Wonderful divine Scotland

Edinburgh Castle

established 700 AD

Tweed Valley, Scotland

As great at Northern Ireland was, I am absolutely in love with Scotland. It is only 14 miles across the channel from Ireland but a totally different feel.

Slower speaking, yummy organic yogurt,

and the Tweed Valley drive in sunset is to die for.

The people were more friendly.

There were less places to get money out or find food.

Seth and I had chinese, so you know a country with little food

but still serves Chinese can't be all bad. :)

Northern Ireland

It is so lovely to hear from you guys. Thanks for posting comments. It makes me feel connected to you just seeing your names! :)

Northern Ireland needs a new marketing director. That place rocks. So many people don't even realize that it is it's own country, and state of sorts of the United Kingdom. It was wonderful. We didn't spend much time in Belfast (very industrial and Bono wasn't there so why bother?). We did attend church and for you LDSers, it was a telecast stake conference. Elder Uchdorf told the Brits they need to be better about hugging and greeting each other---

reaching out. Touching isn't their big suit.

We learned that the Northern Ireland problems with the IRA isn't about religion at all (which is what is portrayed in western media). The problem really is that the members of the IRA

(secret militia) want a united island of Ireland and the Northern Irelanders

are happy being part of the UK.

This is the northern coast. There was this spectacular view

and this fellow was snoring his head off. :)

The locals would just lay around wherever they felt like.

Giant's Causeway...google this and learn about it. A-maz-ing.

Matt saw it when he was 11 and now Seth saw it when he was 12.
Seth has already decided that he will bring his son when he is 11 or 12. :)

Ireland

Ireland is not the rainy rock that we see in the movies. It is green. So green that it almost could be unbelievable if you weren't there to see it your self. Rolling with trees, and small hedge, rock fences everywhere. No true road signs, and not even all the towns have name signs.

Whew...part two

This is for my adoring fans (well, actually my mother since she has nothing to read at lunchtime lately and is probably the only one to read this anyway)

The United Kingdom was fantastic (the Brits love that word). I could go on and on but suffice it to say it was a wonderful family outing. The boy didn't throw up once. The girl didn't really complain at all. Mr. Fun and I survived driving through four countries in 11 days without a Garmin without contacting a divorce attorney. International RYLA was super great. Missouri RYLA went the best yet, and I am surely grateful to be home. I lived out of a suitcase for over a month and honestly, I am tired.

The let down is hitting me now. I am trying to get my home in order, physically, so that I can get my mind in order, mentally. The walls that were stripped bare the end of March for their new painting but became home the the famous lists were finally painted on Saturday and actually are getting their new wall hangings tonight. The meditation garden that needed it's rock border was laid down the other day. We had a fun time at the Fourth of July Tallant blow out. I still have gobs of ironing and school supplies to get ready to delve into, attended the Water Garden tour, the Cancer walkathon on Friday to help pull together, but for tonight, I am taking the evening off and saying hello to you.

Would you like to see some pictures?

Birmingham, England

Tweed Valley, Scotland

Atrim Coast, Northern Ireland

Kilkenny, Ireland

It is surprising how out of the zone I am when it comes to doing the blog thing, but I have plenty of pictures to last for a while. :) As they say at International RYLA--Bring it! And a special shout out to my Cancer Walkathon Fans! Good luck Friday

Whew

The lists are gone. In all, there were 22 of them. Only four things left to do and it is over.

I remember exactly where and when it was that I decided that when I had children, I would take them to Europe to see how great we have it in America. A mandatory requirement I think for all teenagers.

It was December 1990. NYC airport runway.

We had just landed on the tarmac in NYC and we were pulling up to the gate. I was returning home from my mission in the Canary Islands. It was the first time in many months that I was alone, so it gave me time to think of things other than my missionary companion and the gospel I had been teaching the people of Portugal.

When I saw the American flag flying off to my left window, I cried. I had missed America. The food, the language, the flag. I remember the moment very clearly.

I didn't have a boyfriend, husband, or children. I didn't know what the future would bring, but I promised myself it would happen. And it is, 19 and 1/2 years later. The kids are finally ready to really appreciate it.

We leave for the UK in about 12 hours and I will be gone for over three weeks. I return home for four days and then head off for almost another week to the Missouri RYLA Leadership Academy that I direct. I will be back home on the 2nd in time to make the Famous Dave's BBQ over on 92nd street. Have a great June. :)