Lots of Updates

Sorry for the delay, but here we are, back in Switzerland and ready to update you all (or y'all, as Emily says) on our lives. I know people (especially Matt Clem) are dying to hear all about it, so here we go... :-)

First, we got married! August 16th, on a glorious day in Minnesota, 

we got hitched at St. Andrew's and partied the rest of the night at The University Club in Downtown St. Paul. Looking back, it was a perfect week. Being surrounding by all of our closest family and friends, the outrageously fun times of the Bachelor/Bachelorette nights, the family dinner night, the wedding rehearsal spent at the Blanchard's and the MetroDome (watchin

g the Twins beat the Mariners - which wasn't GREAT Ryan), and then the moments of the wedding day (like seeing the most beautiful, adorable, and HOT best friend walk down the aisle ranks up there) - it all goes down as some of the fondest moments and memories of our young lives. So thank you to everyone who supported us and were a part of the monumental day! 

After a few nights spent opening gifts, saying good-byes to the rest of our family and friends (and of course, nights at the Embassy in Downtown St. Paul), we got back onto a plane and headed back to Switzerland on August 20th. Since we've been back, the baseball team played it's final 3 regular season games and finished 18-2 and first place in the league! Now, we are preparing for the playoffs which begin this weekend. We square off in a best of 3 series with the fourth seed Lausanne Indians starting on September 13th. We'll play 2 games this weekend and if needed, the 3rd game won't be played until the last weekend of September! Then, once that is decided, we'll meet for the finals in a best of 5 series with either the Bern Cardinals or the Zurich Barracudas! Everyone is anxious for the playoffs to begin!

Emily and I also spent last week in Prague, easily one of the most beautiful cities in the world! We were there representing Switzerland in the Softball European Cup Championships. The Flyers went 2-6, and actually that record got them 6th place out of 10 teams. Emily played really well. The competition was a dramatic increase over what Switzerland provides, so it was sweet to watch Emily really get after it in Prague. She played great defense all week and was so much fun to watch! We'll put pictures from Prague up soon, once we get them, but we didn't have a digital camera as ours broke! So, our first purchase as a married couple? A DIGITAL CAMERA! Emily thoroughly enjoys her new toy...

Anyways, the softball team begins the playoffs as well this weekend on Sunday against the Zurich Challengers as either the 2 or 3 seed. 

We are planning on doing some type of honeymoon next week (preferably Greece) but it depends on our upcoming schedule and what happens in the games. Either way, we are looking forward to exploring parts of Europe we haven't seen sometime next week! 

We can't believe we are now less than 4 weeks from going home and 6 weeks from moving to Las Vegas! Although we currently don't have a place to live or stay, we're praying!!! 

Love and miss you all! We'll update you after this week of the playoffs!

First half OVER! Time to go home...

In less than 24 hours, we'll be heading home! It seems like it went by in a BLINK of a eye, and yet was littered with hundreds of incredible memories. These 7 weeks have truly been an unapproachable assortment of lifelong memories...Just to give you a glimpse into our last week here...

On Friday, we were taken to a dinner at a castle in Bottmingen. The dinner, the ambience, and the FIVE COURSE meal were, well, incredible! We were honored to be guests at such a fine meal (let's just say it's a LITTLE better than Chili's). Here is a picture of the group that took us there, minus the president of the board.

On Saturday, we spent the day celebrating our ONE YEAR anniversary (haha) by going to Organic Andy's, our favorite coffee hangout, going to the Zoo, taking a nap, going to dinner at Lilly's, and then meeting our friends Zach and Shayne for a late night coffee. A perfect day (I bought Emily some EUROPEAN shoes and she bought me an Amazon gift card, journals and a LONG note - my favorite LOVE LANGUAGE!). 

Then, on Sunday, we played our games. The baseball team traveled to Reussbuhl and defeated the Eagles 15-3 and 8-2. Our team is awesome! We are 10-1 and in first place. I'm truly blessed to have such a great group of baseball players. We play a very Chapman, Coach T style of baseball. Everyone bunts and we're the BEST EXECUTION TEAM IN THE COUNTRY! I finished 3-5 on the day with 6 RBIs, a HR, and pitched 1 1/3 innings. I'm sad to leave them behind for 6 games, but they'll do even better without me! They are easy and fun to coach and play for the LOVE of the game only. It's a beautiful thing...

Emily's team beat up on another opponent, 9-1 and 15-1. She pitched game two and was 3-4 hitting. She's hitting over .666 on the year, and they are 10-0 since she's been here (11-3 overall). She's only going to miss 1 or 2 games, but she'll return in time for the playoffs and the European Championship Cup in Prague!

On Monday, we had a softball/baseball team SOFTBALL game and a BBQ after. Here are a few pictures of that

Last, we are just cleaning up around our place, packing our stuff and saying our good-byes to all the wonderful friends we've made (okay, not good-bye forever, but for 1 1/2 months!) We have been so so blessed by their warm hospitality and generosity. We feel that we are a part of a super group of people and an organization that is very well run and put together. Now, we head to Hawaii for 7 days, and then home, finally, to Minnesota for a month and I think we're getting married sometime in there! Just kidding! We'll post again after we return to Switzerland on August 19th! 

The Berlin Wall is Still Down

Initially refreshed to see that the Berlin Wall is no longer dividing Berlin, we were able to relax and enjoy our time on the "east side, Communist side" of Berlin. Full of history and culture, sidewalk cafes and massive monuments, the two days in Berlin were a special time for Emily and myself.

We arrived to East Seven Hostel on Sunday, a trendy and fun place located in the northeast corner of Berlin known as Prenzelauer Berg, and complete with a garden courtyard and free wi-fi.

On Sunday night, we decided to stay local and head to the massive flea market near-by. We thought we were in heaven. The sun was shining, the smells were rousing our taste buds, and the junk and trinkets galore tuned the attention of at least one of us. After walking around, we decided to sit and have Emily's favorite (fries!) and my favorite (crepe with nutella)! Yummy! After enjoying those moments, we checked out the area, which is chock full of sidewalk cafes, cheap coffee and drinks, and fun restaurants! We managed to find a restaurant (where we'd return) to watch the Switzerland soccer game, and headed home after a few mojitos and margaritas.

On Monday, we did the tourist thing, checking out all the major stops including Checkpoint Charlie (a place where the British/US tanks squared off against Russian tanks), parts of the Berlin Wall, Brandenburg Gate, and the Berliner Dome. All very cool, as they were full of the history of the wars, the Holocaust, and the dividing wall (which only fell in 1989!). At night, we headed to Ku'udam Street, which is the SHOPPING street of Berlin. After buying a few items, we headed back to the restaurant we'd been at the previous night to camp out in order to get a spot to watch the Germany soccer game. As we sat in the lowering sun, we played cards, ordered tasty meals, drank German beer, and enjoyed the company of enthusiastic German fans.

On Tuesday, we made our flight by 5 minutes! We missed a few trains here and there, but managed to SPRINT to the gate to make it by 5 minutes. We were quite worried, but managed to keep tension to a minimum! 

All in all, a sweet European city that I'm glad we took time to explore! 

Can't believe we are home in 2 weeks! It seems like it has gone so fast! 

Peace and love,

John and Emily

Dramatic Wins For Flyers

On a day that began by remembering the life of Grandma Phyllis, our baseball and softball team won all four of the games against the Bern Cardinals on Sunday. 

Emily's team handled the Cards in the first game as they won 12-5. Emily went 1-2 and was able to play despite having a bruised foot and ankle. In the second game, she pitched and they won 4-3, on a game-ending walk in the 7th inning. Despite the emotional ride of both games, the Flyers ended victoriously and are now 8-0 since Emily's arrival.

Our baseball squad faced the mighty Bern Cardinals at home. Coming in with a 33-1 record and three-time defending champion title, they feature some of the most polished pitching and team defense in Switzerland. However, our team was well-prepared and also includes two of the best pitchers in Switzerland. The first game was a battle back and forth, until we took the lead in the bottom of the 7th on a Daniel Eichenberger "Eicha" homerun to put us ahead 5-4. The Cardinals then tied the game in the top of the 9th with two outs at 5-5. Battling all the way to the bottom of the 11th, Eicha proceeded to hit another homerun to lead off the inning. We celebrated by bouncing around at home plate, ending the Cardinals streak of 22 straight wins.

In game two, we faced the top pitcher in Switzerland, Severin Fries. He shut us down for 2 hits in 6 innings and they managed to get runs off our Aussie Chris Blackbee. I relieved him in the top of the 6th and shut them out in both innings. Down 3-0 and losing Eicha and our other catcher Carlos to injury, we had to dig deep. A one out single, a two-out walk and then a single by Reto Siegel to score one run, I stepped to the plate with runners on 1st and 3rd, two outs, and down 3-1. Let me say this: I'd been struggling at the plate ALL day. Getting jammed, popping up - I was frustrated more than usual, that's for sure. Facing the playing coach John Baum, I proceeded to crush a 2-2 fastball over the centerfield fence for a walk-off three run homerun!!! Let's just say we celebrated like crazy. Honestly, it was a top 3 coolest moment of my whole baseball career! We were so pumped. To beat the Cardinals twice - on walk-off homeruns - it was unreal! Quite an emotional ride! 

Anyways, just an update on the exciting happenings of Swiss baseball. Emily's team is now 9-3 and we are 6-1 and in first place. We are thrilled about what is happening in the Flyers' organization and are so thankful to be a part of such a great group of people! 

We have a week full of Valentino's tonight (a restaurant we go to EVERY Tuesday night and stay until way past closing because we know the cook!), watching the Swiss play again in the Euro Cup (Soccer) on Wednesday night, going to a discotec with the teams on Thursday, and having a raclette (a famous Swiss cheese dish) party on Friday, and then heading to Berlin on Saturday for 3 days. Not too bad huh?

My friends Zach Poth and his girlfriend Shayne came to visit us on Saturday for the night! We had a great time hanging out with them and getting to know Shayne!!!

Peace and love to you all! We love and miss you!

Written on Mister Baseball: Preview for Game today

BATTLE FOR SUPREMACY IN THERWIL AS THE CARDINALS TRAVEL TO FACE THE FLYERS 
The undefeated and 1st place Bern Cardinals (8-0) meet the 2nd place Therwil Flyers (4-1) Sunday at the Kannelmatt. The games, whose outcome will decide, who ends up in first place at the midseason break, are going to be fierce battles. Two of the top offenses face off against two of the league’s top pitching staffs. The Flyers have four new bats in the lineup this year, Reto Siegel (.455AVG), Daniel Eichenberger (.368AVG), Australian Chris Blackbee (.591AVG), and playing/coach John Alexander (.364AVG); have energized an already solid Flyers team. Stefan Koller (3-0, 3.81ERA), one of the top Swiss arms, andChris Blackbee (1-1, 2.25ERA) man the hill for their team as they look to shut down the dangerous Cards offense. The pitching staff for the Cards is once again healthy as Severin Fries is now back and throwing at 100%. The offense is also at full force, with all the regular starters available. Look for the Cards arms to silence the red hot bats of the Flyers, and the offense to find its groove heading into the Euro Qualifier. I have to give the Cardinals the edge in this one, until someone knocks the Redbirds from the top; they have to remain as favorites in every game they play.
PREDICTION: CARDINALS MOVE WIN STREAK TO 22 STRAIGHT WITH TWO HARD FOUGHT VICTORIES!

Some press in the Basler Zeitung (Newspaper)

http://www.therwil-flyers.ch/photos/Flyers_nr231.jpg

An Ode to My Grandma

To be read at her funeral:

Being the youngest of 10 grandchildren, I was blessed with the opportunity to spend the most time with her as Grandma. Because they moved to Longview when I was a young child, Grandma played many special roles in my life.

 

As Grandma the Teacher:

Hours upon hours, I spent creating and designing games of cards, marbles, checkers, chess pieces and other assorted items with rules and regulations that were solely determined by me – which, of course, led to much flexibility and rule-bending. But Grandma would constantly encourage this creative approach to gaming, instructing me in the virtues of creativity, mind expansion, and fun! Grandma would tirelessly listen to my in-depth instruction of each new game ~ and proceed to lose every time!

 

She was also consistently full of knowledge and had a small gem of truth to offer at each visit to her home. Whether it was a medicinal instruction or a fact about the current state of affairs in the world, Grandma seemed to know it all. Each piece was like a slice of her infamous blueberry and apple pies ~ a bookend of solid crusty truth and filled with gobs of love.

 

As Grandma the Peacemaker:

“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.” James 3:17-18.

What I’ll remember most about her is the peace that surrounded her being. Patient, kind, and filled with peace - except, of course, when she had to yell at Grandpa to turn his hearing aid UP. In her presence, you felt a sort-of Mother Theresa like harmony exuding from her that seemed to transcend the deeper bond she had clearly made with the world. Her tenderness and concern for your health exceeded the importance of her own life tenfold.

 

As Grandma of Faith and Love:

Most importantly, her and Grandpa together lived a life of profound faith, of undying love for each other and God, and of believers in both of these things. Her life modeled this faith in her every day living. The precious moments I had sharing “devotion time” in the morning with Grandpa and Grandma; the countless times she attended my piano recitals and sporting events; the genuine smile that appeared each time I approached; the Swedish pancakes and blueberry pies, the lefse and tiny chocolate chip cookies; the visits after school and popcorn treats ~ all moments conceived in heaven and brought to Earth by the love and faith of our Grandma.

 

Two final moments: Unfortunately, I am far away in Switzerland and unable to attend the funeral. Before I left for a mid-morning coffee on Monday, my fiancé Emily and I decided to pray for Grandma after receiving word of her failing health. As I checked my watch, it was 11:00 AM. We prayed that God would rest her soul and take her body if He so chose. Two hours later, I received the call that she had passed on ~ two hours before, at exactly the time we prayed for her.

 

On this night (Monday), the night of her triumphant return, I decided to embark on my first ever attempt at making Swedish “Egg” pancakes. With each swish and sizzle of the pancakes, even as incomparably dismal as they were to hers, I remembered her and the life she lived.

 

Tender; loving; peaceful; knowledgable; challenging; submissive; serving; merciful; sincere.

 

May we all come to know the supremacy of a life filled of love, of family, of the gift of nurture and care, of inescapable and undeniable faith, and of true, profound life like our mother, grandmother, and friend – Phyllis Martinson.