a while since I have been able to sit down and type at a computer. Lisa and I have been running around quite a bit since the last time I posted. Below are some pictures from Neu Chatel. We had originally planned to go to Luzern that day, but we hopped on the wrong train and decided to change plans mid stride. It would have been nice to see Luzern, but Neu Chatel was worth the trip. We ate Kebap taco style food, and even witnessed part of a wedding at the Church there. Also the city is built on a hill so we got our share of exercise for the day walking up and down the steep streets and stairs!

Solothurn, Switzerland/St Uhrs Cathedral

St Uhrs Cathedral.

If you enlarge this one you might be able to see the paintings on the ceiling better.

 

 

One of the gates to the city

Lisa, Solothurn and the Jura Mountains

 

Lisa and I with Solothurn in the background.

 

This is me standing in front of the fountain next to the stairs leading to St. Uhrs

 

There was also a really cool armory that we did not get to see because it was closed for lunch and Lisa was not feeling well. We did get to see the cannons but I failed to take any pictures.

The cathedral was a real treat. There was a choir practicing while we were there. I took video with my camera but later, when we tried to play it back, I realized that I had not had the camera set to record sound also. Needless to say there is something that cannot be felt unless you are there to hear the harmony of voices and the stone of the cathedral working together to make the ordinary extraordinary. I hope we have another chance to hear a choir singing in a cathedral before we come back home. 

If you Check my Blog, Leave a Comment

I know I have been horrendous about blogging. I have been busier than I ever anticipated so that's got something to do with it but I am surviving. I'm having fun too. My roof made it through the winter without leaking so I am excited about that, and I am a proud new mac user. Here's a sample of what I learned that I can do with a mac.



Just for good measure since most of you haven't seen me for a while here's a recent picture of me.

Celebrity Status

I am not yet decided who I want to vote for at the primaries, but this is a great ad.

A school teacher's woes.

This blog has been neglected, no question. I doubt anyone even checks it anymore, but I'm here to update it with a new post. Life has been a blur these past months. I am in my first year of teaching and that has been quite the adventure. It has been more work than I anticipated even though I had anticipated being extremely busy. It has been rewarding and fun too. I work with a great staff, and I believe my students are some of the brightest six and seven year olds I have ever met.
Maybe another reason my schedule has been so full is because I have also spent almost every Saturday since August replacing my roof. I definitely should have gotten an earlier start on this project than I did. I had forgotten how time consuming cutting metal is. Regardless I am nearly finished with the roof and it is now protected for the most part. It is a relief to say the least. Below are some pictures of the project from start to now, enjoy.

Click photos to enlarge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summertime fun

I know, my blog has been very dormant this summer, but who really wants to sit in front of their computer when they could be out doing fun stuff. Exactly. I thought it was time for an update, so here are a few pictures from a hike Lisa and I took to the Enchantments recently:

Click on any of the photos to enlarge them.

This is where the real hiking began, Colchuck Lake, a high mountain lake situated at upwards of 5600 ft. in elevation.

The above chart shows elevation gain and loss from Colchuck to where we ended our hike at the Snow Lakes trail head. (click to enlarge.)

Our first camp at the top of Asgard Pass we were exhausted! (on the chart Asgard is the highest point.)

The next morning.

A goat!

There he is again!

The upper Enchantments.

Leprechaun Lake, where we stayed our second night.

The snow lakes dam, from this point(and we were already exhausted) it was only three more hours to the car.

June!!

School's out, I'm employed, student teaching is done, and I am one happy camper! Next weekend is graduation and I am graduating. I'm not going to drive to Ellensburg to be a part of all the hubbub though. I am just going to stay home and have a BBQ with some friends and family. Most of whom don't even know about this yet. I've got a feeling it might end up being a small barbeque. Unless my wife has told people but hasn't told me. Whatever the case I am done, I have a job, and I am so ready. I will receive my diploma shortly, as well as my temporary teaching certificate. Good-bye Central Washington University, you've sucked enough money out of me! Just an update for anyone who might still check my blog.

An Empty Grave!

This past Friday my wife and I attended a Tenebrae service, quite the tribute. I had never experienced a service like it. I couldn't help but feel the weight of sin and unworthiness on me in light of the sacrifice Christ made for all on that day so long ago. I had never really taken time to remember the suffering of Jesus during this time because so much focus was placed by my church on the resurrection. But it is just as important to honor and remember His sacrifice as well as His victory over sin and death.

Today is Resurrection Sunday. A day of celebration and rejoicing, but to what end? Is today really about bunnies that lay eggs with treasure hidden inside? It must seem that way to the unbelieving and the ignorant.

Take time today to celebrate the true purpose of this celebration, and thank the Lord for His faithfulness and love to all mankind.

Springtime!

The sun was warm but the wind was chill.
You know how it is with an April day
When the sun is out and the wind is still,
You're one month on in the middle of May.
But if you so much as dare to speak,
A cloud comes over the sunlit arch,
A wind comes off a frozen peak,
And you're two months back in the middle of March.


Robert Frost (1874–1963)
Two Tramps in Mud Time (1936)

I really enjoy springtime. It's my favorite time of year. I don't think I could ever get used to a place where there is no springtime. The beauty and life of spring even touches dry deserts.
Summer, winter and fall are all fun seasons, but only spring can bring that unpredictable beauty that is:
- The weather changing at the most unlikely moment,
- The green chutes that begin to burst through the newly melted ground,
- And every ounce of nature celebrating the end of another winter with colorful song, erratic movement, and abundant life.

I love spring.

Done!!

Winter quarter is over, and so is the commute! From now till June all that awaits is one classroom full of yelling screaming balls of emotion, energy, and endearment. I am very excited about this next quarter of school. Spring is my favorite season, and it is also the season for new beginnings. With the change of scenery, it will truly feel like a new beginning. I am nervous, but I know that whatever happens I will have a good experience. Hopefully next fall I will have a job, and this coming quarter will be a pleasant memory.

Dear to me.

Last night at bible study, we were going through the second chapter of first Thessalonians. There is a part in that chapter where Paul is addressing the church as a father to a child. He expresses how dear the brethren there at Thessaloníki are to him and his traveling companions.

Out of this passage, a discussion arose about how it is unusual for men to share their feelings as such. It is not often that you hear a man tell his friends that they are dear to him. I am here to rectify that.(at least on my part)

I just want to let all of my brothers and friends (and especially Nessy) know that you are dear to me. Though I am not permitted conversation as often or for as long as I would like with each of you, I carry you in my heart and think of you often. I thank you for your friendships, and can't wait 'til the next time we see each other.

I passed!!

The praxis exam is a nationwide exit test for college graduates that has recently been adopted by the State of Washington.

Soon I will be joining the ranks of folks with a piece of paper that certifies that I indeed have been through four years of school. Not only will I have completed four years of study, but I will also have fulfilled the requirements of the university and the state. The consummation of these requirements, realized through my course of study, approve me to be entrusted with the education of young minds who are dependent on the public school system in our state. But it is not enough to obtain this piece of paper. It is not enough to have gone to an accredited institution, completed an accredited course of study, and compiled a 3.8 grade point average in my combined major and minor areas of study.

On top of the thousands of dollars already invested to acquire an education, there is an exit test that covers what I have already proved that I know well, as evidenced by a 3.8 GPA. The test, which cost $190.00, is actually two tests, one testing my major course of study, and the other my minor course of study.

It was a pain(it took up a whole Saturday), completely unnecessary, and outrageously expensive, but I passed both tests, and even received a certificate of excellence. I don't know what good that certificate will do, because it holds no value other than telling me that I know what I know that I know.

Just another piece of paper to file away. Glad to have it out of the way.
I'm tired of all these hoops, just let me teach already.

Do you like green grass?

This weekend while at a wedding, I heard a very good insight into attitude and perspective. The minister was speaking on the sanctity marriage and how these days people seem to have the attitude that says, "I'll stay in this pasture until I find greener pastures." He referred to the saying, "the grass is always greener on the other side," noting that so often in life we are looking for that greener grass.

Then he said something profound. He said, "the grass is only as green as we are willing to make it."

In order to have a gorgeous green lawn, you have to work diligently at it. It is a dedicated process that requires a concerted effort in order to achieve the optimum result.

I thought to myself, "Self, that is so true." So many times we look for "hand-outs" when we have the resources and responsibility to do for ourselves what others have done for themselves. If the "grass" is greener on the other side, then it is because we are focusing on the end result of someone else's labor instead of focusing on the task at hand, and diligently seeking to make our own "grass" greener.

I really liked this illustration because that saying, that the grass is always greener in somebody else's yard, is so often said in various situations, but there is never any context as to why the grass is greener somewhere else. By putting the saying in context, we are empowered to do something to make our own "grass" greener, whatever that "grass" may be.

Muy Caliendo!

The other night my wife, sister in law and I were all introduced to Frank Caliendo by our friend Eric. This man does an awesome John Madden, and a funny George W., Enjoy!

GO Colts!

I am one-hundred percent rooting for the Colts today. Da Bears are good, but not good enough (I hope.)

Good luck to all you Colts fans!

To all the rest of you, I hope you lose.

Kiri Davis

My brother posted a news clip about this. Here is the actual documentary. It is seven minutes long and very shocking to me. I have never thought of people as being bad or good based on the color of their skin, but I do know that I have grown up as a Hispanic American in an Anglo-American society. I realize after reflecting on this video that I too grew up with a negative self-image that I still struggle with even today. I think it is even more blatant for my dad, but I admire the way he handles himself and does not take a victim mentality. It is clear from this video that many children are very much put down systematically by the very culture they live in. This is not a black and white issue, it is much bigger than that. Issues of this magnitude are hard to deal with because we are all guilty in some form or another. We would like to think, or at least I would, that we have nothing to do with this. I think if we examine ourselves very closely, we can all eventually see that this is not the case, but instead we have perhaps subconsciously accepted these beliefs as the way things are. This is earth shattering! It seems we believe this stuff to some degree otherwise these kids would not act in such a manner.

In the documentary Ms. Davis conveys that this has been going on for quite some time, but it is even longer than she alludes to. The apostle Paul in the book of Galatians wrote "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Paul ,the apostle, addressed the very same issue 2000 years ago! It's amazing how the more things change, the more they stay the same. I believe that this does not have to be, but it takes a purposeful effort to bring about change. Change cannot and will not happen on its own. We have to want change. We have to encourage it, and we must purpose it. I encourage us to examine our attitudes and thoughts, however subtle, and purpose to change them and more fully align them to the words of Jesus in the book of Matthew, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself."

Want some taco sauce with that?

Taco Bell is not a place I go to often, in fact I haven't been to Taco Bell since before Thanksgiving. I don't really eat fast food much, and if I do it is usually Wendy's, but Taco Bell's sauce packets are kind of funny. Here are two of my favorites.

In reference to the second sauce packet, "Sometimes it's just your time, little buddy."