Julian's Here!

Our dear friend, Julian Battle, who lived with us for almost two years in Augusta, arrived on November 20 for a visit. As always, he brought his million dollar smile and servant attitude. Over the weekend we took him up to Glasgow, Scotland to see a Rangers soccer match since he's a big sports fan. While he's here, we hope to show him the other big English sport of rugby. It's not cricket season or we'd try to show him that as well. While the guys went to the soccer match, the girls did a little secret santa shopping for school friends and then we all headed over to the west coast of Scotland which is opposite the water from the Lake District where we live.

We spent a lot of time relaxing reading, sleeping in, catching up on our daily Bible reading (we got a month behind when we were in States this summer and have never recovered) watching some movies, hiking, and goofing off. It was great timing too as all three kids were a bit run down with colds.

Monday we headed to the Isle of Arran by ferry for a hike. This island was the location from which Robert the Bruce safely waited for the signal to return to mainland Scotland for the attack on the English. It was a gorgeous sunny, cold day for a hike around the castle of Broderick (featured on the Scotish 20 pound note) You can see it off in the distance behind Julieanne and Dennis on the beach.

We arrived home late Tuesday after keeping the kids off school for two days only to get busy planning a train route and tourist stops for Julian to head to London at 6:34 the next morning. He's spending Wednesday - Friday down there doing the 'tourist thang'. He'll be back in time for a Thanksgiving meal at our house with the American members of Dennis' team. Nathan keeps asking when Julian will be back.