Oh How The Years Go By

Well, it's difficult to believe another week has passed, let alone summers of keeping children busy while you keep your sanity...and since there is more to our family than our recent trip, I thought I'd fill you in on the girls' summer activities....

Katy left this past Thursday for Guatemala City to work in a school teaching English. Our friend, Joel Van Dyke, set up this experience, and Katy is having the time of her life! This is really her story to tell upon her return, but she's had an eventful summer. While Garland and I were gone she and 3 friends stayed at our house under the supervision of my 25 year old niece. They enjoyed the whole "housemate" experience in preparation for college in just 1 short year.

Emma, who lives in Memphis, is currently at cheerleading camp this week. She traveled to Gatlinburg on Sunday with the rest of the squad, and she returns this weekend. She is planning on visiting us and going up to Chicago for some G'ma time before her cheer and choir schedule goes crazy.


Laura has been visiting her family in TN so far this summer, and returns home next week. She was protected through a medical scare, and I know she has grown by leaps and bounds since she left 4 weeks ago. Things don't stay still for long with her...she comes home to braces, catch-up time with friends, turning 13 and summer camp! Then on to being an 8th grade peer mentor for incoming 6th graders the week before school begins!

We wish we could go to our cottage in MI this summer, but our time up there will unfortunately have to wait.














Today's question: how have your family's summer activities changed over the years?

The Flora and Fauna

My love for the sheep in the UK is documented...

I have not shown you the "Highland Coos". A cow is a cow, except for in the Highlands of Scotland.


He reminds me a bit of my friend, James, an upcoming junior...maybe it's the hair.






Then there are the beautiful flowers. All along our journeys I viewed lilacs from the bus, but never in person. There were some who know how great they smell, Garland NOT being one! My childhood memories of the lilacs across Deerfield Road and Deerpath Drive were not relived--the opportunity to smell spring didn't present itself to me, although I saw it.

Many flowers I don't know were seen and smelt, however, and I'd love to know what I discovered!!

Oh The People You'll Meet

We had a great time with the RHS students, chaperones, and members of Florida Voices while on tour. I'd like to introduce you to some:

This is Betty Mullett, director of both groups, with her 84 year old sister, Lois. They were so sweet together. Betty and her twin sister are the youngest of 8, and Lois is the second in pecking order.

We spent a lot of time in our double decker bus, on the top with the students and chaperones.
There was time with Florida Voices. Here's Chris, JR, Tim and Susan in a cafe when we stopped in Ennis, Ireland.




Speaking of Ennis, this woman allowed us to take her picture (isn't that a great umbrella?!!) eventhough she "don't have any teeth, deary!"






Meet Christopher Robin Fox (yes, that's his real name), our tour guide for 13 days, along with our great driver, Martin. I don't know how he did it some days!!



Then, of course, the chaperones. Garland and I weren't official chaperones, but we still spent a lot of time with students and adults from Riverview. We enjoyed time with Merritt and Vickie Morgan. He celebrated his 42 birthday with us at the Guinness factory in Dublin. We had "a pint on that" overlooking the city after the tour.



Great people, and fun times with them!

Ireland or Scotland?

Since our return, we have been asked several times how we liked Ireland and Scotland. These are my thoughts about each country:


Ireland is filled with green, rolling countryside. The rural flow is even more charming because of the stone sheep fences dating back to the 1200's. They were built without mortar, and is a lost craft attempting to revive.


We only experienced the Republic of Ireland, not Northern Ireland. That part was limited to driving through on our way to catch the ferry to Scotland.

In both countries, there were sheep EVERYWHERE!!! I absolutely loved them...little white dots filling the fields, babies jumping after their mommas. I wanted to bring a pair home and have them in my yard, too!


Our first impression of Scotland was breathtaking. In a 100 minute ferry ride the landscape changed dramatically. As we traveled up the west coast to Glasgow and then over to Edinburgh, the steeper hills were on our right with the sea on our left. Without hesitation, my favorite city visited was Scotland's capital, Edinburgh, and our day of hiking in Glencoe was unmatched.


If pressed, I would say I enjoyed Scotland more than Ireland. I remember my uncle telling me once that Edinburgh was his favorite city, and I understand why. For me, it is unparalled along with NYC and Chicago.

I highly recommend a visit.


...and don't forget to click on the pictures for a better view--you might see some more sheep!

For The Beauty Of The Earth

For the beauty of the earth
For the glory of the skies
For the love which even from our birth
Over and around us lies.












For the wonder of each hour
Of the day and of the night
Every hill and valley, tree and flower,
Sun and moon and stars of light

Hallelujah, hallelujah
Lord of all to Thee we raise
Hallelujah, hallelujah
This our song of grateful praise

These were my thoughts many times on our trip to Ireland and Scotland. The pictures, from top to bottom, are as follows:

Panoramic view of the Ireland countryside from Kylemore Abbey
Garland and me sitting on the steps on the Royal Britainnia docked in Edinburgh
Flower vendor on Grafton St. in Dublin
Late afternoon in St. Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh

We had a wonderful time, and there will be more thoughts from our trip to follow.

Thank you, God, for a wonderful time and opportunity!