Another Week!

Another week has zipped on by!  Enjoyed some unusually sunny weather.  I confess, I love it when the sun shines.  It makes me happy!

Not too terribly much new to report on.  We do have a brand new, fresh out of the Missionary Training Centre sister missionary here now over the YSA with us - SIster Hansen from Springville, Utah.  She’s a sweetheart.

Got to go on a joint teach to an agnostic, but very open minded, young single adult.  He seemed very sincere in his desire to know more. 

We went flat hunting on behalf of some elders in our area.  They really need to get out of their current dumpy place.

We attended our first crematorium/funeral service.  One of our YSA’s Mum’s passed away very sudden and unexpectedly.   She was only 55.  Pretty sobering. 

I’m so thankful for technology and the opportunity to touch base with our children on a regular basis, whether it be Skyping, Facebook messaging or emailing.  It’s all so wonderful and seems to close the distance somewhat.

Now, the best part... photos!!!

Ferry ride to the Ards Peninsula 

Flowers at Queen's University - Belfast

A must have! I gotta figure out a way to get one of these up to Timber Lakes!

We're talking quaint! 

Gnarly dude!

Hydrangeas to the MAX!

Mount Stewart House and Gardens

Causeway Coastal Route

Dunluce Castle on THE perfect, sunny day!

Incredible Coastlines

Unending Quilted Countryside

The clouds can be so amazing over here!

Cherrio, people that I’ve taken quite a liking to.  ;)

Sister Mum, Grandmum & Friend

Norn Irish lesson -

chemist -      pharmacist

trainers -      tennis shoes

revising -     studying

If you come, we will tour.

We have been providing first-class guided tours to some of our friends and relatives. During July we were visited by one of our sons, Joel, his wife, and one-third of our grandchildren, including one that we saw for the very first time. We also hosted my brother, wee Ümlaüt, his wife and 1/17^th of our nieces and nephews, as well as our good friends from Timber Lakes, Gary and Frances Hume. We have enjoyed, immensely, the opportunities we have had to get a little taste o’ home, wrapped around some breath-taking scenery and a lot of potatoes.

Fortunately for our guided tour business (Elder & Sister Blick’s Quick Norn Iron Trips – Norn Iron being the correct pronunciation of Northern Ireland), the Church here goes on holiday during July. Actually, the Church members go on holiday. Sunday meetings are still held, but no stake meetings are scheduled and the YSA Centre goes on a reduced schedule. We teach institute but take a break from most of the other scheduled events and activities.

In any case, we were not derelict in our duties to take time to assist our friends and family in falling in love with this beautiful country, it’s culture and people. I have also become somewhat of an expert in the history of all things Northern Irish. That is to say, I have an answer for any question from our clientele. On whether or not it is accurate, I am unwilling to speculate. (I don’t speculate; I opine. There is an important distinction. Speculation is a guess, based on incomplete information. On the other hand, if there is anything in this world, upon which I am considered an expert, it is my own opinion. Or in other words, no one, including my cousin, Rob Adams, who is the smartest man I know, is more of an expert than me on what my opinion is.) You get what you pay for and our services are generally gratis. (For those of you that graduated from San Juan High School, that means free of charge.)

We enjoyed every single minute of every single tour and enjoyed even more every single conversation we had along the way with people we love.

Here then, is a pictorial summary of a good time being had by all.

Bootleg photograph shot from the hip in the coolest library I have been in. 

Photographer unknown.

Entrance to Slane Castle, where U2 and Celtic Woman performed (on different nights).

The Companion and I preparing to stock up on provisions.

A beautiful day in the log cabin section of Northern Ireland.

A tribute to me wee companion. 

Gary's first step is a big one.

All this rain makes for very large pine cones!

Belfast City Hall in a very rare photograph featuring a wee bit o' blue sky.

An even rarer sight: A whole herd of Blickenstaffs in the Dark Hedges.

Is this a beautiful country or what?!

My brother (the surgeon) and I counting our blessings.

Come see us; we will tour.

Elder Blickenstaff

We're Back!

After a blog break of a couple of very busy weeks (sorry), we’re back!

How do you chose from 330 great photos and the month is only half over?  Well, here goes.

We had visitors!  Joel, April, Owen, Gwen and our first introduction to Abigail Joanne (born 5 and a half weeks after we got out in the mission field).  Here are some of our adventures of the last couple of weeks. 

A seal in the Lagan River

A trip to the Carrickfergus Castle

Owen, April, Abbey, Gwen and Joel

Carrickfergus Castle

Belfast Castle Munchkins

Belfast Castle

A bus load of people from Taiwan joined us at the Belfast Castle.  Apparently they have never seen a caucasian baby or three year old before.  We got the biggest kick out of them. I knew these little granddaughters were cute and all but come on!  :D 

Giant’s Causeway.  Gwen listening to stories and information on her self guided tour

One of many scenic drives!

Leprechaun Boy

 Mr. Owen had to have these (adult) socks.

Joel and April at Inch Abbey

This building is from the late 12th or 13th century

A ferry ride over to the Ards Peninsula

Happy Thirty-Sixth Wedding Anniversary to us!  At Grey Abbey with little Abby

The Queen's University - Belfast

Trinity College in Dublin was founded in 1592. We got to see The Book of Kells, a ’stunningly beautiful manuscript containing the Four Gospels.  It is Ireland’s most precious medieval artifact.’  We walked through The Long Room, part of the Trinity College Library.  It contains over 200,000 old books.  It’s seventy yards long and at least three stories high of books, books, BOOKS.  Very impressive!

Mellifont Abbey was a Cistercian monastery, first and most important abbey in Ireland.  It was founded in 1142.  It was the mother house of 21 monasteries and as many as one hundred monks and three hundred lay brothers

My wee companion and his pot o’ gold

Beautiful SUNNY Belfast!  We’ve come to love you so much!

On the 3rd of July we reached our halfway mark.  Time’s a flyin!’ We are as happy as if we had good sense doing our mission thing teaching institute, speaking in sacrament meetings in the 11 wards and branches here in the Belfast Stake, being a support to our younger Elders and Sisters, going on joint teaches, supporting, encouraging and spending time fellowshipping new converts, making wedding gifts, attending weddings, cooking up this and that to feast on over at the centre, loving the YSA.  Another one is leaving us Thursday for the Preston England MTC, then off to the England Birmingham Mission.  Four more have received their calls and are headed to Chicago, Frankfurt, Germany and two to Portugal.  Two more have papers in and are doing the 'waiting game.'  We had two weddings in June and we have three more in August. Off they’re going in all different directions.  We hate to lose any of them, but that’s what the YSA Centres and our mission are all about, meeting and marrying and preparing for and going off on missions and university.  We are busy and happy. I LOVE THIS WORK that we are involved in, but that doesn't not stop us from missing family and friends back o'er the 'big pond.’  We love you all.

Till we meet again.

Much love,

xxx

Sister Blick

Norn Iron Pronunciation Lesson

Apostles - We say it over here with the t (A pos tuls)

Film (movie) - Said with an extra i (fil ims)

Wednesday - Said with a soft d sound (like it’s spelled)