The Rest of the visa story

Before you read this, watch the following video, unless you come to Serbia and get a visa, this is as close as you will come to experiencing the visa office:



So after the police adventure (click here) of course the rest of the day did not go smooth.  As I said in the last post I did not need the bank letter and that was a little dissapointing.  In two years here I have applied and recieved 6 visas, so they have plenty of paperwork on our family.  The new girl at the visa office was not happy with my copies and demanded original translations. (Even though they have those already).  Now this is not a problem except since I have not needed them in ages they were at home - a very long bus ride away.  So I left the visa office and began wondering aimlessly around the city center upset I was going to have to return tomorrow with more documents..... when suddenly I realized I was near the translators office.  The excitement began to build as I realized I could get original translations and deliver them now - thus avoiding an additional trip downtown.  Would she be there, would she have them saved, would she give them to me?  YES YES YES!!!  So after a crazy morning, I was happy to deliver the documents and wait til next week to see if they give me a visa.

Tales from inside the police car

If you follow this blog much you know that going to get a visa is always an adventure here in Serbia.  Weather it is needing that one more piece of paper, which no one had mentioned before or being poked in the chest at the Office Of Foreigners there is something that always happens.  My trip on Monday was no exception, as a matter of fact, this may have been the most adventurous yet. 

I now have a policy before I go to get our visas that I collect every piece of paper and document that may be required.  Putting this policy in action Monday morning I went to a copy center and had all our documents and translations copied twice just in case they wanted two copies....  Then I headed to the bank.  I needed a letter from the bank proving that our company had and account and had some money.  Myself and the banker had a 20 minute discussion on the fact that he did not think I needed the letter (this 20 minutes is crucial, remember it).  After convincing him needing it was not the issue, having it in case I needed it was what was important because I needed it last time. I got the letter.

Now back to that 20 minutes.  Apparently it was just enough time for a policeman to determine I was illegally parked (by the way I was not, there is simply no rhyme or reason for parking here.  If your car fits then you can park it.  The little alley I was parked in had several other cars parked in it).  As I exited the bank I saw him standing at my car and started running and yelling "No No No that is my car"  (Yes in English, its part of my dumb American I don't understand what is going on around me act.  If I may say so myself one I have perfected).  So I get to the car and the guy wants all my info.  I give him my passport, the car registration, the letter that says I can drive the car.  He keeps asking for more information which I don't understand (remember I have lost all ability to speak Serbian, I can't even say yes or no).  So I give him every piece of paper in the glove box and since I am going to get a visa I start giving him those documents also - glad I got two copies of everything.  Eventually my mountian of paper frustrates him and he takes me to his car....

So as we are walking back to his car (about 25 feet away) and my main concern is I don't have time or money to head over to the impound lot and get the car, then he opens the back door and tells me to sit (amazing Serbian Language recovery her by the way, I quickly complied).  Now my thoughts have shifted to wondering what jail is like here, and the fact that I really do not have time to go to jail and get a visa today.  Apparently I was not in the car to get a ride but for a better viewing of the "Where to Park Show".  That's right while I sat in the car, the policeman walked around and showed me about 10 "legal" parking spaces (legal is in quotes because not one space he showed me was a legally marked space).  I was informed I could park on the sidewalk, I could double park and block others in, I could park on the ramp for the garage - to the side of course so cars could get by-, I could park just about anywhere except where I was.  That was clearly and illegal place.  After the show he told me to get out of the car gave me my passport and told me to leave. I was very gracious and thankful and got out of there fast.  Parked the car "legally" at our place and headed by bus to the visa office.

Best part of this whole story, the banker was right, didn't need that piece of paper at all. 

All Good Things Must Come To An End

This week marked the end of two of my favorite entertainment outlets.  The David Crowder Band (DCB) released their last album and Jen and I bit the bullet and watched the final episode of Friday Night Lights. (Knowing it was the last one I has been holding out.)

Since they started out so many years ago in Waco, DCB has been one of my favorite bands (Christian or otherwise).  Certain songs or albums form them have coincided in with huge moments in our lives.  It was after a DCB concert that Jen and I prayed earnestly to follow God's leading in our life.  The songs off the Remedy album have helped me grow deeper in my relationship with God.  We have seen them man times in concert own all their albums and are sad that they are wrapping up their final concert tour.  If you have not listened to Crowder they are so musically different from anything out there, and the words they choose glorify God in an amazing way.  Start with the Remedy album, it's easily their best.

Friday Night Lights was one of the best shows on TV ever.  It was not a show about football.  It was a show about people and football happened to be a big deal in their lives.  Watching the final three seasons after leaving coaching, was the only time I really wanted to return to coaching.  I loved the way coach Taylor interacted with his players and I longed for that.  But the best part of this show was the way Coach Taylor and his wife (Tammy) worked as a great marriage.  It was real, so many of the conversations they had about kids, school, life - were mirrors to many of the conversations Jen and I had.  I appreciated that, unlike so many other TV dad's and husbands, Coach Taylor was not a buffon.  He lead his family and he led his team.  It was great entertainment and I was little sad to watch Coach Taylor and Tammy walk off that field one last time. 

So no more new Crowder and FNL only on DVD.  All good things do eventually come to an end.

Jen outdoes herself again - Christmas style

Due to a super team up between my mom and my wife I was blessed with an iPad for Christmas.  To be honest this was beyond my wildest dreams.  I know this may not seem so amazing to all of you out there because you are probably reading this blog on your iwhatever that you have had for some time now.  But I live in eastern Europe, in a non EU country and all devices with that trendy little apple cost a fortune - about 50% to 60% more... so for my wife to conspire to get this for me in the States and then get it here (thanks Mike and Pam Tullos!) was pretty cool.  I've had it for about 5 days now and it is an amazing device.  I can't get over how thin and fast it is.  I have been super impressed by those things.  The ereader function is great, magazines look amazing.  iOS is just super intuitive and its been fun to use, someday when I have more money I'll update my mac to Lion and unlock the full potential of the iPad (wireless syncing amongst other goodies).  The iCloud took some time to figure out but seems pretty smooth (amazon has apple beat here, they are going to have to make this much more intuitive and easy to use).  Tons of games, it seems there are to many to choose,  but the game play on the iPad is great.  Tiger Woods 12 is my favorite, I'm sort of obsessed.  I know that there will always be hardcore gamers out there but this thing is amazing for the casual guy who just wants to kill some time.  Apparently it has all these ways to help me be more productive but I have not pushed these limits yet. 
The best part of my iPad is the inscription that Jen put on the back:

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

  

She just put the reference on the back and I love it, my favorite verse, from my only girl.  It constantly reminds me to live in victory, as one who's debt was paid.  

Since the iPad was in transit on Christmas day the ubercreative Jen and the girls came up with this as my gift.

This is me reading the story book that K wrote about searching for the perfect gift for me

This is me finishing the book and realizing that an iPad was the perfect gift

This is me laughing because Jen made an iPad to tide me over

Happy Guy, Great kids,  Great wife and Great mom

Thanks to all 4 of you for loving me and blessing me with this gift.

As an aside that lamp in the pictures is what I got Jen.  It was nice and cool and broke after we had it on for about five minutes.  So if your scoring at home that is one gift grandslam for Jen and an epic fail for Kyle. 

Lessons from Son to Father

Click HERE to read Jen's thoughts on Wilson's 1st Birthday.
I've been a dad for almost 11 years now and my two girls have taught me many things.  I like to think they have taught me to be sensitive, and concerned when they cry (which is alot).  I know they have taught me to love deeper, and to love more but this past year being the father to a son has seen so many new and different lessons.
 Wilson has truly shown me God's design for us as men and women.  You see amongst the barbies, and little pets, and pink and flowers, that BOY knew that those were for girls, and he was meant to play with cars and trucks and balls. He is so much rougher then the girls, he likes to wrestle and be thrown.  He likes to bang on things and like his dad he loves gadgets (remotes, things with screens, phones etc). It has been uncanny how God wired him to be a boy and grow as a man in His design.
I've also learned about a lot about affection from Wilson.  K and Mac are not affectionate, especially for girls, but Wilson is just so sweet, he loves to pat you on the back and he loves to give kisses (he is learning now that french is best!)  I pray he stays sweet and affectionate, his future wife will probably like that. 
As the father of girls you realize that depending on how they feel about you has alot to do with who they will pick for husbands.  As he father to a son, you realize he will be who I teach him to be and lets be real, that's sort of scary.  But Wilson has alleviated all those fears because he is so sweet and he  has helped show me a little of my sweetness also. 
The past year has been crazy, it has been a wild ride with a boy in the house. Aside from the big lessons above, Wilson has taught me that sleep is for weak people.  He does not need so why should we.  He has taught me that playing with a fork and bowl can entertain for hours on end.  Barney is still cool and Dorothy the Dinosaur is pretty cool too.  All in all the past year has been a blessing and God really does know what he is doing even when we are unsure.
Here are some pictures from his big 1 party.

Wilson's last night before the Big 1

He is one handsome dude

Jen makes an amazing cake as always

Wilson's racing jacket and car

Cake good:  attention and singing, not so sure about that

Just in case you forget who I am

Natioanl Championship Preveiw

I have no rooting interest in tonights game so I thought I would break down some aspects of the game to choose a team to root for.

Location:
Lousiana - My in-laws live there and the entire state worships LSU but they do have the Saints.
Alabama - The only people I know from Alabama go t Mississippi for college, that should tell you something.
ADVANTAGE: LSU

Offense:
Based on their previous meeting that should mean little in this game.  Bama does have T. Richardson who was a Heisman finalist so.....
ADVANTAGE: BAMA

Team Colors:
Purple and Yellow are Hideous and Maroon is boring.
ADVANTAGE: PUSH

Mascot:
LSU - Tiger
BAMA - a tide or an elephant
Tigers in Lousiana is just redicoulous you would think a state nicknamed "hunters paradise" could come up with something better, yet Bama has a mascot called the tide and decided to represent that with an elephant.... This one is tricky
ADVANTAGE: LSU

Defense:
Both teams do this well (probably leading to the most boring Game since the 9-6 nailbiter they played earlier in the year) but LSU has the "honey badger" the most awsome nickname in sports and he was a Heisman finalist so....
ADVANTAGE: LSU

Coaches:
LSU - Les Miles "The Mad Hatter" seems like an ok guy, has made vague references to a faith in Jesus and God (he's no Mark Richt), wears a different hat for every game, eats grass on the field to "become one with the game" has a nice looking family.
Bama - Nick Saban - saban rhymes with Satan, that about some it up.  This guy is a good football coach but reminds me of a used car salesman or an ambulance chasing lawyer.
ADVANTAGE: LSU

After this in depth analysis I really have no dog in this fight so i just hope for a compettive High scoring Big 12 shootout!