Week ending November 18 2012

I can’t believe it is the week of Thanksgiving.  Being this early makes it seem like it arrived very quickly.  We are having our dinner on Saturday with all the couples in Scotland.  We will all bring part of the dinner and so it is just a fun time together.  I have the turkey this year.  Yes, we can find turkey and like last year I will probably go for a butterfly turkey breast and give up my dark meat because the whole turkey is small and expensive.  The breast is actually larger, less expensive, and has no bones and so is easier to carve.

 It is arrival and departure week with our smallest group yet.  We have one going home and three coming in.  Still busy though because we have lots of transfers. 

 We had mutual Tuesday night but were home the rest of the week.  We had the sisters and the Hambelton’s for dinner Friday night and played games. 

 

Then on Saturday the sisters wanted to stay in town and so the Hambelton’s and us went to Glasgow to see the huge, oldest remaining  Catholic Cathedral in Scotland. During the reformation most Catholic Church's were desecrated or destroyed.  This one was defended by the merchants of the city and so remained.

 

The inside is huge and there are many wonderful stained glass windows.

 

 

 

 

Then we went to the School Museum to learn about school through the ages.  That was fun too and brought about memories of our growing up days.  How glad I am that I did not have to practice gas mask drill and evacuation every day at school.

 

Grandpa got in trouble at school so he had to wear the dunce cap for a while.

 

 We will be thinking of you all this week:  Happy Birthday Bruce and Amy;  Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.  May you find the most beautiful trees and have a wonderful dinner and time together with whomever you are spending the holiday with.  Next year I will be part of it again.

 Can you believe that we actually got to watch Max in action live playing basketball yesterday in Alaska.  He scored the first points.  We watched one quarter and then talked with him at the end of the game.  Isn’t technology wonderful.  Thanks John for including us in the event.  We hope the swim and skiing meets were as successful as Max’s team won all their games in the tournament.  Now he is on to swimming come Monday.

 Amy we hope that your trip to Canada has gone well, and that your dinner last night was wonderful  and the rest of the week goes well.

 Brittanie I am glad you got to go to the temple dedication.  What an experience!  One that I have never had.

 Glad to hear about gymnastics for Hallie and Brynn and Teigen is enjoying soccer.  Nathan also loves soccer and Brittanie just had her piano recital.  Peyton is golfing, Ethan is playing basketball, and Caleb is trying out lots of sports.  It is hard to remember when one season ends and others begin.  You are all growing up so fast.  Do you think we will know you when we get home?  I hope so.  Until next week.

Week ending 11 November 2012

It has been a good week. I have had work to do but it has not been overwhelming.  President and Sister Brown were there the first three days and then left for Ireland for the next four.  I have finished opening two flats and closed two flats this week and have others that I am just expecting the security deposit or utilities deposit back on and then they will be closed.  I am still looking for one or two flats at the moment. 

In Young Women’s we worked on filling out a family group sheet on Tuesday night and it made me realize how much I need to work on my own.  I have tried to figure if I can take a couple of hours off in Tuesday or Wednesday to go over to the church and work on it during the day.

Thursday evening we had Barbara and Stewart over for dinner from the Falkirk Branch and had a wonderful evening with them. 

Friday we had the sisters over for dinner and games and shopping.  It was fun as usual. 

 

We went to Stirling and Campbell Castle on Saturday. 

 

 

Flat Stanley arrived on Thursday and so we had to take Stanley to the Castle that we think might be the family castle from relatives so long ago.  We had never been there before and Saturday was a great day to go.  We got there just as members of the wedding party we starting to arrive to set up for a wedding and so we got to see the castle being prepared for the wedding.  They had hired a man to play the bagpipes and so we got to hear him play and even got in our request for the Scottish song with the tune of Praise to the Man.  Stanley loved all of it. 

 

 

 

Stirling Castle is always one we love to go to and the sisters have not been yet and so that was our next stop.  Stanley loved seeing it again also. 

 

 

Today is Remembrance Day as it is known over here, in the US we call it Veteran’s Day.  We all wear red poppies to church.  Then all the speakers spoke on some part of that.  We also had two minutes of silence at 11:00.  Afterward they take a red poppy wreath and place on the statue commemorating those who have given their lives for their country.  Stanley took part in that also.  I am so glad we live in the land of the free and for family member and other who have been in the armed services for our country.

 

We haven’t heard from many this last week.  We haven’t found many on line when we have been on Skype.  We hope to hear from more of you this week.  We are well and happy.  We think of you, pray for you, and miss you.  Have a great week.

 

Love,

Grandma and Grandpa

Week ending 4 November 2012

Another week has flown by and I have worked on two more leases.  One is finished and the other could be finished by tomorrow or sometime this week I hope.  I have closed one flat and am in the middle of closing two others.  I may be looking for one other flat this week. 

We have not sent anyone home with a broken bone since the 30 of October.

Tuesday we had a Halloween party for the missionaries serving here in the area.  That was 20 of us and some had never carved a pumpkin and so it was lots of fun.  We also served them lunch of potato soup and chilli, rolls, and pies.  I made seven pies.  We had pumpkin, banana cream, coconut cream, chocolate, apple, and pecan.  My oven wanted to burn them and so some of them were on the dark side but they still ate them.

Tuesday night we had our Halloween Party at the branch and Elder Rasmussen and I were in charge of the pumpkin carving there also and also judging the jack o lanterns.  It was a fun night but also a late one.

Thursday we had a couple stay with us.  Elder Hick’s mother died and they were going home to the funeral on Friday morning.  They are from Springville.  They volunteered to take a box back with them and Julie picked it up at the airport.  It means one less box to bring home when we come.  Thanks Julie for the late night to pick it up for us. Elder Rasmussen took them to the airport early Friday morning.  

 We also took part in a conference call for the leaders in our stake working with the youth in Sunday School, Young Men/Women regarding the new program.  Elder Rasmussen and I are working with the ones in our branch for four Sundays to learn about how the new program will work.  I should actually say Elder Rasmussen is as I mostly sit and learn also.

Friday night we went to the Hambeltons for dinner.  We also shared with them what we do in the office to see if that is what they would like to try for in there next mission.  And we played a game of Rummikub.  It was a fun evening.

Saturday we went with the Sisters and the McKenzies to the Royal Mile.  We got to see the parade they were having with the soldiers that were just returning home from Afghanistan .  Then we went and saw Holyrood Palace which is where the Royal Family stay when they come to Edinburgh.  The queen usually comes the last of June-1^st part of July for a week.  We ate lunch at a Mexican restaurant and it was good.  We found a nativity set just a few doors up from there that looks kind of Celtic and so we will be bringing home one more nativity to add to our collection.  It is already up for Christmas in our flat.

Sunday we had our meetings in Falkirk of which Sunday School and Young Men/Women time was spent with the leaders discussing the new program.  Then we had six over for Family Home Evening, dinner, activity, and visiting.  So I am writing the letter today at work while waiting for my lease to get back to me.

We are healthy, happy, and busy.  What more would you ask for.  Hope you all had a great week also.  We love you so much. We love hearing from you and enjoy the pictures. Have a great week.