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.