My "Best of 2009" List...

(In no particular order...)

Noelle's Wedding in July

Two Visits from Jared

Hanging out with Andi and Ivan in Switzerland

Skiing with our friends Drew and Stefan in Austria

Going to the U2 concert in Berlin for the 20 year fall of the wall

Being inspired by cool architecture

Chillin' with my new Husband!

Having my new mom, Amy, visit for 2 days during Christmas time.

Our new Cappuccino machine.

Exploring Greece!

Finding great beaches

Driving my boss's solar car

Celebrating at our wedding!

An Austrian wine tour with our new friend Hans.

The view from our bed and breakfast in Salzburg with Drew's parents

An architectural masterpiece in Prague

Picture perfect vacation with Drew's parents

It was really fun!

Bethany and Josh's wedding in Idaho

Emmy visiting in February!

Without pictures....

Maren's wedding, I know it was beautiful.

Hearing that we will become an Aunt and Uncle in July!

Deciding to move home in August!

Democracy Fail?

What is true democracy? When a president becomes elected with whom we do not agree, we simply say, "I did not vote that way, but I am stuck with the Majority's decision until the next election." However, this idea of democracy cannot be applied to every situation.

Last week Switzerland voted with a majority to no longer allow the building of minarets on mosques. A minaret is a distinct architectural feature of a mosque comparable to say the church bell towers of the famous European cathedrals.

Though the people voted and the ban was passed, is this true democracy when the country's very own constitution states in the second article, "The Swiss Federation protects the liberty and rights of the people...It promotes common welfare, sustainable development, inner cohesion, and cultural diversity of the country. It ensures the highest possible degree of equal opportunities for all citizens." (1)

What is true democracy? Allowing people to vote and living with the majority? Or is the voice of the minority just as important as all the others?

(1) English Translation of the Swiss Federation Constitution, http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/sz00000_.html December 9, 2009

Thanks Nevin!

After taking the vote, I was ready to get my haircut into the fashionable "adventurous brunette" style. Despite my fears of chopping my hair and not being able to describe exactly what I wanted, I walked into the Hairstübchen. I showed the hairstylist my picture, and told her what I wanted.

She looked at me and said, "that is not what you want." After I explained to her that I did want this haircut, she bargained with me and started cutting. She tried really hard to tell me I didn't want short hair, then she cut my hair into her own mixture of the two pictures I originally wanted. (Plus her own little twist.)

I simply laughed as I left the shop, and wondered if Nevin always takes such authority when cutting hair....

Well, here are the pictures, and I am actually happy with how Nevin decided my hair should look.

The

Nevin

Adventure!

I need your help!

Most girls get the advantage of having advice from their friends before they get such a drastic haircut. However, because of the distance I can't get input from you before I get my haircut on Thursday. So, I need your help in deciding which cut I should get. I am going for something a little different, and a little more fun. Here are the options...

Current Curls

Adventurous Brunette

Sensible Blonde

Living History

As some of you may have already heard, Drew and I were lucky enough to get two free tickets to the U2 concert in Berlin that celebrated the 20 year anniversary of the Berlin wall coming down. Not only did we get to experience a band that has spanned the decades creating meaningful, beautiful, and inspiring music, but we were also part of the crowd feeling the history reflected by the Brandenburg Gate. The celebration of freedom, of choice, of unity. It was impossible to ignore the lively atmosphere that Berlin exudes because it has lived without the basic rights of life that it now promotes openly.

Despite being at the concert, I couldn't truly grasp the history of Berlin until the next day. Drew and I had met up with some friends from Berlin to have lunch, and upon their request we headed toward the nearest Subway. The city was going to celebrate the anniversary with a falling of a giant dominoe-wall over the former site of the Berlin wall. It was already being set-up on Friday with protective barriers so that no one could cross. We were on the wrong side of the wall, and could not get to the other side. My stomach growled in protest, and I had a slight sense of what the Berliners may have felt standing on one side of the wall seeing what the other side offered, but not being allowed to pass through the wall.

Good morning star-shine

You know when you wake up a little too early in the morning, and are sleep-walking through the motions of getting yourself ready for the day? Every thought that goes through your head as you check and recheck the clock is, "Please let me have set my clock wrong; please let me be able to go back to sleep." Of course, it never happens because everyone is always so careful to set their alarm to the right time.

Au contraire. Yesterday I was completely ready and about to leave for the train at 7:15am when I looked at the computer which said 6:15am. At first it took me awhile to realize, but that night was the "fall back" time change. WAHOO!!! I jumped back into bed for an entire extra hour. That morning I woke up on the right side of the bed twice, and it was the best day ever!

I think I may....

Walking home from the train yesterday, a thought began to form in my head. The beautiful fall colors are all around the countryside. Friendly people have consistently been striking up conversations with me. Delicious new German-meals have found their way into our kitchen. The girls on my soccer team actually make me laugh, and enjoy going to soccer. There are a few ski trips in the works. Work is a challenge that pushes me to learn new things, and to become a better designer.

I may actually like Germany!

Think pink.

Apparently, in the design world, pink is in. Last year it was purple, so the only natural color to follow would be pink. I was subtly informed of this by a designer friend last weekend, and have been trying to think of ways to incorporate pink into my designs for customers. A pink toilette? A pink sink? Even as I think of these trendy possibilities, I cringe at the thought of plaguing one of my customers with a 1970's repeat of colored bathroom fixtures.

As we have been talking about worship at youth group this year, I have been answering questions about how I can worship God with my work. As a designer I want to improve people's lives through design. This may mean a pink toilette for someone who needs some color in their life to cheer them up, or it may mean a simplistic design of a kitchen to improve someone's efficiency and ease while cooking.

The worship comes in enriching peoples' lives through design; making their life easier and

hopefully reflecting God's design for joyful living.

(Thus, the creative and simple pink bathroom below.)

Trendir, laufen interiors, googleimages.com 2009

Just for the record...

I wanted to blog just now, but once again I don't have enough time to write anything of substance. Sorry.

I finally did it...

For almost nine months I have been avoiding it, but I finally got up the courage.  I went to the doctor, and spoke to him in German.  (Well, at least until he asked me if I really pronounce my name 'Nason' in perfect English.)

I have been so afraid to go to a German doctor because I didn't think I would understand, or that he wouldn't understand me.   

Despite all of my worrying the experience we so easy!  I even learned several new things.  So, do one thing that scares you everyday...

Some of my favorite memories of the last month...

The view outside our window in Salzburg...

Drew's parents and I in Schwäbisch Hall, where Drew proposed, after my soccer game.

We found this picture frame on the side of the road...then had so much fun taking random pictures with it.

We had Mexican with Andi and Ivan in Luzern...

Fred & Ginger

Last week, Drew and I spent the entire week road-tripping with his parents from Nürnberg to Prague, Salzburg, and Lucerne.  We were arriving late into Prague, and were trying hard to follow the GPS' directions when we happened upon this building by Frank Gehry and Czech architect Vlado Milunic.  

This very modern building adds excitement to a classic and linear city-scape.  It's movement inspires passion, creates a lively mood, and shows great creativity.  The design of the building was influenced by the famous dancing-pair, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers from the 1930's.  Perhaps a hidden meaning since Prague was alive and dancing until the German Nazi occupation in the mid-1930's, and a modern symbol of a return to the city's most vibrant days.   

("Dancing House", www.wikipedia.com, 16.6.09)

Keep an eye out for design...

Sometimes the best design is found in the most unexpected places, and two Sundays ago this happened to me.  Hiding in the basement of an Idaho home, playing host to eight grown men, was this Charles & Rae Eames Lounge Chair.  

I have only studied this chair in classes, and have always appreciated it for its aesthetic value.  However, after getting the chance to sit in such a famous chair, I can now fully understand why this chair is so famous.  Not only does it look wise and classic, but also seems to be made for each sitter's individual body and transudes its qualities on the person enjoying a rest.

 

So, keep your eyes open for good design in random places...

(This is the Charles and Rae Eames Lounge Chair, produced by Herman Miller, and first sold in 1956.)  www.wikipedia.com

Love and Marriage!

As I was in Eagle, Idaho last weekend I was able to spend a few quick hours with some of the most incredible people in the world.  Ya, the kind of people you would drive four hours out of your way just to get to hang out with for a little bit.  Needless to say, my few hours with Becka, Maren, and the surprise guests Abbey and Marla were refreshing to my soul.  Being reminded of community and the love that others can have for people, made me wish I didn't have to return to Germany.   

However something more than these women's obvious love for others was a moment that will be remembered forever.  Of course, the topic of marriage came up, and Abbey was asking me about my relationship with Drew.  We had had some conversations before about where I used to be at with marriage, and although I have not talked with her for over a year she was getting tears in her eyes.  (Maybe she was just tired, and was getting watery eyes.)

Her reaction to Drew and I's redeemed relationship was shocking to me at first.  (Good thing I had the next twelve hours in a car alone to think about it.)  After thinking through the conversation, I began to learn something about marriage, which will probably happen a lot in the coming years.  My relationship with Drew is not only a blessing to me, but also to people around us.  This is what God wants us to know about marriage, and loving someone.  Through our love for each other, we are able to show love to others.  Although I don't truly understand this relationship of marriage...I know that this is the same way that God shows us love.  He loves others unconditionally so that we can see how others should be loved.  

Abbey, thank you for reminding me that this relationship is never just about me, nor is it about only Drew.  The love people share for each other is a blessing to those surrounding them, which I also saw in Josh and Bethany's relationship this weekend at their wedding in Idaho.  So many people are blessed by their love for each other.   

Probably not what you were expecting for today...

In the back of my head I have about three potential blog posts just waiting for me to get enough time in between work, soccer, youth group, wedding planning, and hanging out with Drew to actually put into words. However, today I experienced something that I need to get out of my head in some way, and since I cannot reach Drew by phone I am going to write my thoughts here. 

It is not happy, nor an exciting adventure I have been on, but it is part of life just the same...

The train had just left Röthenbach, and was pulling up to the station at Steinburg near the Röthenbach high school when the train stopped just short of the station and the doors did not open.  As the passengers and I looked around confused to see our car, the last train-car, stopped about twenty feet before the station.  The train-conductor came over the loud speaker and said something I didn't understand.  So, when the elderly woman sitting next to me asked me what he had said, I left her to watch my bag while I went to the front of the train to see what had happened.  

As I walked into the next train-car I could see school-aged children at the station looking incredibly worried and helpless, and then I could hear a strange noise, a young man's voice saying something in German, but I was confused because I didn't know who was speaking.  Then, I realized there was a young man under the train, but was he okay?  Why wasn't anyone doing anything?  What could I do?  The doors are locked...can I get out the window to help?  No, so I am stuck in here, and he is stuck there.  We are both helpless...

Another announcement over the loud speaker told us that we could get off the train near the front, if we wished, which I did immediately as I was trying to avoid the tears that were fighting to come out.  There were medics and firefighters there in no time, and I was relieved to hear through my broken German the boy seemed to be alive, injured of course, but at least he was alive.  

As I waited for the train, many thoughts went through my head.  Life is a valuable thing, and I should not take it for granted.  The only time I have is right now, so I should always make the most of each moment.  Maybe I should become a doctor so I could help in such a situation.  Finally, I was thankful it was not me, which immediately made me feel guilty, and terribly sad for this young man whose life will never be the same.  

Yes, I am still helpless, but the one thing I can do is pray that God would be with this young man and make the rest of his life incredible and full.