Respectfully

In honour of my mother, with love and respect! At age 5 she took me pioneering to the cold north of Finland and Norway, all on her own, for the sake of the Bahá´'í Faith.

Another year...another day...

So at beloved friends request I am making an entry in regards to my birthday today. First of all, I want to honour my parents this year, who show me great love! Second,let me also congratulate Harrisson, who's birthday is also today! Third, I appreciate all the attention I have been given from loved ones across the globe, it has warmed me! Without you all, I would be miserable! Thank you!

Here is something which has inspired and assisted me during this year:

"We ought to show something greater than forgiveness in meeting the cruelties and strictures in our lives. To be hurt and forgive is saintly but far beyond this is the power to comprehend and not be hurt. This power we may have...acceptance without complaint and it should be associated with our name. We ought never to be known to complain or lament. It is not that we would "make the best of things," but that we may find in everything, even in calamity, the gems of enduring wisdom. We ought never be impatient. We ought to be as incapable of impatience as one would be of revolt. This not being so much long-suffering as quiet awareness of the forces that operate in the hours of dark or years of waiting and inactivity. Always we ought to move with the larger rhythm, the wider sweep, towards our ultimate goal, in that complete acquiescence, that perfect chord which underlies the spirit of the faith itself." Bahiyyih Khanum Baha'i World, Vol. V, p. 185

Roadtrip to Seattle

Over the weekend I made a roadtrip to Portland and Seattle. Purpose was business and visiting Richard & Rebecca McLaughlin, Farshid & Neda Sedghi. Both lovely couples I served with at the Bahai World Center in Haifa. It was wonderful to see them again! My stay was longer in Seattle, so all pictures are from there. Neda brought me to the famous Pike Market, adoring the flowers and laughing at the fish! What do you think of the random three asian guys on the phone???

My favourite waterhole

Sharps Creek, or Emerald pool, as me and my sister renamed it years ago, is my absolute favourite spot to go here in Oregon when it gets really hot and I need to cool off. A 15 minute drive out of Cottage Grove, into the forest mountainrange, this creek is surrounded by giant trees, crystal clear water, so clear you can see the fish swimming and smooth rocks and stonebottom...years of rocks poring by in the winter has smoothed it out to the extent where I can lay down in the shallow creek and the clear water cascades around me as I enjoy the smooth surface I lie on and the water cooling me off.

I go as often as I can. Wether alone, or like here with Papa, Carmen and her friend Grace!

University of Oregon

The campus area in Eugene is well known for its beautiful parks, buildings and just plain cool atmosphere. Sometimes I go there just to feel the international scene, I miss hearing a mix of languages and seeing people from all over the world. Campus provides all that. Just walking around there, taking pictures, having coffee at Café Roma and being inspired in general is a good thing.