Olaf in Scotland

Confession: I am really missing some of the amazing/beautiful/wonderful/worship-filled places I visited earlier this year. Like, the kind of missing where you find yourself just staring into the sun thinking about how that same sun was shining down from you a few thousand miles away just a short time ago.  I miss some of the fantastic people I met while traveling.  I miss the noises - the ocean - the accents - the constant horns of cars and trains.  

I miss quite a few things.  

So, what better way to reminisce?  

Share pictures of Olaf in Scotland, of course.   

 Who knew it was so affordable to ride first class? (Actually, RIDICULOUSLY SURPRISINGLY SO!)

 Looking good, Glasgow.

Some have the Royal Mile, Glasgow has the Style Mile. 

Cute.

I mean, who doesn't visit graveyards in cities?  

(I LOVE DOING THIS.)

 John Knox Memorial

 Bird on Statue. 

 Edinburgh, how I love your steps. 

(I had a GIANT suitcase with me. My own fault.)

Olaf loves Scotland.

 Picture perfect day.

 WITH A RAINBOW!

Olaf and I were headed to Iona.  To get to Iona, you must first go to Oban. So, in Oban, Olaf and I did some touristy type of things.  

Like whiskey. 

 

If you've never been to Scotland, you should know that besides an abundance of whiskey, there's an abundance of something else. 

Besides men in kilts.  

Besides lochs. 

It's sheep. 

And Iona has lots and lots and lots of sheep.  They're sort of adorable, in a weird kind of way.

As well as cute, they're kind of creepy. 

 And they're easily distracted.

 Isn't it a gorgeous day?  We got lucky. 

 So, back to getting to Iona.  We were distracted by the sheep.  You take a train to Oban, and then a ferry across to the Island of Mull. 

 Then you take a bus across the island of Mull. 

 Followed by another ferry that seems to take safety a bit more seriously. 

 CHOPPY CHOPPY WATERS 

(and really it was nothing like what came later in the week.)

 Yay, we made it to IONA.

 The Abbey.  

 Olaf loves this shelf, it's where the peanut butter is held.  

(NOT THAT THE FOOD WAS BAD - it was actually amazing.  Like, beyond amazing.  Fresh scones and bread at meal time, warm soups, FRESH fruit even! We just like peanut butter...a lot...)

 Art has been generously created and donated to the Abbey.  It's like walking through an art museum at times.

 Why I had to pay the heavy baggage fee when flying back. 

 Dinner time!

 Olaf and I were assigned to the Seal group, which meant we did dinner clean up and some other chores...

 Seated at the head of the table as a server/cleaner upper.

Yay washing dishes! (I missed my Refectory job so much at Columbia!)

 WE DRINK SO MUCH TEA.  

SO. 

MUCH. 

TEA.

(It is a good thing, especially when where you are living is a very cold stone building.)

 You'll be glad to know there is a bar on Iona.  During the winter it is open on Thursdays from 21:00-23:00.

 Our other chore!  Cleaning showers!

 Yay!!!

All my mission trip experiences have trained me well!

Tour around the Chapel beginning with the font.

 Where monks would sit during prayers.

 What remains from a statue of Columba.

 Olaf loves the beach. 

 Rocks at the beach.

 Olaf found a sheep!

On my last day, I found an adorable shop with cappuccinos! Olaf and I sipped it while pondering at the remains of the nunnery. 

These are just Olaf pictures.  There are so many more of Iona and my time in Scotland.  Words don't do justice to the beauty and peace found at that place, but I'll work on getting some pictures up so it can be shared. 

There's also that time Olaf went to France. Stay tuned!

Blessings!

Katy

Blame it on the Jet Lag

Ok, ok.  I've been home for almost a week, and am just now getting around to blogging. 

Shame, I know.  

But I blame it on the jet lag, 100%.  

If you have ever had the privilege of attending a lock-in of any sorts and suffered the next day because of the 24 hours you stayed awake, that's kind of how I've felt for about a week. 

 (I'm thinking specifically of the kind where you stay up for 24 hours straight, eat lots of junk food, play games like sardines, and watch movies you would only watch when locked in a building for 24 hours type of lock-in.)

Needless to say, my transition from Cambridge time to Dallas time hasn't been as smooth as I wish. 

But. 

I'm home! 

And it has been glorious!

From the first step I took back into the states, I was greeted with the Southern hospitality I've missed.  Walking through Customs in Florida was just about one of the best moments ever; every person I encountered said, "Welcome Home!" to me. 

 (I must have been radiating "I AM SO GLAD TO BE HOME" vibes...)

By the way, if you pack an apple for your lunch from one country and forget to eat it before landing in another country, a cute little beagle will sniff you out and you will get to do some fun things like extra luggage scans and friendly talks with custom agents.  It is pretty much just like the tv shows...

I flew into Dallas and was able to see it all lit up.  It felt a bit magical and perfect all at once.  

I think Darcy might  have missed me.  Or, he just saw an opportunity with someone who will let him on the bed. (I'm going for the first...)

Since I've been home, I've been blessed to do what one of my favorite things - 

spend time with family! 

We take coloring very seriously around here. 

Lil one with Aunt Ginny and Aunty B.

We've had some family dinners, full of wonderful food, drink, and laughs!

Aunt G is really good at decorating baked goods...

 The bunny/gruffalo cake. 

(see some similarities?)

 So. Focused. 

 Best part about decorating!

I just can't even contain the joy in my heart from having all my siblings and their sweet families home this weekend, even if brief!  

 I returned to the kitchen (with my sisters!) and baked/decorated/burned some cookies.

(E decorated these, I promise.) 

Lucy had some fun too!

Another added bonus to my timing of returning home, was that I was able to worship at a home away from home, my church!  

I love so many things about this place - the worship that happens, the memories made, the people who make up the community there.

We had some fun there on Saturday, getting ready for Easter Sunday. 

I've come home at just the right time.  My time at Cambridge was beyond amazing, full of memories and people I treasure dearly,  but my time had come to come on home.  

I'm a homebody. 

I love knowing where that one field of bluebonnets is near the house. 

It still amazes me that for three years (and one more!) I've lived over 795 miles away attending graduate school when I went to college 54.1 miles away.  

And for 100 days, I went a bit further. 

It is good to stretch our limits and reach a wee bit farther than we thought we could, and I am grateful for the opportunities I have had and the opportunities yet to come where I will be able to reach, stretch, and grow a bit more. 

When I drive the 795 miles tomorrow to spend this week taking care of things at school, I'll be grateful for the ways I've been able to reach, stretch, and grow on that campus in that community.  

So, stay tuned.  There's more to come.  

More reflections, more pictures, more Olaf, more "aha" and "oh  no" moments to share for sure.  

Until then, 

Easter blessings, 

Katy