We're back...and finally adjusted:)

We made it!  And what a welcome back we had!  My friend and her husband were staying in our apartment while waiting for their house to close while we were gone...I think we might need them to stay here again if we ever go away!  Coming home to a spotless house was an incredible feeling especially since it was 11:45pm.  Thanks Steph!

Our last days in St. Andrews were really nice.  Alex and I were able to hole away a bit in our great room at the b&b while the winds howled outside our window as well as get out and explore the beautiful countryside, once the winds subsided.  From Inverness we headed south to St. Andrews where we finished out trip.  A visit to St. Andrews, the home of golf, would not be complete without those last few rounds, so Alex was excited to hit the links.  This time he skipped St. Andrews (he played it last year and the Dunhill Links was going on) and headed to Muirfield and Royal Aberdeen.  Muirfield was the only course that would not let me walk with him, it's a gentleman's club...no women allowed.  I guess that's okay since it is the oldest Golf CLUB in the world.  So I was dropped in a beautiful little, seaside town where I relaxed with a mug of tea and was able to take in the gorgeous view of the ocean. 

We also had the opportunity to head to the Dunhill Links Tournament.  It's a tournament where the pros team up with ametuers including some well known people; Hugh Grant, Huey Lewis, Kyle MacLachlan, and more.  The second day was cancelled due to 70 mile an hour winds, so we were able to catch the last two days.  Best part, the tournament was free!  After the first day we watched, we happened to notice some of the ametuers giving autographs at the end, we low and behold we got Hugh Grant's!  It was very exciting b/c he is definitely one of our favorite actors and I must say I was hoping he might do a little dance, like in Love Actually:), but he didn't!

Our flight home was fairly uneventful as we left for the airport at 6am Scotland time (12 am here) and headed to Amsterdam, then to Detroit and then home.  We arrived back at 11:30 pm which was to our bodies, 5:30 am.  We managed to stay awake and it only took a couple of days to get back into our sleep pattern, surprisingly enough!  We are happy to be back and the Lord was so very good to us while we were there, strengthening our marriage, giving wisdom and direction for work, and just gave us a great time with Him.  It's good to be home:)

On to Scotland!

It's been a very chilly and delightful last few days!  We've navigated the curving roads of Scotland and have seen the most gorgeous landscapes.  It really makes me want to sell everything and head on over to own a little working farm:)  It's my Laura Ingalls love that is coming out in this great land full of sheep and Highland Cows (hairy coos to the locals).  Though I am not sure I am cut out for sheep and cattle, a chicken or two and a huge garden might just do it!

To begin where I left off, Alex and I found our way to our hotel in Ayr, Scotland and because of this great website Alex and I were able to stay in an amazing hotel for nearly a third of the price while staying there.  The Western House Hotel was a real treat:)  From Ayr, Alex headed to Prestwick to play golf while I relaxed in the hotel and caught up on some life in the US!  Following Prestwick, Alex and I headed to Turnberry for a great day of golf.  Alex teamed up with a man from South Africa who was not only friendly but offered to plan the trip of our lives when we decide we would like to head to Johannesburg.  It was a chilly and windy day while we were there but the course was in great shape.  If you haven't noticed already, the golf portion of the trip has begun:)

After two days in Ayr, we began driving north, entering the highlands.  With a brief stop in Stirling, we headed to Edinburgh for a little sightseeing and golf at North Berwick.  Edinburgh was okay, highlights included St. Giles Cathedral, home of John Knox the great reformer and Pizza Hut.  Yes, you read that right, sometimes there's just nothing like a taste of home (though if we're honest, we don't eat it at home, but it was really yummy over here).  North Berwick was a nice little course where I sat and enjoyed my book adn some tea while Alex braved the weather to play in the wind and rain.  The weather over here for this part of our trip has definitely been cooler, averaging between 42 and 55 degrees.

From Edinburgh we headed to Stirling and then on to Aberfeldy for a distillery tour.  When entering this part of the country, it became evident what trades are popular.  There must be one distillery per person:)  One whisky tour and sample later we were ready to head towards the famous Loch Ness in hopes of sighting the monster.  No nessies today, but a delightful drive through the countryside made the day quite perfect!  Parking our car in Inverness, almost at the top of Scotland, we got ready for golf the next day at Royal Dornoch.  Right along the North Sea, we were very far north, and felt every bit of it when we woke up to a chilly 40.  Gorgeous coastline and view from the course.  That brings us to today, where I am taking a day off from photographer on the course to settle in to our Marriott hotel room and catch up on things back home:)

That's all for now.  With less than a week left, we are sad to leave but excited for what the next week will look like.  We're off to St. Andrews for some golf, some great food, and the final round of the Dunhill Links!

Top of the morning!

"I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes." 

e.e.cummings

England.  Quirky.  Beautiful.  Refreshing. 

For the past week, Alex and I have been traipsing all over England.  From London to Sunningdale, Southport to Lake Country.  England has not disappointed.  From Paris Alex and I flew Easyjet to London, where we settled in for a few days.  Last year, our time in London was very short, only one full day.  This year we stretched it out and it was grand.  Upon arriving at our B&B near the British Library and Museum, we found our bearings and then began exploring. 

Highlights included the British Library and viewing the Magna Carta, the Lindisfarne Gospels, the Gutenburg bible, and the codex sinaiticus (one of two of the earliest Christian bibles dating back to the fourth century).  Other highlights included the British Museum, Hare and Tortoise (one of our new found favorite Asian restaurants), a 3-story Whole Foods, Kensington High Street, Imperial War Museum, National Army Museum, and Sunningdale Golf Course.

We really liked London but after four days were ready to hop in our rental and head north!  Thank goodness Alex is left-handed, it's much easier for him to navigate and operate our manual car:)  From London we drove up to Southport, England home of Royal Birkdale, the golf course we visited last year for the Open Championship.  It was even more fun being there after the event, remembering fun little tidbits from the tournament, and enjoying the gorgous landscape.  From Birkdale we traveled even furthur north, stopping for hot chocolate and a walk towards Derwentwater lake in Keswick, the heart of lake country.  Then we stopped for a walk on Hadrian's wall.  All the while we were driving up and down winding roads, with lush green landscapes and the company of many, many sheep:)

We are now in Ayr, Scotland home to many of the best golf courses in the world; Turnberry, Troon, and Prestwick to name a few.  We'll keep you posted on how they fare:)

By far, what we have seen up until this point, we are uttering the words of cummings as we go, we thank you Lord for your gorgeous landscape.

Paris, then and now

Five years ago in July I found myself in France.  That is literally and figuratively.  I went to Toulouse, France with Campus Crusade in the summer of 2004, and it changed me, forever.  I was older than most, a year already out of college, but the people that were with me were God-ordained.  I needed them, I needed a chance to just be me, and they let me do just that.  Not only did my teammates welcome me with open arms, so did the French.  That time around, the Lord sheltered me from the emptiness that exists for French women.  Instead, he showed me their confidence and a city that needed Him.  That trip was about growing more intimate with the Lord and having my eyes opened to His will for my life. It was about seeing the lost with the eyes of Christ and depending only on Him.

Songs of Summer 2004:  Blessed be your Name, Days of Elijah
Verse:  Habbakuk 1:5 was one;
"Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded.

 For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told"



This fall Alex and I returned.  A very emotional meeting if I might say so myself.  I was a little excited, a little afraid, a little disheartened.  What would the Lord have for me this time?  Upon landing, emotions hit me from every angle.  Where were my groupies?  Where was the Settlers board?  I didn't remember the language!

God answered.  He awoke me the first night for to sleeplessness to remind me of this:

You're the God of this City
You're the King of these people
You're the Lord of this nation
You are

You're the Light in this darkness
You're the Hope to the hopeless
You're the Peace to the restless
You are

For greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this City
Greater thing have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this City

There is no one like our God
There is no one like our God

 (God of this City; Chris Tomlin)

and this:

-that He is still very much at work there
-that He is in control
-that it's not about growing me this time, it's opening my eyes to the darkness that exists

Satan was very much present in Paris.  It came upon me almost instantly; the presence of Satan was almost palpable.  It was not the city of love but of lust.  Not the city of style but of distaste.  It was a city full of people who need the Gospel.  It is a city built on sinful ambition to be the best, look the best, etc.  It is a city that is ultimately empty.  Go quickly Dave and Heidi...this city needs you. 

Open their eyes and let them see Jesus.

Our Vacation in WI

We started off our vacation with a very special trip to Kohler, WI for some golf and relaxation with my dad and step-mom. Our room was magnificent, the shower amazing...I mean it's the home of Kohler fixtures, it better be good...and some amazing golf at Whistling Straits.

Here are the Kohler sheep...they allow the sheep (straight from Scotland) to roam the course:)

Then later in the week we headed up to our cottage...what a view!

Here's Luke fishing off the dock

Jack watching to see if he can find the fish

Kate getting cozy with Alex

Me and Kate...can you see the resemblance? Oh yes, that's b/c she looks like Daddy just like Auntie does too!

Grandma, Jack and Luke heading out on the paddle boat

The donuts from Manderfield's...the one on the bottom left, yeah that's my favorite:)

Alex and I golfing...if you look close enough you can see Alex teeing off.

Here's the birthday boy...my nephew AJ, who just turned 3

Peek...there he is!

Kate playing some catch

AJ's newest baby brother, Jace, wearing his cute plaid outfit from Auntie

Kate's new sparkly shoes...oh la la

The Winter's: Jen, Chris, Jack, Kate and Luke

Baby Jace...I just can't get enough:)

Auntie and Jace

AJ

Getting ready to blow out the candles

AJ with mommy and daddy

Grandma and the birthday boy

10 Realizations after a vacation in WI

Alex and I just got back from a 10 day "stay-cation" of sorts in WI. For the first time in our almost three years of marriage, we went back to my childhood home for more than a few days. This time around I wanted to eat at certain places, see certain people, and really experience and appreciate my hometown. This was NOT easy to do:) After living in MN for more than 10 years, being back in WI was a little shocking, but maybe not in the ways one would expect. So throughout the 10 day trip I came up with my top ten realizations after being back in my hometown...and these being said, I love my hometown! 1. Exercise is NOT a way of life. I realized this while Alex and I were playing Reid golf course, the muni track in town where my dad grew up playing. What did we notice...we were the only people over the age of 15 that were walking the course. This is a SHORT course people. It's just not the way of life. Sad:( 2. Life is much SLOWER. People live at a slower pace. They don't speed on the highway, you do not need to be a defensive driver, they enjoy relaxing, and seem to move, well just slower. 3. Appleton is a SMALL town with big city conveinances. I used to think Appleton was more metropolitan than it really is, in fact over the week, it dawned on me that it has lots of metro things like Chipotle, Panera, Godiva, a Coach store, etc. but the people, well they are unabashadly small town, and I LOVE it!! 4. The food is AMAZING! This is one thing the big city cannot replicate. I literally started salivating the minute I walked into Manderfield's bakery for my favorite donut I've been waiting 3 years to introduce Alex to. He agreed...they're the best. El Azteca, Friday night fish, Tom's Drive In, Manderfields, Nakashima, Pizza Palace, etc. Good food. 5. People love their SPORTS...Brewers, Packers, Badgers...It's a fact...we in WI love sports... 6. APPLE has not had the overwhelming success that is has in the city. In fact, there is no apple store...and not everyone is raving over it's newest creation. 7. The PHONE is still the way of contacting people. Unless you are under the age of 21, a person still makes most contact with another human being through the use of the home phone, office phone, or cell phone. No texting or email. Interesting:) 8. Driving 30 MILES really takes 30 minutes and most people think that is a long drive. As I hit up the outlet mall I realized that the EAA traffic everyone was talking about really only meant I would have a 5 minute delay in my 30 minute drive. There is no traffic as compared to the city, and yet most Appleton-ites would say they are starting to get a rush-hour. 9. An IKEA would not make it here. People are traditional in their stylings and still appreciate the solid oak cabinetry most here in the city would see as totally 80's and rip out. Modern has not yet left it's mark, nor has being GREEN for that matter:) 10. GROCERY shopping...this goes back to the food...no where else can I get squeeky cheese curds for under $3. Gotta love that. Along those lines include kaiser rolls, brat buns, mozzarella whips, and more. There is NO place like home. I love the smell, the sights, the tastes, the idiosyncrasies, the novelty, and the fact that almost all of my family is there. The memories, the schools, the people big or small, the noises, the parades, I love all of Appleton and I was so happy to see everyone I did, sad not to see those I missed, and thouroughly satisfied in my stay-cation....Looking forward to next year:)

A vacation in pictures

dinner at carrabbas

gator on the golf course

the golf course

sunset on the beach

view from restaurant

birthday boy

jane whooping it up

pete and jane, celebrating 41 years

us

the birthday boy, happy 30th

Getting Ready for a trip...

I love packing, repacking, and then packing it all over again. I am known to have all of our clothes laid out the week before, lists made two weeks before, and the suitcase ready and waiting. You could say I get a little excited to go on vacation!

Next Saturday the 17th, Alex and I are heading to Florida. Every year we head there and it always seems to be our most budget friendly vacation (must be why we get so excited) We are heading first down to Destin to visit Alex's parents who are staying there for Jan. and Feb. This is their first time staying for an extended period, so we are very excited to see them! Then midway through the week we are shifting gears, renting a car, and heading to Tampa. My parents have a condo in Tarpon Springs right outside of Tampa, and this is our usual destination. With an average temp of 70 it beats 15 here in Minnesota. Give us some golf clubs, a couple books, a pool, and some pina coladas and we are set for a fabulous week!

So if you were wondering, yes the lists have been made, packing has started and we are ready for the flight!

Madden's

We *heart* Madden's resort in Brainerd, MN. Last year we headed there for our 1st anniversary and had so much fun golfing, playing bingo, roasting marshmallows, and riding the tandem bike. Because we loved it so much, we decided to go again in the fall last year for their halloween celebration. Though we don't love halloween, we do love the amenities and watching all the adorable children dressed up in their costumes. They are the cutest:)

So this year after all the house stuff was finished we needed a break and where better to go than to Madden's. So for the cheap rate they offer we were able to get all our meals, lodging, free unlimited golf, use of the pool, and enjoy each other's company all for one low price. Though we didn't head out on the bikes this year, we still had a blast just letting loose and getting away from the everyday stress we seem to carry.

Here are some pics from our fab weekend away!

Us after dinner on Saturday night!

On the golf course

me trying to keep myself entertained while I walked along:)

Alex looking oh so professional

the golf course in all its fall glory

At last, the pictures!

Things have gotten to be a bit more hectic around the Brogle house lately so please excuse the tardiness on the photos...Alex has been in an appraisal course all week so until he has time to tell you about the trip, here are some photos from the trip to Tahoe to keep you interested!

He's back!

Well...Alex has made it back safe and sound from Lake Tahoe. I think he's going to post a message with some highlights and photos coming up here soon. It sounds like he had a great time with the guys, and though I missed him, I also had a great time up in Duluth with a friend of mine for a very relaxing spa weekend. This year instead of arriving at the airport and asking for a ride to the emergency room(more on that in a bit) he came back needing some Nyquil to nurse a cold. Last year, upon arriving in MN, Alex needed to go to the emergency room because he thought he broke his heel. A couple of x-rays later, and it was realized that his heel was not broken but indeed bruised and sprained! Talk about a memory! After Alex got back we had our Marriage Retreat. This is the second year we have gone and it was a great time. We head to Chaska, which is aobut 15 minutes from our house for the weekend and learn about marriage and visit with friends. We always like the time away...plus marriage advice, well what's the harm in learning more!

Back to reality

Well, we have returned from our trip. We had a blast. Alex enjoyed playing at least 125 holes of golf while Andrea relaxed by the pool and caught up on her reading. We spent the first portion of our trip in Tampa at the Innisbrook resort where Andrea's parents have a condo. It is the most quaint and relaxing resort! We celebrated the new year there with dinner at the Olive Garden.
Towards the end of our stay there and when the temperature began dropping we took a road trip down to Fort Myers to visit Andrea's mom. While there Alex was introduced to local faves and to part of Andrea's history in Naples. Her grandparents spent their winters there and many great memories were made on Round Key Circle. After a tour of Naples, we went out to eat at a great new wine bar/restaurant near Bonita Springs. Puzzle making and the golf channel occupied our night and in the morning we ventured back to Tampa.
Following our time there we went to Orlando and fulfilled the child in us with visits to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Though we are glad to be back, there is still a part of us that would rather be back in vacation mode!
Here are some pics from the trip: