A 3-CASTLE wandering . . .

I think I've mentioned that Sister Call and I are determined to not have any regrets when we return from our mission. We do not want to have anyone ask us if we saw something in particular while we were in Scotland and have to say no! Saturday is our only free day, our P-day (preparation), so we get up early, clean house, throw laundry in and take off. No matter how tired we are when we end our day we grocery shop and I finish preparing my youth Sunday school lesson. Did I mention that I teach the 12-17-year-olds every Sunday? They can't give me a calling because I am a full-time missionary, but they have asked me to take an indefinite assignment. It is a very wide age range and sometimes difficult to reach the minority of 12 yr-olds. It's a challenge! my companion plays the organ for sacrament meetings and also helps new members with their genealogy. So, for us, every day is a busy day.

My life is full here in Scotland--I love the country and the people. Who wouldn't love a country that has places called Firth of Forth and Kingdom of Fife!

NOTE: Hi mom, how you doing? I hope you are still enjoying my blogs. It's finally a Spring weather few days here in Scotland. I was able to wear only a sweater the last few days. Do you still have snow there? What a winter, huh? I haven't been in a real winter in many years, but really needed coats, boots, hats, and mittens this winter. Are you still listening to books on tape? There is a good book called Orphan Train. It does have a few swear words in it, but I think you would really like it (the book, not the swear words LOL). My companion and I listen to tapes while we are "out wandering" in the car. Well, all of my grandchildren and great-grandchildren are always in my prayers. And, of course, they are all wonderful. My children are all busy and seem happy. I can't wait to see them all when I return from my mission. I'm going to visit all of them (and you) after I return--whether they want me or not! LOL  It'll be fun to have 2 new baby boys to get to know. Stay well and happy. I love you.

NOTE: Hi Holly, how are you feeling? I would love to see a picture of your "baby tummy". What is your actual due date? I'm thinking it might be close to Julia's. So neat that you are both having boys. How old will Norah be when you have the baby? Does she understand that she is going to have a little brother? I was wondering the other day if you had gone back to work at Costco. Please give your mom and grandma my love and best wishes. Lots of hugs to you and your family--love to all. grams

Skyline view of  castke

Will we ever be able to stop wearing winter coats!!

Who did this & how long did it take?
Another mystery for Carrie to solve!

Large controversy about the fact that someone painted
 half of the castle--Historical groups want it removed.

KELBURN CASTLE - People actually live in this castle so we weren't able to get close, The grounds were beautiful!

Scone Castle. - extraordinary ruins.

Balgonne Castle - home of the Laird and Lady Balgonne

Visitors and more wt anderings . . .

Millennial clock - every part moves as it starts
from the bottom layer and works its way up.

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Matt & Jennifer in Scotland - Note Edinburgh Castle in the background

My son and daughter-in-law were my NO. 3 company from the states. First Julia & Brad (granddaughter & husband) then my daughter, Lorre, Matt & Jennifer, and coming in June, my son Andy, his wife Heather & the three grandchildren; Max, Jocey & Alayna. I've been so blessed to have family visit. Fun times were had by all. While Matt & Jennifer were in Scotland they enjoyed the Highlands with hiking and exploring the Isle of Sky. We spent hours on a cold, rainy day touring the Edinburgh Zoo and many hours at the National Museum of Scotland. My favorite at the zoo was the panda bear and at the museum, the Millennial clock.

The following pictures are of a small village named Culross about an hour from Edinburgh. Its claim to fame is that it was where Christianity was first formed in Scotland. We found a photographer there who is just a delight and my companion and I both bought 6 of his framed photos of places in Scotland that we have been to. There is a small Castle there, but unfortunately, it was closed.

The first yellow castle we've seen. I had to wonder if that was the original color.

                                             

Photographer's studio - lovely old building

Well, things are going great with my mission.  New arrivals every 6-8 weeks seem to roll around very quickly. We had 7 missionaries return home and 9 arrivals this time. Our mission has had 37 baptisms thus far in March. Our current mission president and wife will be released in July--that will be a sad time for all of us. They are loved by all and the interaction between the young missionaries and President Donaldson is so special. He truly loves each one of them and takes such good care of them. But like a parent, if discipline is needed they get it, but in a loving way. My companion will leave in September and my release date is November 8. I already know who my new companion will be for about two months. Seems very odd and sad to think I'm getting that close to my release date. I just love Scotland and especially love the views of rooftops throughout the country. They all have a very "Mary Poppins"
look with the chimneys, turrets, and unusual architecture. Pictures could

never capture the true beauty.

We hiked up the trail to see Bauar Falls

                                                                                                        

This was a very simple hike compared to some we have done, the Lord has blessed me with such good health since I've been here and I'm able to keep up with my companion who is 20 years younger than me. I don't know if I ever mentioned the Pux Glenn hike--boy that was a dilly! Straight up from the beginning and muddy so you can imagine what it was like coming down. I'm telling you those "clunky missionary shoes" have served me well. They have better grips than my boots and sneakers.

We are beginning to see signs of spring here in Scotland. Trees are starting to bud and temperatures have changed enough that I'm thinking about getting a lighter jacket. I remember last spring and summer I could wear a sweater most days, even at the mission home. We have lots of places to wander as the weather gets warmer, especially the Highlands. We already have a tour booked for April to go to the Isle of Sky. So, friends and family that's it for now. Love to all, Sister Gifford

NOTE:  Well hi there mom--how you doing? I was thinking about you while I was eating a real meat, vegetable & potato pastie for supper. You can buy them everywhere here and they are so good! Do you and Kay still get one every once in a while? I sure had a good time with Matt & Jennifer while they were here in Scotland. I think they really enjoyed their trip and sure did pack a lot into the days they had here. Did I tell you that Julia and Holly are both expecting and both having boys. That will make me 8 great-grandchildren. I will have lots of visiting to do when I return from my mission so I can catch up on the lives of all my grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It's hard to believe that Easter is this Sunday--our church General Conference is also on Easter so it will be a full-day. I think we'll get together with some of the senior missionaries for dinner. I hope to make potato salad, but that's not a big favorite in Scotland so I may do something else.
I sure hope you are feeling good and are in good spirits (although I can't imagine you not being in good spirits). Stay Happy--I love you!

Hi Jocey:  I'm dedicating this blog to you in honor of your birthday! It sounds like you had a wonderful time. I like the idea of the escape room party. I saw the picture of you and Max with the spelling bee awards--that's awesome. I'm so glad you enjoy so many different things (including cooking). I know you don't ever sit around wondering what you can do :-). My life is very busy too and I love that part of serving a mission. I also never have to wonder what I'm going to do next. I think you would really enjoy drawing some of the architectural ruins I see--the castles and monasteries are just phenomenal. To see parts of structures that date back to the 1200's and many even earlier is just very exciting. I hope you like my blogs. I sure miss you and think of you all often, Love grams

Scotland Snow . . . and more wanderings!

A beautiful fluffy 6" of snow covered Edinburgh today and shut the city down. City transit, schools, businesses, Parliament, everything except for the baptism tonight. Two young adults were baptized and it was very special. The turn out was huge, especially for a blustery, winter night. What a joy it is to attend so many baptisms, part of our mission statement is "that we are a baptizing mission." I've been here 10 months and there have only been 2 weeks where there were no baptisms--that's pretty extraordinary. Almost always two in a week, and as many as five in one night. We have eight full-time missionaries in Edinburgh and 8 Senior missionaries. The Scotland/Ireland Mission has 175 missionaries total. We just got two new missionaries this past week; one from China and one from Utah. Another new senior couple just joined us & they will be serving in Glasgow as Young Single Adult missionaries helping to plan and carry out programs for the young singles. Of course, my job was to find them a place to live in Glasgow. So here's how it went--President Donaldson says, sister Gifford I need you to start looking for housing in Glasgow area for a senior couple but don't make any commitments because we are still not sure where they will be located. So I go online, talk to letting agents and start feeling the market. This is a Monday, so I find 4 places I feel are worth looking at (still can't make a commitment), send a senior missionary couple to Glasgow for the day on Wednesday to look at flats. 3 out of 4 are keepers, but one was a "10" out of 10. I speak with the letting agent and ask how soon we could get in and offer them 6 months rent in advance if they can speed the process up. O course I still haven't gotten the final word from President Donaldson. On Friday I get the go-ahead and Friday night the landlord agreed to our offer. Tuesday they moved into a beautiful, completely furnished flat! I see no way any of this works without the Lord's help. I do this all the time and I'm amazed that people sometimes let missionaries move in before the money is even transferred into their accounts. So that's just a little snippet of how exciting my days are. I hope it didn't bore you 😊

It's the end of the week now and we have had 12" of snow. The city does not have the resources to clear the snow except for the main streets and highways. It has been 3-years since the last significant snowfall. Our car has gotten around fairly well in the snow, but we had a flat tire that needed to be fixed. Fortunately, it went flat while in the mission parking lot. Also, our handy, dandy wash machine broke down this week. Our landlord told us to get it fixed or buy a new one and take it off the rent. Of course, we chose to buy a new one! But in the meantime .  . . so inconvenient to lug our laundry to the mission home.  Oh well, can't let those things interfere with the spirituality of our missions. Everyday is Christ-centered and that is a marvelous feeling. Sometimes it is hard to remember what I did with my time before my mission.

I'm having trouble importing my snow pictures, so they may have to be in the next blog. My best wishes to you all and lots of love.

NOTE: Hi mom--I know you love listening to my blog. I'm so glad you enjoy them. I know you have a great love for the Saviour that you depend on Heavenly Father & Jesus Christ for the strength to carry you on each day. During a song in sacrament meeting last Sunday I had the strongest feeling that I sure bare my testimony to you . . . so here goes. Mom, I want you to know that I know our Saviour lives and he is our advocate with the Father. Just like picking a telephone up and calling someone we can we can communicate with our Heavenly Father through the Saviour. I know how much we are loved by them and I'm so grateful for the atoning sacrifice made on our behalf by the Saviour. I know the Book of Mormon is true and is another testament of Jesus Christ to stand with the Bible. I know The Church of Jesus Christ was restored by the Prophet, Joseph Smith, and remains as the only true church on the face of the earth. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to serve a mission and to help teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I pray for you each night that you might have peace fill your heart and mind. I love you.

NOTE:  So, Hi Emily. How are you doing? just wanted to tell you how much you're loved and I think you are a top-notch mother! Avery is such a special little person. I hope he can serve a mission someday. I can picture him with his missionary badge preaching the Gospel in Scotland/Ireland. Yup, he'll say, just following in my great-grandma's footsteps. I'm so proud of your accomplishments and so very happy that you have chosen a career that provides such continual service to others. I hope you will someday be able to work toward your registered nursing degree--I know

you can do it when the time is right. Take care of yourself and stay joyful. grams

OK, everytime I drive by this guy I say "what?!!!"
He is at the end of the drive to enter the Modern Art Museum in Edinburgh.
What do you think about this artwork, Jocey??

Mission 1/2 over. . . and more wanderings

Ruins of  Caerlaverock Castle

Hello everyone! My goodness, I've had a hard time finding minutes to do my blog--I know, no excuses. But honestly, I'm just busier and busier at the mission office. My days are full and our evenings are spent teaching with the missionaries, attending baptisms and yes, even the office. We just welcomed 9 new sister missionaries and seven elders to our mission and transferred missionaries all over Scotland and Ireland. Guess what; one of the new missionaries is from my hometown of Flushing, Michigan and graduated from my high school. His name is Elder Hicks. He got quite a kick out of my graduating in 1959 and he just graduated last June! We had fun talking about places we both knew.  Speaking of places, let me take you back through pictures to Giffordtown. If you remember, I couldn't get them to post last time. So here goes!

Love the sign!!

Giffordtown Hall

Standing in the middle of the only street in town!

                                                               

     Giffordtown was fun to find and explore; no gas station, no store, no fast food. Pretty much just a little quaint town where people live and are happy with very little.  

Gifford  Farm 

                           On to our next adventure . . .  Caerlaverock Castle. With its own authentic moat and has the shape of a triangle. We found this one in Dumfries Scotland about 2 hours from Edinburgh. Very well preserved ruins with many sculptures still intact even though it was built in the 1200's.

  I need to start keeping track of how many castles we've seen and how many we have yet to see. I only have 8 months left to see them all!                                                                                           Our next adventure was our 1st "Burns Dinner" Everyone in Scotland celebrates the life of the author/poet      Robert Burns. The restaurants are full to capacity and many private dinner parties are held all over the country. It is a night of bagpipes, dancing, singing old Scottish ballads and lots of poetry reading. But the biggest part of the evening is the introduction & carving of the Haggis. At the beginning of the evening, a man dressed in full kilt attire dances out to the bagpipe music with a tray of Haggis (formed into a shape like a big pot roast or ham).  A poem was read and then another man wielding a big sword whacks the Haggis into two pieces.  The dinner was mashed potatoes, turnips and, of course, Haggis! My companion had never tried Haggis--see the picture below. I decided that night (my 3rd time for Haggis) that I really don't like it--I don't care how you fix it!

The ceremonial "bringing forth the Haggis" dance!

                                                     

Haggis up close & personal!!

 Our next adventure was a 3-day trip to Dublin, Ireland.  We made the trip specifically to see/hear the General Relief Society President, Sister Bingham. She & her husband and a General Authority Elder Tonycliff
& his wife all spoke at a Sunday night fireside. I'm not sure how or why they came to Dublin, but it was sure a special meeting. Sister Bingham and the General Authority also spoke in the Sacrament meeting. We flew to Ireland (only a 1-hour flight) and then used taxi and bus service to get around. During the day we used the tourist Hop On-Hop off bus.  We stayed in a little cottage owned by the mission that was right behind the church. No one told us to bring things like soap, towels--you know, the bare necessities! :-)  So we roughed it a little--maybe more than a little, but it was free. This was a total historic journey. I loved Trinity College, and the Book of Kells, which are lavishly decorated manuscripts of the four Gospels (in Latin) dating back to 521 AD. Trinity College was founded in 1592.

Elcho Castle - closed for the season, we'll go again in the Spring.

We drove all the way to Perth to have our picture
taken with this statue!

       

O' Boy, Haggis for the 1st time!!

A snapshot of beautiful Scone Castle. We went there for the
 Snowdrop {winter flowers} Festival

I saw my first Highland Coo (cow) while at Scone Castle. they are the coolest cows ever. . .and I know my cows!

Isn't he cute!

So that's a few adventures, but this is Saturday and we just arrived back at our flat after another whole day of adventure--fill you in next time!

NOTE: Hi mom, sorry it has been so long between blogs--I've just been very busy enjoying my mission! I wish you were able to visit me here. I know you would love it. Scotland is such a diverse country. Edinburgh, where I am, is such a big & really old city and then today we drove about 2 1/2 hours and found mountains with snow on the tops. We drove along the Loch Lomond lake for miles and miles with mountains on either side. Just beautiful! Then we went to Pucks Glen and hiked for about an hour straight up, it seemed. We saw beautiful old trees and several waterfalls. I'll probably me sore for church tomorrow. Did I tell you that I teach a Sunday school class for young adults from 12-18 quite a challenge with such a large age spread. But, I'm enjoying it most days at least--sometimes they just sit and act like their are bored too death!! I think it's just their age, can't be my teaching Ha Ha! I will set a time up with Kay to talk to you on the phone soon. We'll just have to figure out our time differences. Love you to pieces and hope you are doing well. 

NOTE:  Hi Holly Dale. This is your ggma just writing a note to you to say hi and tell you that I love you and miss you. When I get home from my mission I promise you I'm coming to visit you. I might have to share your room, would that be ok? I've been wondering if you play hockey too or do you do something else you really enjoy? I wish you would draw me a picture and send it to me so I could hang it up in my office. I was also wondering what your favorite book is and what your favorite toy is. Please give mommy, daddy and Levi big hugs for me and consider yourself hugged with a great big kiss on the cheek. Love you and I will be waiting for a picture.

WANDERINGS to Giffordtown

What a wonderful "almost 9 months" this mission has been. Our mission had 407 baptisms in 2017. How wonderful it is to attend these baptisms, as each week there is at least one if not more friends baptized. Many of them my companion or I have helped teach, so we have a real bond with them. Our ward is growing by leaps and bounds. Our Chinese new members are strong in the gospel and continually invite their friends to join them at church. Most of them will return to China and being members there will be a real challenge for them. They have strong testimonies of the Gospel and I'm sure will influence many when they return to China.

One of our senior couples (The Winters) are finishing their mission this week so we will have another couple (The Helps) taking their places at the mission office. They were both born & raised in Africa and have fairly strong accents, although they have lived in the states for 30 years. It will be fun getting to know them. We actually have 4 new couples joining our mission over the next few weeks, but they will be in outlying regions of Scotland/Ireland serving in various roles.

WANDERINGS: We have visited some interesting places--New Lanark, Scotland was a thriving cotton processing plant in the 1800's. It is a whole village built on the Clyde River that has some fairly powerful rapids, which, of course, provided the power for the mills. Robert Owen was the founder of New Lanark and the cotton mills. He had a vision as to how people should be living and working. He opened schools, built houses for people to live in inexpensively, introduced the "8-hour workday, changed the age to 12 (from 8) for working at the mill and built shops that employees could shop in cheaper than in town. For those of us who have "Endicott Johnson" memories; kind of reminds me of the methods they used for their employees. We finished our day there hiking 2 miles along the river's edge, sometimes with steep dropoffs on the side of the path--scarey!
                                                                                                               
            Clyde River - New Lanark

Along the path of the river

                                                     

T

Village of New Lanark 

Our next WANDERING was to "The Scottish Deer Centre" It was just that! Lots of deer, but only so, so on our rating scale of wanderings. Here are a couple of pictures & you'll see what I mean--just lots of deer!! But as we left the deer park we saw the "SIGN" of all signs--"Giffordtown" to the right.

Happy New Year! and some wanderings

Entrance to the Edinburgh Christmas Market  

My daughter, Lorre, came to visit over the Christmas holiday. It was a rush at the office until she arrived, trying to get everything caught up for a few days vacation. I actually had Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday off, then worked Thursday & Friday while Lorre was in London. She went to London by herself, by train (only 3 1/2 hours)-- very brave! It is the first days off I've had since I started my mission in May. We packed a lot into a few days; had a schedule and stuck to it. We walked the mile between the Edinburgh Castle and the Holyrood Palace & toured the palace--darn, the queen was not there; Lorre was sure she had an appointment with her! We ate typical Scottish foods & Lorre tried Haggas, which she likes better than I do. We took plenty of taxis and buses and walked what seemed like miles and miles. We saw a stage play, Aladan, I took her to my two favorite restaurants, we went to Mary Kings Close (which is a tour of how the poor & middle-class people lived in the early 1800's). A "Close" is an alleyway with dwellings on either side. On Christmas Eve Lorre and I  spent the evening with one of our newly baptized sisters at her flat eating traditional mince pies and then

Lorre touching Greyfriar's Bobby's nose for good luck

we all took a taxi to St. John's Cathedral at 10 pm for the special organ music before midnight mass. Keep in mind that Lorre hasn't even had a nap and we are going to midnight mass! The church is a famous, very old Episcopal cathedral. We went to the mission home early Christmas morning and helped prepare breakfast for 18 missionaries. We played games after breakfast and then had some beautiful piano music. During all this time, my companion, Sister Call, was with her family in Ireland. Senior missionaries do not have to be together all the time like the young missionaries, but actually most of the time we are--I have missed her and it has been very lonely since Lorre left Sunday morning. I hope you enjoy the pictures of our Edinburgh wanderings.

At the theater to see Aladan!

                                                   Lorre in front of the Elephant House
                                                (where much of Harry Potter was written)

I just loved all of the cards, notes & pictures I received from family and friends. What a surprise to receive the envelope full of cards from Amy Martin.  And, oh my goodness my grandchildren and great-grandchildren need to stop changing/growing so fast.


Could I get a little serious now . . .  I am almost half-way through my mission, which is very hard to believe.  I truly feel like a different person than I was last year at this same time. I'm much stronger emotionally and indeed just much "stronger" from walking so much. I feel younger and I'm certainly more adventuresome.  But the biggest change is in my humility and compassion,  I have found that I can live with so few personal belongings, I can live without a lot of personal belongings, without a clothes dryer and without the safety net of family and friends close by. My testimony of my Saviour Jesus Christ has grown by leaps and bounds. I know that God lives, that my Savior Jesus Christ lives, I know that the Holy Ghost is there to guide me and to teach me.  I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true,  and I'm so grateful for the strong testimony that I have of knowing that families can be together forever. My Temple marriage to Larry is my most prized possession, just knowing we will be together for eternity is such a blessing.  I pray that I can seek after Christlike attributes this next half of my mission and pray that each of you will be touched by the Saviour's love that He has for each of us individually.

Mia - one of my favorite restaurants. Yummy food/good company.

Lorre at the Holyrood Palace, waiting for the Queen!

Ruins of the original monastery at Holyrood Palace.

Famous Victoria Row - cool Harry Potter store here.

The Palace

         

Ruins of Holyrood Monastery

NOTE: Hi Mom! Sorry, it has been so long since my last blog==I just got carried away with Christmas and getting ready to have Lorre visit. My mission is busier than I ever thought it would be and I love it. I'm in the office every day from 7 am until 5:30 (if lucky, sometimes much later). I work lots of hours trying to find new flats for the missionaries to live in and also closing flats that we are not going to use anymore. Plus lots of other things that fill my days right up. My visit by Lorre was lots of fun and she loved touring Edinburgh. I made four batches of peanut butter fudge and they all turned out perfect (a miracle). I gave all the missionaries in Edinburgh a container of fudge, plus Lorre and I ate our share LOL. We didn't even make popcorn--just ate lots of fudge! The weather has been rainy for days and it is dark by 3:30 pm, so we are now going to work in the dark and coming home in the dark. Matthew & Jennifer are coming to visit in March and then Andy's family in May. Lorre & I are thinking about going to Spain when I finish my mission. She would come here to meet me when my mission ends in November and we would go from Scotland to Spain. Spain isn't that far away. Then I plan on visiting each of my children, grandchildren & great-grandchildren from there. I've got big plans, hope they all work out! Well, mom, I hope you are feeling good and staying your usual happy self. I sure do miss you and will look forward to a visit with you after my mission is over. Much love, your missionary daughter-Sister Gifford

NOTE: Hello, little Holly Dale. This is ggma writing to you. I loved the pictures of you and your family shopping for a Christmas tree. Sure reminds me of when we lived in Vermont. What did you get for Christmas from Santa? What was your favorite gift? Have you and Levi been able to go sledding or ice-skating--I bet Levi is really good on skates since he plays hockey. Why don't you draw me a picture that I can hang up by my desk at my office? I would really love that. Maybe Levi could do one too. I love you a whole bunch- can you give your family a big hug from me?