Good bye Sweden and Ireland...

Howdy family and friends! This is the final blog post from the EU. Bitter sweet I must say. I truly miss my kids but will leave a piece of my heart in Sweden and Ireland! So many new memories made that I will cherish forever!

This morning found the alarm going off in Sweden before some of you were even thinking about going to bed in America! Of course it was raining. After dropping Julia off at school where she works, it was hard to hold back the tears that were so ready to fall from the eyes and wet the cheeks! For once I was glad that I was in the backseat and it was still semi-dark.

From there, Peder drove us to Skavsta to the airport to catch our plane.

Luckily for me, I was very tired so I caught a few more winks of sleep on the drive.

After saying the final good bye to him, we went through customs and passport checks again and boarded the 'lovely' RyanAir. This time we decided to sit in the back of the plane. (I don't recommend this option due to the smell of gasoline that comes from the wings.) Going up in the air, the flight was not so pleasant--quite turbulent to be honest. Dave and I snacked on our Swedish candy that we purchased yesterday in the grocery store and shared a set of headphones to watch Alvin and the Chipmunks on the ipod.

After landing in a much warmer and sunny Dublin, Ireland, we made our way right through passport checks and customs. Our flight even arrived early so we beat Blake and Katy to the airport!

They picked us up in their Speed The Light Car

and we drove into the City Center of Dublin. After dropping off our luggage Dave and I hit the streets on Dublin one last time to shop until our feet could handle no more walking. We probably walked over 3 miles today! That's a good shopping day! We enjoyed a great Irish meal for lunch together and then some very tasty ice cream before indulging in a late afternoon coffee time.

We took a final cruise in the EcoCab over to the spire and then made our way back to Blake and Katy's. Tonight we would celebrate Katy's birthday (which is tomorrow) and take them out for a meal of her choice! We found ourselves at a Pizza Restaurant. The pizza here is slightly different than what I serve at the Pizza Palace in Burwell. We had a pepperoni pizza--but theirs was much thicker--almost like a salami cut. The crust is super thin and the sauce has more of a home made taste. Overall very good!

We headed back to the apartment and had some evening sleepy tea...and now for my deep thought on that: How can Sleepy and Tea go together? Tea is usually caffeine and doesn't help one sleep until you add Chamomile... ??

From our final day in the EU to yours, have a great week!

Sweden Day 3--Rudolph for lunch...Last full day here...

Howdy friends and family!

Today we were able to sleep in! Such a nice treat again! After breakfast, Ann-Louise came to pick us up and take us to where she works. She works for the Airport Control Center. It was very interesting! We had to have a special pass just to get in the door. We were able to view the control center and even sit in a Military Control Center desk and see the planes in the sky, view their coordinates, and how that side works!

After finishing that tour, we went back to Peder's home to wait for him to finish working from home today. He then took us to Rosersberg Palace. It was a nice little castle that reminded us of a medium size hotel with beautiful green grass and a huge back yard that led you down to the lake.

We then went to Steninge Castle. At this castle we enjoyed a very tasty lunch consisting of Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer for Dave and a yummy quiche/shepherds pie for me. I would love to tell you the name of the food, but it was all in Swedish...

At this castle, there was a glass blower. We were able to watch him make some beautiful pieces and then purchase them! (Hopefully I have them packed so well that they will make it home with me in one piece!)

After shopping, we picked up true Swedish handball jerseys that were worn during games and had the players (Julia and Isak)

sign them for the Busch Boys! Even though they will be a little big, it will be so much fun to watch them open this!

We were also able to tour where Isak and Julia attend school. It is so different from American schools--more like a college atmosphere. Many places to lounge in between classes with a concession stand that is open all day. Classes are structured like college only the teacher travels from room to room. Definitely no personalization of the classroom.

We then went to where Julia is working as a Teacher Aide for a 7 year old boy and picked her up. We drove to the oldest town in Sweden--Sigtuna and walked the streets. During the summer it is a tourist sight. Surrounded by water, yet beautiful and very expensive.

As we were getting ready to go, we found a ship with sand in it and Julia and I re created our sand picture. Even though we didn't have any flowers we found some leaves and took our picture together there! Special memories from when we took the original picture in San Diego, California in Feb. 2011.

After a quick stop at the grocery store to buy more Swedish treats and ingredients for supper, we made our way back home. Peder and Julia made a delicious supper of bacon and chicken with feta cheese and potatoes. They also had this yummy sauce that was made from feta cheese and cream cheese--we think, as well as garlic.

Around 8:15 we went to Isak's handball practice.

What an fun game! It's like a mixture between basketball, soccer, football, track (with all the running) and maybe even wrestling! Very intense!

From our cheery, sporty picture window to yours, have a great day!

Welcome to Stockholm

Howdy Friends and Family! Welcome to Stockholm, Sweden in the daylight! The day found us back on the road headed into the city of Stockholm. It was a day of sight seeing and shopping! We started our day off visiting the work place of Julia's dad, Peder. He works in a large construction company called NCC. We were only able to go into the reception area of the office building but it was amazing!

From there we met Ann-Louise, Julia's Mom and she joined us for lunch. We ate lunch at a restaurant called Polpette. We tried bacon wrapped meatloaf

which we are told is a Swedish meal with lingon. That is red berries that taste similar to cranberries. Very tasty especially with the meat!

After lunch, Peder had to go into the office so we toured around with Ann-Louise. She took us to the castle and Parliment buildings and from there to Storkyrkan or in English, The Big Church. This church is known for the weddings that have been held there. The King and Queen were married there and then in 2010 the Crowned Princess was also married there. The windows and walls were beautiful and one section of the ceiling had interesting decor! There were stones covering the floor with the names of previous Kings who have died and a HUGE pipe organ! I am sure it put out the sound!

After that, we went down and caught the ferry over to another part of the city that is home to The Vasa Museum. This museum is about a ship that sank just over 200 meters from shore. It was very interesting with all the history there! We even found 'David's bones'.

When we finished touring the ship museum, we walked around Stockholm and met up with Julia. While we were waiting we stopped by a mall and had coffee and ice cream! I enjoyed the ice cream (carmel) while Dave and Ann-Louise had coffee. It also gave us a chance to warm up as it was a little chilly yesterday!

We met up with Julia and shortly after that her Dad, we found a quaint little restaurant to eat at called Lasse Lucidor. We enjoyed a different type of pasta with sauce--not like in America. Once again, absolutely delicious to the taste buds.

We then made our way back to the car and home to Rosersberg--but not before dropping off Ann-Louise at her home.

From our tasty, site seeing picture window to yours, have a great day!

Welcome to Sweden--Day 1-Is this real?

Howdy Friends and Family! Our morning found us enjoying a time to sleep in since we first arrived across the big pond in the land we only dreamed about and heard about in stories!

After waking up, we enjoyed a final breakfast at the Brooks Hotel and then realized that Dave had left all our Swedish Krones in the suitcase we left with missionaries Blake and Katy Edgmon. Thank goodness for a credit card!

We got to the airport and made sure we didn't check any luggage and got our ticket stamped so we could make our way to the gate--but RyanAir is so different to fly with. There are no assigned seats and when its time, you make a mad dash run to the gate! You then board a bus out to your plane and then grab the first seat available! We ended up in Row 7. The first 4 rows were unable to sit in for anyone!

Once on board, the seats didn't recline and you didn't get any snacks without paying dearly. Little did we know this was also a flying shopping mall! The first 'commercial' was for smokeless cigarettes--ten cigs for 10 Euros! *GOOD GRIEF*
The next commercial was to purchase newspapers and magazines. From there they offered hot food, burgers, hotdogs, pasta, drinks--quite a large menu. The next item was anything from their catalog, then phone cards, then lottery tickets! FINALLY--we landed! Fortunately for me, I slept through much of this nonsense.

When the wheels touched the ground,

the stewardess pushed the button and the song for the Kentucky Derby came on and said, "We have successfully landed on time again. RyanAir has done it again. We have landed on time or ahead of time. 95% of our planes land as scheduled! Thank you for flying RyanAir."

We then made our way off the plane and ran into the hanger since it was pouring rain. We went through customs rather quickly and then met up with Julia's dad Peder.

After about an hour and half drive, we found ourselves at Julia's home! She greeted us and soon after we had a delicious supper that we shared with her Mom Ann-Louise and her brother Isak. Of course we toured her home and saw what we have only seen through SKYPE. We were able to give her some pop tarts since they don't sell them in Sweden. Then off to bed for these travelers.

From our Swedish picture window to yours, have a great day!

Wicklow County, Ireland (Sunday!)

Tour Day: Sunday, October 14th
Howdy Family and Friends: Today we took a bus tour through Wicklow County. It was so nice to finally escape out of the city and see country life. Everything is so green and healthy here and the leaves are just starting to turn colors and flowers are still blooming! Little white specs dotted the hillside—also known as sheep!
Our first stop, we went to Dalkey Castle

and saw some incredible actors act out their traditional roles of a barber surgeon and a common church pastor. Dave also got the privilege of making a medieval coin.
As we moved along the tour, we stopped at a place called Avoca. There we enjoyed ‘tea’—during our lunch hour. Dave and I had a piece of yummy pie and some drinks. It was very good! From there we loaded back up and went and stopped on a bridge that was made famous by the movie “P.S. I Love You”

We got our picture taken there on that bridge and then Dave took off down the hill to get some cool water under the bridge pics. On the way back he slipped and almost took a swim with my new camera.
Our next stop found us at Lynham’s of Laragh. This was to be our lunch stop! (Should I mention that it is like 2:30 in the afternoon?) We enjoyed sandwiches and then went shopping in a quaint little shop across the street made just for people like me—tourists!
After boarding back on the bus, the tour ended at the ruins of a 5th century monastery. There is a Celtic cross that if you and your significant other touch hands around the cross and make a wish, it will come true. Of course we had to do that for a picture. As we were walking away we realized that we forgot to make a wish…but we each had our own thoughts that were running through our heads.

After capturing the photo, we went on a hike through the Glendalough hills and ended up at the lake with a beautiful water fall that ran into it. Once again, when everyone returned to the bus, the driver pulled out the whiskey—fortunately, we were already on the bus and did not partake.
The day turned into night and found the entire bus quiet except for the occasional snore that escaped some poor unknowing gent. We arrived back in Dublin and met together for one last meal as a group before we went our separate ways in the morning. From our very tired but viewable picture window, have a great day.

From here to there: How it all came to be! Day 4 in Ireland (Saturday)

Day 4 in Ireland: (Saturday) From here to there: How it all came to be!
Howdy friends and family!
Today we went out on the town. We go to see the Guinness Storehouse

and how Guinness beer is made! Of course they give you a sample pint when you finish the tour. We tried it but it was not for us! Too bitter and very dark. So, we opted for a coke! It was really interesting to see how it was made. After the Storehouse we went across town to a historic Jail. It was called Kilmainham Gaol. It housed the 14 revolution leaders that were instrumental in the freeing of Ireland from England’s rule. It was a little scary how primitive the jail was and how many kids were imprisoned during the great famine. The children were imprisoned because they stole potatoes!

After the Jail we went back to the hotel to freshen up for our adventure to the oldest pub in Dublin--The Brazenhead. This is a dinner club upstairs that is dedicated to the telling of Folklore, Fairies, and Fables. We ate a delicious meal and throughout the meal Johnny, who is a story teller, told the history of Ireland and the use of the potato. He explained the life of the common person during the famine. The thoughts and reasoning behind the fairies were explained and how that still plays an active role in their culture today. Then the evening was rounded out with some incredible stories. After the evening concluded we traveled back to the hotel and thanks to a wrong turn Dave got us lost, but to his credit he eventually found the right way and we made it! From our dark Guinness beer tour to jail and a great meal, have a great day!

Welcome to STS: Day 3 in Ireland (Friday)

Welcome to STS: Day Three/Friday
Howdy family and friends! This was the first official day with STS so we had our annual meeting in the morning and we learned some really interesting things with the new paperwork that the government is requiring and the expectations of the students as well as families! Dave snuck away saying he needed to go to the bathroom and found himself at a bike shop a couple blocks away! Go figure.
After the meeting we had the afternoon to be tourists.

We found two leprechauns—one that was authentic and one in costume! We went to Trinity College and the Book of Kells--a very interesting place to say the least. A lot of history there. Following those tours we went to the National Museum followed by a trip to the local McDonald’s! We tried their ice cream—I must admit that it is much better than the American ice cream. We had a McFlake—this would be similar to the McFlurry in the States. While we were there we also saw a group of students from the school. They are required to wear uniforms to school every day!
That night the STS Rep group went to a local pub called Arlington’s that featured traditional Irish music and dancing. On our walk there we crossed the Ha’Penny Bridge where there is some beautiful ironwork on the bridge. Attached to the ironwork are several locks. When a loved one passes away you are to write or engrave their name on the lock, clamp it on the bridge and throw the key in the river.
To get down to the music, we went down a side staircase to a basement and were treated to some traditional Irish entertainment. The music was grand, the Irish dancers were fantastic with the outfits and the tap shoes, but tonight we figured out that we really miss Nebraska beef. Irish beef is good, but what they call a steak in Dublin is not a steak. We also tried traditional Irish Coffee. I had Bailey’s Irish Coffee and Dave tried a French Coffee. Once again, very strong. I didn’t even drink ¼ of mine!

As we finished up the meal and the entertainment we slowly made our way back to the motel. Tonight the town was full as there was a huge soccer match between Ireland and Germany and the Germans had won 6 – 1. Every place was full of people and the town was buzzing with excitement. German excitement that is. They sang and chanted long into the night. It was just like Lincoln after the Huskers play. People were talking about the match and even the next morning, analyzing the game play. We felt right at home.

Just Another Ordinary Day: Day Two in Ireland

Just Another Ordinary Day: Day Two/Thursday
Howdy Family and Friends: We wanted to see ordinary life so Katy took us to a hardware store for light bulbs and a power bar. Nothing like what we have in the USA—it reminded us of just a little hole in the wall hardware store with everything you can imagine stacked on the walls. We had sandwiches at a cafe and did some shopping in some department stores then we headed back to the apt. to pack our stuff to walk to the Brooks Hotel.
In the city center everybody walks. The distance isn't figured in blocks or miles it is figured in how long it takes to walk there. While we were walking there we saw that during the night somebody was worried about the statues getting cold and put stocking caps on several of the them.
We finally found our Hotel and were greeted by the door man, Conner. The interesting thing about him is that every time we saw him during the duration of our stay, he called us by my first name. That was impressive! We checked into our room and the took off to explore and hopefully not get too lost. There were a lot of neat shops really close to the hotel. One little mall had a little coffee stand. Since it was cooler out we stopped for something sweet to eat and warm to drink. Dave learned one very important lesson that day: Coffee here is not the same at home! At home, Dave usually orders a Carmel Macchiato in the States, but here they had a double Macchiato. Dave thought that sounded pretty good. The standard is a double shot so this would have been a quad shot. His opinion was “Bring it on!!!” The difference he found out is that the coffee in Ireland is much stronger and no where as sweet. He successfully stripped my taste buds and was frantically looking for the sugar. Newsflash – Carmel Macchiato and Macchiato are not the same!! It was very strong, but the cakes were awesome.

I played it safe with a mocha which was good but still very strong and not as sweet. After coffee, we went back to go shopping in the tourist area. We found the Hard Rock Cafe in Dublin and some Irish yarn for Joyce and the cutest Doll House shop with a life size teddy bear! We also found an eco cab. Now Dave has the brilliant idea that he and one of his bike riding buddies are going to build.

For the evening, we met up with another rep we met last year and ate at a classy restaurant called Bewleys. After a short walk back to the room, it was off to the room and to bed, except for me--the coffee was kicking in and I was still up at 3 saying “no more coffee in the afternoon!!! What was I thinking?”
From my coffee picture window to yours, have a great week!

"We are flying as fast as we can..."

Howdy Friends and Family! These two days run together because we left Nebraska on Tuesday morning, the USA on Tuesday night and landed Wednesday morning. This year we promised ourselves that we wouldn't make the mistake we made last year. We would go to bed the night before. Of course, that didn't happen. We were so excited and of course hadn’t even thought of packing yet. We packed and

stayed up and left for grand Island at 330 in the morning! A quick stop at McDonald's for breakfast and we left for another once in a lifetime opportunity! Grand Island to Dallas and then off to Chicago. Our plane out of Grand Island was delayed. So once we got up in the air the pilot said we have reached our cruising altitude and we are flying as fast as we can to make sure you make your connection.
Dallas to Chicago was uneventful. After a 4 hour layover in Chicago we border out plane to Dublin. Thinking of Dave’s legs in the seats, I tried to be helpful and got us exit row seats which were great but for some reason sitting by that door was so cold! We both had on summer type of clothes so when the plane landed, we were ever so happy to get off. After making our way through Customs, we met our missionary hosts Blake and Katy Edgmon. We went out and did a little exploring including eating at Gourmet Burger

Kitchen. Dave’s lunch was humongous. So big that he ended up eating it with a fork! It included a burger, egg, lettuce, mushroom, tomatoes, onions, and cheese. Quite delicious though!
Blake and Katy took us all around the area and stopped at the fist Assembly of God church in Ireland. We stopped at a coffee shop with some very unique furniture and ordered some lattes. Back home and a spaghetti supper and relaxation—and early to bed at 8 p.m. From our very tired, yet very excited picture window to yours, have a great day!