tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23654904090204288182024-03-05T21:54:31.060+01:00An American Mama in SwedenHave you ever packed up your home, kissed the dog goodbye, and moved your family 4,700 miles away to a country you've never even visited? Neither have I. Yet. But ready or not an adventure awaits, and I invite you to join me as I face the joy and challenges that life in Sweden will bring!C. McCutchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152291515724192626noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365490409020428818.post-77024894232281496812012-01-03T14:54:00.000+01:002012-01-03T14:54:33.466+01:00Stockholm<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The day after Christmas, Matthew and I abandoned the girl with my parents (thanks for babysitting Mom and Dad!) and made the drive to Stockholm. Though short, we enjoyed our time in the archipelago visiting the Vasa Museum and walking around Gamla Stan. The Vasamuseet, a maritime museum on the island of Djurgården claims to be the most visited museum in Scandinavia and is home to the nearly intact, 64-gun, 17<sup>th</sup> century warship Vasa. Obviously, it was Matthew’s idea to see the Vasa (my only goals for our trip to Stockholm were to eat good food and try to see the <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=prince+carl+of+sweden&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7TSND_enUS407&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=a_0CT_fDMcLO4QSfu9GNCA&ved=0CEsQsAQ&biw=1536&bih=680" target="_blank">handsome Swedish prince</a>) but I found myself fascinated with both the ship and the idea of a museum commemorating an epic naval failure.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWC3MerdHf8Sr761Pq-Dlk8QOT5_8oipIkNKN8iQhGYpbXT06SBE4e1pssjhVEwGsdgs7lAtM4HeVmV7ad2_FpeWWef77oiIA-XZQS9KRJ0u8f-KVfDzQN586mj2auVtHCGqMIxgN0odS/s1600/IMG_6174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWC3MerdHf8Sr761Pq-Dlk8QOT5_8oipIkNKN8iQhGYpbXT06SBE4e1pssjhVEwGsdgs7lAtM4HeVmV7ad2_FpeWWef77oiIA-XZQS9KRJ0u8f-KVfDzQN586mj2auVtHCGqMIxgN0odS/s320/IMG_6174.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6oiraoWcSiZfZmP29vMgqQjm6Xyv_fuRbE-W-xlE1TsHao-RyWS1u2KAd8Z0vOLEW08gpFFjxaKsxOxhh2K-3z3tvd80zwD6g0VIbg-DL1XMhAuuze27rFsCM78x5KC_mLFFdAopSmnzc/s1600/IMG_6248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6oiraoWcSiZfZmP29vMgqQjm6Xyv_fuRbE-W-xlE1TsHao-RyWS1u2KAd8Z0vOLEW08gpFFjxaKsxOxhh2K-3z3tvd80zwD6g0VIbg-DL1XMhAuuze27rFsCM78x5KC_mLFFdAopSmnzc/s320/IMG_6248.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On our guided tour of the museum, we learned that the Vasa sank on her maiden voyage in 1628 after sailing for less than one nautical mile. The Vasa was commissioned by Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus who spared no expense decorating and equipping the ship to be a tribute to the glory of Sweden. Adorned with brightly painted wooden sculptures imported from German and Dutch artists, the imagery of gods and goddesses, sea monsters and tritons, kings and wild men, served to glorify the authority of Sweden and deride their enemy, Poland. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Replicas of the carvings seen above as they would have been painted.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQhTL6MDYLTfGI8JFCr3M6R2RNV6rd-E8HNoOoPO87dK7tpjqbTVIF_kVl16YyiRzUHbRyPVccduSnLlp23k02CRmyMg-ERTGdApS0fFy7dC2fXmLnqhEknTZ3Q3F8yqlQke2sRHQemJK5/s1600/IMG_6197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQhTL6MDYLTfGI8JFCr3M6R2RNV6rd-E8HNoOoPO87dK7tpjqbTVIF_kVl16YyiRzUHbRyPVccduSnLlp23k02CRmyMg-ERTGdApS0fFy7dC2fXmLnqhEknTZ3Q3F8yqlQke2sRHQemJK5/s320/IMG_6197.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pigments based on the chemical analysis of remaining paint.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The ship was also heavily armed with two gun decks and a total of</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> 64 guns. Normally the top deck would house smaller, lighter weapons, but since this was the prize of the Swedish navy, the ship was ordered to have full sized guns on both decks, further increasing the instability of the already top-heavy ship. Interestingly, the weapons were recovered in the 1700s and sold to the Danish (who then used them in war against the Swedes) and only 3 of the original guns remain.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7JXupXfIJaL4gqm6TmkFbJpsIipmAKXi2xVEGfNgYJJ8kCWJjn10ywz-JIGC0uMCGapToWIdqWPeaBVn6gweVDaFTmd_aeyXQFv6hVEFe-r6RQdfMLPXaaJJFSMEEpkDW4N8QyNuH_l8o/s1600/IMG_6205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7JXupXfIJaL4gqm6TmkFbJpsIipmAKXi2xVEGfNgYJJ8kCWJjn10ywz-JIGC0uMCGapToWIdqWPeaBVn6gweVDaFTmd_aeyXQFv6hVEFe-r6RQdfMLPXaaJJFSMEEpkDW4N8QyNuH_l8o/s320/IMG_6205.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Built by two separate sets of craftsmen, we know now that the narrow hull of the ship was constructed with different techniques and was substantially heavier on one side than the other. Our tour guide explained that if the Vasa had been just one meter wider she most likely would have sailed successfully.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOSDG6KfwyslvofjXAWd8CaV4_y-pJELwYXu2OftQ3WoRO8kk8hk92bgOMxEC9qNFlJUA41YG5A0EUd008UHma55rAmAKwEfP62HydOpFPksjfhpyq1NGvet6upg6k1NMN3sgCBUmgvKDN/s1600/IMG_6239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOSDG6KfwyslvofjXAWd8CaV4_y-pJELwYXu2OftQ3WoRO8kk8hk92bgOMxEC9qNFlJUA41YG5A0EUd008UHma55rAmAKwEfP62HydOpFPksjfhpyq1NGvet6upg6k1NMN3sgCBUmgvKDN/s320/IMG_6239.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A perfect storm of calamity led to the quick demise of the unstable Vasa. On her maiden voyage, the ship sailed east with gun ports open and guns out to salute Stockholm. Wind filled the sails causing the ship to heel suddenly to port before slowly righting herself. Another gust of wind followed, this time pushing the lower gun decks under water. The incoming rush of the water quickly sank the vasa only 120 meters from the shore. Survivors clung to debris awaiting rescue from spectators (it was considered unlucky for sailors to know how to swim at the time) and 30-50 people perished with the ship.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bummer.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Surprisingly, no one was punished for the fate of the Vasa. (Side note: I learned what keel hauling is... sounds awful. And deadly.) The crewmen and contractors set up two camps, each blaming the other, and the shipbuilders claimed that they had just followed orders. The sinking was explained as an act of God and, though the sinking of the Vasa was a major economic disaster, no one was punished. The ship was raised in the 1960s and has been housed in the museum since 1990. All in all, worth a look if you're ever in Stockholm.</span></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one is me-sized!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is for my cousin, a diver in the US Navy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The remainder of our time in Stockholm was spent exploring the medieval alleyways, cobbled streets, and North German architecture of Gamla Stan, the old town of Stockholm. Gamla Stan is home to the Nobel Museum, the Stockholm Cathedral, and Royal Palace, as well as some of the narrowest passageways I’ve ever seen.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0vgUWDCAKSUnHvhYRLEm7w12OGgxpIha-p6NaJhZmmfwGoghsm3StCuAclO1vEvXO3a3FMWKCtAETOl-8TefTYD8o7OI71jGaWoKm6eqTcsdEGLSAtVm0W4p9rUL4ny9CuxaiiGzHoLz/s1600/IMG_6259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0vgUWDCAKSUnHvhYRLEm7w12OGgxpIha-p6NaJhZmmfwGoghsm3StCuAclO1vEvXO3a3FMWKCtAETOl-8TefTYD8o7OI71jGaWoKm6eqTcsdEGLSAtVm0W4p9rUL4ny9CuxaiiGzHoLz/s320/IMG_6259.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back in the day this was the shipyard where the Vasa was built.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSXbsvKvmLbO8hoJqumK1j_JZdbOeLEl_AleF5Bd4CNRkEcIK9w85KEuV4RheRIwcYyqej-r6zt3-gkX2Z99jrL3gcV1Tc8evu4RxaSrquOezgm62eD5TWoTAsOLmdNAaQors3-bLFp4Q9/s1600/IMG_6262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSXbsvKvmLbO8hoJqumK1j_JZdbOeLEl_AleF5Bd4CNRkEcIK9w85KEuV4RheRIwcYyqej-r6zt3-gkX2Z99jrL3gcV1Tc8evu4RxaSrquOezgm62eD5TWoTAsOLmdNAaQors3-bLFp4Q9/s320/IMG_6262.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not the most intimidating palace guard.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH3CNGHHqPX0zpl3Raw_WB1_TCRcGYsRNm85H4io2LqOC3VkKhniBkGDkecinpvCRBWbbZmx4K0K5dczLmfD6erlHsh7Ca7WU78trioXJiTOxtYZIxvjMn4PdRbZ25YZXrZ1t9dV8WYg-J/s1600/IMG_6263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH3CNGHHqPX0zpl3Raw_WB1_TCRcGYsRNm85H4io2LqOC3VkKhniBkGDkecinpvCRBWbbZmx4K0K5dczLmfD6erlHsh7Ca7WU78trioXJiTOxtYZIxvjMn4PdRbZ25YZXrZ1t9dV8WYg-J/s320/IMG_6263.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD388wA7oDklwpVuj58Tk5_KGxcLZjnImUE_pqbHxJyGvIBdgCFjUfkmb_uUgt3Ex_BCzUa1jxud_d3_F7Zw43y8VBMK_Gt6Z_amoI0O2P-2EnDS_K_Dq6HA3X_GbRU2tIrDDqM1cumJBC/s1600/IMG_6265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD388wA7oDklwpVuj58Tk5_KGxcLZjnImUE_pqbHxJyGvIBdgCFjUfkmb_uUgt3Ex_BCzUa1jxud_d3_F7Zw43y8VBMK_Gt6Z_amoI0O2P-2EnDS_K_Dq6HA3X_GbRU2tIrDDqM1cumJBC/s320/IMG_6265.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzOCBQudu1XIbJ3oSUNLRB6LvzCBWxkeyKgGgawSdz_R1QVGNl6SBBVkTfegZ7xTvDrX3ovnJALSNo4tJqwXUx7JBTuW5UDZEcv9typAKP_Gupc5TWs7XgrkRprfruizvnaFpTPNlBGmf/s1600/IMG_6279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzOCBQudu1XIbJ3oSUNLRB6LvzCBWxkeyKgGgawSdz_R1QVGNl6SBBVkTfegZ7xTvDrX3ovnJALSNo4tJqwXUx7JBTuW5UDZEcv9typAKP_Gupc5TWs7XgrkRprfruizvnaFpTPNlBGmf/s320/IMG_6279.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phone booth!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcvAUDhTO1VEvBU8I3X8_R0hnOATioKtPHclTLp-3suC2RMzATWpby26Q0RPZCLCAaopaPfEJBx28FRDASsaKVQK9jIua613qt5z4OG5SSUwuDN4tz9vxF-33f6zGwbX5N5czKbYTxJ3V/s1600/IMG_6281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcvAUDhTO1VEvBU8I3X8_R0hnOATioKtPHclTLp-3suC2RMzATWpby26Q0RPZCLCAaopaPfEJBx28FRDASsaKVQK9jIua613qt5z4OG5SSUwuDN4tz9vxF-33f6zGwbX5N5czKbYTxJ3V/s320/IMG_6281.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp6LVnx7paQdLIuWsuKCpfyhdxk-Fodk3l-m_cZECs8KUfRcl2D7TOoZx9L10H6HYqdYmxOa74MZbpBlZkjyBFtOuXShwxM2txsITzLi1oeaLspvsR8zhG7Sha-nzp0v36K0-ePi54w21h/s1600/IMG_6282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp6LVnx7paQdLIuWsuKCpfyhdxk-Fodk3l-m_cZECs8KUfRcl2D7TOoZx9L10H6HYqdYmxOa74MZbpBlZkjyBFtOuXShwxM2txsITzLi1oeaLspvsR8zhG7Sha-nzp0v36K0-ePi54w21h/s320/IMG_6282.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtx5ljY0dcH5bf8uUXMYsB7q8K6GRTZqKUFEqtDlWK49gao3Ac6HoojVJ9nD7_nILk5mkF6iLlinzz0oEWU0SM7AcZQIjIZpU8TfO5G9GIMvjjXATl8WIK6JukE5kCc88oAArwNLjT26Pg/s1600/IMG_6291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtx5ljY0dcH5bf8uUXMYsB7q8K6GRTZqKUFEqtDlWK49gao3Ac6HoojVJ9nD7_nILk5mkF6iLlinzz0oEWU0SM7AcZQIjIZpU8TfO5G9GIMvjjXATl8WIK6JukE5kCc88oAArwNLjT26Pg/s320/IMG_6291.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nobel Museum</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4W2gMEUVZlfQivz3eySABXRQD3D1lKuVFs7ptFONuwAAFaMMPHBwto34Fyl5RveDy2Kxl6E748y_DiQW37c8bBmM6PWOAGgyPraDYIpRbYQEWEOAqsF6-x93ibm4Bbp61iw8LGlqirhfv/s1600/IMG_6299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4W2gMEUVZlfQivz3eySABXRQD3D1lKuVFs7ptFONuwAAFaMMPHBwto34Fyl5RveDy2Kxl6E748y_DiQW37c8bBmM6PWOAGgyPraDYIpRbYQEWEOAqsF6-x93ibm4Bbp61iw8LGlqirhfv/s320/IMG_6299.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPA2VMo1nsISM1dX5WBS2EQgEIRzzwVnvA9HtriYxY4TOwYq_1d2GUKKnPOol_bHcyYLA5GnrhRTEyRqs752idLjcTxYGychVjkZgZouNkig6Oe59cEDXoVgzkH0PYHf2-5ByG7V27kwLs/s1600/IMG_6311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPA2VMo1nsISM1dX5WBS2EQgEIRzzwVnvA9HtriYxY4TOwYq_1d2GUKKnPOol_bHcyYLA5GnrhRTEyRqs752idLjcTxYGychVjkZgZouNkig6Oe59cEDXoVgzkH0PYHf2-5ByG7V27kwLs/s320/IMG_6311.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mårten Trotzigs Gränd, 90 cm wide, the narrowest alley in Stockholm.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwRC9emGxbyDOhrtW6xk5Aw1GrYrea50LfxqzFyuMIcJZEe6JSQBqzNO0uGyw6ugBL7AdPF8q-JVyOuBfKWyNwaheJ1h85c_IfexlQHfGhg0h8YUd-N42envTJxhnFyjN0kiUtOUmZvBRV/s1600/IMG_6314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwRC9emGxbyDOhrtW6xk5Aw1GrYrea50LfxqzFyuMIcJZEe6JSQBqzNO0uGyw6ugBL7AdPF8q-JVyOuBfKWyNwaheJ1h85c_IfexlQHfGhg0h8YUd-N42envTJxhnFyjN0kiUtOUmZvBRV/s320/IMG_6314.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maintaining the reputation of American tourists.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUnvzxeOE0Gj7rxj8REtPEt35ISAH5XHXNR7ZitsI6EsT0jAL11xsLr6-W64sRsCJCbm1RQVfO6yZO0coUJWiHV5BKvl-TRO2qUmGGJdVKM8AeF2deTNwymo2tr-ETuaZ_5uYHIjSGi7nR/s1600/IMG_6324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUnvzxeOE0Gj7rxj8REtPEt35ISAH5XHXNR7ZitsI6EsT0jAL11xsLr6-W64sRsCJCbm1RQVfO6yZO0coUJWiHV5BKvl-TRO2qUmGGJdVKM8AeF2deTNwymo2tr-ETuaZ_5uYHIjSGi7nR/s320/IMG_6324.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QCMmDBGeSOuk_qKX4YUZsvkSKArGSOt9XRaCJ9Ei4ULLW-KOotB5JjWaBqKGMQBBKy9tVG7f5qr2gqkhehuvRm1rSPe9P-fhRTnZpH29ti58YieadG2Ss8o4VCV80QdJVyHzr5fEWVtk/s1600/IMG_6325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QCMmDBGeSOuk_qKX4YUZsvkSKArGSOt9XRaCJ9Ei4ULLW-KOotB5JjWaBqKGMQBBKy9tVG7f5qr2gqkhehuvRm1rSPe9P-fhRTnZpH29ti58YieadG2Ss8o4VCV80QdJVyHzr5fEWVtk/s320/IMG_6325.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stopping for a hot chocolate break</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEO4OhPEjt7ZawlbBgVOvmMLWOAQS3Tc5Ofi93L2hILczFVq2aMO43b9IuHR8wzZy4laNzdrDCZqE0b7YMSv1g3s1AmBuJKie0P5znW7s85JKo88GQO-9DUHLSgmRm97hSj5facXL6pYKO/s1600/IMG_6326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEO4OhPEjt7ZawlbBgVOvmMLWOAQS3Tc5Ofi93L2hILczFVq2aMO43b9IuHR8wzZy4laNzdrDCZqE0b7YMSv1g3s1AmBuJKie0P5znW7s85JKo88GQO-9DUHLSgmRm97hSj5facXL6pYKO/s320/IMG_6326.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGnYAVKGVL_orqj6QJTxk3D2uxh8DijrDMqG8bRrgssAf5MGZDQgyVFIDaCpqX3e19j4HEUOvtPMjBnMhrNEMadq8JGbSET-AXKEhSWadrUMex5Fhjt4-vbRNDlreInln75teGoQ5H9RPz/s1600/IMG_6337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGnYAVKGVL_orqj6QJTxk3D2uxh8DijrDMqG8bRrgssAf5MGZDQgyVFIDaCpqX3e19j4HEUOvtPMjBnMhrNEMadq8JGbSET-AXKEhSWadrUMex5Fhjt4-vbRNDlreInln75teGoQ5H9RPz/s320/IMG_6337.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stockholm Cathedral</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtn2NKKpG3XF1l81Y4etX6RT_jRW27xs_05oznUMhRDxD9gD8JdoOJIdcILhosfQRUxtVYgHH8qs8DQMJltJSWlIpaHF523EZUNdBd_ddMlxjXleXE8X3aeMirJ635Swt4AdvACiSD81RO/s1600/IMG_6338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtn2NKKpG3XF1l81Y4etX6RT_jRW27xs_05oznUMhRDxD9gD8JdoOJIdcILhosfQRUxtVYgHH8qs8DQMJltJSWlIpaHF523EZUNdBd_ddMlxjXleXE8X3aeMirJ635Swt4AdvACiSD81RO/s320/IMG_6338.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>C. McCutchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152291515724192626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365490409020428818.post-23170071171239443092012-01-01T15:21:00.000+01:002012-01-01T15:21:05.613+01:00Our Happy Holidays!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve had so many things to write about since returning to Florida, but very little time to process and formulate my thoughts, let alone endure the agonizing upload time to share my pictures. But now, this first day of 2012, I find myself again preparing for a move, and know that if I have any hope of sharing our holiday joys with you it must be now.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Returning from The States with Gracie and my mom brought a flurry of activity to our house in Jonkoping. After a day or so of adjusting to the time change, dark days, and cold weather again, we began our Christmas preparations. Stockings were hung after Thanksgiving, and the Nativity scene was set out, but there was still much to do to make this big old house feel like our home at Christmas time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matthew liberally borrowed from the lights and ornaments left behind in the attic and had purchased an adorable tree (from a gas station, go figure) to set up in the living room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gracie and my mother made paper chains and we found some pink and white candy canes (food that requires red dye is tricky to find here in Sweden) to add to the tree for that old-fashioned festive feel.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1c3BOR_hyphenhyphen-Zzs0bYUw2FmAYBvEPHwR0U_6C3rw0cES7VzutVm2cWOvtkAOk5xOR_8VejqnT3778BBYX0ksd7bOzDQWwu-0vgu172g3j8YNc4geNtSOfB0HgrIApK97OG25e-9ueVTh6V/s1600/2011-12-16+14.39.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1c3BOR_hyphenhyphen-Zzs0bYUw2FmAYBvEPHwR0U_6C3rw0cES7VzutVm2cWOvtkAOk5xOR_8VejqnT3778BBYX0ksd7bOzDQWwu-0vgu172g3j8YNc4geNtSOfB0HgrIApK97OG25e-9ueVTh6V/s320/2011-12-16+14.39.59.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01A8Zry1dceHD2B2FKKwLs7LgvO65cjCuvzs6vWk4O7wEYxhF5CFk5hzM0Hmh8PsgF3W58TIeMrwK8_lALPFXLfDmTWW3AgCaxfDkONgjeDsaBW1rU9mnHyL7_ieh36MtW5xZDRRgKkvH/s1600/2011-12-24+11.00.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01A8Zry1dceHD2B2FKKwLs7LgvO65cjCuvzs6vWk4O7wEYxhF5CFk5hzM0Hmh8PsgF3W58TIeMrwK8_lALPFXLfDmTWW3AgCaxfDkONgjeDsaBW1rU9mnHyL7_ieh36MtW5xZDRRgKkvH/s320/2011-12-24+11.00.46.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Germany, for my collection</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6QVBIA5sWcsMYz8D-XDJdZ5w84uwvINfLkWz9YoAC9uPOpARfj0ogBjhSmo37cfFE3n0cxw09_qumtc-tVkiMkA0Thz4xGMvEGcDJhvDAApAZZ0a5SKSgN92HIOiEB2zcZl_1SgcvFeBu/s1600/2011-12-24+11.03.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6QVBIA5sWcsMYz8D-XDJdZ5w84uwvINfLkWz9YoAC9uPOpARfj0ogBjhSmo37cfFE3n0cxw09_qumtc-tVkiMkA0Thz4xGMvEGcDJhvDAApAZZ0a5SKSgN92HIOiEB2zcZl_1SgcvFeBu/s320/2011-12-24+11.03.25.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Creative use of the library</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnReaATGPESw7PvlZuwyxS6EpNL8WLaQZ7SFb_membW4hiDwWnVSRv0_y8EmadDCS_f6_17vBIz4-1JXakb_QGaelanlNvI7RwACSOMtXCkQQMg7Z7ZJsfuLsPS_cQqET0q8NGFr1S6_-J/s1600/2011-12-24+11.04.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnReaATGPESw7PvlZuwyxS6EpNL8WLaQZ7SFb_membW4hiDwWnVSRv0_y8EmadDCS_f6_17vBIz4-1JXakb_QGaelanlNvI7RwACSOMtXCkQQMg7Z7ZJsfuLsPS_cQqET0q8NGFr1S6_-J/s320/2011-12-24+11.04.15.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Creative use of a toilet paper tube</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimyTOlny4Y_bsY4_JJuh5Hw33c_0rqP3FM1eMT0ONj21sbOfHvq-v4fSeeXu07AxyJEb5Maqzf-aQuSR0u0AI-q7jWHQrLbA1wR-mHGAo_R8qDNx4epZuwWhgIEimS2C9xvZhqo5PqWz65/s1600/2011-12-24+11.05.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimyTOlny4Y_bsY4_JJuh5Hw33c_0rqP3FM1eMT0ONj21sbOfHvq-v4fSeeXu07AxyJEb5Maqzf-aQuSR0u0AI-q7jWHQrLbA1wR-mHGAo_R8qDNx4epZuwWhgIEimS2C9xvZhqo5PqWz65/s320/2011-12-24+11.05.59.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaMDt7fjoFRSRt0bxp_zTWlIJbc3Us3kQQInLQerf1RewVUxmqlLbR1ZtF8cXFXUOPjG_x1sC9xSmQFgQH33KCh1RT6wdGmzVYBGte98lYRbQo2xdOHlev8LmwO6KPJE_gglbM_Cdokz6d/s1600/2011-12-24+11.02.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaMDt7fjoFRSRt0bxp_zTWlIJbc3Us3kQQInLQerf1RewVUxmqlLbR1ZtF8cXFXUOPjG_x1sC9xSmQFgQH33KCh1RT6wdGmzVYBGte98lYRbQo2xdOHlev8LmwO6KPJE_gglbM_Cdokz6d/s320/2011-12-24+11.02.57.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's not Christmas without Legos</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR9xzeXPG-Sj_kQnVAl_0sHlAkyYO8NugqgSuJEYYtIWVwTnaR9E1_vwGqsn3TNZoWCbrb5ZkZ2rXns51NsHC4-TOM-T1nXUiA6PWWiMXO5XpSpmG6QGlvxQ9bRz5HpR2uqoTq_WEWHmte/s1600/2011-12-24+11.00.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR9xzeXPG-Sj_kQnVAl_0sHlAkyYO8NugqgSuJEYYtIWVwTnaR9E1_vwGqsn3TNZoWCbrb5ZkZ2rXns51NsHC4-TOM-T1nXUiA6PWWiMXO5XpSpmG6QGlvxQ9bRz5HpR2uqoTq_WEWHmte/s320/2011-12-24+11.00.28.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCrFDuhHs-wcatWGl56NTaj_5FGiAxTi4Y9m7b5M54eUqwdbY2d1slENHnajdHA6FZ_CyfPjtcH-w-SP1andA4dE7Fi7c_goSQi1wojzQyLUGbJt9jux7iphtscsb3WL1bM_fmpB1zgXN/s1600/2011-12-24+11.00.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCrFDuhHs-wcatWGl56NTaj_5FGiAxTi4Y9m7b5M54eUqwdbY2d1slENHnajdHA6FZ_CyfPjtcH-w-SP1andA4dE7Fi7c_goSQi1wojzQyLUGbJt9jux7iphtscsb3WL1bM_fmpB1zgXN/s320/2011-12-24+11.00.15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After decking out the house, we moved into the kitchen and introduced Gracie to the joys of Christmas baking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s a good little sous-chef until it’s time to use the mixer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The loud noise sends her running from the kitchen, but if you need something measured, rolled, or decorated, she’s your girl!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVWjAprunrL5eRfzdJ31sFjpb74Z-hfjZRyaum8kFGIm4zOAfGGZM5T4XnDbpSYkL_eFVMWOjFECtSPcxp7Z7vr17K_H73xoidbPus5zrTIjeRRQWGQAKHPu2iwaDL0UWbTP_802DMQ1Y/s1600/2011-12-21+11.43.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVWjAprunrL5eRfzdJ31sFjpb74Z-hfjZRyaum8kFGIm4zOAfGGZM5T4XnDbpSYkL_eFVMWOjFECtSPcxp7Z7vr17K_H73xoidbPus5zrTIjeRRQWGQAKHPu2iwaDL0UWbTP_802DMQ1Y/s320/2011-12-21+11.43.05.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The lack of snowfall has been a surprise, a relief, and a bit of a disappointment. After running around in July like a lunatic snatching up snow boots and pants, hats, gloves, and scarves from obscure internet websites and central Florida’s abundance of outlet malls, I had hoped we would need to use them for more than a week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As it is, this was an unseasonably warm winter in Sweden (too many Floridians here, I suppose) and after only a few days of snow we found ourselves faced with another green Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did enjoy the snow while it lasted; a child’s reaction to their first snowfall is precious and priceless, but after bemoaning the slow death of her snowman friend, Gracie and I took matters into our own hands creating our colorful winter wonderland.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIGV072hz4UJcoqA2CJRRYkWp7c9NI4B-9Ab82mdB2MTMdQeBnZ4A1eJd69GHz3Qw5B3pDrMxB2PgYy1lCZtaqbVY6G1V4N6sl64AvUtMfGS0ik2KTxXnwXDNaCAD-475QEIiUB-b5wXN/s1600/2011-12-18+11.06.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIGV072hz4UJcoqA2CJRRYkWp7c9NI4B-9Ab82mdB2MTMdQeBnZ4A1eJd69GHz3Qw5B3pDrMxB2PgYy1lCZtaqbVY6G1V4N6sl64AvUtMfGS0ik2KTxXnwXDNaCAD-475QEIiUB-b5wXN/s320/2011-12-18+11.06.55.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was so grateful to have my parents here for Christmas. Sharing the holidays with family helped appease the near constant loneliness that has engulfed me since the onset of the nearly constant gloomy weather in October. We shared a lovely meal at home, played with our new toys and gadgets, and enjoyed the day.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5x9-h2PnefN4ERW2-9pYRINQ5h2Wi2Gd4m7xZGrrk_qeu-zPqjUFPUnQ_dAUHpRkztGjA1uY3OjG3-14n3Xpt1lwz1QPLceA-b_2I8fozJGaLLZ9zJIMbvmp6kqFEsMkPmbpPHzSy7A4/s1600/2011-12-24+11.06.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5x9-h2PnefN4ERW2-9pYRINQ5h2Wi2Gd4m7xZGrrk_qeu-zPqjUFPUnQ_dAUHpRkztGjA1uY3OjG3-14n3Xpt1lwz1QPLceA-b_2I8fozJGaLLZ9zJIMbvmp6kqFEsMkPmbpPHzSy7A4/s320/2011-12-24+11.06.15.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Daxei6aqp7iLMSfKHnDtEkkZw9Ai8rPOamHGyAFE3T4Zfkrouo-x2WtZwl2XaDwtbOBTy_E_O5Ashsi1rQOb8PF25ctIxOU-WTKI83q4vCW2I_ueQOSDKkHDyzAPFOrVGSh8A893Fo7K/s1600/2011-12-25+09.25.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Daxei6aqp7iLMSfKHnDtEkkZw9Ai8rPOamHGyAFE3T4Zfkrouo-x2WtZwl2XaDwtbOBTy_E_O5Ashsi1rQOb8PF25ctIxOU-WTKI83q4vCW2I_ueQOSDKkHDyzAPFOrVGSh8A893Fo7K/s320/2011-12-25+09.25.07.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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I hope you finished out 2011 with as much happiness as we did! Happy New Year!C. McCutchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152291515724192626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365490409020428818.post-42294047401810529612011-12-24T15:16:00.002+01:002011-12-24T15:16:55.544+01:00Merry, Merry<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today I baked a German Chocolate cake from scratch with the help of a certain two-year-old. It should be noted that the first time I baked such a cake was for Matthew’s birthday shortly after we were married. Compared to my usual add “water, butter, and eggs to the mix” baking strategy it is an insane amount of work. But you do these things for those you love. Today our cake is for Jesus.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Somewhere jumbled between presents, a festive tree, letters to Santa, Advent calendar countdowns, cookies, and carols is the significance of the season. I have a lot of fond traditions and holiday memories that I want to pass down to Gracie, but most importantly I want her to know why this is such a cherished time of year. It is more than a few vacation days, more than wish lists coming true, even more than time spent with family and friends. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is about the love of the Lord coming to us through the birth of a baby, reaching down to offer saving grace to a group of hopeless sinners. Every year at Christmas I remember the love that was born, the sacrifice that suffered, and the forgiveness that triumphs for me and for us all.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Merry Christmas.</span></div>C. McCutchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152291515724192626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365490409020428818.post-78072394047333596592011-12-17T16:36:00.000+01:002011-12-17T16:36:55.302+01:00Where the Heart Is<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When it comes to travel, Dorothy Gale had the right idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately lacking in the ruby red slipper department, Gracie and I were required to utilize more conventional means of transportation for our return trip to Florida. Desperate to reacquaint myself with the comforts of home (family, friends, that bright thing in the sky called the sun) I boldly grasped the hand of my two-year-old, steeled my nerves, and went where few parents dare to go: the airport. For a nineteen hour trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While pregnant.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our trip passed without incident.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gracie was mature beyond her years (in all honesty, she was mature beyond *my* years) walking for what literally felt like miles through the Frankfurt airport, passing through multiple customs and security checkpoints, and suffering through 15 hours of flight time with only <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Larry Crowne</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mr. Popper’s Penguins</i> as our digital entertainment options.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We enjoyed two lovely weeks defrosting in Florida with our family and friends. I loved seeing my family, taking Gracie to Magic Kingdom for the first time, attending MOPs at First Baptist Oviedo, and our playdates at the park and Amaya Papaya. These outings, our routine, and support system have been greatly missed while we’ve been in Sweden. I am so appreciative of the friends that made efforts to see us and spend time with us during our abbreviated stay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know how hard it is to find time to visit during the busy Christmas season, especially if you’re working or taking care of small children. My fond memories of seeing our friends and family will help sustain me for the uncertain duration of our remaining time in Sweden.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjer2dzaPKyCOldFXzLbeeAqJEqW6-yTrs5tHvoF-bj0TrIUk5-4tzss4PzyC46Gq8jMgNBfRpywdro3plz74Tv2eMvReR8LNCigvj8jFSRtSrXmFBhEutZRHt4HbJWY31itXOynGde7F-Y/s1600/2011-11-27+14.17.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjer2dzaPKyCOldFXzLbeeAqJEqW6-yTrs5tHvoF-bj0TrIUk5-4tzss4PzyC46Gq8jMgNBfRpywdro3plz74Tv2eMvReR8LNCigvj8jFSRtSrXmFBhEutZRHt4HbJWY31itXOynGde7F-Y/s320/2011-11-27+14.17.30.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She travels well.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9XkyNZnYN_xgtKkgLZLPPrDGcdQ5CZ4s06z35UKe6mj2LPUCDYrvZSjlo7zRurI2fQZ4mIRzOwaiKLZaz7ZvC8zDyEcBcvhdfmLjZIMmYHzqpunkWXqUN71l8yr1kSWxuppeSZIpZoDq/s1600/2011-11-27+15.27.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9XkyNZnYN_xgtKkgLZLPPrDGcdQ5CZ4s06z35UKe6mj2LPUCDYrvZSjlo7zRurI2fQZ4mIRzOwaiKLZaz7ZvC8zDyEcBcvhdfmLjZIMmYHzqpunkWXqUN71l8yr1kSWxuppeSZIpZoDq/s320/2011-11-27+15.27.54.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm going to order the child's meal for myself next time!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_wUX7ePot6MR4Wy3sP8x6Jkt7REpD6bdyQKgBOP5fqrRPNDUds4cRJOQKFcJflHVcIZTHk9Hsz-LwWVpDhyj22Isxl09mrsGOKa4DUEEg4rmDAOBAKSe_lEOJACSVU7C6MH9YFO1Lm-FM/s1600/2011-12-04+13.04.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_wUX7ePot6MR4Wy3sP8x6Jkt7REpD6bdyQKgBOP5fqrRPNDUds4cRJOQKFcJflHVcIZTHk9Hsz-LwWVpDhyj22Isxl09mrsGOKa4DUEEg4rmDAOBAKSe_lEOJACSVU7C6MH9YFO1Lm-FM/s320/2011-12-04+13.04.01.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's not home if I don't cook!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpPGAKv_FU9whdQSYFWjTOK8bCAYdPv2bYQAN3dQtfHaWgpU9zt29JbapL0t1SMBrj8mCuh4KHeRCl-M-2La6ipo3YIPw-qqhwVHHYkkVIT0sba3lDC6WqOVrzMzWmT7nTWWGlnEKAnKzr/s1600/2011-12-04+13.04.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpPGAKv_FU9whdQSYFWjTOK8bCAYdPv2bYQAN3dQtfHaWgpU9zt29JbapL0t1SMBrj8mCuh4KHeRCl-M-2La6ipo3YIPw-qqhwVHHYkkVIT0sba3lDC6WqOVrzMzWmT7nTWWGlnEKAnKzr/s320/2011-12-04+13.04.31.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHeKui-KVbQIDmVEj2NtEjU1DR2P3p_m1-Pq-yF9QDEBH6PCqMHee-UEQAQiFyNnDCwIN0pOy8UmQy0HoeBYND0kLy9F8a9rs28lNT9HxqnV0swXtA7K13mRm2rZlw4R7dKpuacPmApuKC/s1600/2011-12-05+14.36.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHeKui-KVbQIDmVEj2NtEjU1DR2P3p_m1-Pq-yF9QDEBH6PCqMHee-UEQAQiFyNnDCwIN0pOy8UmQy0HoeBYND0kLy9F8a9rs28lNT9HxqnV0swXtA7K13mRm2rZlw4R7dKpuacPmApuKC/s320/2011-12-05+14.36.32.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A quick trip to Publix with her best buddy, James.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxI7EXSvV-etMZuTeMlWv3F-Yg8h3KTmthp8w3PtaZjp-GYV9en3M1uiFm_OGk4oQ82jwQsXGd0b0VvAL31AaWSCig7vTjasuW8TssE8-gmpGY5AZICN7a7bePg-8qavm688sDv0DtVZM/s1600/2011-12-05+14.36.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxI7EXSvV-etMZuTeMlWv3F-Yg8h3KTmthp8w3PtaZjp-GYV9en3M1uiFm_OGk4oQ82jwQsXGd0b0VvAL31AaWSCig7vTjasuW8TssE8-gmpGY5AZICN7a7bePg-8qavm688sDv0DtVZM/s320/2011-12-05+14.36.26.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUu-cFRcFYh6mQcfIxI-hXF5_FKemgwbHxc-pcQmmALt9mjvNmlevclTkVvzMm_dtEU7BeDd7ov2L6EO5J4WGi95vjWLmqv2QR_HqCs4Bn-7nISIay4FeYZa-HsIY1dqwV3uKoBMR7qGYW/s1600/2011-12-06+10.51.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUu-cFRcFYh6mQcfIxI-hXF5_FKemgwbHxc-pcQmmALt9mjvNmlevclTkVvzMm_dtEU7BeDd7ov2L6EO5J4WGi95vjWLmqv2QR_HqCs4Bn-7nISIay4FeYZa-HsIY1dqwV3uKoBMR7qGYW/s320/2011-12-06+10.51.59.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first trip to Disney!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5Cm88mff0wP4Rpg2-TI_-0eKG-_fUjTGlUHjz-yg3VpgWGuGUq655pS0cQ1eewBbutXb6j1WNPZw4Qtjvus2P_895AUP3zQ0TB8ZFtvEKGOFxQwd9ol7wptXRpKiSa44AC6JRFnAfIDc/s1600/2011-12-06+11.16.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5Cm88mff0wP4Rpg2-TI_-0eKG-_fUjTGlUHjz-yg3VpgWGuGUq655pS0cQ1eewBbutXb6j1WNPZw4Qtjvus2P_895AUP3zQ0TB8ZFtvEKGOFxQwd9ol7wptXRpKiSa44AC6JRFnAfIDc/s320/2011-12-06+11.16.39.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sleeping Beauty</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6CeYWKzx-6t8ju9qc2ypgrSOrexB2bO49ecwHFyl6cNMmM4VZhyXyZlqxAa-oyFz_tv9wiN55NaXZBg05pxunxyj8ZT5LFJFylbAMc39VKk_3H5r1FbVxaYiQV2-ruMXJbWwT7dzALg41/s1600/2011-12-06+11.19.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6CeYWKzx-6t8ju9qc2ypgrSOrexB2bO49ecwHFyl6cNMmM4VZhyXyZlqxAa-oyFz_tv9wiN55NaXZBg05pxunxyj8ZT5LFJFylbAMc39VKk_3H5r1FbVxaYiQV2-ruMXJbWwT7dzALg41/s320/2011-12-06+11.19.48.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gracie got to see our favorite princess, Belle!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMG7-FAtA6Qizj8dhyphenhyphenZc4ywtUY4nIpiCbNl5Zzu3VxHZnFUPJMJ_Mcd7L7ZjCBsE3HYbVWasaVlkxp2Ti8QNC9H33F4su_5S7X26dLBg81Vw6lUYOcHQlkit5wzG6cS5K3Czu6YlaHCKg/s1600/2011-12-06+13.20.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMG7-FAtA6Qizj8dhyphenhyphenZc4ywtUY4nIpiCbNl5Zzu3VxHZnFUPJMJ_Mcd7L7ZjCBsE3HYbVWasaVlkxp2Ti8QNC9H33F4su_5S7X26dLBg81Vw6lUYOcHQlkit5wzG6cS5K3Czu6YlaHCKg/s320/2011-12-06+13.20.56.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3nWvHT2AbQWC8KJ13ilhhT_l9vpLq8XydKxUxMu0QhefjNAw2ykJkrbi84h8GShOfi_RnQOnpV5IQ5SXzHJFHF2JR4XSaqBj-FFkRu1OoSFZ_nJtMq3ydwXU9y1l8SO9GEJRNvn33aFue/s1600/2011-12-06+12.28.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3nWvHT2AbQWC8KJ13ilhhT_l9vpLq8XydKxUxMu0QhefjNAw2ykJkrbi84h8GShOfi_RnQOnpV5IQ5SXzHJFHF2JR4XSaqBj-FFkRu1OoSFZ_nJtMq3ydwXU9y1l8SO9GEJRNvn33aFue/s320/2011-12-06+12.28.06.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dumbo Ride with Grammy</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh61a5j0elZkig1Fktyhy3SBwPZoAYcFDEFYXyN-49_6OfMxXE5cXULP4rVcDj36CMYWQqP3hZtzeYP2BJF7sNYJqvsLUAnGq9WENm8chQFm1mWxQsopP2svJOZzRrZo93VGznU2ujfNTOt/s1600/2011-12-06+14.17.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh61a5j0elZkig1Fktyhy3SBwPZoAYcFDEFYXyN-49_6OfMxXE5cXULP4rVcDj36CMYWQqP3hZtzeYP2BJF7sNYJqvsLUAnGq9WENm8chQFm1mWxQsopP2svJOZzRrZo93VGznU2ujfNTOt/s320/2011-12-06+14.17.07.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge14UDiZ-Pxgg1_EJ7FqdcNOLbPXq1UCoLPFhQDsgWseQPxrt1xsYvNBMzAQ2LmkS1V25c-YHZhBeR8zAfjt_xE5GY7QwJv6PKCsJqGFRJPy5voDY2DGpKtJTtiNkOEyNlkn_4PO6t17pz/s1600/2011-12-06+14.36.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge14UDiZ-Pxgg1_EJ7FqdcNOLbPXq1UCoLPFhQDsgWseQPxrt1xsYvNBMzAQ2LmkS1V25c-YHZhBeR8zAfjt_xE5GY7QwJv6PKCsJqGFRJPy5voDY2DGpKtJTtiNkOEyNlkn_4PO6t17pz/s320/2011-12-06+14.36.00.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We rode the teacups. Twice.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU2obXAdlpDW0-df9S-qO-rwnID9bmq-d4AdWQHoRXZSYEudXlZQJsTR8ok1sOcYASpMAA9QEDZl5kDAXhOhrO7Npvo71zphRsTxCLL5cFujfHZIB5rx5fJP5Lei9xgsMwKq2_pv-YrRg5/s1600/2011-12-06+14.48.26.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU2obXAdlpDW0-df9S-qO-rwnID9bmq-d4AdWQHoRXZSYEudXlZQJsTR8ok1sOcYASpMAA9QEDZl5kDAXhOhrO7Npvo71zphRsTxCLL5cFujfHZIB5rx5fJP5Lei9xgsMwKq2_pv-YrRg5/s320/2011-12-06+14.48.26.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbGfEFIkj1NFeY90qCi_DOhpBV1MncIwoV3LEl0n8Wvb-phPQkgS9D274rMyV2wbRgEfI9n0FW-MqeIduJJvTlCeqmF7LbUjce5gpK-2dLMV5gxxi8k66cq33EXpI-v7YzpTCLxMbYQqfs/s1600/2011-12-06+14.54.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbGfEFIkj1NFeY90qCi_DOhpBV1MncIwoV3LEl0n8Wvb-phPQkgS9D274rMyV2wbRgEfI9n0FW-MqeIduJJvTlCeqmF7LbUjce5gpK-2dLMV5gxxi8k66cq33EXpI-v7YzpTCLxMbYQqfs/s320/2011-12-06+14.54.50.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQ9qFs4f63hWT1MACK2GcNsFK0EjUsRHVlSlOhXviaPpzvNJ6dh2B-kwuUV_aTczRy4e5j4kn9OBEJE_cQ7O7SmA2F1j0dw_UnV9deHWsnTMjYje7Ww4BSQlGRVqfJ09WCmDV55MvGcV-/s1600/2011-12-06+15.29.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQ9qFs4f63hWT1MACK2GcNsFK0EjUsRHVlSlOhXviaPpzvNJ6dh2B-kwuUV_aTczRy4e5j4kn9OBEJE_cQ7O7SmA2F1j0dw_UnV9deHWsnTMjYje7Ww4BSQlGRVqfJ09WCmDV55MvGcV-/s320/2011-12-06+15.29.08.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Worn out from the all the magic.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdtDPrdda7g8rBvG6q4HeesR2br9ueAeAOmM6oV9efusSXUq23ysXXNyInT6PGNEi70e1mX9u3pH5osiWQxFlSmhmUeJj0Ko2oCwYR32ZggmqI_s2AANVXwBMgAFf2mLuKyVJOgxIS68qE/s1600/2011-12-07+18.39.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdtDPrdda7g8rBvG6q4HeesR2br9ueAeAOmM6oV9efusSXUq23ysXXNyInT6PGNEi70e1mX9u3pH5osiWQxFlSmhmUeJj0Ko2oCwYR32ZggmqI_s2AANVXwBMgAFf2mLuKyVJOgxIS68qE/s320/2011-12-07+18.39.14.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I went to my first softball game!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkOgQZ2OQWX6cXDcmxIbp622nuYeFYlNhBZVnJInmekaKyo9M1C8lqmaJSNHvLSm-8mnNqYu2L2KNrAgw0jupmlfUODMphLxR9F7AY4-SAS1AdvndT5B_llW11VXCbTnzZPH0hITh1ai82/s1600/2011-12-09+17.35.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkOgQZ2OQWX6cXDcmxIbp622nuYeFYlNhBZVnJInmekaKyo9M1C8lqmaJSNHvLSm-8mnNqYu2L2KNrAgw0jupmlfUODMphLxR9F7AY4-SAS1AdvndT5B_llW11VXCbTnzZPH0hITh1ai82/s320/2011-12-09+17.35.08.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the park with the cousins</td></tr>
</tbody></table>C. McCutchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152291515724192626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365490409020428818.post-55957803314279611832011-11-17T12:19:00.000+01:002011-11-17T12:19:32.152+01:00Our Trip to Copenhagen<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This past weekend, to conclude our visa application saga, SAAB sent our family to Denmark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It turns out that Denmark isn’t only home to Hamlet and Legos. Copenhagen can also claim the closest Swedish Embassy branch outside of Sweden. If there’s anything better than being able to take a weekend trip in Europe, it’s being able to take a weekend trip on the company dime and not having to use any vacation time! Technically a business trip for Matthew, we made our appointment with the Embassy, booked a hotel, and fueled up the car. After our obligatory hour at the Embassy where we presented our passports to prove to the Swedish Migration Services office that we had indeed left the country, the weekend was ours!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We arrived in Denmark via the impressive Øresund Bridge, the longest road and rail bridge in Europe which connects Copenhagen and Malmö.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkKxAQgN25laQh97Lx5LiOAS2FSxPBmdDgF6IqdATRxeXA3NNcVbSTna2ZIu2Qr5BGwR85XYjsbxHRHbdwowAvvookrBu30kCVFSk_5VpRAWgwY3wPCMprvMHfVw7DrFlWA8LisJPOKwW/s1600/2011-11-10+13.18.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkKxAQgN25laQh97Lx5LiOAS2FSxPBmdDgF6IqdATRxeXA3NNcVbSTna2ZIu2Qr5BGwR85XYjsbxHRHbdwowAvvookrBu30kCVFSk_5VpRAWgwY3wPCMprvMHfVw7DrFlWA8LisJPOKwW/s320/2011-11-10+13.18.50.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Like good tourists we walked through the city, cameras in hand snapping pictures of every gargoyle and oxidized copper roof or statue we saw. Like Floridians, we pulled our coats closer and scarves tighter to brace against the blustery winds brutally cold from the inner harbor. Like shell-shocked <span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Jönköping </span>-ians, we ogled the size of the city, much larger than we’ve grown accustomed to over the past three months.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzEwWJX4XeMwkcChc0kS1JUwDj37jLzHcSA0WT6NoaQ8fPyEuLGihTIJhVH2zhWzVmf1Au-6zdCxWdu9nlv0iCpDyAk3gYWdWHyP8KfiuKqrTzFyv0TVYV0Ejvox8oujEWzd6LJsyeELsk/s1600/2011-11-10+15.20.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzEwWJX4XeMwkcChc0kS1JUwDj37jLzHcSA0WT6NoaQ8fPyEuLGihTIJhVH2zhWzVmf1Au-6zdCxWdu9nlv0iCpDyAk3gYWdWHyP8KfiuKqrTzFyv0TVYV0Ejvox8oujEWzd6LJsyeELsk/s320/2011-11-10+15.20.51.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeqZVm_6TyXrZ7i5CiMjHZxNitO_Ab605TjDvjgmmTggON6IS7gEIXFHHYG7mH2HnfujSHhnfZK7GzQ81FtGsibEezh2laT_AHd8qs0f4JIbsSqzhUCadOEPv8Xv6Oknit7vIFThg3KEWa/s1600/2011-11-10+15.21.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeqZVm_6TyXrZ7i5CiMjHZxNitO_Ab605TjDvjgmmTggON6IS7gEIXFHHYG7mH2HnfujSHhnfZK7GzQ81FtGsibEezh2laT_AHd8qs0f4JIbsSqzhUCadOEPv8Xv6Oknit7vIFThg3KEWa/s320/2011-11-10+15.21.55.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stumbled upon Occupy Copenhagen</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGP695KrBvEUbzSvzCCZW8_tZ60zDes8G9uKq_SUovUQri9Z9B_oDT0_FXdvJgC4mdm1YnXhosaNVYSwnmVoWvHRbSv1H44m_VolxPSXoD6vz5PIwiBL7jTa9fsm4y6kvLvJb3x8t60Isr/s1600/2011-11-10+15.30.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGP695KrBvEUbzSvzCCZW8_tZ60zDes8G9uKq_SUovUQri9Z9B_oDT0_FXdvJgC4mdm1YnXhosaNVYSwnmVoWvHRbSv1H44m_VolxPSXoD6vz5PIwiBL7jTa9fsm4y6kvLvJb3x8t60Isr/s320/2011-11-10+15.30.43.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIhBdSDRW6EEw-BdioVbA0HlX2KOJKvX4beNDAt5A4bXlh78tn4xbuj3FSuaz9m2PkqnzteOb7U8jAw5q50rbhmo-MPupm5To_ScOXSc-2qOZc8gO-AY4e66BrUSk366MMbvnqEz88fJO3/s1600/2011-11-10+15.33.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIhBdSDRW6EEw-BdioVbA0HlX2KOJKvX4beNDAt5A4bXlh78tn4xbuj3FSuaz9m2PkqnzteOb7U8jAw5q50rbhmo-MPupm5To_ScOXSc-2qOZc8gO-AY4e66BrUSk366MMbvnqEz88fJO3/s320/2011-11-10+15.33.32.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We saw the famous street in Legos and as the real deal.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJI1HFCYQxCTpGY7KF1L2QVG52O2OvsKeXyKagK9po24s0DHYWRUSntYthTxfIKKQklU6Fbleh-oIF4fr6fjIeA7EJ1QrJTk9MHs5VQ-7InVLcdHtNr0Dwi2Yw9pMwW4ndhocYHFehNB1v/s1600/2011-11-11+17.07.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJI1HFCYQxCTpGY7KF1L2QVG52O2OvsKeXyKagK9po24s0DHYWRUSntYthTxfIKKQklU6Fbleh-oIF4fr6fjIeA7EJ1QrJTk9MHs5VQ-7InVLcdHtNr0Dwi2Yw9pMwW4ndhocYHFehNB1v/s320/2011-11-11+17.07.49.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Found a Lego that looks like me! What are the odds?</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpPpExg7i6MQKSC9D8lCNbOMi-8IDJnELj7cJZe662W3d5FU3x79swhwf-ipD9w4J1p86r_S2R7ioqORI-K3UzyAoR3dId2-M1y9hC4-vxHJ0ys4GHXN7YEr6_2dl1tN_SM9F1-YpZBMd/s1600/IMG_5899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpPpExg7i6MQKSC9D8lCNbOMi-8IDJnELj7cJZe662W3d5FU3x79swhwf-ipD9w4J1p86r_S2R7ioqORI-K3UzyAoR3dId2-M1y9hC4-vxHJ0ys4GHXN7YEr6_2dl1tN_SM9F1-YpZBMd/s320/IMG_5899.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7gYeEYGdKcV3-yc_IDZXXYD5f9Ipo5uV6LA4-E3bE6mCbXjwyTAZiVxb-DBddWmE71g8youZJlfCNrnnf3Y3VaYbBSjmLaLVZJpM0jX4zqgisJnwWwAYcSa_imDV67JZX1XfwCyhYmkz/s1600/IMG_5757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7gYeEYGdKcV3-yc_IDZXXYD5f9Ipo5uV6LA4-E3bE6mCbXjwyTAZiVxb-DBddWmE71g8youZJlfCNrnnf3Y3VaYbBSjmLaLVZJpM0jX4zqgisJnwWwAYcSa_imDV67JZX1XfwCyhYmkz/s320/IMG_5757.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We had a full agenda, starting with a boat tour of the canals and history of the city. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYi1eX0TjlcYw5l6QfmE8QwkBML65y7iE7cytwter_PNbdt7gubOyaQEjKfdK2GKjWSgbEJ8TtrWULDOdZFgetcFslPId8zhVEKgxb30u99RPMCotl_jZYlHLHHEKYdWmPN3ZhT2ySChYR/s1600/2011-11-11+10.14.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYi1eX0TjlcYw5l6QfmE8QwkBML65y7iE7cytwter_PNbdt7gubOyaQEjKfdK2GKjWSgbEJ8TtrWULDOdZFgetcFslPId8zhVEKgxb30u99RPMCotl_jZYlHLHHEKYdWmPN3ZhT2ySChYR/s320/2011-11-11+10.14.15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ICiQvFhWqAEbqGJl1f_KmIEp-fspKWwC7ZGfJx9Tm0dE2nF91ggHpS_FOtXmnD8JUHfLkF7kbanYz7scO8ubG2ifio3KtYEp8eTGkIgqFeBSzoBBhAh99p8_H07ii-swFKLA_lMQBWd6/s1600/2011-11-11+10.16.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ICiQvFhWqAEbqGJl1f_KmIEp-fspKWwC7ZGfJx9Tm0dE2nF91ggHpS_FOtXmnD8JUHfLkF7kbanYz7scO8ubG2ifio3KtYEp8eTGkIgqFeBSzoBBhAh99p8_H07ii-swFKLA_lMQBWd6/s320/2011-11-11+10.16.04.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzmqPRs19M1ulskhrklW1H97Fk52Eb95-xg5S8-nqZxM6AJoQ7cSNcgycHr46Sjp_ktjt5oOlMZ2zXTYqwWocDSXYGbZnL4ZNf-rrIMZAwUUfpKBJ3aCrqCAbh_0b3hJ04DQniknSuctt4/s1600/2011-11-11+13.22.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzmqPRs19M1ulskhrklW1H97Fk52Eb95-xg5S8-nqZxM6AJoQ7cSNcgycHr46Sjp_ktjt5oOlMZ2zXTYqwWocDSXYGbZnL4ZNf-rrIMZAwUUfpKBJ3aCrqCAbh_0b3hJ04DQniknSuctt4/s320/2011-11-11+13.22.20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-75TYmFRpTY10eFgqo1jFVEFNzjG4y8RwUMvfg56-tcu3UavJCXbK9KHEnx5FSROgyxxcKz3Kil-7J1PoTGvy3VKFIrtzxAUFx6X0hDTAxMZKvlTVuNL9j243H0AGziJFdGQiaY83k_7/s1600/IMG_5772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-75TYmFRpTY10eFgqo1jFVEFNzjG4y8RwUMvfg56-tcu3UavJCXbK9KHEnx5FSROgyxxcKz3Kil-7J1PoTGvy3VKFIrtzxAUFx6X0hDTAxMZKvlTVuNL9j243H0AGziJFdGQiaY83k_7/s320/IMG_5772.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Little Mermaid</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7K9dSc18t83NNDeowRukWugHBSGf_4U0y1Co4yTvGk6L_EfE9GDriCcW2ylIcFDD5934_4YD0UVNTH3HiuJ0rm82_ZZ8A-D52BOd2pOC_4fJRz8c3UPpv15U8cPWqRijL9BuKuaG-qgD/s1600/IMG_5827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7K9dSc18t83NNDeowRukWugHBSGf_4U0y1Co4yTvGk6L_EfE9GDriCcW2ylIcFDD5934_4YD0UVNTH3HiuJ0rm82_ZZ8A-D52BOd2pOC_4fJRz8c3UPpv15U8cPWqRijL9BuKuaG-qgD/s320/IMG_5827.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our tour boat went through lots of low bridges</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We toured Copenhagen’s National Museum, Denmark's largest museum of Archaeology and cultural (both Danish and foreign) history. Sadly, we barely made a dent in the free attraction’s vast collection, but I was equally impressed with the curator’s imaginative displays of history and the interactive children’s museum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXu0OxN5lbQ00hDOKdPUq08-UBZ1WMXCjFHY2qBzaQFwGhj4swlg6dgQmXdo-KaN5hmAPBU7BwIwXxiThFAcLaTogag8DU9oxq6TtwH6G2IP1H3XTwPtRe7JDOvOgYDU6Ns8_XwP9e3ij7/s1600/IMG_5901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXu0OxN5lbQ00hDOKdPUq08-UBZ1WMXCjFHY2qBzaQFwGhj4swlg6dgQmXdo-KaN5hmAPBU7BwIwXxiThFAcLaTogag8DU9oxq6TtwH6G2IP1H3XTwPtRe7JDOvOgYDU6Ns8_XwP9e3ij7/s320/IMG_5901.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsNUFJpZMHZM4Hscq_0Nc9A91-SRSD2JBXIlDW8Dcd2Ngisbf8ZIJhCdTqXiZKmZEEL-ngsLqTue6GTvcFUR25C9lb6UlX_KO_JndW2S9MHieSFvGhba8isQuGF6ClrPfpw4799gJypbsd/s1600/IMG_5909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsNUFJpZMHZM4Hscq_0Nc9A91-SRSD2JBXIlDW8Dcd2Ngisbf8ZIJhCdTqXiZKmZEEL-ngsLqTue6GTvcFUR25C9lb6UlX_KO_JndW2S9MHieSFvGhba8isQuGF6ClrPfpw4799gJypbsd/s320/IMG_5909.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking her friends around the museum</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcANyBK9IiEgi0nE5Z2X8tPs8qJQdMDRPXFW3U5nRWuW4vy6u1SXjJcxHn4dj-M8rE-E8hV4XKAAPSk9cc8dQbn2tWxDrMbj_mnNqvwucn2VZQY6gl1sJMpcordarLi8GiFaSr_dlfY4n/s1600/IMG_5912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcANyBK9IiEgi0nE5Z2X8tPs8qJQdMDRPXFW3U5nRWuW4vy6u1SXjJcxHn4dj-M8rE-E8hV4XKAAPSk9cc8dQbn2tWxDrMbj_mnNqvwucn2VZQY6gl1sJMpcordarLi8GiFaSr_dlfY4n/s320/IMG_5912.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look! An elk!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihZNheWfUpQpufwG1ufleOhvSj6Z5yt0eM7tcgGT0zUdEROfiaMEPguZzY2NerXemjz04nea1Q1g5UWbAOJ3R-8WEbRZl8MInhvTV4kZOXtARzCIZPeKAXfzEz01jeauiEWa38lp6Y3Wsi/s1600/IMG_5969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihZNheWfUpQpufwG1ufleOhvSj6Z5yt0eM7tcgGT0zUdEROfiaMEPguZzY2NerXemjz04nea1Q1g5UWbAOJ3R-8WEbRZl8MInhvTV4kZOXtARzCIZPeKAXfzEz01jeauiEWa38lp6Y3Wsi/s320/IMG_5969.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1.8 kg of solid gold. I'd wear that.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Children's Museum!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55kcmSiKjKzbYry2fVTPeq4BIIxPjor7olrTT8iNMS4hNEvQvaEnAxEazOZpqsOX-lTgrLxcFWXyFty4y-eFfMEn20LOpIP60XeKuMSd4X1OjtD1sesz1NCv3EGFmUk8zpNseJSfNXPWM/s1600/IMG_5985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55kcmSiKjKzbYry2fVTPeq4BIIxPjor7olrTT8iNMS4hNEvQvaEnAxEazOZpqsOX-lTgrLxcFWXyFty4y-eFfMEn20LOpIP60XeKuMSd4X1OjtD1sesz1NCv3EGFmUk8zpNseJSfNXPWM/s320/IMG_5985.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the ship's cabin</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOYxVgcA8_c1Q9eMJqfHNRQeyB1F2_kLEG7_rGOljhbNLnVhApgdalFP6Oxhdva0OSofPsTVsWXfZEu0kg2Yl1jUB_iSZRPdRH0MsAGk6NrxIF_wqUxJf9Y8XOSfkkyc1DHzR8U1ty2V6/s1600/IMG_5987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOYxVgcA8_c1Q9eMJqfHNRQeyB1F2_kLEG7_rGOljhbNLnVhApgdalFP6Oxhdva0OSofPsTVsWXfZEu0kg2Yl1jUB_iSZRPdRH0MsAGk6NrxIF_wqUxJf9Y8XOSfkkyc1DHzR8U1ty2V6/s320/IMG_5987.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She actually wanted to take a nap in the ship's bunk!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpJ_Iy-2kg9X2PadyC0hQf4EZxGfWv5GLU9rng3rOCCCZ6OCQsVANNj8oXqEZN_hzffLYp0JEM7aqf3akksUwcXSPkRV3sZwNymDiZzRALMSF-j5spoBDsBsPoUNj1Szts73PMN0v2ky5/s1600/IMG_6068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpJ_Iy-2kg9X2PadyC0hQf4EZxGfWv5GLU9rng3rOCCCZ6OCQsVANNj8oXqEZN_hzffLYp0JEM7aqf3akksUwcXSPkRV3sZwNymDiZzRALMSF-j5spoBDsBsPoUNj1Szts73PMN0v2ky5/s320/IMG_6068.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mummies!</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Matthew managed to squeeze in not one, but two, trips to the Carlsberg brewery where he observed the largest collection of bottled beer and brought home a couple of souvenirs for himself.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Copenhagen has the two oldest amusement parks in the world. Our hotel was literally across the street from the world-famous Tivoli Gardens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tivoli Gardens opened in August of 1843 and claims the oldest operating roller coaster and the oldest Ferris wheel in the world. In addition to the carnival style food and thrilling rides, we also enjoyed the fabulous display of Christmas lights in the park, decorated in the theme of a Russian Christmas.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9cgBk0yQA921rEQ4Z9bzUxxXfr8MxccAseQL2G3JFUZloKkM-5-HoHMOxxt2RtsvJa3JFqEjIVYsj_b7-zLQ2dVYmcZYcELqrUXHc0XltfR_xaLVRhtvDdF3CH8a77NcGljosChhcpinF/s1600/IMG_6125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9cgBk0yQA921rEQ4Z9bzUxxXfr8MxccAseQL2G3JFUZloKkM-5-HoHMOxxt2RtsvJa3JFqEjIVYsj_b7-zLQ2dVYmcZYcELqrUXHc0XltfR_xaLVRhtvDdF3CH8a77NcGljosChhcpinF/s320/IMG_6125.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKclodDMSNZBj43iTUfS4KWPITHGCPbOPZ2VrBq0AB-dA5tkXmLjh-qAv5wN4r0Csg1Ffdm1sOhTismDmGFnnCMpXJ74HKmLie0GXdBhrj76tPBPEmsAmGl7jKrZuItRO2jWHZuXHDBs3G/s1600/2011-11-12+19.44.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKclodDMSNZBj43iTUfS4KWPITHGCPbOPZ2VrBq0AB-dA5tkXmLjh-qAv5wN4r0Csg1Ffdm1sOhTismDmGFnnCMpXJ74HKmLie0GXdBhrj76tPBPEmsAmGl7jKrZuItRO2jWHZuXHDBs3G/s320/2011-11-12+19.44.31.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matt wanted to ride the really scary swings!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNOo5N3jY3tSbUM6mF6bQOBffsyx3ioRX7lto2SIe5oLUt1k9sTndy5flAHk5RZCBkvvjL0Wzx9mTdMH7JfFv5A06xOq5XGb-NmNAAEcTam8JG4NExJWVs6CR6xZ4DNWj-Ww8ChoztnM6V/s1600/2011-11-12+20.08.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNOo5N3jY3tSbUM6mF6bQOBffsyx3ioRX7lto2SIe5oLUt1k9sTndy5flAHk5RZCBkvvjL0Wzx9mTdMH7JfFv5A06xOq5XGb-NmNAAEcTam8JG4NExJWVs6CR6xZ4DNWj-Ww8ChoztnM6V/s320/2011-11-12+20.08.43.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIcKJ7lY7oKvRMPwjAXQKhRw4iN_Z5dqlEolLS4huxd8Ihoqt5FgqEwMP3UJhkoM_FMdmoltnkx-uYuSHNv0XOtLWVJ0VMaSO5PbpqRsV_v89tnC_dLnWUlCTzSxP4n1pNln9FTPD-3m1/s1600/2011-11-12+20.49.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIcKJ7lY7oKvRMPwjAXQKhRw4iN_Z5dqlEolLS4huxd8Ihoqt5FgqEwMP3UJhkoM_FMdmoltnkx-uYuSHNv0XOtLWVJ0VMaSO5PbpqRsV_v89tnC_dLnWUlCTzSxP4n1pNln9FTPD-3m1/s320/2011-11-12+20.49.07.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRAR7w4-qvmqW9RZunq_4cPzwPnnrR1fFc_qyHf2SagITXFd3lEOgvPWwehC1cZg5ERLjL7Gs7_8wQ0-oMvqqIC-Qv3kiBFECfhpnY7svRQ0fFa7GHgQaty0L2HFfiD33b8uKS6zeJMvuV/s1600/2011-11-12+20.49.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRAR7w4-qvmqW9RZunq_4cPzwPnnrR1fFc_qyHf2SagITXFd3lEOgvPWwehC1cZg5ERLjL7Gs7_8wQ0-oMvqqIC-Qv3kiBFECfhpnY7svRQ0fFa7GHgQaty0L2HFfiD33b8uKS6zeJMvuV/s320/2011-11-12+20.49.52.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ytAWm_RZryO2BC0finnahLEzY8-v2sWO2ULoJBT-CCNhUmzsOQ5zYYoX7Sf4JT_1G6SqxlJXX2ptRXbYgiqhyphenhyphenzrGVbS7tEKLNm8zP-5SiioX6fYSoSHdHQkKi1JBoS-ebI3-WA4uUpvS/s1600/2011-11-12+21.01.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ytAWm_RZryO2BC0finnahLEzY8-v2sWO2ULoJBT-CCNhUmzsOQ5zYYoX7Sf4JT_1G6SqxlJXX2ptRXbYgiqhyphenhyphenzrGVbS7tEKLNm8zP-5SiioX6fYSoSHdHQkKi1JBoS-ebI3-WA4uUpvS/s320/2011-11-12+21.01.26.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On our way back to Sweden, we indulged my literary curiosity and stopped in Helsingør, more popularly known as Elsinore, the setting of William Shakespeare's Hamlet. Helsingør, as it currently stands, was founded in the 1420s by the Danish king Eric of Pomerania. He built the castle 'Krogen', which was expanded in the 1580s, renamed Kronborg and is now the main tourist attraction.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKdvnnc4PTJyVj8yaf5ghU0-JYIdWS6HiGv2aDSU9PLdsu1xS68KLIax3faOlRlrqYHmNUt_i4OV-bqve5tf5EuIuKlTxydoxRUDRmH70GcE68RVngakzdnbweT3dtlqk2z7dX96-xQXj/s1600/2011-11-13+12.03.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKdvnnc4PTJyVj8yaf5ghU0-JYIdWS6HiGv2aDSU9PLdsu1xS68KLIax3faOlRlrqYHmNUt_i4OV-bqve5tf5EuIuKlTxydoxRUDRmH70GcE68RVngakzdnbweT3dtlqk2z7dX96-xQXj/s320/2011-11-13+12.03.31.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkT7kT-kUsRs5v0vMl7TE4uTqAeUPaXI4C4xDgBGCiWOwgQgS3v8ZS5RllEOOuzb-OqkdAqkaDPEGYGTdRrMH6-Zi6ArLoNeuhzTk8ijNsEAbHbIzmjQ3f5tdlEM7ediHAYcCCfz9ssdk/s1600/2011-11-13+12.06.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkT7kT-kUsRs5v0vMl7TE4uTqAeUPaXI4C4xDgBGCiWOwgQgS3v8ZS5RllEOOuzb-OqkdAqkaDPEGYGTdRrMH6-Zi6ArLoNeuhzTk8ijNsEAbHbIzmjQ3f5tdlEM7ediHAYcCCfz9ssdk/s320/2011-11-13+12.06.03.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I don’t want to disagree with Marcellus, but as far as I could tell there is nothing rotten in the state of Denmark. We really had a wonderful time! Now back in Sweden, today marks our 90<sup>th</sup> day in the European Union. Our visas were approved just in time to avoid deportation; we’re now halfway through our stay and preparing to introduce the Thanksgiving Holiday to SAAB. </span></div>C. McCutchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152291515724192626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365490409020428818.post-65416439557046675562011-11-09T10:27:00.000+01:002011-11-09T10:27:51.236+01:00My Husband: My Constant Blessing<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I was a little kid (admittedly a nosey, little kid), probably no more than 6 years old, I found a love note my dad had written to my mom. I don’t remember it word for word, but it went something like this:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Things that are always true:<br />
1. The sun rises in the east<br />
2. Ice floats<br />
3. I love you</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At the time the most significant part of the note was the two cool science facts I just picked up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Ok, fine… I was a nosey, NERDY, little kid.) After all, I already knew my parents loved each other. What I’m realizing now as a married woman is how powerful a husband’s love can be.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixVhYjI08INzkJDVs2ldOmI-nUuwwuNx2K42ABIe5oK7WYmZ5RUnOh3XURtKwuiRuxdM0_RQmdqT5NFh3nIT_jWaB3GD9IkvB0ohyphenhyphen44uGSt1jpxZ4CVtDMqL2uhCz4xxZaCIM56x6uDrB6/s1600/Wedding+Pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixVhYjI08INzkJDVs2ldOmI-nUuwwuNx2K42ABIe5oK7WYmZ5RUnOh3XURtKwuiRuxdM0_RQmdqT5NFh3nIT_jWaB3GD9IkvB0ohyphenhyphen44uGSt1jpxZ4CVtDMqL2uhCz4xxZaCIM56x6uDrB6/s320/Wedding+Pic.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When Matthew and I were dating, he told me he first realized he loved me when he saw how happy I was and he knew he wanted to make me happy for the rest of my life. He works very hard to do just that. For seven years I have lived with his patience and forgiveness, his kindness, his humor, his intelligence, his spontaneity, and his generosity. He works hard so I can stay home with our daughter and his leadership for our family shows how dedicated he is to caring for us. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since I found my dad’s note, there are a few more things in life (besides death and taxes) I know for certain. I know that the Lord of all holds me in his hand, guides me and loves me, and forgives me daily through the blood of Christ for my countless failings. Through God’s lavish grace, I also know the certain and deep love of my precious husband, and I am most thankful for him.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIAeY2p7TP3_JBZ10PTkhRDXVA-71GlfBaD8ZV0czF0bSCjQQYjLlhMhPE82fIsJTrbLx1PTx5EotyeRxvMx8F9rvgGW5RWsrvSLck2_ejARSsLQg0Sw23gyoPvqH3KJIMsG2ZqjboZCRh/s1600/christinaandmatt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIAeY2p7TP3_JBZ10PTkhRDXVA-71GlfBaD8ZV0czF0bSCjQQYjLlhMhPE82fIsJTrbLx1PTx5EotyeRxvMx8F9rvgGW5RWsrvSLck2_ejARSsLQg0Sw23gyoPvqH3KJIMsG2ZqjboZCRh/s320/christinaandmatt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div>C. McCutchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152291515724192626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365490409020428818.post-61967859721839801382011-11-07T09:47:00.000+01:002011-11-07T09:47:08.713+01:00Visa... It's everywhere you want to be?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There’s a reason why pregnant women shouldn’t ride rollercoasters. Literally, you get jolted about and dragged along for the ups and downs, the sudden starts, stops, and drops. The emotional rollercoaster I was on last week felt much the same. Our visas are in limbo, and the coordinators at SAAB are trying to figure out what to do with us. As with most bureaucratic processes, the information available is murky and difficult to decipher. First, we were told, we would have to leave the EU for ten days and return to Sweden, or take a weekend trip outside of Sweden and then re-enter, or leave Sweden and return home to wait for our visas to be approved before returning, or apply for an interim tourist visa and stay in the country. It is a hassle for the company and emotionally draining for me. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It took most of the week for SAAB to verify what I learned on Wikipedia: if our visas are not approved we have to leave the European Union after 90 days (November 18) and wait to return when they are approved. After pleading with the migration services board, our visa application, for which an expedited processing request was originally denied, has been approved. However, since SAAB should have had our visas processed and approved before we even entered the country the embassy will not stamp our passports while we remain in Sweden.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In all honesty, I was hoping that these visa shenanigans were part of an elaborate, divine plan for God to get me home for Thanksgiving. While trying very hard to maintain some realistic expectations, I began trolling the Lufthansa website for three roundtrip tickets from Gothenburg to Orlando. Obviously, SAAB doesn’t want to spend $3000 so I can nosh on roasted turkey, mashed potatoes drenched in gravy, and a hearty slice of pumpkin pie slathered in whipped cream. (What?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m three months pregnant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Food is kind of a big deal right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t judge me.)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The current compromise is this: SAAB is sending us to Copenhagen. The plan is, if we go to Copenhagen for a few days, we can visit the Swedish Embassy office sometime between touring castles and spending too much money at the Lego store and get our visas stamped into our passports. All in all, it’s not a bad deal. We wanted to visit Copenhagen during our time here anyway and we were even hoping to go in November, so to be able to go without using up Matt’s vacation time or having to pay for our lodging is a very generous blessing.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Even with an exciting trip to plan, it is hard to start another week in Sweden. As much as I miss the food that I’m used to, being able to walk outside without bulky layers, and the freedom of my driver’s license and a full tank of gas; it’s my family and friends that I long to see. I can’t deny that part of me is still hoping our visas won’t be processed while we’re in Copenhagen and we’ll have to make a last minute dash to the land of the free and the home of the brave. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I can’t say for sure what God’s plan holds for our family, but I know that no matter where we are, he will be also… And I know I can trust him to take good care of us.</span></div>C. McCutchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152291515724192626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365490409020428818.post-55834412237022817662011-11-03T10:16:00.000+01:002011-11-03T10:16:26.946+01:00Light<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am consoling myself with candy corn that arrived this morning in box number I-can’t-even-keep-track-anymore from my parents. It seems that my move to Sweden will result in a financial bailout of the US Postal Service singlehandedly financed by my parents. Usually receiving a package from home is the highlight of my month, but today I find myself feeling melancholy even after tearing into the box like the birthday girl who’s had too much cake.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My mom is such a thoughtful person. Everything about receiving a box from home reminds me of her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her careful print addressing the box in bold black marker, the maternity pants that she washed before sending so I wouldn’t have more laundry to do, the cheery card with a happy puppy on the front, pumpkin spice candles because she knows how much I love them. She knows me. And I miss her. As I try not to cry into my laptop, my ever-sensitive daughter is wiping at my tears and hugging her delicate arms around my neck.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have so much to be thankful for, starting with my compassionate little girl, my caring parents, a husband who is dedicated to his family and diligent at work. I have a sturdy roof over my head, clothing to keep me warm, and food in the pantry. I have the freedom in my relationship with the God who is above all things and assurance that he will hear and answer my prayers. As the days become shorter I resolve to focus on these things; they bring light into my dark days.</span></div>C. McCutchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152291515724192626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365490409020428818.post-38824958123344272542011-10-29T18:33:00.001+02:002011-10-29T22:26:34.848+02:00Rooms Available -- Book Now!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">About a year ago, my small group at <a href="http://www.fbcoviedo.org/">First Baptist Church of Oviedo</a> encouraged us to take a <a href="http://ebcrochester.org/misc/php/LifeWaySpiritualGiftsSurvey.php">Spiritual Gifts Survey</a> to see how we can best serve the church. My results were interesting, but not surprising, ranking highest in administration, teaching, and hospitality. If you’ve spent much time with me, you’re probably grinning as you read this. I have an unusual affection for spreadsheets and checklists, I actually enjoyed (and sometimes miss) teaching middle school English for five years, and nothing makes me happier than planning a party, hosting girls’ night, or having friends over (for cupcakes, of course).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was overjoyed to use my talents at planning to prepare my home for our first set of visitors. Matthew’s grandmother, mother, and youngest sister came to visit for a week in October. A mundane grocery list takes on a higher calling when you’re planning meals for family you haven’t seen in months! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Top on our list of sights is Stadsparken, the city park across from our house. The trees are ablaze with red and gold autumn leaves, something my Florida eyes can’t seem to get used to. We also explored the nearby city of Gränna (population: 2600, about half the size of my high school!) where peppermint rock, locally known as polkagris, was invented.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9jLIO3GZn9oELxt-P1IW7TikXgwi0_2r58qLH4P5dzRQLm3TKKG2mTCJXmb1f3HDA7i0bXE1AqWx1kLuzw5eBFFQx14KsrznWlG8dnfU8rzoMAp_ne_InwjCc362pTAE28GAnNPdelVc/s1600/2011-10-18+13.15.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9jLIO3GZn9oELxt-P1IW7TikXgwi0_2r58qLH4P5dzRQLm3TKKG2mTCJXmb1f3HDA7i0bXE1AqWx1kLuzw5eBFFQx14KsrznWlG8dnfU8rzoMAp_ne_InwjCc362pTAE28GAnNPdelVc/s320/2011-10-18+13.15.38.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gracie and GG (Great Grandma) playing with the iPad</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peekaboo!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0eYt5ysoZ-7VSdtTodbk73K_gnL-RkpveeXe2aifQHbjWuaLOOTFHIxJQUW3N93mGWvyiPGrvF07wY6OGjDdMPYIR3FgtqEdP_dKhgGPcjVGR-c4QCZU5aDfKFB4g37vhDbfsUXfGucYw/s1600/2011-10-19+10.45.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0eYt5ysoZ-7VSdtTodbk73K_gnL-RkpveeXe2aifQHbjWuaLOOTFHIxJQUW3N93mGWvyiPGrvF07wY6OGjDdMPYIR3FgtqEdP_dKhgGPcjVGR-c4QCZU5aDfKFB4g37vhDbfsUXfGucYw/s320/2011-10-19+10.45.34.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzatNtCa90TUD9iHF67hNdw23nQDyAti-D9IgErn7gwCJl4PqMudJWU0GKn7XlLOBAdGHQZF5jfSPchtNGTk4z1gvQrK1bCc3XAGBRqbSm_K1Tul5HEV20jE2GTmOSCrwrROjTKxNfvtdl/s1600/2011-10-19+10.57.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzatNtCa90TUD9iHF67hNdw23nQDyAti-D9IgErn7gwCJl4PqMudJWU0GKn7XlLOBAdGHQZF5jfSPchtNGTk4z1gvQrK1bCc3XAGBRqbSm_K1Tul5HEV20jE2GTmOSCrwrROjTKxNfvtdl/s320/2011-10-19+10.57.09.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-BoD4jhoHLP6Zibmu0SKS42BMpscYPTgHUo3eNh4rCAbTgfE2Db5CvZY6V6u3136c0-RQxcAzbmBfjNVbmOB_0xP_cyS2lPM0LMf83X2zNOEmYNQRaY-JAMMzaxOvRszdZIHbs1pfy9p/s1600/2011-10-19+10.57.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-BoD4jhoHLP6Zibmu0SKS42BMpscYPTgHUo3eNh4rCAbTgfE2Db5CvZY6V6u3136c0-RQxcAzbmBfjNVbmOB_0xP_cyS2lPM0LMf83X2zNOEmYNQRaY-JAMMzaxOvRszdZIHbs1pfy9p/s320/2011-10-19+10.57.44.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ-g8MBH4IJ8D6e91TNLoppztMP7IBMXu-u16rzOITUDW0-hJeypVFoGKI8ZGMGW-bAI2kJhc2_UHCK6fGw0_sXAU9Ct5-6nDVQ5IeVneoa3YOohHN7JlGmQqAah8sLdIkxHRrCKCioInq/s1600/2011-10-19+11.09.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ-g8MBH4IJ8D6e91TNLoppztMP7IBMXu-u16rzOITUDW0-hJeypVFoGKI8ZGMGW-bAI2kJhc2_UHCK6fGw0_sXAU9Ct5-6nDVQ5IeVneoa3YOohHN7JlGmQqAah8sLdIkxHRrCKCioInq/s320/2011-10-19+11.09.51.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecL3rYi9QRqw0naYbjjDrRgDO95KHl5Mesd6djCVXNMmi2ckeImIQhGsrdh1w6ldxuYO1Hh9fegd-NOWep9Y_Sb-2uNdjP4K9m6eOLcOkcWfrlSbaxJZF9Y-WKFBv3ixhgYuolOfwjpsG/s1600/2011-10-19+11.38.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecL3rYi9QRqw0naYbjjDrRgDO95KHl5Mesd6djCVXNMmi2ckeImIQhGsrdh1w6ldxuYO1Hh9fegd-NOWep9Y_Sb-2uNdjP4K9m6eOLcOkcWfrlSbaxJZF9Y-WKFBv3ixhgYuolOfwjpsG/s320/2011-10-19+11.38.49.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joy in <span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Gränna</span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9FW50zvoRcdxSBD2WKVODYi0VCeBW9e_FLxlQ68J-ceTwx1t03dlDggDISZyazDNCWv5ph7pvYEN36Q5x0_ApyBy3zzh2dxcCNNNVVDGdqL4YHITm0lC69_ROHRSk6HwLRSQkC4YcxnN/s1600/IMG_5713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9FW50zvoRcdxSBD2WKVODYi0VCeBW9e_FLxlQ68J-ceTwx1t03dlDggDISZyazDNCWv5ph7pvYEN36Q5x0_ApyBy3zzh2dxcCNNNVVDGdqL4YHITm0lC69_ROHRSk6HwLRSQkC4YcxnN/s320/IMG_5713.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Though our time passed altogether too quickly we enjoyed sharing our new home and acquaintances with them. Gracie loved having new people to play with during the day and I enjoyed having some extra time for a nap! I hope these pictures have encouraged you to book your visit at Villa Furulid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would love to have you stay with us!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I promise to make some tasty food while you’re here!</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI0baG8D-rfHaB036KBT7vha8VjFIBY-4phKwixEYhVTb3bgrhbDu0VqPvgLyVz5g-ftpLxzykAWbXnQN1p6VJN2ZuLNd91ZECe9ImqRbE0Spr63CJDI4EC2n3swLfoVHgwue6Y6P4pnjV/s1600/2011-10-20+08.41.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI0baG8D-rfHaB036KBT7vha8VjFIBY-4phKwixEYhVTb3bgrhbDu0VqPvgLyVz5g-ftpLxzykAWbXnQN1p6VJN2ZuLNd91ZECe9ImqRbE0Spr63CJDI4EC2n3swLfoVHgwue6Y6P4pnjV/s320/2011-10-20+08.41.01.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakfast included!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZuQWMO2GOgzErc_hhLw_NafvqUPK0dBv6OS2kabOr_2sk333pwYPGscyl31qrT9g5Q3f03NLMYUNDIGondrI_FMNyLqEXl7I7_GL6w-KNBo70XRF9wumxtXN7EhD3TpL-4ja0vCmRpqfL/s1600/2011-10-19+18.05.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZuQWMO2GOgzErc_hhLw_NafvqUPK0dBv6OS2kabOr_2sk333pwYPGscyl31qrT9g5Q3f03NLMYUNDIGondrI_FMNyLqEXl7I7_GL6w-KNBo70XRF9wumxtXN7EhD3TpL-4ja0vCmRpqfL/s320/2011-10-19+18.05.21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yKpRLpFsOJ2ToKKsLJh942zaPPyI8wq6IJe7Kx798GdQSFo1awzK-qVus4N90H3fHz1tfj4C_NenfKEf3s3HiEPND1uovkH4UVrO0ZstfkM6DaE0A33CVpnQ1RSzvLjmFTw09-60vjPk/s1600/2011-10-18+17.38.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yKpRLpFsOJ2ToKKsLJh942zaPPyI8wq6IJe7Kx798GdQSFo1awzK-qVus4N90H3fHz1tfj4C_NenfKEf3s3HiEPND1uovkH4UVrO0ZstfkM6DaE0A33CVpnQ1RSzvLjmFTw09-60vjPk/s320/2011-10-18+17.38.52.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner is also included (We're practically a resort!)</td></tr>
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</div>C. McCutchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152291515724192626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365490409020428818.post-83981838595879874972011-10-25T09:32:00.000+02:002011-10-25T09:32:18.277+02:00SURPRISE!!!My very favorite mom and dad are celebrated their thirtieth wedding anniversary this week. I'm sure all kids say this when their parents reach a major milestone like this, but I can't think of two people who have better demonstrated love, patience, humor, forgiveness, and determination throughout their years together. I am so thankful for the work they have put into making their marriage an example of how rewarding a Christ centered relationship can be.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhciGGuzMN5snrdi7YvN_U5m9BdPFGnkei2lqxZc5d7iY854WT-eq5DCgZOJyIeql9mH5DeCMJ6U2sw9Xp53ldgiorkvfxAimwIJE5mYSNRVJ5e2YoP5pVEpE-dJ2hzBhLw1fLZ7PVUp5gb/s1600/2011-10-11+09.53.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhciGGuzMN5snrdi7YvN_U5m9BdPFGnkei2lqxZc5d7iY854WT-eq5DCgZOJyIeql9mH5DeCMJ6U2sw9Xp53ldgiorkvfxAimwIJE5mYSNRVJ5e2YoP5pVEpE-dJ2hzBhLw1fLZ7PVUp5gb/s320/2011-10-11+09.53.24.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
My parents are smart enough to realize what an accomplishment it is to spend three decades together so they celebrated by taking a dream trip to Europe. Seizing the opportunity, Gracie and I booked two tickets from Gothenburg to Frankfurt to surprise them for the last few days of their trip.<br />
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Now, I want to take a minute here to try to convince you that I’m not bragging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, yes, it is undeniably awesome to be able to buy a dirt cheap ticket and hop a ninety minute flight to Germany.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, what I want you to realize is that this is completely out of character for me. I’m not a brave person. Taking a two-year-old through not one, but TWO airports where I don’t speak the native language and have to rely on cave painting graphics just to find a bathroom is intimidating to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As is airport security, hoping that my luggage won’t get lost, and praying to a kind and merciful God that the aforementioned toddler won’t completely lose it during the flight. This is how desperate I was to see my parents.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVaNYs26QfqFRFiD_ycLbXGj7KFNJKIg0u1v9xPeMsctxRvDG0X4akEe0OQUeJO4HtUZh_d9FoBdP37-I8jEqYw-4Tz5iYY5X0gkoaEqdsBNlYXr3lsiTisv-ySAPdBnfnFZNtzZdpSUac/s1600/2011-10-08+13.03.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVaNYs26QfqFRFiD_ycLbXGj7KFNJKIg0u1v9xPeMsctxRvDG0X4akEe0OQUeJO4HtUZh_d9FoBdP37-I8jEqYw-4Tz5iYY5X0gkoaEqdsBNlYXr3lsiTisv-ySAPdBnfnFZNtzZdpSUac/s320/2011-10-08+13.03.40.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lufthansa has pretty good food on their flights...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>My worries were, as usual, completely unfounded. We landed in Frankfurt without incident and my father (and partner in crime) was waiting outside baggage claim with my very excited mother. I can’t describe how overjoyed I was to see my parents after all this time, but if I were filming a reality TV show there would have been plenty of tears to document. <br />
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We spent three wonderful days together exploring Schweinfurt and Rothenberg in the somewhat warmer weather, enjoying delicious German food, and the company of Gracie’s great-great-grandmother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has been so important to me that my Granny and Gracie would meet, and I am thankful that our move to Sweden and its close proximity to Germany helped make that possible. My sweet Elisabeth Grace is proudly named after my Granny, the youngest of five generations in my family currently living with Elisabeth (or Elizabeth) in our name. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3B_t4iKF9-alYpAhh5h8pIFQtCa3pNuGCFWy8ydyTRqOuvez0CkcOGzqipvKF9pUaK_Duj-e8iCMSrZ0XaPa5rzq_UnVTw4DxsZUJRb13L3k7gt3yUyIm5Le37rm3RDGIELn8asiYRiGT/s1600/DSC00839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3B_t4iKF9-alYpAhh5h8pIFQtCa3pNuGCFWy8ydyTRqOuvez0CkcOGzqipvKF9pUaK_Duj-e8iCMSrZ0XaPa5rzq_UnVTw4DxsZUJRb13L3k7gt3yUyIm5Le37rm3RDGIELn8asiYRiGT/s320/DSC00839.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gracie thought this was a princess castle.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8daXg90MzjiRU3EYy-n1_Dn_4kXmMdlnYIo4q7cv9utVGJQFxgiCeaNykvlekWo-yegfiaEYUqPAJdiBgzUFEv4G6EC0JLFWEXuLkif33jStuYb1fBj2nY9Q1Lkd8yFhqKklezGjVv7fs/s1600/IMG_5671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8daXg90MzjiRU3EYy-n1_Dn_4kXmMdlnYIo4q7cv9utVGJQFxgiCeaNykvlekWo-yegfiaEYUqPAJdiBgzUFEv4G6EC0JLFWEXuLkif33jStuYb1fBj2nY9Q1Lkd8yFhqKklezGjVv7fs/s320/IMG_5671.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_hhTUKRlDF-YKzphgXZwuEW-B-XjqZk3qP2DiV1TxvbHq7i1KNvHClRoN5OTj4zZKyduCsNTKCUEEAIM5QVrEUaJuO1o9_MV52T9_axT_pmJlEB_Y1e0JivE3YAYONoh6N6SSQhrEWLWY/s1600/DSC00854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_hhTUKRlDF-YKzphgXZwuEW-B-XjqZk3qP2DiV1TxvbHq7i1KNvHClRoN5OTj4zZKyduCsNTKCUEEAIM5QVrEUaJuO1o9_MV52T9_axT_pmJlEB_Y1e0JivE3YAYONoh6N6SSQhrEWLWY/s320/DSC00854.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4xeJ1Orn0sLrQJ6vyVcXyH1ALTuwevSn5mW39aRBfFzJ-tDUhOQEv9WpuooBAg2xs-JNvUCmkwcY3HBtM5LxFeENs0MwOhCSVwkR_f_xL7DxhHU3ll0TD8gyhsSu_sBq-YctOD2p8z03/s1600/IMG_5680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4xeJ1Orn0sLrQJ6vyVcXyH1ALTuwevSn5mW39aRBfFzJ-tDUhOQEv9WpuooBAg2xs-JNvUCmkwcY3HBtM5LxFeENs0MwOhCSVwkR_f_xL7DxhHU3ll0TD8gyhsSu_sBq-YctOD2p8z03/s320/IMG_5680.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is there anything better than a fresh German pastry?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOxnkFWyraQPdLoYOWOZ1zofDfXXYibSfHBl8NSO-_poUYu8W7YSyeTDa6Kh23D6rAEd6eZ2HxoFyPhezNuWqmFwwuJ-u_cmVY0zP_uiZZOSC7-wNX6xJvSQq8QzbpvN6wfIfzynTXxDIn/s1600/2011-10-10+11.39.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOxnkFWyraQPdLoYOWOZ1zofDfXXYibSfHBl8NSO-_poUYu8W7YSyeTDa6Kh23D6rAEd6eZ2HxoFyPhezNuWqmFwwuJ-u_cmVY0zP_uiZZOSC7-wNX6xJvSQq8QzbpvN6wfIfzynTXxDIn/s320/2011-10-10+11.39.55.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ok, we had some American food too...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDYFHQZ3sqMdAd0KATpAu37ZUAm_2Qnyzre5qJ92oapzz-akW5v0K-LOUtpToW3VeA8EmaxmRVs67FmGdOd5ZURDbRLSn9L1NtSOkyFYgjn7RBJKBdES8q4HTSNEVwxqsm5ARoyIpMJNQ/s1600/2011-10-10+20.56.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDYFHQZ3sqMdAd0KATpAu37ZUAm_2Qnyzre5qJ92oapzz-akW5v0K-LOUtpToW3VeA8EmaxmRVs67FmGdOd5ZURDbRLSn9L1NtSOkyFYgjn7RBJKBdES8q4HTSNEVwxqsm5ARoyIpMJNQ/s320/2011-10-10+20.56.46.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It turns out they both love Angry Birds</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPSTum9hX5HgMn3CF8Riq7PvQJ23FCHJ9_LCV_Ilz_WKXulJ7J5N_eawbPHYudi6V3pSSOSpsLRoL0VvN3KwERD5j6o5qHGDXVFmWF8SSzHzOOuLPIKTvWmNdaIkiiX1USe3joojOIm9MC/s1600/DSC00905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPSTum9hX5HgMn3CF8Riq7PvQJ23FCHJ9_LCV_Ilz_WKXulJ7J5N_eawbPHYudi6V3pSSOSpsLRoL0VvN3KwERD5j6o5qHGDXVFmWF8SSzHzOOuLPIKTvWmNdaIkiiX1USe3joojOIm9MC/s320/DSC00905.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you can't act like an idiot with your parents, when can you?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdkky8_DP5efeAQAAjzhhXnSqqkVugnLInTRRYkvkkh4znTV9C35VdP_wIdF2ealmQ8qtjjPN9i7eCGS9rTfZd7gleFnEK2GV7ZP6JDlt26gGads-fjH4bNzsSvcrrOtBghXxq-yB4nQJG/s1600/DSC00879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdkky8_DP5efeAQAAjzhhXnSqqkVugnLInTRRYkvkkh4znTV9C35VdP_wIdF2ealmQ8qtjjPN9i7eCGS9rTfZd7gleFnEK2GV7ZP6JDlt26gGads-fjH4bNzsSvcrrOtBghXxq-yB4nQJG/s320/DSC00879.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Four out of five generations of Elisabeths. Gracie is seated next to her Great-Great-Grandmother!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> The trip was delightful and the whole scheme was a success; mom was surprised when she arrived at the airport, and then surprised again when I told my parents that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I will be having another baby in May!</b> What a relief to finally be able to share this happy news with my parents! Knowing that I would be able to tell them in person was the only thing that kept my lips sealed for three long weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And now that YOU know, dear readers, I ask you to join us in prayer for this precious child. Please pray for healthy development for the baby, energy for me, and that we will continually put our family in God’s ever-capable, loving, and merciful hands.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtL69U0NfMVlBeiiIJJXm0_EVmfplDZj8GnnQgup4uYZ1ns0KrCUyvZTiCCMnck3Ai_mIKDc8RcJ2QVIbSF0Z58dWaC6kbo_ZNxE3bZC1LyAPP-UuvmoJvEQGfRgGr2NtEp1l3F7CJ2TX/s1600/IMG_5698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtL69U0NfMVlBeiiIJJXm0_EVmfplDZj8GnnQgup4uYZ1ns0KrCUyvZTiCCMnck3Ai_mIKDc8RcJ2QVIbSF0Z58dWaC6kbo_ZNxE3bZC1LyAPP-UuvmoJvEQGfRgGr2NtEp1l3F7CJ2TX/s320/IMG_5698.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>C. McCutchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152291515724192626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365490409020428818.post-54376009523678967212011-10-14T10:26:00.000+02:002011-10-14T10:26:26.330+02:00A Good ExcuseMy dear readers, I have failed you. I really try to update my blog on a weekly basis, but it just hasn't happened this month. Here's why:<br />
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<strong>1. Gracie no longer takes naps during the day.</strong> While a 2-3 hour afternoon nap allows me to do things like update my blog and eat Pringles without being stalked, it also means the girl is up until after eleven at night, and that's unacceptable.<br />
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<strong>2. I fall asleep by 10.</strong> Now that Gracie goes to bed at a reasonable hour, so do I. It's delightful. You should try it.<br />
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<strong>3. I left the country. </strong>Have passport, will travel. My parents were in Germany, and I couldn't let a little thing like an 90 minute flight keep me from seeing them. I'll tell you all about it in my next post... in a week or so.C. McCutchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152291515724192626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365490409020428818.post-35953433261831546362011-09-28T23:51:00.000+02:002011-09-28T23:51:21.047+02:00A Little Potty Humor<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">During the past two weekends we’ve stayed close to home to explore a bit of the local attractions <span class="st">Jönköping </span>and neighboring Huskvarna (the city where Matt works) have to offer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While we enjoyed what we saw and I took lots of beautiful pictures to share, I’m just too tired to write a sufficient description for you, so I’m saving them for another week.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My exhaustion is due in small part to the nonstop work that is potty training.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After several conversations with fellow MOPS moms (oh, how I miss MOPS!) that were simultaneously laugh-out-loud funny and distressing, we decided to go with the bare-bottom method.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, this helped initiate the timing of our adventure; if I’m going to have a half-naked rugrat running around the living room I have to do it before it gets too cold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After surprisingly few accidents, and virtually no prompting from me, Gracie is now able to determine when she needs to use the potty and get herself there in time to do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our quick success is due in part to a savvy real estate negotiation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We now have a hot pink princess potty adorning the center of our living room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, better a plastic potty that a puddle, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We’re also moving on to thinner and prettier butt-covers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why wear unflattering Pampers with that telltale sag when you have a drawer full of princess panties to coordinate with every outfit?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yes, they have to match the outfit or she won’t wear them.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCU-Cj4gpw0cRpPAHT6049AlcBVRRTpOffgX83kT0ZGQN7b6LIKOvVbzxr274sb26I4IdYqgX_lC1gXoD1DqQa_cr-KcT8F52OHV0shFPqm7HFAEFkTjDpZKMsKMfHliZ2G3HrYmBNZmQy/s1600/2011-09-09+16.30.45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCU-Cj4gpw0cRpPAHT6049AlcBVRRTpOffgX83kT0ZGQN7b6LIKOvVbzxr274sb26I4IdYqgX_lC1gXoD1DqQa_cr-KcT8F52OHV0shFPqm7HFAEFkTjDpZKMsKMfHliZ2G3HrYmBNZmQy/s320/2011-09-09+16.30.45.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Eventually we’ll get to the point where we’re living totally diaper free, but we’re still not quite brave enough to leave the house without some assurance of absorbency.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Diapers also still show up at naptime (Why? She naps on a white couch!) and bedtime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But cutting down to two or three a day is doing wonders for my budget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gracie may yet have a shot at a college fund. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Though it sounds silly to ask, please pray for perseverance and patience for both Gracie and myself. It’s exhausting and exciting watching your little one grow up, and it does funny things to the way your brain works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I leave you with this incredibly inept parody that I’m sure makes Robert Frost turn over in his grave.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Whose seat this is I think I know.<br />
It sits beside the TV, though;<br />
She will not go in the bathroom<br />
Where toilets flush and water flows.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My neighbors all must think it queer<br />
To see my daughter’s little rear<br />
Dancing naked inside my house<br />
But it’s a sight I find quite dear.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The seat is plastic, pink, and bright,<br />
And though a decorator’s blight, <br />
If she will use it, it’s alright,<br />
If she will use it, it’s alright.</span></div>C. McCutchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152291515724192626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365490409020428818.post-5714214687643140682011-09-20T15:23:00.000+02:002011-09-20T15:23:46.759+02:00My House the Mathnasium<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We moved to Sweden just after Central Florida kids bemoaned the end of summer and started a new school year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This means that my last week at home was spent, by and large, removing tutoring advertisements hanging from my front door and dodging rowdy kids fresh off the afternoon school bus on my way to collect the mail. One of the more amusing (and persistent, arriving via the door and the mail box) advertisements we received was for Mathnasium.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently math can be fun AND make sense. While I’ve never struggled with math as a subject (I do have twelve credit hours of calculus tacked on to my English Language Arts Education degree) I can’t say I’ve ever classified it as fun either.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I find myself using math all too frequently here, an occurrence that I find both annoying and amusing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To date, I have no idea how much I’m paying for gas; Swedish Kroner per liter requires not only figuring out the current exchange rate, but also how many liters are in a gallon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too much calculating for me, I’ll just wait for an unpleasant little surprise on my credit card statement. And cooking, which I used to find relaxing, now feels like a chemistry experiment. For starters, I didn’t even realize my liquid measuring cup had gradations in deciliters. And setting the oven is like a game of Russian roulette.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oh, United States, I blame you for this. I understand that change is difficult, but if you had only tried a little harder back when Congress passed the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 before giving up on your carefully planned decade-long transition, my personal transition to Sweden would have been so much simpler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I had grown up in a world where temperatures were measured in Celsius rather than Fahrenheit, liquid volume in liters rather than cups, and weight in kilograms instead of pounds, I might actually be able to blend in as a European. The last time I had to think in metric was for my AP Physics class, a good eleven years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, I am left desperately grasping my cellphone, woefully reliant upon my ConvertPad app (a fantastic free Android app) just to figure out the temperature and how much cucumbers cost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s not all bad though. I enjoy seeing my weight in kilograms (I see kilos, but think pounds) and my computer is courteous enough to display the week’s weather in Fahrenheit so I can plan accordingly. My attempts at estimation are getting faster and more accurate, so I’m actually spending only slightly more at the grocery store here than I did in the states.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I’m still really good at counting. Today Gracie and I counted at least thirty ducks in the pond, we got two cards in the mail, and I baked one plum cake. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And, for those of you counting along at home, we left Florida exactly one month ago. At this rate, I’ll be back to ounces, teaspoons, and miles per gallon before I know it!</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4wr8Y-riJF0hU2DhPe7Wxvoyy6n_Qs-RVoh6lEnlvPU3WJtbKvObIonIUk3PJQKjkxjF5vgBMkWo85uSKUXRlpy-8fRnUGrXHA4H2Qf7HZeVFeqTP5RF2z0jN-R9U5UhOWPoUxGMXb7i/s1600/2011-09-20+12.14.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4wr8Y-riJF0hU2DhPe7Wxvoyy6n_Qs-RVoh6lEnlvPU3WJtbKvObIonIUk3PJQKjkxjF5vgBMkWo85uSKUXRlpy-8fRnUGrXHA4H2Qf7HZeVFeqTP5RF2z0jN-R9U5UhOWPoUxGMXb7i/s320/2011-09-20+12.14.35.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How to make a two-year-old happy.</td></tr>
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<div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQKH72t51t4zAUBHGJ9His5EY8asIHbP84PcODcdTPvfkBWcLlK2YjmW2tWcAYcKBnzUmJGr218kuWimqeEnT7oJvDFc21PXUaflxMgzSbolQbNxhNtq9U-ragSATEUmazFSniGTa0g0Q/s1600/2011-09-20+12.16.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQKH72t51t4zAUBHGJ9His5EY8asIHbP84PcODcdTPvfkBWcLlK2YjmW2tWcAYcKBnzUmJGr218kuWimqeEnT7oJvDFc21PXUaflxMgzSbolQbNxhNtq9U-ragSATEUmazFSniGTa0g0Q/s320/2011-09-20+12.16.06.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div>C. McCutchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152291515724192626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365490409020428818.post-52796828069863556012011-09-10T00:02:00.000+02:002011-09-10T00:02:55.053+02:00The New NormalIt's funny how quickly three weeks can reset your "normal" view of things. Life in Florida for the past sixteen years had me convinced that rainy, sixty degree days qualified as winter weather. My stay-at-home-mom routine consisted of at least one daily outing, lest I succumb to cabin fever, and my day always began with a morning phone call to my mother. My new normal, though not exciting, is beginning to take shape. And, as is life wherever one lives, there are things I truly enjoy and things that are *this close* to pushing me over the edge to full-fledged crazy.<br />
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I am learning not to waste sunny days and sixty degree weather. When the sun is out the kiddo and I are becoming brave enough to venture out with the jogging stroller and GPS-enabled cell phone to explore our new home. We've walked downtown, to the local grocery store, to feed the ducks, and to the playground. I enjoy the exercise. I enjoy the conversations Gracie and I have. After all, she's one of the few people I know here who is a native English speaker. I enjoy the feeling of accomplishment in successfully navigating to our location and eventually getting back up the hill to our house.<br />
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I am immensely enjoying the Bible study I've started attending. Gracie naps on the couch in our living room, so I can't default to mindless television viewing during naptime. There's only so much time you can waste on Facebook when all of your friends are six hours behind you, so I'm making more of my day by spending time in God's Word and the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Twelve-Extraordinary-Women-Shaped-Bible/dp/1400280281/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1315603861&sr=8-1">Twelve Extraordinary Women</a> we're reading about.<br />
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I'm learning to enjoy cooking real food with real ingredients again. I didn't realize how strong my reliance on convenience food and dining out had become, especially right before we moved, but neither is a viable option in Sweden. Though some convenience foods are available at the local ICA Maxi Supermarket, I can't read the labels to clearly identify the ingredients and my fear of accidental seafood ingestion keeps me from purchasing them. Restaurant dining in Sweden is decidedly expensive, relegating it rightfully to an occasional indulgence.<br />
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Today seemed to sum up these new things I'm enjoying. I woke early, checked my email, Facebook, and US News in that order (priorities...), prayed for my family, and avoided walking on our creaky wooden floors until Gracie called for me from her bed. We enjoyed a breakfast of Multi-Cheerios, cleaned the house, and prepped dinner. We took two slices of bread to feed 80 ducks in the pond up the hill (my thoughts at the time were a mix between the loaves and fishes miracle and Hitchcock's <u>The Birds</u>), and then spent an hour at the Stadsparks Playground. We returned for lunch, Skyped with my parents, ordered a moss green slipcover for the couch (we had a run in with an orange crayon on the white rental couch yesterday), took a nap (worked on my Bible study) and then made some brownies. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZ6bgT6nDMVryDmuWDPk_0YHxe9-1E3olfzmCq30C-okmcXNEp83yKnvD9GO42w0jyIXbF1nwSdlMaSL0N70vaph9rCp-Bsqlta5C49bt155NNiZakjOTIE3pi6y0M3xJ81V49ZhPzxgV/s1600/2011-09-09+12.00.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZ6bgT6nDMVryDmuWDPk_0YHxe9-1E3olfzmCq30C-okmcXNEp83yKnvD9GO42w0jyIXbF1nwSdlMaSL0N70vaph9rCp-Bsqlta5C49bt155NNiZakjOTIE3pi6y0M3xJ81V49ZhPzxgV/s320/2011-09-09+12.00.06.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD4OIPxJHxpCpIlktRw-LZ8vqZPv46m5uTq1trA7yIlMSeygEADDjhvgKsTjXm6aozBiu_AQ-4I5HTgAi9puTFs_7juA5f91eUj1HhQD6r8XmYgwuHfrP7cfopzsZF2VhD0dOv61-X99uD/s1600/2011-09-09+11.40.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD4OIPxJHxpCpIlktRw-LZ8vqZPv46m5uTq1trA7yIlMSeygEADDjhvgKsTjXm6aozBiu_AQ-4I5HTgAi9puTFs_7juA5f91eUj1HhQD6r8XmYgwuHfrP7cfopzsZF2VhD0dOv61-X99uD/s320/2011-09-09+11.40.16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7VTIXcU5io9xdPJliGgLsiL-JrRMzeEaVvQ7DXnM0e3FPb_2nUgCU98Lsc6MfQPAJ4gfz54vAwBRvTlNpZxhpFJTrYME9x5P6jh2B5v8NvlKviVMt727gAXQnZm5m0VFuHZhxO69N5w-/s1600/2011-09-09+12.01.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7VTIXcU5io9xdPJliGgLsiL-JrRMzeEaVvQ7DXnM0e3FPb_2nUgCU98Lsc6MfQPAJ4gfz54vAwBRvTlNpZxhpFJTrYME9x5P6jh2B5v8NvlKviVMt727gAXQnZm5m0VFuHZhxO69N5w-/s320/2011-09-09+12.01.19.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
I know it's not exciting, but it's fulfilling. I made my daughter happy. I took care of my home. And now I'm going to bed feeling content. Besides a quick chat with my mother and a sleeping dog at my feet, what more could one ask for?C. McCutchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152291515724192626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365490409020428818.post-48835675216491705352011-09-05T16:50:00.000+02:002011-09-05T16:50:20.396+02:00Our Visby VacationThis weekend Matt and I decided to take advantage of the warm weather (our temperatures here seem to be making a rapid descent into autumn) and hop the ferry to the island of Gotland, Sweden's largest island and the largest island in the Baltic Sea. Our final destination was the city of Visby, a UNESCO World Heritage site and remarkably preserved medieval walled city. Now, I get excited just going to the Medieval Times Dinner Theater, so staying in a town that dates from the 12th century was a real treat for me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9o8x4rXGVbB1w-e__-4Pi_edd5SCJUNvi4-BjGpKNgKHdrzaVolEE-2X4dHPubs-h7eAENs0WVvT57SGRj6c-011AglGePg97Vb4mz3gO4qTI3_x7V-UGovmHNm_sRT_W552EqNRrPM_/s1600/2011-09-03+13.21.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9o8x4rXGVbB1w-e__-4Pi_edd5SCJUNvi4-BjGpKNgKHdrzaVolEE-2X4dHPubs-h7eAENs0WVvT57SGRj6c-011AglGePg97Vb4mz3gO4qTI3_x7V-UGovmHNm_sRT_W552EqNRrPM_/s320/2011-09-03+13.21.16.jpg" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the top of the hill you get a great view Visby all the way to the Baltic Sea</td></tr>
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To begin our mini-adventure, we had to drive from Jönköping to Oskarshamn. During the two hour drive, we realized that the Swedish countryside is (1) breathtaking and (2) devoid of highways in the American sense of the word. Apparently, driving across Sweden is something to be enjoyed, not just accomplished, and (GPS malfunctions notwithstanding) enjoy it we did! From Oskarshamn we boarded the ferry and settled in for another three hours.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAfqzbc97H_zuOGTeCel6MjZneTzApuxid603-KuA1yWAhMosuTE0nbzT-5QweCLcZQUXeiE59YDIHTUVafiPKfI8wOcxFLP7rR2t-z8O_T2R9B7wUyFSdrYAg-t4jL0AXkoJWipSd0NZ/s1600/IMG_5216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAfqzbc97H_zuOGTeCel6MjZneTzApuxid603-KuA1yWAhMosuTE0nbzT-5QweCLcZQUXeiE59YDIHTUVafiPKfI8wOcxFLP7rR2t-z8O_T2R9B7wUyFSdrYAg-t4jL0AXkoJWipSd0NZ/s320/IMG_5216.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaving Oskarshamn</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgynCr7ct9kFmcCV9V73VpkWgV3jiRKmjCRSRVMo8iOKS2zHWdutuVLiV2op3CaHLkq7AnCGWbAIIbSb6XecWXZj2DiUuuxpUOxOHSwLscCCBLHn9PRh4vQRBQhE2C7yLshsPbUiWXvjKUZ/s1600/IMG_5535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgynCr7ct9kFmcCV9V73VpkWgV3jiRKmjCRSRVMo8iOKS2zHWdutuVLiV2op3CaHLkq7AnCGWbAIIbSb6XecWXZj2DiUuuxpUOxOHSwLscCCBLHn9PRh4vQRBQhE2C7yLshsPbUiWXvjKUZ/s320/IMG_5535.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On board our ferry</td></tr>
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Our reservations in the city of roses and ruins were at the Medieval Hotel, originally built in 1302. Our room was small, but comfortable, the breakfast buffet delectable, and the location was perfect. From our room we could see the towers and hear the bells of the Visby Cathedral, built in 1225, and dedicated to Saint Mary. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwbVCQ09SUw7aQtTjTmIwCJqDywAD8pOy0gayjH6TWtoj4Ftqjj-8mbBgdEdnyV5NVcasLZJlOgFKA1zHca9wUGgCQhU0xpGgoCYlRTS8eESlJIhcp_GEFunfNxKofmtDDeBCu9gZSqPH/s1600/IMG_5242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwbVCQ09SUw7aQtTjTmIwCJqDywAD8pOy0gayjH6TWtoj4Ftqjj-8mbBgdEdnyV5NVcasLZJlOgFKA1zHca9wUGgCQhU0xpGgoCYlRTS8eESlJIhcp_GEFunfNxKofmtDDeBCu9gZSqPH/s320/IMG_5242.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As Gracie would say "It's Eat Time!"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4ehdHIRABxJ5Y_dirW6XT680GW-02qJ4LxG8fF2_URfwvvCGGASO1sTsbMoclsU_A5VnqBtGk1YkCNt688nWBLs9h2vk23_9vfB2IglDHUrYK7tgFq9ZpcHv_JntmUDIuo1TnW9I_8SH/s1600/IMG_5253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4ehdHIRABxJ5Y_dirW6XT680GW-02qJ4LxG8fF2_URfwvvCGGASO1sTsbMoclsU_A5VnqBtGk1YkCNt688nWBLs9h2vk23_9vfB2IglDHUrYK7tgFq9ZpcHv_JntmUDIuo1TnW9I_8SH/s320/IMG_5253.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had a room with a view!</td></tr>
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After breakfast we started on foot to find bicycles to rent for the day. What should have been a ten minute walk took over an hour since we completely lost our focus every time we saw a set of ruins, or a beautiful garden, or stone sheep. (Gotland Sheep were established by the Vikings and are famous for their silky grey and black fleece.) Eventually we rented our bikes and enjoyed the city of Visby, the Ringmuren (Ring Wall), views of the Baltic Sea, and the Gotland Museum. We took over 400 pictures in the 24 hours we spent in Visby, so I tried to select the best ones for you. Enjoy!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGZNWy2QnRkpgrjFcbs7Nzydcl1RMl4-TQcZYfGYjcITvqGrfPS4OAP0adEjBCu2zhAWgKbQGVtTs5KgUNdVPqjOjpY8_63jEOJ56e8oCd49MvhglGKTRMVZSNzswQckaFKuGt0zPbHM-/s1600/IMG_5264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGZNWy2QnRkpgrjFcbs7Nzydcl1RMl4-TQcZYfGYjcITvqGrfPS4OAP0adEjBCu2zhAWgKbQGVtTs5KgUNdVPqjOjpY8_63jEOJ56e8oCd49MvhglGKTRMVZSNzswQckaFKuGt0zPbHM-/s320/IMG_5264.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaving our hotel in search of adventure!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is why we left the stroller in the room.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think Gracie sat on every stone sheep in Visby.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We finally got our bikes! This is the main entrance to the city.</td></tr>
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The Gotland Museum had some great artifacts (including REAL VIKINGS), but since flash photography was forbidden, clear pictures were few and far between.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside of the museum</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi489O3PG4t-AVhLPabKHRxgeXgmshbLkYcrwiD2dtmBAKgr4WTwwNNECsW_YEFMhk7x6gFbKvG78iCGWWfcXNhGnFSDZ39hIn-YsSKYG5ED2xbQuSyLVpycwwNIw0Or_aWlAOZDJ2zLzKz/s1600/IMG_5389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi489O3PG4t-AVhLPabKHRxgeXgmshbLkYcrwiD2dtmBAKgr4WTwwNNECsW_YEFMhk7x6gFbKvG78iCGWWfcXNhGnFSDZ39hIn-YsSKYG5ED2xbQuSyLVpycwwNIw0Or_aWlAOZDJ2zLzKz/s320/IMG_5389.JPG" width="240" xaa="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look! A Viking! Actually, this is a female viking, wearing jewelry around her neck. Gracie bluntly told me she was dead and not to take pictures.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3vXxdDIa67sbGCxMcXBP7VCHqHH3k6eUlcEHhdA29jwhXjYdZyxk5C2PfR_kAB_VE_W79mS5yU6DHguTU8jqfPK8VAcFa61B0-_gYNdSfEcp80PgKtUZ-jK94q3w-e2k7ujD-CuHVOCF/s1600/IMG_5390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3vXxdDIa67sbGCxMcXBP7VCHqHH3k6eUlcEHhdA29jwhXjYdZyxk5C2PfR_kAB_VE_W79mS5yU6DHguTU8jqfPK8VAcFa61B0-_gYNdSfEcp80PgKtUZ-jK94q3w-e2k7ujD-CuHVOCF/s320/IMG_5390.JPG" width="240" xaa="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Runestone</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgHf33esOVvOhulgPD4mSADhrcnf6dwJmIwoPe3SuCESKIb1hlHefy0bQF2mjGdKCWf66muKOwDAyBgci1ovLyNPJJvDI2XPoS5t7cLObH3-NNzP3AgH67hwlvcFb09CHziIg5Pq_eM21/s1600/IMG_5421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgHf33esOVvOhulgPD4mSADhrcnf6dwJmIwoPe3SuCESKIb1hlHefy0bQF2mjGdKCWf66muKOwDAyBgci1ovLyNPJJvDI2XPoS5t7cLObH3-NNzP3AgH67hwlvcFb09CHziIg5Pq_eM21/s320/IMG_5421.JPG" width="240" xaa="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From one of the many church ruins</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgln2FsJ3Yk_mWBvf1eQT_t_QNW8i2VixxZeRf05PXkdMjCay4Rfn36JMDWTtNLgTn44MXTFwampHP-ltJeM3hQ1CjWL7x1evpywfdZQDuMulEBZ3DyDAjhIOj7fFNMwYLLjGDiQ41Nyx5t/s1600/IMG_5427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgln2FsJ3Yk_mWBvf1eQT_t_QNW8i2VixxZeRf05PXkdMjCay4Rfn36JMDWTtNLgTn44MXTFwampHP-ltJeM3hQ1CjWL7x1evpywfdZQDuMulEBZ3DyDAjhIOj7fFNMwYLLjGDiQ41Nyx5t/s320/IMG_5427.JPG" width="240" xaa="true" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJUJ2x_Sw2i3Qh34SPCPRFP-hS9ltlmCE44NJH6kaetnNbhFm4K0IYRKiVt-OfHm4hon_kKBV05OYoIYYQTaTJzQqkxivw1dFxZID_XCXL5WC9flJTFeuyMp6aDgZHsl8lKzdDRgcNis3/s1600/IMG_5428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJUJ2x_Sw2i3Qh34SPCPRFP-hS9ltlmCE44NJH6kaetnNbhFm4K0IYRKiVt-OfHm4hon_kKBV05OYoIYYQTaTJzQqkxivw1dFxZID_XCXL5WC9flJTFeuyMp6aDgZHsl8lKzdDRgcNis3/s320/IMG_5428.JPG" width="240" xaa="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Armor.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyYX6_oW6KPTRhJ4i_nsLsFhEl01ZbaOh67PIbHOeO1ydB7TqrQdKoznvJbpTbMNHbpVsEGH64d2rmJe99OEyKezn5LDPLE_kMxdQ-hvOGGDX2oy1ep2qoCXiJTmckmWId7IeVdNL3mJDP/s1600/IMG_5433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyYX6_oW6KPTRhJ4i_nsLsFhEl01ZbaOh67PIbHOeO1ydB7TqrQdKoznvJbpTbMNHbpVsEGH64d2rmJe99OEyKezn5LDPLE_kMxdQ-hvOGGDX2oy1ep2qoCXiJTmckmWId7IeVdNL3mJDP/s320/IMG_5433.JPG" width="240" xaa="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is important to wear one's armor properly.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPz2UAS-la6Q1gMQ71V_8yMR41xIKoVZgYOS6HGz7lYwUxs2sBH2kKirFyNDzL9lk4kRPwGDKF0Wx2iVbTv949VDyiZYhQaOSfXaXFZ01z_VY1F52R8aIrI1NBMWlxcSUmfpBBMxAEPtw/s1600/IMG_5436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPz2UAS-la6Q1gMQ71V_8yMR41xIKoVZgYOS6HGz7lYwUxs2sBH2kKirFyNDzL9lk4kRPwGDKF0Wx2iVbTv949VDyiZYhQaOSfXaXFZ01z_VY1F52R8aIrI1NBMWlxcSUmfpBBMxAEPtw/s320/IMG_5436.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Viking treasure. According to the sign, this collection of coins was found in a rabbit hole by a group of school children.</td></tr>
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Finally, some pictures of the Visby Cathedral. This is the only church from the period still in tact in the city. After the reformation most of the churches were largely abandoned and finally destroyed in the 1500s.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSBcLrJMiisI3O3FQUVfUWmqpr9d7yjq5VLgWSUZsk3kK8AWfkArdPO-cz_MvDfMAK9GkoAs3lwrVqQYtP5R6bMJgD6gaa21SUU3qso4tmvcejkMRvsrbkJCCdQTLTKW-txDK67W6iHWU/s1600/IMG_5502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSBcLrJMiisI3O3FQUVfUWmqpr9d7yjq5VLgWSUZsk3kK8AWfkArdPO-cz_MvDfMAK9GkoAs3lwrVqQYtP5R6bMJgD6gaa21SUU3qso4tmvcejkMRvsrbkJCCdQTLTKW-txDK67W6iHWU/s320/IMG_5502.JPG" width="240" xaa="true" /></a></div>
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Though we missed the annual medieval festival and we only stayed for two nights, we were blessed with beautiful weather and mesmerising surroundings. The city is stunning, I only wish my photojournalism skills were better able to capture the experience for you.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7vhGbxvi5QO2JbqSoiroTC1VO5R60WSRYcr283nFa-uHb99lyYGRgDPQ8AdyjWjtb0quV8via8-fZDy-yYy5LE5_rhg737krr7uvg6ECApKHX3Fpehzaj0my_5UIcc95dE9WQ_YNi2EA/s1600/IMG_5533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7vhGbxvi5QO2JbqSoiroTC1VO5R60WSRYcr283nFa-uHb99lyYGRgDPQ8AdyjWjtb0quV8via8-fZDy-yYy5LE5_rhg737krr7uvg6ECApKHX3Fpehzaj0my_5UIcc95dE9WQ_YNi2EA/s320/IMG_5533.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Farewell Visby.</td></tr>
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C. McCutchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152291515724192626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365490409020428818.post-24203529649237877032011-08-29T17:19:00.000+02:002011-08-29T17:19:50.805+02:00Just in Time for Back-to-School: A Little Geography Lesson<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Somehow as we muddled through jet lag and brain fog, unpacked boxes, and made countless trips to IKEA the McCutchen family managed to squeeze in a few outings and enjoy the new city we live in. We explored some of downtown Jönköping, a convenient walk from the Scandic Portalen where we stayed before we moved into our house, but since moving into our monochromatic mansion (a more alliterative name than The White House, which is already taken anyway) we have thoroughly enjoyed Jönköpings Stadspark. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The city park was planned in 1897 and is (literally) a one minute walk from our house. In addition to the stunning natural beauty the park is home to several historical artifacts, a bird museum, farm animals, a restaurant, and a large playground and pavilion. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2invyVFm0Iy3ubKPprVuGtHD5QIjr8WYCw4ldwkqY5Ri93YAMcmE5ksyYA0kpMHdXHVc2VrtNWBSm7pWAtxAXCrzCgt3qrtH54l3RKmGVHLp5B7fi2TwcOUlh5EGiPhSoAvNdjzQnHgh/s1600/2011-08-27+18.57.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2invyVFm0Iy3ubKPprVuGtHD5QIjr8WYCw4ldwkqY5Ri93YAMcmE5ksyYA0kpMHdXHVc2VrtNWBSm7pWAtxAXCrzCgt3qrtH54l3RKmGVHLp5B7fi2TwcOUlh5EGiPhSoAvNdjzQnHgh/s320/2011-08-27+18.57.49.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The park, like our house, is located at the top of a hill, and through the trees you get a great panoramic view of the city. To the far left of this picture you can see Lake Vättern, the second largest lake in Sweden and the sixth largest lake in Europe. It is such a large lake that Gracie called it the ocean! We've been to the lake a few times (there are some fantastic restaurants on the pier and plenty of ducks for Gracie to feed) and we are hoping to find time to take a boat tour around the lake before the weather gets too cold. Wikipedia tells me there's rumor of a lake monster living in Vättern, but I'm not scared!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Gracie has enjoyed playing at this playground. It is the city's largest playground (less than half of it is pictured here) and I'm thrilled to have it so close to the house!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB5x73CqbTTd7TpSCWE-6qdtl1G9CvnCzfccDffEWLvdvPJq0a5UYddItrLfyg_rcChZn71V3eTIM1TgkaMEJ35B-0xErF_JefckLl8yObjcF0B7Y_wwzotJmIIyPbBWCLsnWHKVqIvIbY/s1600/2011-08-27+19.06.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB5x73CqbTTd7TpSCWE-6qdtl1G9CvnCzfccDffEWLvdvPJq0a5UYddItrLfyg_rcChZn71V3eTIM1TgkaMEJ35B-0xErF_JefckLl8yObjcF0B7Y_wwzotJmIIyPbBWCLsnWHKVqIvIbY/s320/2011-08-27+19.06.15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Matt and I are history geeks, so I'm including a shot of Ryggåsstugan, a "high-loft" cottage built in the 17th century and moved to the park in 1904. It contains a linen room with a loom for weaving, a guest chamber, main hall, and workshop. The cottage is open for viewing during the summer and is decorated with furniture dating from the 18th and 19th centuries which we were able to see during our walk through. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTPKHM3XNTInJ94h81ZpbNtsxjblLwgyHzDPRi0KIvwRTK4hTr8oyyd1vOHZuSIVdKmmzRI0ULeKA9q0QzRP9fhU5Rm3FkzY4zg5gg8bdkntrdfMAlwt3ufqv4tLwYxQZfj1n4WzAzczp-/s1600/2011-08-27+19.08.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTPKHM3XNTInJ94h81ZpbNtsxjblLwgyHzDPRi0KIvwRTK4hTr8oyyd1vOHZuSIVdKmmzRI0ULeKA9q0QzRP9fhU5Rm3FkzY4zg5gg8bdkntrdfMAlwt3ufqv4tLwYxQZfj1n4WzAzczp-/s320/2011-08-27+19.08.38.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We were also fascinated with a nearby runestone. This Viking artifact was discovered in Slättåkra and brought to the park in 1907. From what I understand of the translation, it is a memorial from a father to his son. For some reason, Gracie thought it was a great place to finish eating her ice cream.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwq-gDrpwC2fuS9rO6ZSje8-VegHq_wkv1-oqGILFnbbjFeLqmcH8gZOXDJ8CCmIJeKuy1lKYQzUzix3k17awikLvXxeSLvz6Zzm0NHD4WpLTX0ShLUWGvKDxo5tguilL7Q9dH3NxdtMdn/s1600/2011-08-27+19.07.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwq-gDrpwC2fuS9rO6ZSje8-VegHq_wkv1-oqGILFnbbjFeLqmcH8gZOXDJ8CCmIJeKuy1lKYQzUzix3k17awikLvXxeSLvz6Zzm0NHD4WpLTX0ShLUWGvKDxo5tguilL7Q9dH3NxdtMdn/s320/2011-08-27+19.07.58.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS0fmKMkihD_fri4sQMYaGzcdUe8QL_Xho183GlmmdN6ueUr9dVtv3dnJBPxVE-4AJ342_6F4tbX7tMFfpnUg3p4DBt-RAA9n6zB_ru7Rm-mOnHRrBuVvXgfWYpsrGyy0-OtCByfKK9QJD/s1600/2011-08-27+19.09.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS0fmKMkihD_fri4sQMYaGzcdUe8QL_Xho183GlmmdN6ueUr9dVtv3dnJBPxVE-4AJ342_6F4tbX7tMFfpnUg3p4DBt-RAA9n6zB_ru7Rm-mOnHRrBuVvXgfWYpsrGyy0-OtCByfKK9QJD/s320/2011-08-27+19.09.13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGNDrZNbP8fAzc0QSuWStiwiSZJEcjGCUS_4beEa9y5QDGFn667Ce6VcKbhDdoOucJQ4epYQO7bL8RWJijmNcGOKjtIUz10LN4R62BtKGDVUpNNxsg2IRPs1KFGbKrhlcjutP0BHzB4yc/s1600/2011-08-27+19.10.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGNDrZNbP8fAzc0QSuWStiwiSZJEcjGCUS_4beEa9y5QDGFn667Ce6VcKbhDdoOucJQ4epYQO7bL8RWJijmNcGOKjtIUz10LN4R62BtKGDVUpNNxsg2IRPs1KFGbKrhlcjutP0BHzB4yc/s320/2011-08-27+19.10.17.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Of course, even with all of this history, Matthew's favorite thing to do is still climbing. Trees, rocks, dangerous ledges... I guess it's good exercise, and it certainly encourages me to pray.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwBJvSTU3pHRTCYftm6IYgT6CiocuxIvWb6QQLUzN2h9deFRccFxJksEzNr5BmZaPxMm8wm7TqUU5LceW0tK6gXFwItpxxTuuxQexJNVqO5P9ojzAb3ArSPBZGf_-MT-4qPt6iPYOtmlDt/s1600/2011-08-27+19.17.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwBJvSTU3pHRTCYftm6IYgT6CiocuxIvWb6QQLUzN2h9deFRccFxJksEzNr5BmZaPxMm8wm7TqUU5LceW0tK6gXFwItpxxTuuxQexJNVqO5P9ojzAb3ArSPBZGf_-MT-4qPt6iPYOtmlDt/s320/2011-08-27+19.17.28.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The hills, trees, rocks, flowers, and wildlife are different than what I've grown accustomed to in Florida, but I love seeing the different artistic styles God used when creating this wonderful world we live in!</div>C. McCutchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152291515724192626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365490409020428818.post-92224184758445478682011-08-28T02:06:00.000+02:002011-08-28T02:06:40.325+02:00Home Sweet Home<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Why is it always so late when I finally get around to writing? I live in fear of becoming known as the former teacher who blogged with glaring grammatical errors; becoming the poster child of America's failing school system, mocked and ridiculed for a comma out of place or a word misspelled. I'm probably exaggerating, but I do implore you to forgive any errors you may find here. Inaccuracy and imperfection are merely the byproducts of exhaustion.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was laying Gracie down for bed this evening and I realized that we've been in Sweden for one week. In one week God created the entire universe from scratch and found time to evaluate his work and take a day off to enjoy it. The evidence continues to mount that I, in fact, am not God. In one week, all I've managed to do is fly to a new country, move into a furnished house, decorate said house (after three trips to IKEA... more on that later), unpack our clothing and shipment of supplies, and purchase groceries. And I am WIPED. OUT.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">However, I do want to show off some of the results of my efforts here. Our home in Sweden is beautiful. We are blessed to be renting the house of another SAAB employee who has moved his family to The States for the next year. The house is on a hill in a lovely area of </span><a href="http://www.jonkoping.se/sprakversioner/welcometojonkoping.4.7ffdd9f411f37a3b6b880001757.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Jönköping</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">, right across from a city park with a phenomenal view of the lake. We've enjoyed the sights and animals in the park on several occasions (when we weren't at IKEA or unpacking boxes) and I'll share pictures on my next post. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Enjoy the tour!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OEnhRy8Qg9u7NcPFAJe5midDT7jpCLYag2CLRH-mLV4VzWOtQqPWDk3CxGg7x38is_MT1-E2Ozmw9-LC5pSCx6pvrgA_MvLaEIVQj7KmJYQJ5KYb6DuDp-gdV_qpum1Y0gk8lCJe9zuY/s1600/2011-08-27+18.39.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OEnhRy8Qg9u7NcPFAJe5midDT7jpCLYag2CLRH-mLV4VzWOtQqPWDk3CxGg7x38is_MT1-E2Ozmw9-LC5pSCx6pvrgA_MvLaEIVQj7KmJYQJ5KYb6DuDp-gdV_qpum1Y0gk8lCJe9zuY/s320/2011-08-27+18.39.10.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OEnhRy8Qg9u7NcPFAJe5midDT7jpCLYag2CLRH-mLV4VzWOtQqPWDk3CxGg7x38is_MT1-E2Ozmw9-LC5pSCx6pvrgA_MvLaEIVQj7KmJYQJ5KYb6DuDp-gdV_qpum1Y0gk8lCJe9zuY/s1600/2011-08-27+18.39.10.jpg"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><stroke joinstyle="miter"></stroke><formulas><f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></f><f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></f><f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></f><f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></f><f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></f></formulas><path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></path><lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></lock></shapetype><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is our house. Note the open windows. It was 73 degrees with no humidity yesterday and today. We're enjoying the weather while we can!</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmJQ4tkVUIhslJbrJYEAoNn9ej8jrX9ydPlxJMnPnXYMjDcJ5q8KXaz-dbG44rt5MAjHT1AwXEUQktR6P9ZOD_-BRFVVJQKLf0GiBvVZy5w9lR9YFjbUN-Vwcq2UOioqsjTL5wWESslUd/s1600/2011-08-27+18.38.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmJQ4tkVUIhslJbrJYEAoNn9ej8jrX9ydPlxJMnPnXYMjDcJ5q8KXaz-dbG44rt5MAjHT1AwXEUQktR6P9ZOD_-BRFVVJQKLf0GiBvVZy5w9lR9YFjbUN-Vwcq2UOioqsjTL5wWESslUd/s320/2011-08-27+18.38.24.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmJQ4tkVUIhslJbrJYEAoNn9ej8jrX9ydPlxJMnPnXYMjDcJ5q8KXaz-dbG44rt5MAjHT1AwXEUQktR6P9ZOD_-BRFVVJQKLf0GiBvVZy5w9lR9YFjbUN-Vwcq2UOioqsjTL5wWESslUd/s1600/2011-08-27+18.38.24.jpg"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Close up of the front door. We may be bringing this door back to Florida with us. Isn't it pretty?</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMvWuWASzJKeInQPnK1xlkv58fi31OQkCmz-RWbKgWGsR_22j_hNh4p2TAtdSmH3DnAEvzdavZx-36N-KlhSOV5d_ksCUzjJabYA3hatDTiAiF5SZ49z3scZMk5ax5Vem5qJ2v-gw6b3oI/s1600/IMG_5164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMvWuWASzJKeInQPnK1xlkv58fi31OQkCmz-RWbKgWGsR_22j_hNh4p2TAtdSmH3DnAEvzdavZx-36N-KlhSOV5d_ksCUzjJabYA3hatDTiAiF5SZ49z3scZMk5ax5Vem5qJ2v-gw6b3oI/s320/IMG_5164.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Entrance</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0n8rXECOvWoVKHAATwMnKHAznzt44Sc8IJ-rgDOAZr2j8iIb5IBdT0spmU6wogubg7IxqYQlQABZc1dS40Z7dqtnsab1q5S3qf0gTfGaa5BHhFtdep8uFPivukx7diqOTkfHJ-amGptH/s1600/IMG_5165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0n8rXECOvWoVKHAATwMnKHAznzt44Sc8IJ-rgDOAZr2j8iIb5IBdT0spmU6wogubg7IxqYQlQABZc1dS40Z7dqtnsab1q5S3qf0gTfGaa5BHhFtdep8uFPivukx7diqOTkfHJ-amGptH/s320/IMG_5165.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0n8rXECOvWoVKHAATwMnKHAznzt44Sc8IJ-rgDOAZr2j8iIb5IBdT0spmU6wogubg7IxqYQlQABZc1dS40Z7dqtnsab1q5S3qf0gTfGaa5BHhFtdep8uFPivukx7diqOTkfHJ-amGptH/s1600/IMG_5165.JPG"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hall Table</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNbPKdvtQaIizUJu1GJC2dXHFphsqcO_A5xf1sTXPP7zy9tnxfgEGRUjBGscys3qZDfUBrGGosKOIdRm3iYemFZ94ViuwoEN6t4_zCU_oxgN5p52Y9EYuhqOpnPBDbDuJbySRf4t5-mcQ/s1600/IMG_5162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNbPKdvtQaIizUJu1GJC2dXHFphsqcO_A5xf1sTXPP7zy9tnxfgEGRUjBGscys3qZDfUBrGGosKOIdRm3iYemFZ94ViuwoEN6t4_zCU_oxgN5p52Y9EYuhqOpnPBDbDuJbySRf4t5-mcQ/s320/IMG_5162.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Formal Dining Room</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmX0lzAgumA99fJSA5onXQiwS_baiae45tDywPXoLEbjhjVzKgPX5frDULr0WrrTI7yvTbPUgXIwJD1cwQBOpa15eEhOp0L8mT6EMCowx6lljder3TZjuw-O3BtKzdFSLNw6L_e_geUG5/s1600/IMG_5160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmX0lzAgumA99fJSA5onXQiwS_baiae45tDywPXoLEbjhjVzKgPX5frDULr0WrrTI7yvTbPUgXIwJD1cwQBOpa15eEhOp0L8mT6EMCowx6lljder3TZjuw-O3BtKzdFSLNw6L_e_geUG5/s320/IMG_5160.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our library/office. The window seats in the corner are my favorite. Today, Gracie and I snuggled there and read three Dora books together. (And I am currently typing this blog from the corner.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_dB1LLIBxxlnTaUQ6XSI9aOb7Xs1SIEpTc5A4LCG0jF-u60GBsXfCCoEgihzOPvuyGjsvJ_MVG1lcQRGYIyH3ahQBLXA-xfDdu5JlVzEBHKVY_tw70KDGDIPJaswh0iBHJy0NogJeIKT4/s1600/IMG_5198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_dB1LLIBxxlnTaUQ6XSI9aOb7Xs1SIEpTc5A4LCG0jF-u60GBsXfCCoEgihzOPvuyGjsvJ_MVG1lcQRGYIyH3ahQBLXA-xfDdu5JlVzEBHKVY_tw70KDGDIPJaswh0iBHJy0NogJeIKT4/s320/IMG_5198.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_dB1LLIBxxlnTaUQ6XSI9aOb7Xs1SIEpTc5A4LCG0jF-u60GBsXfCCoEgihzOPvuyGjsvJ_MVG1lcQRGYIyH3ahQBLXA-xfDdu5JlVzEBHKVY_tw70KDGDIPJaswh0iBHJy0NogJeIKT4/s1600/IMG_5198.JPG"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The piano was a lovely surprise! I set up a play area for Gracie downstairs. The doll is Pippi Longstocking, a gift from the family we're renting from.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnaHbO1QUT9KbEiYpWgxuuHUk-ytgX2bHxhO4abqdjwv4CUuu60zEfrTFJKEZFu_KNT_quuiB4nW5UPqkPpTcVJEm42HLizT0AwQpaR6_DbRWjjn8urp6wiwP5ww-0CA6zjUqQ_MJvujXG/s1600/IMG_5166.JPG"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnaHbO1QUT9KbEiYpWgxuuHUk-ytgX2bHxhO4abqdjwv4CUuu60zEfrTFJKEZFu_KNT_quuiB4nW5UPqkPpTcVJEm42HLizT0AwQpaR6_DbRWjjn8urp6wiwP5ww-0CA6zjUqQ_MJvujXG/s1600/IMG_5166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnaHbO1QUT9KbEiYpWgxuuHUk-ytgX2bHxhO4abqdjwv4CUuu60zEfrTFJKEZFu_KNT_quuiB4nW5UPqkPpTcVJEm42HLizT0AwQpaR6_DbRWjjn8urp6wiwP5ww-0CA6zjUqQ_MJvujXG/s320/IMG_5166.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our living room (featuring my Pottery Barn pillows)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ3wxEclHytaN7Q3Zim5X0oH0TGfOTHFmtbnuigIdSy-ZO8NeQfp4bVdnSpcV7-VcyImMmg-sK2RPg5exKJM-TlOv8grWSYMt2ez7dsMBNA_sEKaPRd1oZ1cK4hmCoPMfruH1tCIM2G0bu/s1600/IMG_5169.JPG"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ3wxEclHytaN7Q3Zim5X0oH0TGfOTHFmtbnuigIdSy-ZO8NeQfp4bVdnSpcV7-VcyImMmg-sK2RPg5exKJM-TlOv8grWSYMt2ez7dsMBNA_sEKaPRd1oZ1cK4hmCoPMfruH1tCIM2G0bu/s1600/IMG_5169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ3wxEclHytaN7Q3Zim5X0oH0TGfOTHFmtbnuigIdSy-ZO8NeQfp4bVdnSpcV7-VcyImMmg-sK2RPg5exKJM-TlOv8grWSYMt2ez7dsMBNA_sEKaPRd1oZ1cK4hmCoPMfruH1tCIM2G0bu/s320/IMG_5169.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My favorite spot in the house!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ORPgVgeyO9qw2Vaztp4nw-tSQORunDAfjgYmh1fSzaRwpd2WW0fn8wyNZ1v5y1lkXtF6oEX0pxIi-PXMZXjU9YcCRB3Vl6lpERiVzhjl5jmTDPIYptJBDKd3TN5SolVlwnpYk-Lvz2yf/s1600/IMG_5172.JPG"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ORPgVgeyO9qw2Vaztp4nw-tSQORunDAfjgYmh1fSzaRwpd2WW0fn8wyNZ1v5y1lkXtF6oEX0pxIi-PXMZXjU9YcCRB3Vl6lpERiVzhjl5jmTDPIYptJBDKd3TN5SolVlwnpYk-Lvz2yf/s1600/IMG_5172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ORPgVgeyO9qw2Vaztp4nw-tSQORunDAfjgYmh1fSzaRwpd2WW0fn8wyNZ1v5y1lkXtF6oEX0pxIi-PXMZXjU9YcCRB3Vl6lpERiVzhjl5jmTDPIYptJBDKd3TN5SolVlwnpYk-Lvz2yf/s320/IMG_5172.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kitchen</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ZeBptDh8U0wV5KowLUkEMsdxZK-OJU1fQdJ0D1kQuFRFVaShxqznok-tW3nCGo6eLDQpNDOlaBuT-h4bvlHv-ZGDZkjgOQ-Hh7K5jH3KjRc4OBA1K3_R4HlhOREy69rImwZSUfJQffLX/s1600/IMG_5171.JPG"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ZeBptDh8U0wV5KowLUkEMsdxZK-OJU1fQdJ0D1kQuFRFVaShxqznok-tW3nCGo6eLDQpNDOlaBuT-h4bvlHv-ZGDZkjgOQ-Hh7K5jH3KjRc4OBA1K3_R4HlhOREy69rImwZSUfJQffLX/s1600/IMG_5171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ZeBptDh8U0wV5KowLUkEMsdxZK-OJU1fQdJ0D1kQuFRFVaShxqznok-tW3nCGo6eLDQpNDOlaBuT-h4bvlHv-ZGDZkjgOQ-Hh7K5jH3KjRc4OBA1K3_R4HlhOREy69rImwZSUfJQffLX/s320/IMG_5171.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Another view of the kitchen. I'm still getting used to baking in Celsius.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOB3ra1OJlMF16DZMj2Ck0BZjymw0fuMswkRFm9hOIzRbbBCu9ZaIoMMT679QhLXKzgquGoJL0IywLsmrInKd6WdPyJ6lj-1xvwHqlddhO_ecXEnLOqoVILbGi07RPXcSW-F2hfJ-78TA/s1600/IMG_5176.JPG"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOB3ra1OJlMF16DZMj2Ck0BZjymw0fuMswkRFm9hOIzRbbBCu9ZaIoMMT679QhLXKzgquGoJL0IywLsmrInKd6WdPyJ6lj-1xvwHqlddhO_ecXEnLOqoVILbGi07RPXcSW-F2hfJ-78TA/s1600/IMG_5176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOB3ra1OJlMF16DZMj2Ck0BZjymw0fuMswkRFm9hOIzRbbBCu9ZaIoMMT679QhLXKzgquGoJL0IywLsmrInKd6WdPyJ6lj-1xvwHqlddhO_ecXEnLOqoVILbGi07RPXcSW-F2hfJ-78TA/s320/IMG_5176.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Top of the stairs...</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VFAzYRsX9NtZ4bGB1IknohSHtPoNf1lCXIGdbPLru4dHSDR3dJ7HokL_ikQKZ_uNVDfKtpnbo4P5Gjc_Xj5PbyE6cM1bWpiglqqEP3zUXxi6to1ntgTwt9etN4Tke_D7s48r0nh_tbrM/s1600/IMG_5173.JPG"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VFAzYRsX9NtZ4bGB1IknohSHtPoNf1lCXIGdbPLru4dHSDR3dJ7HokL_ikQKZ_uNVDfKtpnbo4P5Gjc_Xj5PbyE6cM1bWpiglqqEP3zUXxi6to1ntgTwt9etN4Tke_D7s48r0nh_tbrM/s1600/IMG_5173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VFAzYRsX9NtZ4bGB1IknohSHtPoNf1lCXIGdbPLru4dHSDR3dJ7HokL_ikQKZ_uNVDfKtpnbo4P5Gjc_Xj5PbyE6cM1bWpiglqqEP3zUXxi6to1ntgTwt9etN4Tke_D7s48r0nh_tbrM/s320/IMG_5173.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Guest Room Number 1 (Hotel McCutchen is open for business!)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwRLxV1HCsmAQ1jKeD1mOlJcAXoYkI9dPtIzvUXInX8l8xqHz4WBjU_zreukhfi69UMnWhqfROOOmFEe-8AWlAoBO1ovNQIQmqqRj0THnUHACHdKf4qYlFV55mq7-zVY7vGOgzfiR5lhX/s1600/IMG_5188.JPG"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwRLxV1HCsmAQ1jKeD1mOlJcAXoYkI9dPtIzvUXInX8l8xqHz4WBjU_zreukhfi69UMnWhqfROOOmFEe-8AWlAoBO1ovNQIQmqqRj0THnUHACHdKf4qYlFV55mq7-zVY7vGOgzfiR5lhX/s1600/IMG_5188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwRLxV1HCsmAQ1jKeD1mOlJcAXoYkI9dPtIzvUXInX8l8xqHz4WBjU_zreukhfi69UMnWhqfROOOmFEe-8AWlAoBO1ovNQIQmqqRj0THnUHACHdKf4qYlFV55mq7-zVY7vGOgzfiR5lhX/s320/IMG_5188.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Guest Room Number 2 (seriously, we're taking reservations...)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfRQZKrV8DdUuD_4Ocr1-vPeMsartfCz1ISPn5y-mPLomRZkS6pWIFYSkOyjgcNn-5aY1b9jrm0zzUNXy-EKsvvLohCu5LQD8-0c-Ex4ty7zRL5fYpyFT48AbhXNNElSlQjh_YsxRQiscx/s1600/IMG_5178.JPG"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfRQZKrV8DdUuD_4Ocr1-vPeMsartfCz1ISPn5y-mPLomRZkS6pWIFYSkOyjgcNn-5aY1b9jrm0zzUNXy-EKsvvLohCu5LQD8-0c-Ex4ty7zRL5fYpyFT48AbhXNNElSlQjh_YsxRQiscx/s1600/IMG_5178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfRQZKrV8DdUuD_4Ocr1-vPeMsartfCz1ISPn5y-mPLomRZkS6pWIFYSkOyjgcNn-5aY1b9jrm0zzUNXy-EKsvvLohCu5LQD8-0c-Ex4ty7zRL5fYpyFT48AbhXNNElSlQjh_YsxRQiscx/s320/IMG_5178.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Master Bedroom (with my bedding from the states and my favorite stuffed animal)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMUrUHNOD6VKAevCJYjmq0KACFDA9Il7ZSG4U7wqeSSFCkM_jHmwsz2_kzrW2jWfoTkyBx1xjnKDDAOWOgv5ait6YAVrpybW_ouptzE881JiK_2AB-YNxyVUaCx0rZbaeAFjYfMiGDIs9w/s1600/IMG_5179.JPG"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMUrUHNOD6VKAevCJYjmq0KACFDA9Il7ZSG4U7wqeSSFCkM_jHmwsz2_kzrW2jWfoTkyBx1xjnKDDAOWOgv5ait6YAVrpybW_ouptzE881JiK_2AB-YNxyVUaCx0rZbaeAFjYfMiGDIs9w/s1600/IMG_5179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMUrUHNOD6VKAevCJYjmq0KACFDA9Il7ZSG4U7wqeSSFCkM_jHmwsz2_kzrW2jWfoTkyBx1xjnKDDAOWOgv5ait6YAVrpybW_ouptzE881JiK_2AB-YNxyVUaCx0rZbaeAFjYfMiGDIs9w/s320/IMG_5179.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our windows and closets</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpc1RU3baiLJtohsaDk19KD-SRS6N8o3KEcgE70LR6dDv_u8qypsyVURXezJ1-RoH9Fv9SQsUyYC-nYJqm5bsu_-0-T7DvtSbhym4Fbo_FO8VVPkvS899wc0h1CInrL_cTP9ZBkS0QQIwV/s1600/IMG_5180.JPG"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpc1RU3baiLJtohsaDk19KD-SRS6N8o3KEcgE70LR6dDv_u8qypsyVURXezJ1-RoH9Fv9SQsUyYC-nYJqm5bsu_-0-T7DvtSbhym4Fbo_FO8VVPkvS899wc0h1CInrL_cTP9ZBkS0QQIwV/s1600/IMG_5180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpc1RU3baiLJtohsaDk19KD-SRS6N8o3KEcgE70LR6dDv_u8qypsyVURXezJ1-RoH9Fv9SQsUyYC-nYJqm5bsu_-0-T7DvtSbhym4Fbo_FO8VVPkvS899wc0h1CInrL_cTP9ZBkS0QQIwV/s320/IMG_5180.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My Closet</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_V4VBFMwDREn3w7tmAVeQDhWTtDEuMglU25_wIHuUfTuyzyrkgP3xVz-yvqcQoPvvF4fbDG0jxXYKHdcXzi6-14UoY_PvoT_7uyD9LI2efICMvuMK8pVnDwMe_Kuf6UkBjBEpqV53WqeO/s1600/IMG_5186.JPG"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_V4VBFMwDREn3w7tmAVeQDhWTtDEuMglU25_wIHuUfTuyzyrkgP3xVz-yvqcQoPvvF4fbDG0jxXYKHdcXzi6-14UoY_PvoT_7uyD9LI2efICMvuMK8pVnDwMe_Kuf6UkBjBEpqV53WqeO/s1600/IMG_5186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_V4VBFMwDREn3w7tmAVeQDhWTtDEuMglU25_wIHuUfTuyzyrkgP3xVz-yvqcQoPvvF4fbDG0jxXYKHdcXzi6-14UoY_PvoT_7uyD9LI2efICMvuMK8pVnDwMe_Kuf6UkBjBEpqV53WqeO/s320/IMG_5186.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">*Tiny* Bathroom (and just one shower in the whole house!)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSXS38P3HwM3QXbO1nNxj8MRCrrKNnKT9ny3WzcLrDGomWfRR8MCLUna1Zjgtmgap1x72cCdeox64-XR2_oxTWclXQmAakHfu13Rcz3IZgMCGWL_Tc5G7Ep9R1PlE2uGd1AP8mWlh1OGf/s1600/IMG_5187.JPG"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSXS38P3HwM3QXbO1nNxj8MRCrrKNnKT9ny3WzcLrDGomWfRR8MCLUna1Zjgtmgap1x72cCdeox64-XR2_oxTWclXQmAakHfu13Rcz3IZgMCGWL_Tc5G7Ep9R1PlE2uGd1AP8mWlh1OGf/s1600/IMG_5187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSXS38P3HwM3QXbO1nNxj8MRCrrKNnKT9ny3WzcLrDGomWfRR8MCLUna1Zjgtmgap1x72cCdeox64-XR2_oxTWclXQmAakHfu13Rcz3IZgMCGWL_Tc5G7Ep9R1PlE2uGd1AP8mWlh1OGf/s320/IMG_5187.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sharing a sink with Matt for the first time in five years...</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYFLQmaB0azVBZ0KebtO8rqNHRYrlVGEcnGfTdMRi-JKjuQuSHO0DCGphclYsLY6nxxg5YUyvyaBT-xkdkmfctCb8wzytmYsmCZY17TtEkdXrlEcrF-oi7mYvNmlyYBIBfEllg57c5PMo/s1600/IMG_5192.JPG"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYFLQmaB0azVBZ0KebtO8rqNHRYrlVGEcnGfTdMRi-JKjuQuSHO0DCGphclYsLY6nxxg5YUyvyaBT-xkdkmfctCb8wzytmYsmCZY17TtEkdXrlEcrF-oi7mYvNmlyYBIBfEllg57c5PMo/s1600/IMG_5192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYFLQmaB0azVBZ0KebtO8rqNHRYrlVGEcnGfTdMRi-JKjuQuSHO0DCGphclYsLY6nxxg5YUyvyaBT-xkdkmfctCb8wzytmYsmCZY17TtEkdXrlEcrF-oi7mYvNmlyYBIBfEllg57c5PMo/s320/IMG_5192.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Gracie's Room</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4I1y4yb-ednCHFOQE7bKnrLu60BIDf9c9ffOtOJVZcJZBd60tKS2OWc1UKu4VI_FlWwylgfrTWub74X3QN-dO-BTKiPzVbkBur6pZXyUaDJOVVg5PSr4Q2NuDuMjLCXZk2_t0Kb-eecu/s1600/IMG_5190.JPG"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4I1y4yb-ednCHFOQE7bKnrLu60BIDf9c9ffOtOJVZcJZBd60tKS2OWc1UKu4VI_FlWwylgfrTWub74X3QN-dO-BTKiPzVbkBur6pZXyUaDJOVVg5PSr4Q2NuDuMjLCXZk2_t0Kb-eecu/s1600/IMG_5190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4I1y4yb-ednCHFOQE7bKnrLu60BIDf9c9ffOtOJVZcJZBd60tKS2OWc1UKu4VI_FlWwylgfrTWub74X3QN-dO-BTKiPzVbkBur6pZXyUaDJOVVg5PSr4Q2NuDuMjLCXZk2_t0Kb-eecu/s320/IMG_5190.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Kitchen" play area in Gracie's room</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-HuP78jGDweEl9MHPTUTvDdaTF2eGXGbAryd345RYyQqzJ6egliPsHJxZ-I8nLSNenPrP0b_k0pDe-lLYjO_4JTNlod3a8UzaLp2XHj4XoGPHo2cneASVd4DEKF_F2qKda4tM8g-ln3Sz/s1600/IMG_5191.JPG"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-HuP78jGDweEl9MHPTUTvDdaTF2eGXGbAryd345RYyQqzJ6egliPsHJxZ-I8nLSNenPrP0b_k0pDe-lLYjO_4JTNlod3a8UzaLp2XHj4XoGPHo2cneASVd4DEKF_F2qKda4tM8g-ln3Sz/s1600/IMG_5191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-HuP78jGDweEl9MHPTUTvDdaTF2eGXGbAryd345RYyQqzJ6egliPsHJxZ-I8nLSNenPrP0b_k0pDe-lLYjO_4JTNlod3a8UzaLp2XHj4XoGPHo2cneASVd4DEKF_F2qKda4tM8g-ln3Sz/s320/IMG_5191.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She knows where to find her toys!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjECvVBrg4mBVnR0k-8ZNkdKwjhjzCY2d23yU1qROePf3z36wokVvZJyXmXUAVeB493WRMYGE4ncuii2ocfm9IgIU8kgHzGOkkik6EDBIMpdJZKCH9Dw8rrhlz-mGHQl-lRYuOz5VVzUCKE/s1600/IMG_5196.JPG"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjECvVBrg4mBVnR0k-8ZNkdKwjhjzCY2d23yU1qROePf3z36wokVvZJyXmXUAVeB493WRMYGE4ncuii2ocfm9IgIU8kgHzGOkkik6EDBIMpdJZKCH9Dw8rrhlz-mGHQl-lRYuOz5VVzUCKE/s1600/IMG_5196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjECvVBrg4mBVnR0k-8ZNkdKwjhjzCY2d23yU1qROePf3z36wokVvZJyXmXUAVeB493WRMYGE4ncuii2ocfm9IgIU8kgHzGOkkik6EDBIMpdJZKCH9Dw8rrhlz-mGHQl-lRYuOz5VVzUCKE/s320/IMG_5196.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our backyard (this is actually just one side, but the other side isn't as interesting)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrEfNEoVAt3kHgUR_-QOwh8xDokUEXo3woFe8u3Zj7_z5en234_7pLoMHzLdX2tNyRLGZLyPwzdnK7CQrpXakwGrBKTKID3zzyTcCMv9nzCadCbEDY0mU8DBsbwPEFp2SFQ4P0sC4tRh7/s1600/IMG_5197.JPG"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrEfNEoVAt3kHgUR_-QOwh8xDokUEXo3woFe8u3Zj7_z5en234_7pLoMHzLdX2tNyRLGZLyPwzdnK7CQrpXakwGrBKTKID3zzyTcCMv9nzCadCbEDY0mU8DBsbwPEFp2SFQ4P0sC4tRh7/s1600/IMG_5197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrEfNEoVAt3kHgUR_-QOwh8xDokUEXo3woFe8u3Zj7_z5en234_7pLoMHzLdX2tNyRLGZLyPwzdnK7CQrpXakwGrBKTKID3zzyTcCMv9nzCadCbEDY0mU8DBsbwPEFp2SFQ4P0sC4tRh7/s320/IMG_5197.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Gracie on the deck</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As you can tell, we are very comfortable in our new home. God has certainly gone before us, and as usual, out-blessed my expectations. It's been a busy week (to say the least) but we are settling in an adjusting well. I'll post again in a few days with some stories about our early adventures here in Sweden!</span></div>C. McCutchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152291515724192626noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365490409020428818.post-12277812110163381842011-08-22T10:17:00.000+02:002011-08-22T10:17:42.498+02:00Vi har kommit till Jönköping!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well, we have officially arrived in Sweden, though I can’t tell you with 100% certainty what day we arrived. I’m pretty sure today is Monday. My laptop tells me that it’s 3:45 am, though I know from the glow of the digital alarm clock and happy feeling in my stomach, that it’s nearly ten and I’ve just finished breakfast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would love to write all the delicious details of our nearly 20 hour journey, but my brain is lagging (at least) 6 hours behind and I haven’t had time to process everything yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For now, some of the highlights:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My daughter is a blessing. I would write this anyway, but I am tremendously proud of her and thankful for the sweet spirit God has given her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She travels like it’s her job.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you’re going to fly to Europe, fly Lufthansa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They take especially good care of families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Now show some appreciation, dear readers, and book a flight at </span><a href="http://www.lufthansa.com/us/en/homepage"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://www.lufthansa.com/us/en/homepage</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> to come see me!)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am too tall to sit comfortably in economy class.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When it’s lunchtime in Frankfurt, it is 5am in my stomach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wurst is the worst (sorry, I had to) at 5am.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Driving through Sweden is like traveling through a postcard. This may be the most beautiful country I've ever seen. (Sorry Germany...)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Matt and I have separate beds at our hotel in Jönköping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe we don’t look married…?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I got to SKYPE with my parents from the hotel! If you've got jetlag and you're awake at 2:30am, don't waste it!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oh, and Swedish food? Our hotel has a breakfast buffet with your typical European fare… fresh, organic cheeses, meats and rolls, fruit s and vegetables, cereals and yogurts, boiled and scrambled eggs, bacon, meatballs (nothing says “Welcome to Sweden!” like meatballs on the breakfast buffet) and… caviar in a tube.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thank you so much for your prayers, I know they went straight from your hearts to God’s ears!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will keep you posted on our progress as we transition from hotel to house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please pray, especially for Gracie, that it will go smoothly.</span></div>C. McCutchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152291515724192626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365490409020428818.post-45142674422550542192011-08-17T07:56:00.000+02:002011-08-17T07:56:55.559+02:00MY bags are packed...At the end of every school year we would receive a dreadfully formatted End of the Year Checklist reminding each teacher to do their part to help prepare our school for a summer shutdown. After reformatting the checklist the way Microsoft Word intended, I would <strike>roll my eyes</strike> chuckle at some of the reminders: remove and throw away food in refrigerators, turn off lights, shut down computer. Seriously? Shouldn't college graduates be able to figure this out without a list to remind them?<br />
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You know where this is going. This college graduate just finished writing a last minute to do list that, yes, includes such subtleties as throwing out food, packing passports and locking doors. I'm hoping that including these menial tasks in my list will help save my sanity as I wait for my plane to depart and wonder if I remembered to lock the front door and pack pajamas and empty the ice from the freezer.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6WBB50Jbh1j-WuGLhPKRtrhuF_Xb9YBw0DErG7GSJmV2S5kpROqFVbw5dBT2rpwgtsE6knq0r_Q221DFWwrUlz3pB7F0MIy-apy5LRiPaH6u0A1bpkOelkadqDmfKhsuZ-jd7SpsUIzB3/s1600/2011-08-16+22.03.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6WBB50Jbh1j-WuGLhPKRtrhuF_Xb9YBw0DErG7GSJmV2S5kpROqFVbw5dBT2rpwgtsE6knq0r_Q221DFWwrUlz3pB7F0MIy-apy5LRiPaH6u0A1bpkOelkadqDmfKhsuZ-jd7SpsUIzB3/s320/2011-08-16+22.03.24.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
In addition to crafting yet another list, I have also been busy packing our suitcases and organizing carry-on bags. Gracie's bag was packed first, the easiest one to pack since she has all new clothes for the trip. Next, my ever-faithful Jansport. (Twice repaired and once fully replaced, I fully believe that Jansport stands behind their lifetime warranty.) Now packed with toys, books, games, dolls, snacks, and no less than three kinds of sanitizing wipes, I estimate I'll be lugging at least 15 pounds of distractions through the airport on my back. <br />
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More difficult to arrange were my carry-on suitcase and our checked bag. I had hoped to fit most of my clothes in my carry-on, but the large stuffed beagle I'm taking took up a lot of room. That, combined with the irritating bulk of warm clothes means most of it ended up in our checked bag. Also in our cumbersome green suitcase: 2 boxes of macaroni and cheese, arts and crafts supplies, a car seat protector bag (for the car seat that has already shipped), and a tiny cornucopia courtesy of my mom. Not yet packed: Anything for Matthew. Traditionally, he shouldn't need much, he is a man after all, but he seems to be under the impression that he'll need to bring FOUR pairs of shoes. Perhaps I can craft some kind of extra suitcase out of his footwear... <br />
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We're just about ready to go, and this is probably my last update before we arrive in Sweden. The most important thing you can do for us is PRAY. Please add some (or all!) of these requests to your conversations with the Lord:<br />
<ul><li>For good health before our flight, during the trip, and when we arrive</li>
<li>For our flight, that we would be safe and that Gracie would be well behaved</li>
<li>That we would complete all the preparations for the house without feeling overly stressed</li>
<li>For peace during this transition, that I (we) won't be too homesick or lonely and that we will stay well rested and adjust well to our new home.</li>
</ul>Thank you for your prayers! My next update will come from Sweden!!C. McCutchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152291515724192626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365490409020428818.post-24231505927018870302011-08-10T06:52:00.000+02:002011-08-10T06:52:27.461+02:00A Satisfying Little Check MarkA day without a list is a day wasted. At least, that's how I approach much of my life. Like the smartphone that has replaced my pen and paper planner, I love a good checklist, but even more, I love that feeling of accomplishment I get when I can check the box (yes, sometimes I draw tiny little boxes next to each item), scratch off, or squiggle through the listed tasks for the day. Surprisingly, it took me a long time to actually draft a to do list for our move to Sweden. While aware of most of the details, I have approached this move with a "big picture" mentality separating my tasks into the categories of Shipment, House, and Airplane. <br />
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Since SAAB so generously offered to ship 660 pounds of household items to Sweden ahead of our departure, organizing our shipment was my first priority. This meant finding, buying, and packing as many winter clothes, toys, and linens as possible into a 32 cubic foot crate. It took about a month, but by the end of July I had inventoried our items and sent them to work with Matthew to make their long voyage to our new home. (Nevermind that I found out this evening, that said voyage is not yet underway. I'm not worried... oh no, not I!)<br />
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Somewhere between getting our shipment organized and tackling the household preparations, seeing and spending time with family became a huge priority for me. Coming from a military background, I know that six months really isn't a very long time to be apart, and with SKYPE and cell phones and texting and emails and all the other technological wonders I didn't have as a kid living in Korea, I know it will be much easier to stay in touch now than it was years ago. But none of that technology can replace being able to hug and laugh with cousins and aunts and uncles and grandparents. I was very fortunate to spend a weekend with my extended family in Georgia and to spend the following weekend taking family pictures with my extremely talented brother.<br />
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For the past week or so, I've been steadily chipping away at our housing preparations. With the power of the internet I was able to cancel the newspaper, forward our mail, cancel Netflix (probably would have done that anyway), suspend my cell phone contract and internet connection and check off another half dozen or so items from my list all before naptime was finished. I am on a roll! In fact, there are only a few items left on my list that don't fall into the dreaded cleaning category. (To clarify: I enjoy cleaning. I do not enjoy cleaning out cabinets, the garage, and under the refrigerator.) Among them, calling the car insurance company, having my will notarized, printing my travel itinerary, and using up as much of our remaining food as possible. Piece of cake!<br />
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Still to do: Get suitcase out of attic and Febreeze it. Figure out what to pack (and in which bags) for the airplane. Gather toys, snacks, and distractions for Gracie on the plane. Purchase remaining TSA approved tiny travel sized bottles of toiletries.<br />
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How I love the feeling of that satisfying little check mark, and I've been enjoying it an awful lot lately. It's funny how a simple check mark and a lot of prayer can help all my anxiety go away...C. McCutchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152291515724192626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365490409020428818.post-738444393272592552011-07-27T07:05:00.002+02:002011-08-10T06:55:01.425+02:00Boxes and Spreadsheets and Shipping! Oh My!<div>I'm starting to get a little nervous now. For the past few months, I've been able to think about my family's impending move to Sweden as more of a "strong possibility" than actual event. Reluctant to make any real plans (read: spend money) until we were certain that we would actually be shipping out, I was able to romanticize the idea of living internationally rather than face the litany of tasks required to prepare for such an event. <br />
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Well, now we're mere days away from departure and things are starting to look a lot more realistic as they pile up on my to do list. My strong, calm, patient husband, (who balances my high-strung dependency on spreadsheets in a way that is both comforting and infuriating) dutifully loaded his car and hauled 14 boxes, 4 bags, and the mother of all packing lists into his office today to be shipped ahead of us to our new home. His next task will be to climb into the attic and dig out our dusty suitcases so they can air out before I begin packing.<br />
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That's right. Packing. I guess this really is happening!</div>C. McCutchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152291515724192626noreply@blogger.com0