Work

This is the new office building my company designed and is building. We had a party for the Salem Art Association and here are some images from it. It was a good day.

Sometimes things suck...

Sometimes I am frequently reminded of a young life skit involving oranges and nails. The orange is the little girl's heart and each time something in life hurts her, a nail goes into the orange. Soon she learns not to trust and is filled with hate, but God is presented to her and He withdraws the nails from the orange (giving her a new heart.) The point at the end is that life sucks, but it wasn't what God intended. He didn't want us to be in pain, in war, or hate. But this week has been rough, sure there have been golden spots in it, an engagement, a baby announcement, and my anniversary, but the dark spots are a little bigger. Bob's Aunt died of cancer this week, two more layoffs in my office, and my heart breaks for my niece and her stupid dad that hasn't talked to her in a month. I mourn with Bob's family, I miss my co-workers and live in fear and gratefulness for my job at the same time and I wonder how my sister's ex can be so cruel to his little girl? But I will try and remember that I have new heart, and the nails weren't supposed to be there, but on the cross.

No Pictures

Since being back from our trip we have also been to California and Montana and both times we saw great friends, ate tasty food and I packed around the camera, but didn't take any pictures. Sorry!
We spent the weekend of the 4th with our good friends in Missoula. We rafted, went on a little hike, visited our favorite spots in town, but most of all hung out and enjoyed each others company and conversation. If only we lived closer! We saw the new house, saw Ty's family, watched illegal fireworks with the nutty neighbors, discussed politics, made breakfast together, watched the dogs play, tossed around the idea of a multi-day raft trip next time and were of course sad we had to leave.

Scotland! The last leg of the trip

I apologize for not getting these up here in a more efficient manner. After Spending 6 days in Ireland, we then traveled to Edinburgh (then Sheila returned home) and the rest of us continued into the highlands. We visited the north coast, a whisky distillery, a cooperage (the barrel making) lochs and castles. The weather was not quite as good, but it didn't really matter.

Cliffs of Moher and The Burren

Dingle Peninsula

On to Dublin and Cobh

I think this was day 6 and 7. Britta met us here and we wandered the city for a day. We then had to say goodbye and drove down the coast to Cobh where we ran into a pipe band competition.

To Munich and Southern Germany (Days 4&5)

So this is in Munich, but the rest are Neuschawnstein.




























































Oh what stunning views!

More around Frankfurt and on to Bamberg (days 2&3)

(Frankfurt area Apple Cider/Beer Garden)












Frankfurt Skyline























Bamberg, Oktoberfest here Bob comes, look at that service! (This is the area where Bob and I took German classes back in 2000)






















Monestary










Old City Hall

Images from Frankfurt and around (days 1 & 2)

Crazy Mall Design






















Top of a building in Frankfurt