Dunnottar Castle

Yesterday it was a gorgeous day here in Scotland: 65 degrees and sunny with a strong wind blowing near the sea. We decided that before Tim had to officially report for school on Monday that we should see a castle together as a family. We chose Dunnottar Castle, which is only a 30 minute drive from our house and what a lovely drive it was! The road took us along the coast of the North Sea. 

We kept ooohing and aahhing as we turned around each bend in the road. The views were breathtaking-rocky cliffs that jutted against the sea, lush green hills with sheep and cows lazily grazing -all against the backdrop of a bright blue sky and a few white puffy clouds!  The castle began to come into view from probably a mile or two away. It's on an island that juts out into the sea.

 What a stunning silhouette on the horizon!

 

Maddy running ahead on the path as an older gentlemen head back from his visit

Isn't it amazing? We had a to walk the entire way down that path to the left and then up stairs to get to the castle. Quite the workout, especially when you are each caring a child. This is when I am thankful ours are little :)

Maddy was yelling, "Castle"! Although, she was very disappointed that there was no princess in this castle. 

The view of the sea from inside of the castle

The Baylor family in front of the castle. Can you believe this view?!

Afterwards we went into town and had our first Fish and Chips. Apparently  it's scandalous to visit Stonehaven and not have the fish. It really was pretty amazing!

Here is the link to the rest of the pics in the facebook album here.

We made it!

I am have a few moments online at the University library. Tim was sweet and put the girls down for a nap for me while I stayed and connected with "the outside world" :) We made it in on Thursday morning and spent a few awful days dealing with jet lag, but we are all feeling much more normal now. 


We should get internet at our place this Thursday as well as access to cheap international calling. I can't wait! Things have gone well our first few days here. The weather has been gorgeous, sunny and cool! Our flat is even nicer than the pics. We are having fun settling in as a family. I don't have a dryer or dishwasher-so that's interesting! So no one better ask me what I'M doing while Tim is at school :) 


We share a garden with a sweet older couple who owns chickens and a large black lab named Brodey(can't you hear the r rolling in your head?). They allow us to gather eggs-which is so nice! They taste so fresh too! The second night we were here, Maddy woke up at 2am and asked me if we could wake up the chickens to say hello to them :)

View of the Church's dome across the street from us. This is our view from our living room window!

The girls at ASDA (like walmart)

The park is just down this hill

Here is a link to an album of pictures that I uploaded to Facebook if you are not a member (Suz D :)
 Thanks to everyone for your love and prayers!

We Have a Flat!

Well, it was quite the process, but the Lord has provided us an apartment (flat) in Aberdeen. Our new address is: 25 Church Street, Woodside, Aberdeen, AB24 4DQ :) :) :)

Here is a link to pics of the new place. I am getting so excited now! God has been so faithful to provide everything we need every step of the way! I'm not going to lie. I was really beginning to stress about not having a place to live and started to doubt the goodness of God. But He reminded me again that HIS timing is best. HE is so good!

Celebrating 1 Year of our Sweet Rose Lillian's Life!

Rose turned ONE just a few short days ago and I am so glad to finally have the chance to sit down and reflect on her YEAR with us in the Baylor family.

Rose - you have such a sweet and yet "Rosie" personality :) We are so thankful to the Lord for this year we have had with you. We pray that we will have many more! Here's a quick stroll down memory lane.

She was 7lbs 3 oz and 20.5 inches long. She arrived on August 30th at 5:47 pm.  I had fun reading her birth story again here. Crazy how it just seems like yesterday in some ways!

2 weeks old - our sweet little bundle

One month old - becoming more alert!

1 1/2 months old getting snuggles from her big sister

2 months old and smiley

3 months old - our little pumpkin for Thanksgiving

4 months old and ready for her 1st  Christmas!

5 months and having fun on her belly

6 months and as happy as ever

7 months and in her high chair ready to eat

8 months celebrating her first Easter

9 months and happy that the weather is getting nice again!

10  months - climbed up in Maddy's chair by herself

11 months and cruising like crazy

12 months and lovin' life!
 I wanted to jot down a few of my memories of her at this stage in her life so that I don't forget :)

*At Rose's 1 year doctor appointment, she was 29 inches tall and 15 lbs 12 ounces.  She's a tall drink of water. 

* She is walking well with holding our fingers and can stand on her own for about 5 seconds. She is getting very close to taking her first steps!

*She likes most fruits, but  loves grapes. I think she would eat them for every meal if I would let her. 

* She does not like broccoli! She has already started tossing food off her tray if she doesn't like it!

* She adores her sister as always and giggles and crawls to her and away from her!

* She is nuts about cats, dogs, and zu-zu pets! She Squeals, giggles and waves her arms like a wild woman when she sees any of hem :)

* She's a mama's girl! It's happened mainly because I am home all the time with her, but I don't mind at all! If she is tired or doesn't feel good or even just nervous, she clings to me for her life!

* Daddy can always make her laugh and giggle! She loves when her flips her on the bed and tickles her!

*She has her bottom two middle teeth in already and her back right tooth as well as her top two front teeth are presently coming in - which as made for a pretty cranky baby :(
*When she is excited and happy she will bury her face into your shoulder and squeal. It's so sweet!

*When she is feeling well, she is just a peach! She loves her family, her toys and her life. She is just pretty much a        content baby!

Dearest Rose Lillian, 

Your Dad, Sister and I are so very thankful that you came to join our family a year ago! The Lord knew that you would be the perfect puzzle piece that would fit into our family. You have brought so much love and joy into each of our lives. We couldn't do without you. You are a gift from God! We can't wait to see how the Lord will use your precious life for His glory! 

Quick Update

Friday, August 26th - Tim's mom and sister came to pick up the girls in Chicago and bring them to PA so we could finish packing and cleaning. The girls hardly seemed to miss us and did great (praise the Lord!). BIG shout out to Tim's parents and sister and her family for caring for our girls for 6 days and driving in the care with them for 12 hours!!!!

Monday, August 29th - some sweet friends from church threw a little good bye party for us. I of course cried (but I had been crying probably 3x a day for the past month, so that was nothing new :)

Tuesday, August 30th - dear friends came to help us pack up our moving truck and clean our condo before our walk through at 9pm. Yes, CLEAN! Aren't my friends the absolute best?! Yes, the answer is yes! 

Wednesday, August 31st - We met Ryan and Kelly at 7am for breakfast before heading off to PA with all of our worldly possessions in a 16 ft. Uhaul truck. We had such a nice time with them - but yes, more tears! The ride was so weird (but nice) with no kiddos :) We almost didn't know what to do with ourselves! We arrived into Bellefonte around 8:30pm PA time and had a few minutes of a joyous union with Maddy before we started unloading the truck. Poor girl just kept asking for us to hold her! I gave in after a while and just sat down and snuggled her - so sweet! We got the truck half unloaded that night (thanks to my dad, tim's dad, my brother, tim's sister, mom and brother in law),

Thursday, September 1st - We finished unpacking the truck , returned it and got on the road for MA by 1pm. We arrived at my sister Jen's house at 8:30pm I think. We chatted for a bit and all went to bed. 

Friday, Sept 2nd - Sunday, Sept 4th - we spent with Tim and Katie Barker as well as Dawn, Nate, Noah and Sophie Mihelis. It was such a great time catching up with dear friends and seeing the church plant that they are starting there in Somerville. God is really doing a great work in and through each of them and we are so excited to see it unfold and to know how to better pray for them now that we were there!

Sunday, Sept 4th - Wednesday Sept. 7th - We are chilling with my sister, her husband and their three girls. Just wanted to hug them all one more time before we head overseas. They are a pretty cool family. 

Wednesday Sept. 7th - We drive back to PA to spend time with our parents and siblings before we FLY OUT of Philly on Sept 21st. We have a night flight starting at 6:15pm.

So thankful for our many dear friends and family members we have been able to spend time with and trusting the Lord for each next day, each next step. 

It's a renter's market...

 Still looking for housing and we are about one month away from being in Aberdeen, Scotland. I just read this little blurb on the "Aberdeen Women's Fellowship's" website.

"The renter’s market in Aberdeen is very competitive. Properties are often listed and taken within days, sometimes hours, making it difficult,although not impossible, to secure housing while still abroad. Many landlords require a personal viewing of the property before they will agree to rent it to you. If no one in your family is able to come early to look and secure a place, then you may need to wait until you arrive in Aberdeen before you find permanent housing. It is a good idea, if you are able, to start looking at what the market has to offer no more than 1-2 months before you arrive although you can start looking earlier to get an idea of what the market is like. Some properties will be “available for immediate entry” while others may list another entry date. Many flats and homes come fully furnished, which is particularly helpful for those moving from overseas."

Pray for me to have patience and faith in my mighty God! 

It's Just Stuff

This weekend we had our last yard sale in an effort to get rid of all the things we can't ship to Scotland with us or that we don't feel are worth storing. Most of the girls' toys fall into that category. There are a select few little ones (pinky pie pony, panda pillow, and her special tea pot set...) that are dear friends of Madison's and are small enough to take with us. But for the most part, all we are taking is clothes, a few toiletries, our computers and U.S. measuring cups :) So it doesn't really make sense for me to store all of the girls' toys for three years when they won't be interested in them when they come back to the states in three years and they are 4 and almost 6 (ok - that's just crazy when I actually write it. Surely my girls will never be THAT old?)

So I spent Friday packing up most of their toys and many other things that I realized I just don't NEED. I had worship music playing while I was working and there were several times that I started to tear up as I would place something in the yard sale pile. I packed up Maddy's princess castle and enjoyed reminiscing about how she learned how to play make believe with that castle.
I remembered a sweet little stuffed animal that a dear friend had given her at my baby shower. She has grown up with these toys and there are so many fond memories that go along with them. I hadn't anticipated that the emotional element of giving our things away.

Funny though - she wasn't the one attached - I was. She hasn't even noticed her things are gone. She's just having fun playing in the empty moving boxes. I was the one that found myself attached to these "things". But as each new item went into the "For Sale" pile, my heart found deeper refuge in my Savior. I cried out to him in my sadness and asked for strength and hope. He is faithful. I was soon comforted by the wonderful truth that this is just "stuff". The toys, the cars (we just sold last week), the extra dishes, and clothes. It's not WHY I'm here on this earth. I was reminded that Where my treasure is, there will my heart be also.  I was created to bring honor and glory to my Father Jesus. This move is helping me to see things a little more clearly-without all of the "stuff"of this world clouding my view.

Phil. 3:14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 

Summertime Gaze?

I don't know about you, but I often struggle to keep my gaze cast towards Christ during one of the most beautiful time of the year. Maybe it's just the late nights and business of activities, but this short article by John Piper was a much needed encouragement and challenge for me tonight. 

I love Piper's encouragement, "Don’t let summer make your soul shrivel. God made summer as a foretaste of heaven, not a substitute. If the mailman brings you a love letter from your fiancé, don’t fall in love with the mailman. That’s what summer is: God’s messenger with a sun-soaked, tree-green, flower-blooming, lake-glistening letter of love to show us what he is planning for us in the age to come—“things which eye has notseen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered into the heart of man, God has prepared for those who love him"- I Corinthians 2:9. "


The solution?   "If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth."  Colossians 3:1-2

It was just the reminder that I needed that no matter how busy I am this summer (and oh boy is this a busy one) to take every chance I get to turn my heart and mind to the things of Christ. For me 

personally that means a few things:

1. Getting up a tad earlier to get in The Word. I truly want my mind filled with scripture so that I am not tempted to doubt the goodness of my Heavenly Father.

2. Savoring each beautiful moment as a gift from God that points to His own majesty and should cause me to give glory to Him!

1 month shy of a YEAR!?

Seriously, how is it possible that my little baby is almost 1 year old?! I have just loved my days with Rose. She is such a sweet and mellow baby. But it as been fun to see her little personality start to peak out lately as she interacts with Maddy and us.

Ready to go to the park! She LOVES her Daddy :)

What's NEW:
* Two little bottom teeth (but she can still mash about any table food!)
* Says: dada, mama, ah duh (all done, and also does the sign), shakes her head for no
* Favorite foods: bananas, peaches, cheerios, chicken, cheese, and (gasp) peanut butter and jelly ;)
* Crawling around super fast these days (this is definitely her preferred method of transportation)

* Cruises around the furniture to get where she wants to go and walks holding onto our hands. But she doesn't seem to interested in walking alone quite yet, which I am totally fine with :)
* Sleep: she is a wonderful sleeper. She and Maddy share a room and are awake around 7am each morning. I think if Rose slept in her own room, she would probably sleep til 8. But it all evens out because she will usually take a nice 2 hour morning nap for me from 9-11. Then she takes another 2 hour nap from 1-3 (right when Maddy naps!). Then she goes back to bed for the night at 6pm. She doesn't even fuss when I lay her down any more- just plays until she falls asleep!

*Giggles and Smiles: she has become much more giggly, which I love! Things that make her giggle: playing peek-a-boo, when we take her pacifier and hide it behind our backs or pretend to put it in our mouth, when anyone else laughs or giggles, when she sees Maddy after nap time.
*Frustration: SHe has just started to show her frustration with Madison when she takes a toy from or is "too close for comfort". She'll squawk and flap her arms to get Maddy away. It's kind of funny.

* A Partner in crime - Rose as become Maddy's partner in crime. The other day I found them both quietly sitting on the floor of their room sucking sugar from the sugar bowl with straws!!

oh dear - what am I going to do with these girls? Oh -ok, I guess I'll keep them :) LOVE them so much!

Rose love to be EVERYWHERE that Maddy is :)

Rose we are so glad that you are a part of our family. You are so special to us! We love to see you grow bigger every day!

They Call It This in Scotland

Life has been pretty crazy lately preparing for our move. But one of my favorite things to do in my *ahem* "free time" has been to read up on "Life in Scotland". There is a great website I have been frequenting called, Aberdeen Women's Fellowship. It's set up primarily to help families coming from many parts of the world to the University of Aberdeen with their transition. It's been so helpful! I found this list, "They Call It This" and had to laugh. Enjoy :)

They Call It This
aubergine (eggplant)
bap (roll)
banger (sausage)
candy floss (cotton candy)
courgette (zucchini)
mange tout (snap peas)
jelly (jello)
tatties (potatoes)
neeps (turnips)
swede (rutabaga)
polenta (corn meal)
crisps (potato chips)
chips (french fries)
corn starch (corn flour)
porridge (oatmeal)
tea (dinner/supper)
stovies (stew-like leftovers)
coriander (cilantro)
non-brewed condiment (white vinegar)
streaky bacon (regular bacon like in the U.S. full of fat!)
icing sugar (powdered sugar)
mince (ground meat)
bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
rocket (arugula)
sweetie (candy)
biscuit (cookie)
white sponge (white cake)
custard (pudding)
pudding (dessert)
spring onion (scallion)
jacket potato (baked potato)