Experiencing Easter without Tradition...

Last weekend was Easter weekend, which is usually spent in the mountains of Colorado having the best outdoor breakfast with great family friends. One of my favorite family traditions, and I look forward to it every year.

In an attempt to recreate this special day in the mountains of Switzerland, Interlaken took the place of Flagstaff mountain this Easter. However, it was unlike any traditional Easter...there were no eggs to hunt, no bacon grilling on the fire, no short hikes to the rock formation below the fire, nor any laughs with great friends like Mike and Trish...

However, this Easter I was experiencing more of Christ's Salvation than I have ever known. I have made so many mistakes in my life, and I have been incredibly selfish and sinful in the last year and a half. Despite these mistakes, God has given me the grace to be able to spend Easter weekend with the one person who I do not deserve.

Even though Easter was nothing in the way of traditional this year, my day was filled with the joy of knowing that Love is greater than sin, and grace is truly the greatest gift one can find.

Next stop...please depart the train.

Riding the train the other day, looking at the Swiss-landscape filled with rolling green hills, spattered with large trees beginning to bloom, and a few sheep herding through fields, made me think about all I have seen and done in my life. It has been such a blessing to travel, meet amazing people, and experience so many different views about life. These things, people and experiences have made such an impact on me, and have helped to mold me into the person I am.

As I was looking at this beautiful landscape feeling blessed by its beauty, quickly passing through on the train as simply an on-looker to the sheep, this thought came to my head...

Soon I will be twenty-three years old, and want to be more than just an on-looker passing by, being blessed by the beauty of others. Though thankful for this beauty and these blessings, it is my desire to impact other peoples' lives, make them better by being a good friend, having joy, and helping those in need. Sharing the beauty and blessings by living in them rather than passing by enjoying them only for myself.

The next train station is just ahead, I will quickly ready myself to depart the train. Now a place is free in this train for others to see the beautiful landscape, and you can find me under the blooming tree next to the other sheep hoping you can be blessed too.

The real reason the Collicut's have an Au Pair...

Last Sunday I was riding the train home from church, and right behind my seat was a girl from one of our biggest rivals, FC Aarau, dressed in her Fussball Club trainers. She and the man checking tickets began speaking about women's fussball, so I naturally began eavesdropping as well as I could. I think the conductor noticed me eavesdropping because he quickly turned to check my ticket, and asked me if I also played fussball. In my best German, I answered, but my best German wasn't good enough to hide my "Auslander" characteristics. His very next question was if I was Iris Collicut's Au Pair from Rupperswil. I was so surprised that he knew this, but he told me he had worked with Iris and she told him all about her Au Pair that was here playing fussball from America.

Thus, I have realized the real reason the Collicut's have an Au Pair every year: It is not because both parents work full-time, nor because Iris needs to sleep in the morning rather than getting up with the kids, it isn't because they need help around the house, nor to help the kids with their homework. NO, the only reason the Collicut's have an Au Pair is because they need something to talk about. Something different in their lives to distract them from daily mundain routines. So, here I am, the exciting, interesting Au Pair from America. Your welcome Switzerland for giving you something to talk about besides your next door neighbor and the weather. :)

I knew the Swiss had secret bank accounts, but secret admirers?

Last month was everyone's favorite holiday, Valentine's Day. Usually, this is not one of my personal favorites simply because I like fireworks much better than hearts, but this Valentine's Day was particularly special.

At first, I was expecting it to be just another day of cleaning, studying and doing the laundry. However, when Iris came home in the morning she had a lovely bouquet of roses from the village florist that had been sent to me from Drew. I had the biggest smile on my face the entire day, and it meant the world to me.

However, to my surprise, the next day as I was washing the floors with my ipod blaring, another delivery of red roses came to the door. This time, the card was not signed, and the flowers were from the neighboring town's flower shop. Richard, Iris and I were all trying to figure out who could have sent me these flowers, and we were hypothesizing about which Swiss-mister had fallen for the American Au Pair...

I have already solved this mystery, but do you have any idea who could have sent the second bouquet?