Friends and Family,
It has been a few weeks since my re-arrival to Kandern, Germany and I've been kept busy most of that time. We've managed to take some time off to walk around town during a "Saturday Market(esque)" thing downtown in the Blumen Platz, been to France to see some sights, and even made it to the Ikea in Freiburg, pronounced (E-Kay-Uh). This past week has been very productive and a lot will be happening as the week finishes up.
Last weekend we got some tile on the floor in the bathroom and got some plumbing ran. We worked most of Saturday day and headed out for the evening. Mary Beth was going to a Lady's Night Dinner at a friend's house in town, so Rick, Dad and I went out for a Man's Night. We went to a great restaurant outside of town and had some schnitzel, pepper steak, and some beer (ice tea for Dad). Good time and good conversation. The next day was Sunday the 14th, My Birthday. Rick and Mary Beth had been planning a few fun things for me to do that day to celebrate. Originally we thought of going to the Swiss Alps and exploring around for part of the day, but decided it was too far away to get back in time for other activities already planned. So instead we opted to head in Basel, Switzerland to explore along the Rhine and see some sights. We actually never made it Basel and we never even left Germany. i knew of a design museum close to where we are in Germany that has a walk through museum/store that was opening, so we drove by to see when it was open to comeback, but lo-and-behold it was open then. We spent the next few hours walking through VitraHaus, the Design Museum for Vitra, they make chairs and furniture and a number of other household items, but all very stylish, functional, awesome, and of course expensive. Amazing. After we left the VitraHaus we had to rush to Tannenkirch for a horse carriage ride through the local forest. The Holladays had a friend who owns a Clydesdale and a Shire and goes out each Sunday on a ride around the area. Beautiful day and a great ride that was about 1 1/2 hours or so. From there, we headed back to the Art Factory where we had Thai food (I know not very German, but delicious) and then some friends came over for a game night. Overall, an amazing birthday and lots of new friends to spend it with. I even had a few guys from Uganda sing me Happy Birthday and play the saxophone as well.
This week was when Dad was scheduled to head home. His ticket was for March 15th, but he had been toying with the idea of staying for a bit longer to help finish stuff around here. Thankfully he's managed to change his tickets and is now leaving on April 2nd. I think that being here has been a great opportunity for Dad and I think it's been great for me having him here too. I know he's really enjoying himself here and that the work being done here is something that speaks to both his and my own hearts. If you could be praying for us in regards to work when we get back and for finances while we are here. I know personally some of my finances have been in a bit of disarray with United not yet refunding me for changing my original ticket, taxes hitting me harder this year, not working for a few months, and not being able to claim unemployment while being here. Sorry if it sounds like I'm complaining, I've been praying for peace about my finances, God's provided for me so far in everything in getting here, I have to believe he'll provide for me and Dad through all this.
We've been working hard on the bathroom hard and are making good progress on it. We should start sheetrocking tomorrow and already have all the tile in. I'll have pictures available soon. I've been designing and planning on building a vanity for the bathroom out of some old beams that are here. We'll have some electrical work and a radiator to install this week as well. Lots of work, but we do have a chance for a break this weekend. The Holladays have some friends that live in Paris that they are taking us to visit this Saturday through Tuesday or Wednesday. They plan on taking us to the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and some other cool places around town. Some more museums and such. Really excited to be headed to Paris for a few days and take a break before wrapping up the bathroom. Once the bathroom is done, there are plenty of other projects here to work on. Just a matter of picking one.
I've talked with Rick and Dad about the possibility of coming back here to work and help out for a few months each year. I can stay legally in Germany for up to 6 months a year without a Visa. Something I've been praying about and would definitely appreciate any prayer support in that matter and on the direction that God is leading me from here.
Thanks everyone for the support, encouragement and quick comments. They're great to read and fun to hear from you all. Please be praying again for where God is leading both Dad and I in our lives, peace in our family, financial support in my own and Dad's lives, and for health and safety here and traveling.
Blessings
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
What's been going on
My Friends and Family,
It has been quite the week and month at that, but life is coming along very well. It's been almost a week since arriving back in Germany and it feels like a month has passed (in a good way). being back here has been very natural and inviting. The people that I met here in my brief visit before have been very encouraging and loving in regards to Mom's passing, my return to Kandern, and in bringing Dad back with me. I've felt very blessed from God and from everyone these past few months. I may have said that before, but it is very true. Although Mom has passed and everything else happening, God has provided fully for myself and my family, and I believe through Him, you and many others have been an amazing support system in many ways. Thank you again.
My time at home was wonderful for what it was for, being able to spend time with friends and family and to remember Mom. A lot of great and lasting memories were made in those few weeks I was back, but oh so great they were. For instance, getting memorial tattoos for my mom, Kristal's idea and Steph, Kristal, Chris and I each got one. I believe that each of our tattoos, which are different, are very befitting to our own character and to Mom. Check the pictures for details. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2302846&id=11518107&l=ef1caae485 Secondly, again all the time with my family and my "family". Friends in our family are closer than blood, spending time with them was great. Third, "Man Day". If you were there you know what I mean, if you weren't...next time. My best friends picked a day to unwind, relax from all that has been happening, spend time together before I left again, and for some camaraderie. In a nutshell we played much disc golf, mucked around in the mud, faced a Tsunami, and maimed an animal. Pretty good day, oh and saw an ewok. Overall my time home was great.
Now onto Germany stuff. My Dad and I left Portland Tuesday morning and arrived in Kandern, Germany Wednesday afternoon. Travel went pretty well. We shared a flight from Portland to San Francisco, then caught separate flights to Frankfurt. At Frankfurt I was going to meet up with Dad once I arrived, but my phone wasn't working. So I wandered around were I figured he should have been and lo-and-behold I found him, and if you don't know Frankfurt is a pretty good sized airport. We rechecked his bags, went through security again and caught our flight to Basel/Mulhouse. Rick Holladay was waiting for us and off to the Art Factory we went. We immediately started some work. First of all we're working on a bathroom in the apartment upstairs. Doing some framing, plumbing, electrical, floor heat, and then some tile work. Great project and Dad seems to be loving it here. We spent most of Saturday at the Hornbach (European Home Depot) and got most of our supplies and will continue work tomorrow morning. We've also installed a bath tub for Mary Beth in her bathroom and I've been getting some design ideas for some furniture out of some scrap wood they have here.
We spent some time on Saturday night with a couple in town and played Settlers of Catan with them. First time I had played with 6 people at once. Lots of fun. Today we went to church at G5 and then went to Riquewihr in France. Beautiful town with cobblestones paths and some great architecture. Cold day, but clear and managed to stop snowing for the time being. It snowed a few inches here the last couple days. I'll post some pictures of Riquewihr soon. Rick and Mary Beth have been great hosts and it has been a great time so far. Dad is thinking of extending his stay a few days to help finish the bathroom project and maybe we can get some others finished too.
Please be praying for safety while we're working, great relationships all around, restful sleep, and for the opportunity to see what God has in store in the lives of myself, Dad, Rick and Mary Beth and the Art Factory.
Feel free to ask me anything about what's going on or any other questions, it's great hearing from people.
Blessings,
Tyler
It has been quite the week and month at that, but life is coming along very well. It's been almost a week since arriving back in Germany and it feels like a month has passed (in a good way). being back here has been very natural and inviting. The people that I met here in my brief visit before have been very encouraging and loving in regards to Mom's passing, my return to Kandern, and in bringing Dad back with me. I've felt very blessed from God and from everyone these past few months. I may have said that before, but it is very true. Although Mom has passed and everything else happening, God has provided fully for myself and my family, and I believe through Him, you and many others have been an amazing support system in many ways. Thank you again.
My time at home was wonderful for what it was for, being able to spend time with friends and family and to remember Mom. A lot of great and lasting memories were made in those few weeks I was back, but oh so great they were. For instance, getting memorial tattoos for my mom, Kristal's idea and Steph, Kristal, Chris and I each got one. I believe that each of our tattoos, which are different, are very befitting to our own character and to Mom. Check the pictures for details. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2302846&id=11518107&l=ef1caae485 Secondly, again all the time with my family and my "family". Friends in our family are closer than blood, spending time with them was great. Third, "Man Day". If you were there you know what I mean, if you weren't...next time. My best friends picked a day to unwind, relax from all that has been happening, spend time together before I left again, and for some camaraderie. In a nutshell we played much disc golf, mucked around in the mud, faced a Tsunami, and maimed an animal. Pretty good day, oh and saw an ewok. Overall my time home was great.
Now onto Germany stuff. My Dad and I left Portland Tuesday morning and arrived in Kandern, Germany Wednesday afternoon. Travel went pretty well. We shared a flight from Portland to San Francisco, then caught separate flights to Frankfurt. At Frankfurt I was going to meet up with Dad once I arrived, but my phone wasn't working. So I wandered around were I figured he should have been and lo-and-behold I found him, and if you don't know Frankfurt is a pretty good sized airport. We rechecked his bags, went through security again and caught our flight to Basel/Mulhouse. Rick Holladay was waiting for us and off to the Art Factory we went. We immediately started some work. First of all we're working on a bathroom in the apartment upstairs. Doing some framing, plumbing, electrical, floor heat, and then some tile work. Great project and Dad seems to be loving it here. We spent most of Saturday at the Hornbach (European Home Depot) and got most of our supplies and will continue work tomorrow morning. We've also installed a bath tub for Mary Beth in her bathroom and I've been getting some design ideas for some furniture out of some scrap wood they have here.
We spent some time on Saturday night with a couple in town and played Settlers of Catan with them. First time I had played with 6 people at once. Lots of fun. Today we went to church at G5 and then went to Riquewihr in France. Beautiful town with cobblestones paths and some great architecture. Cold day, but clear and managed to stop snowing for the time being. It snowed a few inches here the last couple days. I'll post some pictures of Riquewihr soon. Rick and Mary Beth have been great hosts and it has been a great time so far. Dad is thinking of extending his stay a few days to help finish the bathroom project and maybe we can get some others finished too.
Please be praying for safety while we're working, great relationships all around, restful sleep, and for the opportunity to see what God has in store in the lives of myself, Dad, Rick and Mary Beth and the Art Factory.
Feel free to ask me anything about what's going on or any other questions, it's great hearing from people.
Blessings,
Tyler
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