The last day of October on a late Saturday afternoon drive through the Perthshire countryside. We needed this time to relax and restore a sense of peace into our terribly hectic week.

A Happy Accident! I shot this obviously from the car window, while we were near the English village of Windermere in the Lake District. October is such a gift.

We were able to go to England a few weeks ago for a temple trip with the YSA and on our way back took a detour through the Lake District. What a spectacular drive.

The three of us a little wind-blown, but enjoying the panorama behind us. It is Scot's view named for Sir Walter Scot who loved this particular location.

We saw this shaggy Highland Cow when Linda and Deanna were here in September. We were visiting Glamis Castle and walked through the walled garden and there he/she was standing in the stream.

What are we doing today? I am paginating an old old book. A book of minutes from a local parish from 1754 to 1803. The pages are brown with age and quite grimy, the lettering has been done with a quill and ink; it too has a brown tint from the iron used to make it. This evening after work we'll go to institute. Last week we had 35 young people there, a great crowd. One group is studying the Book of Mormon and another group is studying the Doctrine and Covenents. We have such steady good kids. We are looking forward to a temple trip to Preston this weekend in conjunction with a Scottish YSA temple trip. Lucky us!

We've been here in Edinburgh for just over one year. We are still in love with this beautiful country. Our work in the archives keeps us busy every day from seven til three. Many evenings are spent with the young single adults at the church. We are lucky to get to know these terrific young people. Most are university students, with high standards who make us feel young just being with them. I am getting used to communicating with them via text messaging or on facebook.

We were so happy a couple of weeks ago to welcome Deanna and Linda, my sisters, as they got off the plane. They were able to visit for a week. We really had an amazing time, we felt lucky to have a few days away from the archives to show them some of our favorite places in Scotland.

Today some photos of Kyra and TJ arrived from the states. What a boost that was, we had come home from work worn out and JT was nursing a sore throat and headache so we loved seeing our two cuties, then a nice email from Andrea letting us know that Kyra said," today was going to be her best day ever." She had been invited to walk home from school with a friend and attend a birthday party. Then a special Daddy/Daughter weekend spending time with her dad in the mountains moving the trailer. Meanwhile Andrea and TJ would have a date night which would include a burger and a movie.

We were reminded today that sometimes the work we do seems mundane and we often wonder about the results of our efforts, some days have an overlay of slight discouragement, but our friend Linda shared a letter that reminded all of us that the results of our work may not be evident in the here and now but that there will come a time when we will recognize the importance of what we are doing; that sometimes faithful obedience is required before we can see the whole picture. We will carry on.

I have to give JT a pat on the back here for putting up with me. He is steady when I whine, he is stoic when I waiver, he is quiet when I rant! Every woman needs a man like that. Our prayers have become more meaningful. We think about our children and hope for true happiness for them. We are of course watching the changing season and delighting in the evidence of Heavenly Father's love for us as we watch the clouds move across the sky and as we notice the red leaves blinking among the green. Lucky us.

We were lucky to attend the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in mid August. It is a fantastic display of military precision marching bands with of course lots of bagpipes. It was a thrilling evening that took place on the castle grounds. We were there with all of the other missionaries. A once in a lifetime experience.

July 24th came and went without the mention of a pioneer, covered wagon, or oxcart. After living in Nevada for close to twenty years that's not a big deal but we were thinking of the celebrations taking place in Paragonah and Parowan. It is Sunday and JT is napping so time for an update.

We had a terrific meeting today. We were happy to have Elder Kerr at our meeting. He is a wonderful Scottish area seventy who was, up until about four years ago, the stake president here. He reminded us that in the past we could have gotten by with a haphazard study of the scriptures, or an occasional discussion with our families about the gospel but not now. Times have changed, life needs to be lived a little more cautiously or carefully. We need to be passionate about teaching our children and grandchildren the fundamental truths of the gospel. We loved hearing his lilting delivery and his captivating message. He is a great man, we came away so glad we hadn't traveled to another ward to visit today. We've been attending a different meeting each Sunday the past month trying to keep the young single adults throughout this part of Scotland aware of the activities taking place in Edinburgh.

We came home for a quick sandwich then off to help Sarah move from one flat to another. She needed a friend with a car and two willing helpers to carry things up and down stairs. She is glad to be closer to the university as well a little closer to the church.

We were reviewing our week and realized that in addition to being at the archives every day this week as usual we were also at the ward house Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday evenings for one young single adult meeting or visit or another. We were feeling a little worried about how our Saturday would fare and if we would have our much needed day off and be with just ourselves. Lucky us, after a quick sweep up at the flat which included two loads of laundry and mopping the floors we were off for St. Andrews.

We thought it would be safe to go there; the crowds that had been there for The Open were now gone or so we thought. The viewing stands were empty but the streets were packed. What a pretty drive along to coast to get there. The town was all decked out with colorful flower baskets hanging from every doorway. The shops were filled with shoppers and the street cafes were doing a booming business. The skies were cloudy but no raindrops fell. We went to the clubhouse for a delicious lunch. JT had his favorite Macaroni and Cheese I had carrot and corriander soup with a chicken sandwich on the side. We sat with a window view of that beautiful Old Course and were reminded that the new course was finished in 1895, yes, the new course! We walked up and down the streets, visited the castle ruins, and picked up a few things to send home. Our favorite stop was the green grocer where small boxes of local strawberries and raspberries couldn't be ignored. They taste sweet and summery.

Our days here are like anywhere often running into the routine, but this week at work was a little different. Our supervisor Mike has been in Preston with the youth at a week long temple trip. So we've been on our own trying not to do too much damage. Luckily the guys were still able to amass close to fifty thousand images this week! We had a visit from Mr. Withington from Birmingham England who was here to negotiate another contract with the archives. We love seeing him. He told JT and I a little about the work we will be doing in Oxford, England where we have been asked to relocate to in early September. We will be on our own, working on imaging loose probate papers. Different from the five hundred page bound volumes we've been working on here for the past three weeks. We will be working at different camera stations and most likely trading off, each of us imaging part of each day while the other prepares the papers or helps in other ways.

We are just now looking online at flats available in the area. We hope to be near to the Oxford Records Office. It is housed in the old St. Luke's church that has been converted into the Record Office. We hear nothing but wonderful things about Oxford and have mixed feelings about leaving Edinburgh. We love this city, the people we work with and our young friends at church. We are just a little bit excited about exploring a new area in England, new of preserving records and new opportunities to do the Lord's work in some small way.

Here are a couple of pictures of our day at St. Andrews.

On a recent Saturday we drove to Floors Castle and Gardens in Kelso. We had lunch at a little Inn. We met a couple from Florida and another Scottish couple who were interested in what we were doing in Scotland. Over lunch we explained our mission and our assignment at the archives. We enjoyed our visit and our lunch. Kelso was full of people we had fun walking around the city square and then on to the Castle and the gardens. I loved the beds of peonies in bloom, notice the plastic lattice to hold them upright. The ivy covered walls surrounded the walled garden and the beds of summer blooms were so pretty even on an overcast day. Then the amazing roofline of the castle. We toured through the rooms, no pictures we were too busy gawking.

Just going into the Library on Kirk Loan returning a few books. Saturday morning is a busy time for us. On this day after our errands and cleaning we drove to Kelso.

Can you see Elder O'Neal standing in the middle of the road waiting for the cab to pass so he can come home with his white shirts? This is a shot of Corstorphine Road we are on this street several times a week to the cafe, to the cleaners, to the bank and to the library.

Some of our friends at the Archives, we are lucky to work with such great people.
The center photo is Elder Jimmy Reid, from right here in Scotland, I'll have to find the shot of his wife Margaret. Top photo is Elder Allan Lee and at the bottom is Sister Cindy Lee, they recently moved from Anchorage, Alaska to Santa Clara, Utah. This is their third family history mission. First to Salt Lake City, then to Ukraine, now Edinburgh.

He calls himself an English Bloke, he's been in Scotland for the past six or seven years. Mike Mitchell is our supervisor, teacher, repairman, tech support, Bishop, friend!

JT at his camera station just getting ready to image one of the books of wills and testaments.

Meet Sister Iverson, she and her husband work with us in the archives this is one of the very big books we were recently imaging.

The enchanting Blair Castle
On a Saturday in early May we took the time to visit this castle
We had wanted to see Blair Castle and were glad we got the chance,
no disappointments this day.

Another view right out of a fairy tale book, the castle is still the home of the tenth earl and is open to the public only in the summer months. We loved seeing the furnishings, tapestries, big game trophies, narwhal tusks, swords, and the bedroom in which Queen Victoria stayed for three weeks.

This is the entrance to Blair Castle, we were there on a little day trip on our P-day. We drove north past Pitlochary alongside the River Tay. We love this part of Scotland.

It was a beautiful sunny, warm Saturday when we drove east to Tantallon Castle, as you can see it is right on the Firth of Forth. The large rock in the background of one of the shots is Bass Rock. There is a light house there and it used to be the home of a few hardy monks but know is home only to the birds who roost there. Tantallon Castle is only about a forty minute drive from our flat. We were there and back in time for Carolina's baptism.

While we were exploring this castle ruin we were wishing that TJ and Kyra ages 10 and 6 were with us, they would have loved the hidden passageways, the expansive green lawns, the rocks to climb.

We were happy to be at the baptism of Carolina recently. She is a student at the University of Edinburgh studying English. She is from Mexico City and is so fun to have as the newest member of our Young Single Adult group.

Here we go again, this little cutie was born on JT's birthday May 18. Please meet our newest granddaughter Kendall Rose O'Neal. Greg and Christy are so happy to have her, and we can't wait to meet her in person. I've already spoken to her on the phone (Greg put the phone to her ear, Grandma Jo to Kendall: "Hello beautiful, Grandma and Grandpa love you," then lots of kissy noises). We miss all of the kids, but especially these newest babies.

Let me assure all who follow this blog that we love our mission! We are so busy and feel like we are accomplishing so much. I'll give you a run down of a typical week, in fact it was just two weeks ago. Church on Sunday, we left the flat at 9:45 in the morning to pick up our Chinese 20 year old Young Single Adult friend Sarah, who has been a member of the church for only a few months and is an economics student at a university. Meetings from ten thirty to one thirty; then a YSA lunch so the kids don't have to take an hour bus ride home and back for the four o'clock fireside. All of the YSA (young single adults) from the whole of Scotland attended and wanted to stay and stay and stay. We cleaned up after the fireside and left a few of the kids still there at eight PM. Sarah was such a good sport hanging in with us the whole time.
Monday morning zone conference till three PM. Then back at the building for Family Home Evening from seven to nine-thirty. Don't forget the refreshments. Tuesday through Friday seven AM until three-thirty - work at the archives. Tuesday after work, Costco to get goodies for the rest of the weeks meetings, and laundry. Wednesday evening from six until ten YSA Council meeting and Institute. Don't forget the refreshments. Thursday evening visit with Dot and Ray at their home from six-thirty to eight. Friday evening Chinese Institute from five-thirty to eight. Don't forget the refreshments.
We really were looking forward to a three day weekend. Monday was a bank holiday and the archives was closed. We didn't have to be anywhere until Monday evening for YSA Family Home Evening. So off we went for a relaxing Saturday, Sunday and Monday to explore the Scotland we were waiting for spring to see. Inverness, Loch Ness, the Great Glen, the village of Tain where there is a wonderful little cottage industry, Tain Pottery. Yes I bought a few things and shipped them home to Andrea's. And most of all the beauties of the Highlands. We feel so blessed to have a wonderful mission president who encourages us to get out as often as we can to meet the people, see the sights and foster a love of this amazing country. The words of Sir Walter Scott seem appropriate here:

Breathes there the man, with soul so dead,
Who never to himself hath said,
This is my own, my native land!
Whose heart hath ne'er within him burn'd,
As home his footsteps he hath turn'd

From wandering on a foreign strand!

We don't want this to feel like a travelogue but we want to give you a feel for this foreign strand, and can't fill the pages of a blog with pictures of us sitting at our computer and camera station day after day but that is really how we spend most of the hours. We are in a windowless, gray-walled room with bright camera lights glaring, uncomfortable chairs, old backs and bodies but a love for the people of Scotland and feeling privileged to preserve their records. With an eye to the future when all families can be linked father to son, mother to daughter.
Anyway Saturday morning early after packing a couple of sandwiches and apples to eat on the way we set out, it was raining of course, but our outlooks couldn't have been sunnier. It rained until just before we arrived at Inverness. We hope you enjoy our pictures.

JT has a talent for planning wonderful fun getaways. He surprised me by booking rooms for our two night stay in this beautiful old Hotel Newton in Nairn just about 15 miles east of Inverness. It is a seaside resort town with naturally, golf courses; but we just liked exploring through the town, and especially walking out of the hotel to the pasture and seeing these crazy Highland Cows. Please call them Highland Coos! Now you sound like a true Scots.

Our drive north towards Inverness took us through some beautiful countryside and along the way we knew we could make a slight detour to a few places that JT was interested in seeing. His paternal grandmother was Mary Estelle Grant. The Grants originated in Scotland in just this area of the country. There is a Clan Grant gathering place at an old church and mausoleum. There are regular Clan Grant reunions with a lively, active organization. The first sheriff of Inverness was a Grant, the little town of Grantown-on-Spey was a treat to see, as was this church site.

Inverness is a beautiful northern Scotland city. Inver means mouth of a water way, the river Ness runs through the center of town and is lined in the commercial area with shops, restaurants, hotels and on a high hill is the red stone castle which is now used as a government building I think it is the city hall. As the river continues the commercial area gives way to lovely stately residences that line the banks of the river. There are grassy banks with yellow daffodils, and a walking path invites a pleasant stroll. The Inverness Ward chapel is just there. As you walk out the front door you see the lovely river and homes. It is said to be the most picturesque setting for an LDS meeting house in all of Great Britain. We attended meetings there on Sunday and were warmly welcomed by the members and were so happy to run into Elder Warby a young missionary from Cedar City. We have had a happy ongoing relationship with Elder Warby, we seem to run into him wherever we go.

Near Inverness just to the east a few miles is Cawdor Castle. The castle is still the home to a member of the Cawdor family and has been since mid 1300s. The fame of Cawdor Castle is evident to those who remember the play MacBeth and the Thane of Cawdor. After our visit to the gardens, the labyrinth, and the beautifully furnished castle itself we want to reread the Scottish play with the three witches, Burnham Wood and "out, out, damn spot" that's all I can remember. The gardens are not yet in full bloom but we could imagine what they will look like in mid-July. The black curly horned sheep were in the pasture just as we were driving down the lane to leave. I believe the lady at the gatehouse told us they were a breed from the Hebrides or one of the outer islands.