Goodbye, dear Scotland!

Needless to say, I'm going to miss my dear Scotland. Something about the rolling green hills, the cathedrals and architecture, and yes, the lovely people, make me want to stay a wee bit longer. On Wednesday morning, I managed to catch a train to Edinburgh and walk up the Royal Mile to the Edinburgh Castle. It's a magnificent place, bustling with tourists like me. Though I tried to appear normal as much as possible, I can't help but fall in love with everything about this city.

Someday in America, we should have Telephone booths like this. Just saying.

We went there with two other girls that attend the Church in Alloa - Alex and Jessica. 

My family hails from the MacFarlane clan whose motto is "This I'll Defend." It touches me deeply every time I think of all the positive connotations of this motto. I can't wait to meet my ancestors some day.

Looking up the Royal Mile!

I thought this was adorable. Scotland is readily accessible to people like me because we're short and fit through tiny doorways.

Later on Tuesday afternoon, I made it back to my favourite town of Stirling! It brought back so many memories of pastry shops, Marks and Spencer's clothing store, and many times when my brother played his bagpipes outside the shops. Tourists were so impressed by an 11 year old boy playing the bagpipes that they would come and take their picture next to him. He probably earned 30-50 quid every day (that's slang for pounds).

This is a yum-yum. AKA a really good doughnut. I only managed to take two bites before I had a headache, but seeing as they were all out of my sister's favourite iced ginger's, I decided to go with the renowned Scottish yum-yum.

On Wednesday around 16:00, Mandy (my family friend who is letting me stay with her and her husband) took me and another friend to the LDS Preston, England Temple. It was a beautiful 3.5 hour drive, and I was so happy to go!

Lana Graydon was my youth leader while I lived in Scotland, and I was so glad to see her! I also saw Sarah Black while I was at church last Sunday, and I was reminded of so many fun times we had together as young women in Alloa. Words are never enough to express thanks to people who change your life forever. 

I love you, Sarah!

Left to right: Me, Mandy, Julie, Lana going out to grab a bite to eat just after we had arrived in Preston.

Meet Julie, such a wonderful and kindred spirit. She truly exemplifies everything that has to do with finding joy in the journey of life!

This is the Preston, England temple. What a wonderful place to spend the day! I truly love to see the temple, but I love to be inside even more. I'm so grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints - it blesses my life every day!

Getting ready to head back to Alloa!

I dearly love Utah, but oh how I adore my Scotland. Who knows, maybe someday I'll be back. I'm off to Paris in the morning!

A wee Gander thru Callander

My adventure today consisted of catching the train from Alloa to Stirling (a whopping 10 minute ride) and relocating Katie, one of my friends from Wallace High School. She and her boyfriend Rab were so kind and took me out for the afternoon!

We went to one of my family's (aka mum's) favourite Christmas shops today. It's called the Nutcracker. It was wonderful to walk out of the rain into a little shop that smelled of cinnamon and was playing Scottish Christmas carols . . . in June. Brilliant. There's a first for everything, right?

I'm not really sure why I love that little village so much. Perhaps I love that everyone's door opens right onto the street, although I probably love more that the doors are as tall as I am. After our gander through the Christmas ornaments, I spotted my favourite bakery and promptly made a beeline for it. Katie and Rab bought me lunch, and I was quite pleased with my Scottish sausage roll. Tomorrow I'm definitely going back for dessert.

Now if you know one fact about Scotland, other than that it rains all the time, you'll know that french fries don't exist there. You don't buy hamburgers and fries, you buy fish n' chips. And that's that. If I were to have one last meal on earth, it would be a debate between my mother's homemade bread and Scottish fish n' chips with salt and vinegar. Don't tell my mother I said that.

On our way back to Stirling, they pulled in at Doune castle, which is so beautiful in the rain! Did you know this castle played a part in the films Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Game of Thrones, and Outlander? It was falling apart in many places, but it was originally built in the 13th century, which absolutely blows my mind. All I wanted was to take one of those turrets home with me.

Then I made my way home and yes, unfortunately got lost again, which is never a good thing when you don't have wifi to call anyone for help. That's why prayer is so important to me. I was definitely guided back home with help from a loving Heavenly Father! Prayer really works, trust me.

These are some pictures from when I went to Blackpool and Preston on Saturday last week with another best friend from Wallace High School. Bekka and her boyfriend Michael were so kind and took me all the way down there. I had originally wanted to go to Drumlanrig Castle, but the people in charge of their website neglected to include that it would be closed on the exact day that I wanted to go there. So sadly, I got as far as the entrance sign. But there you go, Drumlanrig Castle. Maybe I'll get to come back some day and see it for real.

                   
 Bekka and Michael took me to get fish n chips, my first one after 8 years! The fish was about the size of my arm. No joke.

The countryside in Scotland is gorgeous and the grass is almost fluorescent green. Did you know Scotland is as high North as Alaska? Scotland, thank you for not being covered in snow. Whatever it is that gives you rain every day, I'd say it's better than snow.

When we made it to Blackpool, almost the first thing I noticed was the beach. The water looked very cold, but it wasn't so bad probably because the Adrenalin rush of excitement to finally be able to touch the ocean warmed me up. Let's be honest, I haven't touched it in 8 years!  I rolled up my jeans (careful not to say pants over here as "pants" has a completely different connotation in Britain) and sprinted for the water, careful not to step on seaweed or sea shells. I did collect a few though ;)

I can't thank these two wonderful friends of mine enough. I was definitely being watched out for when we all crossed paths eight years ago. Some people may say that friends are given to us by chance or by choice, or that it's a coincidence you met someone who instantly became your best friend. Well, this is perhaps one of the many reasons why I believe in God - I believe that making wonderful friends doesn't just happen by chance. Rather, I know that God loves all his children, and so one of the blessings He gives to us is good friends. We don't meet because we watch out for ouselves, but because someone is always watching out for us. After all, what would life be if we didn't gander through it with wonderful friends?

Not All Who Wander Are Lost.

But that definitely doesn't exempt me from getting lost. But at least I got lost at the end of my voyage, and not at the beginning or in the middle!

Today was a long day, and to be completely honest, I don't actually know what day it is. I have asked and been told (upwards of three times) what the date and day of the week are, and suffice it to say that my body hasn't quite caught up with its new habitat.

Needless to say, I have arrived at my first destination! Scotland is where my heart is and where my red hair belongs. After flying from SLC to JFK (a 4 hour flight) and then flying from JFK to EDI (a six hour flight), I am back in the heart of Scotland where my family first lived almost nine years ago. I probably don't need to tell you what the weather was like when I arrived, but I will tell you that I felt like a walking zombie as I walked around the airport, trying to find the signs that said "Pick up area." Thank goodness that it all worked out. Yes, I still believe in miracles. 

For the moment, I'm trying to stay awake until at least 9pm tonight, but we'll see how long I can make it!

Waiting to board my first flight from SLC to JFK

The lunch sac my younger sister decorated and gave to me. There's nothing like a homemade lunch.

Goodbye Rocky Mountains!

Sunset from above, what a view!

Is this what NY looks like??