What's so different about Scotland?

Deep-fried Hamburger

Not much, but quite a bit! So far, my favorite difference is the working schedule.  Previously, in the States, I usually worked 7:30-4:30 and Kyle worked 8:oo-5:30ish.  Here work doesn't even start until 9am and then you get off at 5:00, with an hour for lunch.  Only 35 hours a week is full-time! I LOVE this. I have been sleeping in until 6:30 and have noticed how much happier I am. 8 hours of sleep every night really does do a body good. I can't remember the last time I was this happy on a regular basis! Who knew that all I really needed was a little extra sleep?!

Here are a few words that are different too: 

Give Way- Yield

Tatties/Jackets- Baked potato

Que- line

Biscuit- cookie (ie- Oreo Biscuits (they really say that!))

Lollie- lollipop/sucker

Veg- vegetables

Neeps- turnips

Diary- planner

Cheers- thanks

Quid- buck

I'm sure there are a ton more, but these are the ones that really stood out to me.  It's funny how the English language can vary so much. 

Another thing that is different is that they like to deep fry everything.  Last week Kyle and I had a deep-fried hamburger, yuck!  But I figured we could at least try it. This weekend, my goal is to eat a deep-fried mars bar.  We'll see if I get that accomplished! 

-Stacie 

Kilts & Celidah!

Last night Kyle's program had what is called a "Celidah" (pronounced Kaylee).  A traditional Cedliah includes men in kilts, traditional scottish dancing and traditional scottish food (ie. haggis and mash).  Doesn't Kyle look cute in his kilt? 

All of the guys were given the opportunity to "hire" (rent) a kilt for the evening.  Here are a bunch of them all dressed up! It was fun to see so many guys from so many different countries wearing the Scottish kilt! Including Kyle the guys in this pictures are from Ireland, Nigeria, Ecuador, India, Mexico and America.  Definitely a melting pot of cultures!

Here's a video of Kyle dancing.  Sorry it's kind of dark but hopefully you can tell which one he is. 

After the dancing was done, we got to enjoy some famous haggis.  I tried both the vegetarian and traditional haggis and didn't think it was too bad.  I mean, I wouldn't go to a restaurant and pay money for it, but it wasn't bad. Hope you enjoyed the pictures! Here's a link to more if you're interested. 

-Stacie 

Our Apartment

Here is a video of our apartment! 

Daddy's got a Suga' Mama!

As our previous post stated, our house is in the process of being sold.  That means the final burr in our collective saddle was Stacie's unemployment.  We took out loans to cover living expenses which means we won't starve.  But as you can imagine, sitting around our apartment all day with Deacon wouldn't be ideal.  I mean he's cute, but to be honest, he's VERY needy!

She interviewed last week with a company called Tenon, located here in Edinburgh, for an HR position and knocked their socks off!  She will start on Monday 22-Sept-2008 (that's how they date stamp here).  Funny thing about this little answer to prayer is that it was sly.  Stacie didn't even apply to Tenon, they found her thru Al Gore's invention (you know he invented the internet) at monster.co.uk.  Pretty cool huh!?

The position is temporary to fill in for an ill employee but they made it sound like the odds are good that it will turn into a permanent role.

In all seriousness, I'm really proud of Stacie and her willingness to do whatever necessary to help the cause while I'm in school.  Today, before Tenon called, she picked up an application at the local Starbucks to be a barista (did you know they're not on every corner outside of Seattle?).

-Kyle

PS- a complete aside but as you also know we still don't have internet at home which means we find it free or steal if need be.  Right now I'm posting from a quaint little bar that has free wi-fi.  I bought a beer and took a seat to realize I'm in a very gay bar.  Without spinning up a political debate here, let's just say I'm eyes straight ahead at the computer screen and one arm around Mrs. Sale!

Praise the Lord!

SOLD!!!

For those of you who had been praying for our house we want to let you know that we received an offer last night.  The inspection is scheduled for Wednesday and the closing date in early October.  Kyle & I are so thankful for all of your prayers and support through this difficult process.  We are SO thankful to have an offer and for Kyle to be able to start school without the burden of our house! God is so good.  

Since we've been here we've seen how true that really is. Our apartment is such an answer to prayer. It is in a great location, close to a park (for Deacon's many potty walks) and even has a piano!  Also, we've found a church that we enjoy and plan on attending while we're here.  Those, along with the house, were are major prayers and they have been answered indeed! We feel truly blessed and thankful for all that God has provided for us here in Scotland.  It is true that if you step out in faith and follow his will he will be faithful and bless you.  Thank you again for all of your prayers. 

We're still hoping to get internet this week and then we'll update our blog much more regularly!

-Stacie 

Adventures in Edinburgh

Kyle & I have been busy exploring Edinburgh since we last posted.  We still don’t have internet in our apartment (which is why we haven’t posted sooner) and won’t until next Monday, after that we’ll be able to post more often! 

Today, we explored more of Holyrood park.  This park is huge (not sure how big) but you can see from the pictures very large.  It’s only about a 15 minute walk from our flat and it’s great for Deacon. It is amazing to me that there is a park this large in any major city! Isn’t it beautiful? 

Right by Holyrood Park is the Scottish Parliament.  We got to view the Chamber room where the magic happens. 

Chamber Room in the Scottish Parliament

Also, everything in the Parliament building is bilingual.  Spanish and English? French and English? Nope, you guessed it...Gaelic & English! Here’s proof: 

Leaving Scottish Parliament

Scottish Parliment is located on what is referred to as the Royal Mile.  At one end of the street is the Palace at Holyrood House (this is the official residence of Her Majesty when she is in Scotland) and at the other end is the Edinburgh Castle.  The mile is full of shops, restaurants and churches.  The church we went to on Sunday is actually located on the Royal Mile.  Kyle & I were very surprised that when the pastor started speaking he had an American accent. Turns out the pastor is from New York! Small world...We both really liked the church and are very excited to find a place where can settle down and start meet people! Here are a few pictures of things we saw on the Royal Mile: 

Bagpipe player..classic

St. Gile's Cathedral

Finally, went to Greyfriar’s Kirk.  You may have heard of Greyfriar’s Bobby.  The story is that a dog named “Bobby” stayed in the church’s graveyard and guarded his master’s grave for 14 years.  After bobby died he was buried in the graveyard and a statue was erected in his honor. 

Greyfriar's Bobby

Greyfriar's Kirk graveyard

We are really enjoying Edinburgh so far.  One week from tomorrow Kyle starts school which he was told by the Director of the program that “if you can survive your first semester you can survive anything”. Not sure is that supposed to be comforting or not but it should be an experience for both of us! We’ll try to post again this weekend with more photos. 

-Stacie 

Edinburgh!

Stacie and I arrived safe and sound late Wednesday night Edinburgh time.  Our flight from Seattle to London was on time and we fit all of our luggage into the rental car.  Deacon was on excited pooch when we picked him up at the quarantine area.  

Driving to Edinburgh from London was very stressful.  You get used to driving on the other side of the car/road pretty quickly, but not knowing how to maneuver traffic circles that flow clockwise and have multiple lanes and exits it challenging.  I managed to only elicit one hand gesture and a loud profanity from the fetching Mrs. Sale.  Stacie did have a death grip on her seat as I got brave and started weaving in and out of traffic while headed through Northern England and Southern Scotland.

The past two days have been spent unpacking, exploring and getting details cleared away (bank account, cell phone, groceries, etc).  We're both excited and overwhelmed at the same time.  Edinburgh is beautiful and provides so many opportunities for exploration.  Here are some pictures we've taken: 

Holyrood Park located in downtown Edinburgh

Kyle & Deacon enjoying Holyrood Park

Palace of Holyroodhouse- official residence in Scotland of Her Majesty the Queen

View of city centre

Kyle in front of the student center at the University of Edinburgh

This is the road our flat is on

We'll have more updates soon I'm sure! 

-Kyle

Faithful Fairwell

Last night we were blessed to say goodbye to a special group of friends we refer to as our faith community. Some folks would refer to this group as a Bible study or 'small group' but it truly was much more than that...it was a community of Christians sharing life together. This group of people supported me this spring when after 34 years of marriage my dad turned his back on our family. We've grieved together as elderly parents have passed away and we've celebrated as God has answered each other's prayers. We've laughed and cried together (and consumed a ton of burritos!).

To Stacie and me, this community is a dynamic example of the rich community shared through the common bond of faith in Jesus Christ. Often times I've heard something to the tune of "I can't believe that so and so calls himself a Christian, look at how flawed he is." That is why this group is so beautiful...we all know we're deeply flawed yet come together as broken people, willing to look for help.

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, alway in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:3-6

As I post this, Stacie is putting the finishing touches on our luggage and then we're airport bound! Next time we post we'll be in Edinburgh. Thanks to a booking problem with British Airways, Deacon flew yesterday and is patiently waiting for us in London. What a brave little globe trotter.

-Kyle