#TBT- Three days in Edinburgh

Today during school I took the kids into town. We made our weekly stop at the library and then walked over to the University Chapel on Princeton's campus. I recently discovered that they have free half-hour concerts on Thursdays, and I thought it would be a good field trip. Music. Culture. Sitting in a European-Cathedral type space for half an hour (somehow they have even captured the smell, although it is less than 100 years old).

Inside the Princeton University "chapel"

The short walk to the chapel through an urban environment in bracing cold reminded me a great deal of Edinburgh, which is where we were one year ago today. We were able to spend 2 days exploring with just the four (instead of the 34).

The cool weather and biting wind, the gray skies matched by gray buildings, seemingly reflecting one another, and a town that's smaller than one thinks it ought to be-- all surrounded by beautiful countryside--well, today for the first time I thought Princeton and Edinburgh had more than historical Presbyterianism in common. Which is a hopeful thing, because I love Edinburgh. And I have only ever been there in the wintertime.

Cold, Dark, Gray, and yet welcoming and very dear. Something to ponder over the months ahead.

Greyfriars Kirkyard

Greyfriars Bobby

Have you ever read the children's book Greyfriars Bobby? After we arrived and found that our flat was about a block from Greyfriars Church and the statue of the little dog Bobby, we added it to the kids' Kindle library. They read it while we were there. Books! In a life where ounces and pounds were a critical currency, the paperless books were a lifesaver for all.



Edinburgh Castle was another thing that we really wanted to share with the kids. J and I have been there together once before on a dark, romantic December night with the weather as wild as my hopes for the future.

Part of the castle grounds is a little chapel named St. Margaret's. In this chapel back in 1997 we were admiring the interior when a security guard offered to turn around his collar and do the service right then. (Was he reading my mind?)


What a gift it was to be back nearly 16 years later with our four ninjas.

While at the castle, we also were able to witness a 21-gun salute in honor of Prince Charles' 65th birthday. And to see some older cannon.

It was so cold while we watched the salute. We fed the kids shortbreads we had brought along in our bags to keep them happy and somewhat still. 

Edinburgh was a little bit of something old, something new: We had never been to the National Museum of Scotland, and it was FABULOUS for the kids. I wish we could have had three days to spend there. As it is, our visit of one morning is one of the highlights of the trip. It had rooms tucked away within exhibits for kids to play and work out their energy. 

Like a race car driving simulation.

Or a place to rebuild broken pottery like an archaeologist.

Or to dress up in period costumes and dance to period music.

We weren't all tourists all the time, though. After walking about for the first parts of our two days, we rented Brave (what else?!) for the kids to watch while we worked on bookkeeping for the program, entering receipts, working on budgets, and grading. And fielding a few "help-me" e-mails and phone calls from students on their pilgrimages, and praying a lot that all would be well with them. And it was.

Well, it WAS Scotland... 

On our last morning, we packed up in our practiced style--everyone shouldering their own load, J and I each pulling a suitcase in tow. We made our way to Waverly Station and caught our train back to London...

…but not before we tried to recreate a train-station photo from Dec. 1997:

On that train ride south I first started considering the changing seasons in a more deeply theological sense which continues to this day. I have found myself thinking of it often, especially as I make the drive back and forth to Princeton. Thinking back to Edinburgh and the cold has helped me to consider winter and Princeton in a more hopeful light, and for that I am grateful. How could I not be? Such gifts we have been given.

And then, as if by magic, tonight we got our first snow.