All work.....err I mean all play!

We have been having a great time in Arkansas. The boys (Dad, Bert and Tim) have all been working, but us girls and James get to mix things up a bit. We have been doing all sorts of things from painting Net's house, to shopping, garden planting, and having a blast at Silver Dollar City (a theme park not too far from Mom and Dad's). Silver Dollar City was having its World Fest. James and I couldn't resist getting our picture taken by the Scottish couple.
My sister Lanette's (Net) little boy James just turned 8 months today. He love the petting zoo. I am working on him like crazy to say my name before we leave next week. He says Momma, Dad, Grandpa, and Grandma so it can't be far behind!
We're gonna die, we're gonna die!!! Mom and I on the swing ride. It was great.
This is one of his favorite goofie faces. He does this and then shakes his head a bit and leans all the way back.

Smiles are free anytime.
This is Mom and Dad's workshop. It is quite a ways away, but there is some of their product hanging in the fence line rusting out back.
Mom and I making Sunday School craft demos.
A warm glow...
Dad getting ready for Adult Sunday School.

Poor Bert doesn't have any pictures. He is always behind the camera....we gotta fix that!

This is what the brain keeps telling me...

We were okay driving on the right side of the road the first week and half we were back in the US, but in the past three days I have messed up as many times. And yesterday I didn't drive. Twice Mom told me I was on the wrong side. The other time was about to pull out from the gas station alone and was pulling onto the road before I realized the cars in the distance were head for me. Then I got pretty nervous wondering if it was actually clear in the lane I was supposed to be in. Mom was behind me in the truck watching it all...sorry Mom!

Net called bright and early this morning to see if Mom and I would go garage sailing with her and James. I don’t think our toothbrushes even made an appearance before we headed out to check out the deals. Net found lots of great bargains. James scored, what can we say. We had to drop loot off at her house a time or two before it was all over. I, on the other hand got good deals….but paid more than the price tags said. Every time I bought something that happened.

What do you do when they mess up by a dollar or two when adding up your things in their head? There are only so many things you can do. (1)Politely mention the mistake and ask for the proper price. (2) Begin to wonder about your math skills. Or (3) Just quit being such a cheap-skate and pay up cause its worth it anyway. Aric, you would have been proud of me.

And I played Peek-A-Boo with my nephew James today. It was his first time for the game and he was almost as thrilled as I was!

It has been so long I have forgotten how to post. I have been sitting here for way too long thinking of blog worthy things. There are lots of things that would fit into that category. But I can not choose among them so nix I will.

Tomorrow will be a fresh start.

Nighty night.

The jobs...

We have been filling out forms for visa applications for way too many hours now...and it asked what jobs we have had in the past. Poor Bert has no pictures, so this one is all about me here. First job was at Baskets....all around peaon (Bert says that's not a word, help me out here)

Second job was at the metal shop...kind like the above, hehehe!
Third at IHOP....server, "would you like some bacon on the side?"
Fourth. That fashy top comes from Bratano Footware......sales associate

Fifth at Mr. Sighn's India....drink pourer (authentic Indian food...turbans and kitls were worn in this establishment, but not by me!)

Sixth at Devoncove Hotel....dining staff, housekeeper, and receptionist.

At the moment, I get to bum it! Mom says to enjoy it while it last, no problem!

Do we win, do we win?!?

Just for kicks, what are the gas prices are in your area?

We were just at the pump this afternoon and it was 99.9 pence a liter. That would be about $7.58 a gallon USD and $2.50 a liter Australian dollar.

But then I can get haggis anytime I want... :)

Earth’s crammed with heaven,
And every bush afire with God;
But only he who sees takes off his shoes;
The rest sit around it and pluck blackberries.
-EBB

What's your interpretation?

Study Break

James...don't try this by yourself...call Uncle Bert, he would love to teach you.


Singed hair, but he doesn't seem to mind.

Boys will be boys...

It is mostly official. Bert is scheduled for his final exam and licensing on Thursday, March 29. It is held in Glasgow. What all is involved, I am not sure, but one thing for sure is that the Lord will help him through whatever may lie ahead.

After the licensing, he will be open for a call. That means any church, anywhere, will be able to extend a call to him. This is the hard part: Discernment. We pray that the Lord will make it very clear where He would have us to go.

We have often said to one another that the location—in whichever country—does not matter as long as the Lord will be able to use us there. As of right now, our denomination has churches seeking pastors in different countries.

In the past two years, we have lived among and visited many of these congregations. Being among the Lord’s people feels like being among ‘family.’ And even though we have only met some just but briefly, we have grown to love them as bothers and sisters in Christ every place along the way.

So we would ask everyone to please remember us in prayer as this chapter of our lives comes to a close. The Lord knows what is written ahead as the pages turn, but we pray that we might know more clearly how to respond.

Memory Lane

I came across this picture while I was searching. It is Gilbert, Arkansas in the 1920's. We would go in the store with Mom and Dad when we were kids. I don't know exactly why we went (Aaron and I followed Mom and Dad everywhere). But they had the coolest things in there. That would have been back in the mid-late 80's that I remember and they still had the old glass cases with dry goods in them. Nobody would have bought anything out of them in years I am sure. But it was fun to look.

And of course they did have M&M's. That I do remember!

Wash Day

This morning the sun was out. So I thought I would be sneaky and put the laundry out to dry on the line for the first time since we have been on the island. (There is no drier, but we have the coolest rack on a pulley here above the range in the dinning room.)

My sheets were flapping happily in the breeze when along came some sleet or tiny hail or something of the like, followed by a quick shower. The sun never disappeared. Five minutes later, the only trace of the rain were the puddles on the sidewalk. You can never tell.

After a week on the mainland, we are back in our 'little' house in North Uist. Bert's Mum and Dad were over from Australia for a couple of days. (They dropped in at Jacquie and Brian's in California for just over a week and then headed out our way for 4 1/2 days. From us, they headed to South Africa to see the Pohl's and Ann's side of the family for a couple of days as well.) We had a great time. We all stayed in bungalow near to Aultbea rather than heading out the the island since the once a day ferrys posed to be a time problem.

We went on a hike through the mountain trails on Wednesday. The sign marks the start. Unfortunately, our fearless leader was unaware of the sign in the begining. So we bush walked for the first bit.

Our handsome and fearless leader himself!

Tony taking pictures of Scottish plant life...

Efforts payed off...lots of great pictures... As a result, the girls were in the lead... View from the top...
Life is really tough...
Our home for the week.

And good fun was had by all.

The end.

North Uist

For a quick rundown, we are now on the Isle of North Uist. It is not a large island. One of the most common ways of getting to the island is by taking the 1 ½ hour ferry journey from the Isle of Skye. The ferry leaves only once or twice a day (alternating).

I went for a spin around the island this morning. It was so sunny and beautiful out, it couldn't be passed up. The loop of the main road on the island took about and hour.

There are some houses and a little shop nearby, but it is out in the country. Most of the signs marking villages have the Galiec (spelling?) in bold, and then English in small underneath.

This is the church and the manse. It is a huge house! Ten chimneys...

From the third story looking down. There were some pictures of Bert in his study, but they seem to have disappeared....

A Scary Thought

I just heard today that 85% of dust in your house comes from human skin. Is that true?

And then why is there such a pile-up of it all when you come back from a two week trip? That is just plain scary...

One Thing We Missed

It is strange how the things that are the nearest to where you live, get passed by. Thirty miles up the road from our house, is a little sign that says Ch...somethingIcantpronounce Gorge. Small sign. Smaller car park. From the road, there is not even a trace of a gorge. But then....No bottom in sight...
From the top of the gorge to the bottom, is something like 400ish feet.
Finally cought him on film...
One of the falls that feed into the gorge... On a compleately differnt note....who can pass up bovine on the beach?

Back into the world of blogging. I didn’t try to post while Mom and Dad were here. Mom will vouch for me in that it takes a long time to blog with our dial-up connection/temperamental computer. "Temperamental computer," in a whisper.

Mom and Dad made it home safe and sound, no matter how hard I tried to keep them here. :) The fender-bender in Perth on the way to the airport was a pretty desperate attempt I will admit. And you would have thought I could have hit the car a little harder huh?!? (Check Mom’s blog for details: www.outsideofbox.blogspot.com )

Life is back to abnormal here. Bert is preparing sermons. I am dog walking, baking cookies, and thinking of packing up and moving to Skye next week. It is two hours by car. If eyes could carry you from place to place though, it would be not more than trip to the few minutes. But alas, as I have found in the past week, our poor little car does not have wings. We have two car loads of things so it is not a big thing.

Just to let you all know what we have been up to in the past couple of weeks, here are a few of my favorite pictures.

Having tea every morning The only picture of the four of us
My kind of sheep
Dad as we saw him for two weeks

What a cute couple

And again

We had lots of fun
Dad fixing the brakes....he felt much better after that.