Going HOME!

January 20, 2016

We left Edinburgh at 6:30am and flew to London then on to Denver and then finally to Idaho Falls, Idaho. It was very interesting getting on the plane as a missionary, but not able to talk with many people for the next 10 hours. Most everyone was watching TV or sleeping. Neither of us could sleep much so how do you rationalize all the TV you never watched for the previous 18 months as ok now? It was a little difficult.
We had a wonderful time going through Denver and seeing Julianne and family after we left customs. The sad part was that our carry-on bag for Doug, that they graciously checked free for us in Edinburgh, was left at the gate and we didn't see it for 3 days. Luckily there wasn't anything critical in that bag.
We finally arrived in Idaho Falls to wonderful family: Jennifer and David and family and Jamie and Travis and family  and friend-Boyd Holdaway. Joy and Michael and family would join us on Saturday.
We were a little blurry eyed as we were arriving at 8:30pm Idaho time, but we were working on Scotland time of 3:30am.

So how are we adjusting? Well, I missed not wearing my name badge after our release the next evening. Both of us missed our sleep and it took about 2 weeks to get back on schedule. Do we miss our friends in Scotland, YES! We miss the love that they so freely gave. We enjoy the wonderful memories of serving in the Scotland/Ireland Mission. What a blessing to serve a senior mission.

The Isle of Mull

Remember we are in Oban. We traveled to Craignure on the Isle of Mull by way of a ferry. The Isle of Mull is the second largest island of the Inner Hebrides. Our bus driver told us that approximately 3,000 make the Isle their home. They make their living through fishing, farming, and exporting lumber for paper products. If you want to find work you can, but unfortunately many of the young people leave the island for work elsewhere.

                                                                             
                  


Tobermory

Santa Claus, Indiana

http://www.byutv.org/watch/2e497fce-4815-4e31-bffb-c5f140cbd586/the-story-trek-believe-in-santa-claus#ooid=BseWpkeTq2FgjwrvThzobTCImhEY8ua7

We came across a wonderful current documentary about Santa Claus, Indiana. Why is this important to us? My grandfather John William Decker was born on 25 December 1877 in Santa Claus, Indiana. His wife,  Carolina Matilda Kaetzel, and his grandmother, Alvina Tishendorf,  were born there also.

Story Trek is about a man who travels the US. He says everyone has a story and they do. Even in Santa Claus. It gives you a flavor for where our roots came from. Marcia Kaetzel is one of our relatives there and I have met her.

Kids and Christmas

Christmas is different on a mission. It is so much better, EXCEPT we miss our children and grandchildren.

The mission helps you to remember what Christmas is all about. I invite you to watch this video on Kids and Christmas.

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2010-12-24-kids-and-christmas?category=topics/christmas&lang=eng

Merry Christmas one and all. Elder and Sister Ladle

SAMS-Scottish Association for Marine Science

The SAMS is right in our back yard. This is a world renowned research and education facility
in Scotland. It is the largest and oldest independent marine research facility
in the world. Wow and right here in Oban.

Go to: www.sams.ac.uk for great videos on all of their research.

Dunstaffnage Castle

This is a partially ruined castle which is very close to Oban. It is surrounded on three sides by the sea so it was a wonderful place to build a castle in the second quarter of the 13th century. The MacDougall lords of Lorn built this castle and the Clan Campbell have held this castle since the 15th century.


This castle was captured by Robert the Bruce in 1309.

This castle is an irregular quadrangular structure of great strength with rounded towers at three of the angles. It measures 115 by 98 ft. The walls are 60 feet high including the bedrock platform and the walls are 10 ft. thick.



The Earls of Argyll appointed Captains to oversee Dunstaffnage and keep it in readiness on their behalf. Dunstaffnage saw action during the Civil War, holding out against Montrose's army in 1644. The castle was burned by royalist troops in 1685 against the Catholic James VII. Flora MacDonald who helped Bonnie Prince Charlie to escape from Scotland was briefly imprisoned here while en route to imprisonment in London.

In 1810 an accidental fire gutted the castle and the Captains ceased to live here moving to Dunstaffnage House until this too burned down in 1940. Guess they didn't have fire extinguishers or fire blankets that we have in each missionary flat.

Our home for Christmas-OBAN

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-31520541.html

We will be living in Connell, a small, small town close to Oban. See if you can find Falkirk.
It is NW on this map of Edinburgh. On a clear day, no snow it is a 2 1/2 hour drive back and forth.
We will holiday in Oban December 11- January 11, 2016.

Check out the link above the map to see the house that the church is renting and has converted to a chapel downstairs. We will be living upstairs.

This is the small narrow road (just below the trees) we drive back and forth on and yes, that is snow. That is what everything looked like a week ago Monday when we visited.

The famous Connell Argyll Bridge.


We share the road with the likes of these LORRIES.

Oban is the Largest town in Argyll and The Isles. It is considered the Seafood capital of Scotland I can hardly wait.