Villers Abbey

I decided to forgo the Veteran's Day / Remembrance Day (for any Europeans checking in) events this year for a day alone.  Emily kept the kids, and I spent most of today at Villers Abbey.  It's the ruins of a Cistercian Abbey located about 40 minutes from our house.  I wanted to take a few pictures, wander around in the countryside, and spend some time in prayer.

The Abbey is amazing. I spent 2.5 hours wandering through the rooms where these men worshipped, ate, and worked.  Anytime I am at any type of ruins, I wonder about the lives of the people who lived there.  Today was no different, except for the realization that the monks spent almost all of their time in silence.  The designated readers obviously performed the scripture readings.  There were certain meetings where they discussed community issues.  However, most could go days without uttering a word.  I understand the danger too much introspection can have.  I do think we might benefit if we periodically took some extended time to observe, process, and understand the world we live in and the God we worship.

Otherwise, the photography was great fun.  I want to go back when the leaves are on the trees and when there's snow on the ground to take more pictures.  I do wish I'd had more time to wander the trails that run around the area.  Since it's so close, I now know where to get in a day-hike.

The Today Show in Madrid

First of all, Emily wants me to voice her strong opposition to the title of this post.  Especially since I have never met Matt Lauer and haven't seen an episode of the Today Show in a couple of years.  That is now accomplished. 
Last week, we noticed a couple of NBC cameras in Plaza Mayor (Madrid).  Emily announced that the Today Show is doing the "Where in the World is Matt Lauer?"  She thought he might be in Madrid.  Being the compassionate and sensitive husband I am, I ridiculed the idea.  This morning, she saw the episode where Matt Lauer is in Madrid at Plaza Mayor and the Royal Palace.  Being the compassionate and forgiving she is, Emily is making fun of me.

The palace was closed twice when we tried to go visit.  Now I know why.  Now you know why I entitled this post "Matt Lauer is a jerk."

Madrid

For years, we laughed when my Father would fall asleep at the
table after finishing a meal.  Apparently, the problem is
genetic.

I had leave this week, and we went to visit Madrid, Spain.  It's a great place to visit with a family.  We rented an apartment a block from the Prada Museum.  Each morning, we had breakfast at the apartment before moving out for the day.  We were staying close enough to walk throughout the city center to see the Palace Real, Plaza Mayor, and the Prada Museum.  It's not exactly like Rome where there are so many things to see that you are constantly on the move.  That kind of makes it nice with small kids.  We could go back to the apartment for a siesta (and did a couple of days).  We could walk at Isaac's pace.  Emily loved the shopping.  I enjoyed watching the changing of the guard at the Royal Palace.  You don't see a guard detail with mounted cavalry, infantry, and a canon very often.  For the first time in several years, we only visited one church on a trip.

We did notice that the city of Madrid puts a lot of effort into keeping the streets clean.  It was one of the first things we noticed when we got out of the taxi.  We had rain a couple of days, which gave Isaac the opportunity to sprint ahead and jump into puddles.  Claire took a step without holding onto anything in the apartment.  We're counting it as her first step even though I didn't see it. 

Pumpkin Carving Party

Tonight was our FRG (Family Readiness Group) Pumpkin Carving Party.  We filled the chapel's fellowship hall to just about its limit.  When I stuck the knife into the pumpkin to remove the guts, Isaac looked up and said, "I didn't know you were going to kill it!"  I'll send an autographed picture to whoever correctly identifies what movie he was quoting. 

Claire probably enjoyed the event more as she tried a lot of new food that she decided she liked far more than what she gets at home.  She's exhausted in the picture to the left. 

Otherwise, this has been a pretty easy week.  We had the 5th SIG commander in town for a couple of days.  I had the 5th SIG chaplain in town for a couple of days, which was actually enjoyable.  I normally avoid most other chaplains, but it was a lot of fun having him and SFC Ebron here.  They went with us to watch the playoffs for our flag football team.  CH Engle observed the problem I have when I can't actually be on the field.  He didn't mean it in a bad way (I hope).  I sprained a knee and ankle during last weeks game, so I spent this one on the sideline yelling at the defense instead of actually talking to the guests.  Thankfully, Emily is a far better hostess.

Emily's First Half Marathon

Today, Emily ran the SHAPE Half Marathon.  For all of her talk about not being ready and not having been able to get in her last few long runs, she did amazingly well (2:04:52).  I think she could have broken two hours if she'd come out a little harder.  She actually caught a friend and I off guard.  We'd watched the start then moved to his front yard to watch them pass at 3km and 18km.  Emily hit the 18k point several minutes ahead of when I expected.  She covered the last 2-3 miles fast enough that we almost didn't make it to the finish line before she did.  (We drove Tim's truck).

Watching races is far more fun than I expected.  Isaac, Tim, and I sat in his front yard with a camera, chicken wings, and french fries.   Next time, I'm going to set a grill up.