The March Gang

Well I wish I would have been able to keep up better while we were in Scotland because I know I am going to forget something.  Since that didn’t happen here it goes…

We left for Scotland on the 21st and headed to the ferry docks at Belfast.  We were all anticipating the ride on the Stena Voyager (you have got to check this thing out), but the seas were to rough and we had to take another ship over.  It was an older ship and had a lot less to offer than the Stena, but it got us there.  However not without first getting most of us sea sick.  I got very sick and came close to tossing my fish and chips I had eaten right after getting on the boat.  The only one who seemed to enjoy it was Simeon.  It didn’t even bother him and he bounced around like nothing was even happening.  The rest of us were bouncing around but only because the ship was making us.  We arrived in Scotland a little less than three hours after we left Belfast and hit the road for the two hour drive to Glasgow.

Saturday the 22nd we had minister meetings with the Northern District of the UPCI of GBI (United Pentecostal Church International of Great Britain and Ireland)  Is that a mouth full or what?  Sunday we enjoyed having church with the Glasgow congregation and students of the Harvest Bible College.  Two people received the Holy Ghost during that service which was awesome.  After service the school and some of the youth of the church served dinner for a fundraiser.  They had a Culture Feast and it was very neat.  All the students cooked a dish from their home country and served it.  There was a lot to choose from even a few good ole American entrees.  The most daring I tried was a Scottish dish called Oxtail, and it was just that an Oxes tail.  I have to say it was very delicious and had it not been on the tail bone you would have thought it was just some type of beef.

Monday the 24th we stared our adventure of touring Scotland.  We kicked it off by going to Edinburgh and touring the Edinburgh Castle.  This thing is huge and totally awesome.  We spent the entire day there and loved every minute of it.  They offered guided tours and audio tours.  We opted for the audio tour which was pretty cool.  They gave you an audio device with head phones and as you walked along there were numbers posted on the points of interest.  You just punched in the number and a very pleasant Scotsmen told you what you were looking at and the history behind it.  The kids loved it and since we were taking the week off from Home Schooling we just made this hands on World History week.

Tuesday the 25th we made our way to the Linlithgow Palace in Linlithgow.  This was by far the less preserved site we visited, but in its own way the most charming.  You were free to roam all over this one and very little was off limits.  Mainly all that is left of this palace is the walls and the towers.  One of its many claim to fame is that Mary Queen of Scots was born there December 1542.  She of course is the mother of King James I who decreed the most popular version of the Bible used today.  Yeah it isn’t that hard to figure out the KJV.

Wednesday the 26th was our last day exploring and we went to Stirling and visited the Stirling Castle. We also went the the William Wallace Monument in hopes to see “Brave Hearts” broad sword.  Well we toured the castle and enjoyed it, but we didn’t make it to the Wallace Monument in time.  They were getting ready to close and would not allow us to go up to the top. Not only do you have to walk up to the entrance of the monument, which is standing on the tallest point in Stirling, but you have to walk to the top of the monument and there are 246 steps to get there.  I guess they looked at us and didn’t think we could make it up there and back in 30 minutes, which is how long they had until closing.  So needless to say in the words of Kirsten “this was just disappointing”.

Thursday the 27th we enjoyed Thanksgiving at the college with about 40 people from all over Europe, North America, Aisa and Africa.  It was one of the most unique Thanksgivings I personally have ever been a part of.  Before we ate we went around the room and everyone had to say what they were thankful for.  When it got to Simeon he sat there for a second or two then grined real big and said “Me”.  Of course the whole place erupted in laughter, but I have to say he is one of the things I am most thankful for along with my two beautiful girls and wonderful wife.  God has been good to me.

Well that pretty much covers our week in Scotland.  We did get to enjoy the Stena Voyger on the way home as the seas were a lot calmer.  I am thankful for that in more than you can imagine.  Not only is it outfitted like a curise ship it is a much smoother ride on the sea than the first boat we were on.

Pictures of our journey are on there way.  I have about 300 of them that I am trying to get sorted in some type of order so you all will know what you are looking at.  I hope to have them up no later than tomorrow.

FYI: My mothers maiden name is McClintock and her family is originally from the land of Scotland. My Mom’s youngest brother has done most of the research on the family.  They at one time owned at least 10,000 acres of land in Scotland, but as history tells of this ancient land and time that could change very quickly. It of course changed for the McClintocks and history has them losing their land and ultimatly ending up someplace south of Dublin, Ireland.  There is in Scotland a McClintock castle.  We are going to have to look it up the next time we are there at least whats left of it.