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)