INSIDE THE KELPIES

Hopefully most of this post will be new, because it is from the inside of the Kelpies with information from the tour guide, Jennifer, that we enjoyed with another senior couple from Glasgow, The Brownings.

Kelpies are a mythical fresh water creature that can be in any form, from horse to a sea monster. The Loch Ness Sea Creature was banned over 1,000 years ago and was actually seen on satellite last year. I will have to check that one out for accuracy. It seems to occur just before tourist season. 

 

Kelpies like to eat humans (just kidding), but we were very careful. The myth says that when you get close to the Kelpies AND the water, watch out because they can dive under the water with you in their mouth and then a very loud noise like thunder occurs when they eat you for dinner.

Jennifer told us to get the right perspecive we needed to lay down and look up. I am taking the picture. It is so cold today.

There are 464 plates making up the kelpies and each one is totally different from the other. They came to the site with markings on one side of the steel so the workers would know where to attach them.

This door opens easily but is 2 tons.

150 lorries (trucks) brought up the steel. As each truck approached a bridge from England to Falkirk, the driver had to stop, get out of the truck, let some of the air out of all the tires, drive under the bridge, stop and add the air back to each tire until he arrived at his destination.

Duke left us something behind to remember him by. His left front shoe.

Trick picture.

These are the two horses that inspired the artist, engineer. DUKE and BARON.

The Mormon Missionary Choir

Elder Ladle and I have been touring with this wonderful choir since Tuesday, Dec. 2nd. We joined them in Edinburgh on Saturday, Sunday and Monday for their rehearsals and then were off to Aberdeen for our first performance, then Dundee, Paisley, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

This group of 32, is drawn from a complement of over 200 young missionaries who are currently volunteers for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Every 6 weeks new missionaries arrive from countries all over the world as others complete their voluntary service of 18 or 24 months to return to their homes. Changes in assigned areas need to be made to accommodate these arrivals and departures so the choir, taken from those presently serving in Scotland, have had a short window of less than a month to receive their music, practice, and perform. Choir members are between the ages of 18 and 24.

They sang beautiful Christmas carols with duets, sextets, solos and full choir numbers. Some of the songs are very familiar and others are new, but added so much to the program. Joy to the World, Oh Holy Night, Away in a Manger, Breath of Heaven, Oh, Come All Ye Faithful, What Child is This, Emmanuel, I heard the Bells, In the Bleak Mid Winter, Shine for Me Again, Still, Still, Still, Angels We Have Heard on High, Guard Him Joseph, Savior Redeemer and ending with Hark, the Herald Angels Sing. We had a flutist only in the mission for 3 weeks before the tour, two violinists, 3 pianists, and an organist with talents on the recorder as well.

We love the skyline of the cities--beautiful old cathedrals next to high rise apartment buildings.

Our choir director--Elder Black.

Dinner at the mission home--one long table.

We had violinists, flutist, (banjo and mandolin added to the bus and entertainment after the concert.)

Ready to begin the tour after 2 1/2 days of practice together.

We laughed, sang, shared special stories and learned a little more about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Great group of missionaries, always smiling and helpful.

Every night, sleeping bags off, luggage off. In the morning back on again. Often it would take 2-3 trips to the homes of members to get everyone there with their luggage. One sister dropped off the sister missionaries and took off with their luggage. We had to call the husband to have him send her back.

Dundee Shopping Center

This young girl in pink was enthralled with the choir and twice stopped to listen to the choir for more than 5 minutes.

This bird was inside the shopping center.

Beautiful view from Senior Couples flat.

Kelvingrove Art  Gallery and Museum
It was originally built out of sandstone  in 1888 in the Spanish Baroque style. A major refurbishment in 2006 at cost of 28 million pounds restored it to its original beauty inside and out.

We hope to enjoy a concert next time we come on their beautiful organ.

The acoustics were outstanding.

Last unloading at the mission home. They would throw the 32 sleeping bags at the elder in the far back and he was able to field them all.

St. Giles Cathedral. Called the High Kirk (kirk means church) of Edinburgh. It is the principal place of worship for the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh.

Obvious Gothic architecture. John Knox preached here. The female pastor thanked everyone for coming to take a few moments for perfection.

350 people enjoyed the performance of the choir.

These are two large,  live owls.

It's Beginning to look a lot like CHRISTMAS!

"Seek Ye first the Kingdom of Heaven, and his righteousness; and all things shall be added unto you."

Matthew 6:33

These words, spoken by Jesus of Nazareth, have never been more true and more significant than in this age of Facebook and Twitter, bond markets, and shopping malls, stealth missiles  and terrorist targets. At this Christmas Season let us raise our sights and turn our hearts back to the story of His birth, when Shepherds from the fields and Wise Men from the East sought to find Him in Bethlehem. Let us go with them and "Seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written. . ." Ether 12;41

JOY to the WORLD is sung by choirs across Christendom to celebrate Christ's First Coming. However, the words of this favorite hymn more accurately celebrate the Second Coming of the Lord, when 'sin and sorrow will no more grow, nor thorns invest the ground.' To prepare for this future event, we as Christians should seek Him even more diligently so that we, at His Second Coming, can rejoice in the Most High and ever worship God.

We know not how many wise men there were, but we know that they were affluent enough to have an audience with King Herod and to bring the costliest gifts of god, frankincense, and myrrh to the rightful King of the Jews. Who better than these wise men and wealthy witnesses to bear testimony to the wise and wealthy of the world that 'the star which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star (and found the child) they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.' Matthew 2:9-10

The symbols of Christmas

THE PRESENTS are given to remind us of God's gift to the world.

THE STAR was placed in the sky for the wise men to follow.

THE TREE points to heaven, and reminds us that God is eternal.

THE WREATH is a circle without any end, the same as God's love for us.

THE CANDLES shine brightly to tell us that Jesus is the light of the world.

THE BABY in the manger shows the birth of Jesus, the savior of the world.

The Poinsettia is also known as the Christmas Star and Christmas Flower, It's said that this winter flower's association with Christmas comes from a Mexican legend. The story goes that a child, with no means for a grander gift gathered humble weeds from the side of the road to place at the church alter on Christmas Eve. As the congregation witnessed a Christmas miracle, the weeds turned into brilliant red and green flowers.
Named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, first US ambassador to Mexico and the amateur botanist who introduced the plant to the US in 1825. While considered by the ancient Aztecs to be symbols of purity, in today's language of flowers, red, white or pink poinsettias, the December birth flower, symbolize good cheer and success and are said to bring wishes of mirth and celebration.

When you find HIM, you will never be the same. And the Joy of His countenance will gladden your heart and you too will sing...We Wish YOU a Merry Christmas.

Thank you, Elder Ladle for these beautiful words.

What do I LOVE about Scotland?

Don't you love the trees on the hill? And the year round GREEN grass. This is on the way to Dumfries.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT SCOTLAND?

Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales are all part of the United Kingdom. Scotland shares the southern border with England. 130 of the 800 Scottish islands are inhabited. Scotland is a little smaller than South Carolina.  The official language is English, AND Gaelic AND Scots.  We have to listen really hard to understand some of the Scottish people. I have always wondered if they have to listen as intently to us as well.

The Roman Empire in the 1st century begins Scotland's written history. The Gaels from Northern Ireland began to raid Scotland in the 5th century. Not far behind in the battle were the Vikings in the 8th century. The Bruce Family in the 12th century claimed Scotland as the Anglo-Norman land barons. Scotland continued to be fought for by the English. There were many wars and during a period of 50 years the nation of Scotland changed hands 8 times.

    

Glasgow is the largest city in population, followed by Edinburgh, the capital city. If you draw a 1/2 way point between the two cities and a little north, that is Falkirk, where we live.The last half of the 20th century they had a steady decline of population because of emigration.The rise in population is mainly from England.Many Asian and Chinese students come to Scotland to study, earn a degree and then return to their homeland.

The  Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints  Church in Scotland

1830 brought the first LDS missionaries to Scotland. Samuel Mulliner and Alexander Wright had emigrated to Canada and were the first Scottish people to join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints there and then returned as missionaries. 1840 brought the first converts to be baptized in Scotland. Four months later Orson Pratt organized the first branch of the Church in Scotland at Paisley. 

In Edinburgh there is a hill called Arthur's Seat or for LDS people, Pratt's Hill.  Elder Pratt prayed for 200 converts to join the church and by the time he left Edinburgh in March 1841, more than 200 people had been baptized. Now as missionaries come to the  Scotland/Ireland mission, they climb the hill and then before they go home they climb back up Pratt's Hill and have a quiet time accounting for their mission.

1840 also saw the first converts emigrating from Scotland. By the end of 1850 one branch had grown into more than 50 branches with 3,257 members. Church membership in Scotland began to decline in the  late 1800's as the members heeded the call to come to ZION, Utah, and build the church there. 

With two World Wars, and encouragement to stay and build up the church where you live, membership has increased slowly in Scotland.

Thanksgiving in Scotland

The Turkey Chef!

Our family away from home. L-R
Sister Walton, Sister Jones, Elder Beckstrand and Elder Salinas

Do you see Mr. Turkey? I saw this in Pinterest yesterday and had to have it. The eyes are M&M's

We had rolls, turkey, dressing, green bean casserole without the french fried onion rings (used Pringles onion & sour cream crushed on top), gravy, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie and apple pie. YUM. Just missed all of YOU.