Awake

Spring Cleaning and Confessions

Every Saturday I go on a long run with two members of the Scots Kirk.  This Saturday, I did something I never thought I'd be able to do- I ran for 2hrs and 15min...with one short bathroom break about half-way through.  Confession:  I am training for the Geneva marathon.  Goal: to come in last (this means that I will finish...which is really my goal).  This Saturday was a particularly big deal to me because we spent the entire first hour running UPHILL.  I ran uphill for an hour.  I didn't think that was possible, and I'm pretty pumped about it!  The run down consisted partially of trying not to slip and break our necks as we trampled down through a snow-covered forest on the side of a mountain.  Once again, something I never thought I would do.  I really can't complain- it was awesome. 

One thing that we noticed on our run down was that buds and singing birds are beginning to dot the towns along the lake.  Spring is indeed in the air- and it feels early to me, but I am so excited!  I decided that with spring in the air and a busy schedule taking over as I prepare for the Service Trip in April and lent beginning on Wednesday- a dose of Spring Cleaning is in order for my apartment...so I made a nice playlist on my iTunes to get me through the deep-cleaning of the apartment.  I always seem to make my playlists in alphabetical or semi-alphabetical order because it's easier to choose as I scroll down on my artists.  This doesn't seem to bother me, and it always makes for an interesting conglomeration of songs.  Here's what my song mix looks like:

1. Aerosmith- Pink
2. The Beatles- Ticket to Ride
3. Billy Joel- Only The Good Die Young
4. Al Green- Let's Stay Together
5. Bruce Springsteen- Hungry Heart
6. Dean Martin- Mambo Italiano
7. Gavin DeGraw- Chemical Party
8. Indigo Girls- Shame On You
9. James Taylor- Sweet Potato Pie
10. John Mayer- Clarity
11. Justin Guarini & Kelly Clarkson- Timeless
12. Les Nubians- Embrasse-Moi
13. Maroon 5- Sunday Morning
14. Marvin Gaye- Ain't That Peculiar
15. The Monkees- Last Train To Clarksville
16. REO Speedwagon- Take It On The Run
17. Outkast- Rosa Parks
18. Stevie Wonder- Signed, Sealed, Delivered
19. Train- Drops of Jupiter
20. Van Morrison- Bright Side of the Road
21. The White Stripes- Hotel Yorba (thanks Bruner)
22. Neil Diamond- Cherry Cherry

The length should give an indication of how much cleaning there is to be done...and I love that REO and Outkast next to each other makes total sense to me. 

Carpe Diem

Hey PTS kids...remember when a slew of us jumped into a neon, sped to the train station and spent an afternoon running through the streets of Brooklyn to see a U2 concert??  Yeah- I'd call that a carpe diem moment...and last thursday I lived another one of those moments...

How often do the Olympics happen in the old-country, when you are located just a short train ride away?  Not too often, as one might imagine...so I again hopped on a train and ran through the streets- but this time it was the streets of Torino.

And it was pretty sweet.  Some photos here.

To add to the excitement, a good friend came with me...see if you can spot her in some of the pics.

Je dois reflechir

(I am missing a few accents and may have written the french incorrectly- any corrections are welcome)

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched- this we proclaim concerning the Word of life."  I John 1:1

I should've written the first 4 verses out.  The beginning of 1 John is so beautiful to me...I read it over and over again and am unfailingly grasped by the words.

Above is a photo from an alternative worship service that was done with the confirmation class a little while back- we have one for all youth this Saturday.   These types of services emphasize the five senses in experiences of prayer and contemplation.  I am looking forward to it.

Also-17 youth and adults will be participating in a service trip to Casa Mia in Ponticelli, Italy this spring.  We are preparing to do some fixing/ painting of their after-school facility, and will also get substantial contact with the 50 or so kids that show up every day.  We will live and work together for a week- actually Holy Week to be exact- and will then return back to Lausanne, (hopefully tired and changed).  This is the first time that Scots Kirk and Christ Church have ever done something like this...it's kind-of interesting to watch Swiss efficiency meet Italian...(ahem)...unpredictability, shall we say. 

My time in Lausanne has continued to be blessed with new sights, sounds and feels.  The half-way mark is here.  There are moments when I feel like the time is slipping through my fingers like sand...and moments where I can't help but throw my arms up and be thankful for the amazing little graces of each day.  Thanks for continued prayer and support from friends and family back home- and here as well. 

Even though the official day is technically over here in la Suisse, let us also remember these words of I John 4:7, "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God."

More Photos...

Check out an album I just created from a trip to Geneva a while back...

Knork Update....

After doing more research- I've discovered that I am late in the trend!  Read more about knorks here, order your own here and check out a Knork company here.  I know, I'm officially ridiculous.  That kinda makes me happy.

The Glory of the Knork

Okay, so after a blogging hiatus perhaps this is not the most riveting thing to blog about- but I simply HAD to.  Now, there are some things that plenty of people are certainly tuned into and celebrate- like the amazing and fabulous invention of the spork.  I've always known that sporks exist, but I've never seen something that completely leaves out the spoon and goes strictly for the knife/ fork combination- thus producing the knork. 

Today as I traversed through the streets of Lausanne- I stopped quickly to curb my hunger with a ham and cheese crepe at a stand in the middle of our main square.  Lo and behold- there I encountered the knork. 

If you look closely, you can see the serrated edge of the plastic knork.  I actually have no idea if this is what they are called, but I really like the sound of the work "knork".  Based on my research (which consisted of barely skimming some random websites about "sporks") it seems that all objects of this sort are referred to as sporks, but I don't see any "sp" here at all.  I would argue for the new name of knork to take the world by storm, boldly pronouncing the initial "K", and claiming glory among communities of average utensils.  Plus, they're pretty sweet for eating crepes with. 

Keep an eye out for more "serious" updates on my time in Lausanne soon...