This past week was spring break on the campus of European Nazarene College.  Since I had agreed to preach on Easter Sunday at the Büsingen International Church, and the Sunday fell right in the middle of spring break, we took the first half of the week to stay close.    We used some of the time to clean the apartment, rest, work on taxes (yuck!) and take a quick day trip to Konstanz, Germany where we took Carter to Sea Life.  He loved every minute and associated every sea creature he saw with characters from The Little Mermaid or Finding Nemo.  As soon as we got back, he asked when we could go again. 

After the Easter worship service on Sunday, we had a few friends from campus join us for lunch and greatly enjoyed hosting some friends from EuNC/Regional Office and a couple of students who had stayed on campus during the break.  As always, Resurrection Sunday was significant for us, as we had traveled the journey through the season of Lent together.  Don't forget that Easter is not one day.  It is a season of the church's year in which we reflect upon the implications of resurrection!

After the weekend was over, we hopped onto the Swiss train and headed south to Montreux, Switzerland which is situated near the French border on the northeast shore of Lake Geneva.  Words can't capture how beautiful this area is.  As you walk through the city center, you can hear the rushing of the Alpine stream that flows through the city and into the lake.  This region is the birthplace of Nestlé (in nearby Vevey) and Evian spring water (just across the lake in Evian-les-Bains, France).  There are several kilometers of flower-lined walkways along the lakeside.  As you look south across the lake, the French Alps tower overhead.  It is truly a beautiful place.  One morning, we made our way to the Château de Chillon, a famous castle in Switzerland.  In the castle dungeon, you can see where François Bonivard, Swiss monk and patriot, was imprisoned.  His story inspired Lord Byron to write the narrative poem, "The Prisoner of Chillon" in 1816.  The poem chronicles the lonely prisoner.  Near the end of the poem, the narrator is facing the prospect of freedom, but having grown accustomed to his status as a prisoner, he speaks these haunting words:

My very chains and I grew friends,

So much a long communion tends

To make us what we are"

Finally, Montreux is apparently known for its annual jazz festivals and musical history.  Of note is the fact that former lead singer of Queen, Freddie Mercury, lived his final years in Montreux and his ashes were scattered on the shore after his death in 1991.  This is a point of pride for the town as this dramatic commemorative statue stands at the shore facing France and even today, is surrounded by flowers placed by fans and admirers.

Overall, we had a wonderful and restful week.  We had been working hard since we returned to EuNC in January so this was a very welcome break.  At this point, we will enter into our final two and a half months of our volunteer assignment in Europe.  It's hard to believe the time has passed so quickly!  It has truly been an amazing experience for our family and we are filled with so much thanks for these wonderful opportunities. 

I love blogs.  They are like running commentaries on life in real-time - like telling a story as it happens.  That's how I hope to use this one in the future - to share stories and thoughts on family, theology, and life in general. 

Since I'm finally getting my personal blog up and running, I've been wondering how I can introduce myself.  So instead of me doing the talking, I'll let Regan do it. On my birthday last week, my wonderful wife made a list of reasons she loves me.  Some of them are funny...some serious.  I'll let you judge which is which.  I share them because I think they tell my story including some lofty things that I hope to attain (see esp. numbers 1 & 2)!

30. Small town...country roots
29. Love for baseball
28. Shared love for fitness and health
27. Artistic eye
26. Attention to details
25. Love for various decade ballads (including but not limited to Journey)
24. A meat-a-tarian carnivore
23. Quick witted, dry humor
22. Willingness to try new things, but also a tendency for routine
21. Obsession with Steven Seagal
20. Thirst for knowledge
19. Affinity toward blue and brown (I like to wear these colors)
18. Lighting fast facial hair growth, thus a love (hate) for shaving
17. Singing voice that's smooth like honey (debatable)
16. Ability to relate to people of different ages
15. Thorough decision making skills (catching the sarcasm?)
14. Ability to think outside the box, especially in ministry
13. Using Carter for bench pressing
12. The joy in his whole being when he preaches
11. Toenails that grow curved backward, like swords (really?)
10. The way I feel when he looks at me
9. Nervous ticks - computer clicks, car temperature adjusting, pen tapping...(I do this when I'm in deep conversation!)
8. Inhuman ability to click through every website known to man
7. Committed love for sci-fi and Japanese thrillers
6. Night-owl
5. Improved story-telling - to Carter and adults
4. Inventiveness (I have lots of invention ideas, one of which is the self-cleaning bathroom for the home - patent pending)
3. Love for grilling
2. Passion for serving God and others
1. Unending love, patience, and care for my family

Now...what's YOUR story???