Joyful Journey

Third time's the charm, or so the saying goes. Last fall, Bob and I attempted to hike up to the peak Speer (pictured at the right and located in the Toggenburger range) but that time a combination of clouds, late arrival in Amden (translation = wife slept in too late!) thereby coming darkness as well as the timing of the closing of the chairlift that would shave an hour off our walk, resulted in us only getting as high as the Gasthaus at Oberchäseren. We had fun taking photos at the same places we had on the first two attempts in order to compare. The first time hiking, at this signpost we were not able to see anything other than the post, due to the clouds. We also saw on this hike where we had missed a turn on our first attempt. (See post on 28th of October, 2007 entitled Hiking in the clouds .) Our second attempt in reaching Speer was in April, naively thinking that the snow at the upper levels would be gone after all the hot weather we had. However, there is still snow...

I'm hoping that local bakeries are still making Fussball Brot ("Football bread") when Joel, Steven and Jenn arrive, but if not, I have proof that they at least sometimes bake loafs of bread in the shape of soccer balls! I'm wondering if this is something they are making just because the European Football Championships are being hosted in Switzerland (and Austria) or if this is a bread that shows up every time there is a championship. A good question for Manuela, but since she's not a football fan, I may need to check with someone else. Now, this is definitely something that the Swiss and the rest of Europe has right. Why do we in the states call a game played primarily with the ball being carried in players' hands "football?" Doesn't it make more sense to call a game where the ball is moved primarily by players' kicking it, "football??" Yet another difference between Switzerland and the states. A minor difference, but a...

"So do you know yet whether you will be in a Switzerland another year?" That seems to be the question we hear from friends here, in the states and abroad. Friends here hope we get to stay another year (at least that's what they say!) , friends at home hope we come home (unless they haven't been over to visit, then they are hoping we'll be here another year!) It's a question we would like to know the answer to as well. At this point the paperwork has begun for us to stay an additional year, but given how it went last time, it's not done until the paperwork is all signed. The next question is usually, "How do you feel about that?" If we were to list feelings we could probably list an equal number for staying and for going back to the states. The idea of only a few more months to hike in the mountains and hills of Switzerland is sad! So if we are moving away, I do hope that we can return, regularly to hike. But what we truly want is that w...

Initially I was planning on going back in time and filling in the gaps of trips, guests, etc., but have decided that will try to keep current and then weave in other posts as I have time. So, here's our latest hike addition. After 12 days of mostly clouds and rain while the Stoltzfus family were here, Saturday looked like it might be a nice day. There is a wonderful website that gives great information on many day hikes in Switzerland and so after consulting it, I suggested we take the loop hike out of the town Glarus that includes Klöntalersee, a mountain peak (where, of course, there is a restaurant. This is Switzerland after all. You rarely get to the top, or near the top of a mountain without finding a restaurant.) and then back to town. One of my favorite things about hiking in Switzerland has become walking through cow pastures. The hills truly are alive with the sound of music. (Of course one does have to be careful not to step into the pies that are scattered all over...

Have you heard the song Find Your Wings by Mark Harris? The refrain goes like this: " I pray that God will fill your heart with dreams And that faith gives you the courage To dare to do great things I'm here for you whatever this life brings So let my love give you roots And help you find your wings " I had heard this song many times and had always associated it with parenting, with allowing our children the freedom to move on in the direction that the Lord was leading them. However, there is another aspect of meaning for me now. It was played as part of Steven's Commissioning Celebration for his graduating class at Moody. The lyrics were first read and then the song was played as the young men and their wives (or in the case of the lone single pilot , his fiancee) stood outside the hanger at Felts Field, just prior to the release of doves, symbolizing their "flying off." I couldn't help but think of all those who had invested their lives in these you...