Iceland - Revisited!

Hello from the cold north. We had an eight hour trip around some interesting parts of Iceland today. Dad got tired so I'm down in the internet cafe posting this. We toured Reykjavik which was bigger than I thought it would be. We also saw volcanoes, geysers, hot springs, lots of interesting geology and geothermal activity. Often you will just see steam coming out of the ground in random places. Iceland is basically just the top of several active volcanoes. There are only about 300,000 people in the whole country which is the size of New York state. It was all very interesting as I am very interested in the Vikings and all of that. The best stop on the tour was their national park where their assembly, the oldest in Europe met every year from 930 to the 1800's. It was called the Althing. Right where they met is some very amazing geography - it is the spot where the North American and European continental plates meet and rub together. Beautiful and fascinating. We took lots of pictures with which we will bore you in months to come. Dad is doing okay - still gets tired and headachy. We will talk to you tomorrow and blog again on Monday after we see Greenland.

The Long Glacier in Iceland.

Bramma and an Icelandic Horse.

The Icelandic National Park and Parlimentary Thing!

A typical Icelandic landscape.

At Sea in the North Atlantic - It's a little chilly, but nice!

This has been a quiet day with somewhat calm seas. The temperatures aren't bad, high 50's to low 60's during the day. I have had three solo outings on the ship today! They have been good tests, and I think I have passed with flying colors. We have spent the day reading; a joyful pleasure that neither of us were up to, until now! I am able to remember what I have read, a new experience this week. Mom says that my repetition is down significantly, a good thing. The headaches are becoming less frequent, which is also a good thing. As to our surroundings, the sunrises and sunsets are beautiful in this part of the world. The cloud formations in the sky are spectacular. Tomorrow morning we arrive in Iceland, which should be interesting. We are well and enjoying our quiet times. We love you all!

Northern Ireland - Giant's Causeway Revisited!

Thanks for all of the great comments - we can't wait to hug all of you as well! Each day gets better, although today was a long day. We rode in a bus for a few hours from the port of Belfast to the northern coast to see the Giant's Causeway an amazing geological formation and lots of beautiful seacoast. We sent postcards to the kids with pictures of the rocks. (Although they will be mailed from who knows where so don't look for them too soon.) I am going to call everyone on Sunday when we know where you'll be. That will be a sea day for us between Iceland and Greenland. I can't wait. My head still hurts when I try to think too much and Mom keeps telling me to stop thinking! I am totally under her control from now on after putting her through all of this! Love you lots, Pa.

Revisited - Giant's Causeway

Scotland! Revisited!

Today was a great day. Mom and I left Glasgow south to Ayr and Culzean Castle on the Firth of Clyde. The Scottish scenery was beautiful, with grazing Highland cattle and sheep. A typical Scottish day with misty fog and a slight "smir" (misty rain). We sent postcards to all of the grandkids of the castle. My memory is still a little foggy, but my health is good. I am having a little trouble retaining short term memory, but fortunately, I remember that which matters most! Talk to you tomorrow.

Culzean Castle

Scottish Coast!

Life is Good - Ireland Revisited!

Well, like John Lennon said life is what happens when you're making other plans! A lot has changed since our last blog in Copenhagen. Pa "wigged out" as we are calling it, and made me really worried for a while there. He is gettting back to his old self now, just tired, headachy and frustrated. He wants to get well instantly! We had a good day today. We were docked off Waterford, Ireland and spent a few hours in the Irish countryside at a ruined abbey and picturebook village. It was very nice and green, very much like I expected Ireland to be. Lovely but nowhere near as nice as England, especially the Cotswolds. When we got back Dad took a nap and I went to workout and walk around the top deck. The Star Princess is the same size as the Grand, about 100 feet longer than the Sea Princess that we were on last summer, in other words, massive. You would all be interested to know that they have a pretty decent rock band playing in one of the lounges, but since the average passenger age seems to be 153 there is hardly anyone listening to them! We are going to have dinner in the Italian restaurant tonight where it is a little more private. We usually just eat in our suite because we don't feel like socializing that much. Any road, we are off now to Glasgow Scotland and I think Dad will be up for another shore excursion tomorrow. Thanks for all the prayers and love, we feel it way over here! We are especially anxious to see Andrew, Ethan, Emma, Annie, Jack, Max, Audrey, Parker, Miles, Mabel and Oliver when we return. It's going to be the Pa road trip!! Talk to you tomorrow.

Revisited -

The White Cliffs of Dover at Sunset after reboarding the Ship.

Jerrpoint Abbey in the Republic of Ireland.

A small and quaint Irish village.

Copenhagen Temple - revisited!

We have good news and bad news today! The good news is that we found the temple this morning and took some great pictures of it. We made it just fine to our fabulous ship the Star Princess only to find that they do not allow anyone to upload pictures through their computers for security reasons. So the pictures will have to wait until we find an internet cafe on some of our many shore excursions. Otherwise we will post a blog every evening with our days activities and location. We love all of you! By the way, the temple has been built inside the old meeting house that we all attended church in when we were in Copenhagen in 1986. It is very lovely and classical looking with big white columns in a nice quiet part of the city, but very much surrounded by other buildings. We will be in Canterbury England on Sunday when we will blog again.

Blog revisited with a picture of the Temple!

Denmark!

We had a few hours in Copenhagen. We tried to find the Temple on foot, but alas, no luck. Here is the view from our room. We did find Masumasu, continuing our tradition of eating Japanese food in random places throughout the world. We visited the Royal Palace and Tivoli. On to the ship tomorrow.

And so it begins ...

We made it to Buckland and what more can we say. The weather and environs couldn't be better. Nigel was in Malaysia with his significant other, Julie. Even so, Simon had all things well in hand. We enjoyed our walk to Stanton, our visit to Broadway and Chasleton House. It has been quite pleasant. We are now off to Copenhagen and board tomorrow. We even went to Rollrights (standing stones). More to come!

Defining Moments

To each in life we experience defining moments that determine our proximity to that which matters most. This book by Hoyt Brewster provides a wonderful glimpse into the decisions we make in life, whether they are seemingly significant or insignificant at the time, they become defining moments in our lives that set our course accordingly. A great and timely read. As we ponder our circumstances, may we each look with perspective to that which matters most, realizing the eternal perspective of He whose love is without measure. One of my favorite texts in the Book of Mormon, "it mattereth not..."

After spending a few hours with Matthew and Jack at the hospital last night, as Jack was recovering, having fallen from his and Annie's bunkbed ladder (He is alright!), it causes thought and reflection on the precious moments of life; the joys that come of the tender mercies afforded to each of us. In the stress of parenting, it is beneficial to look to the precious, tender and nurturing moments, and not get caught in the press of the moments. Mom once had a great cross stitched saying about cobwebs and housekeeping can wait, but time with my little ones cannot. How much we appreciate who each of our sons and daughters have become.

Our Travels!

World Travels. 48 Countries. Life is about creating memories!





US Travels, a plenty, 44 States; lots of memories, lots of fun!





It is a joy to read of each of your memories of these trips. What would be a great read, would be for each of you to write of your memorable stories from these journeys, wherein we could create a family journal of our travels. Reading the stories from each of your perspectives adds so much more to what each of us have experienced or remember. Travel has been a precious gift to each of you, not only for the cultures, perspective and experience, but for the love that it has engendered in each of us, thereby strengthening each of us individually and as a family. A gift we have cherished and will continue to nurture!

Intinerary for Family...Where are We?

For those who wonder...

Sept 4-16 Covenant Hills
Sept 10-11 Lauren in Mesa
Sept 12-14 David in Peoria (maybe?)
Sept 17-20 Buckland Manor
Sept 21-22 Copenhagen
Sept 22-Oct 7 Dover, Falmouth, Waterford, Glasgow, Belfast, Iceland, Greenland, Newfoundland, NYC
Oct 7-10 Carmel, NY
Oct 16-31 Atlanta, GA (for only a few days, without knowing when - Romney Advisory Council)
Nov 2-5 Missouri City, TX (Miles Blessing)
Nov 6-9 Carmel, IN & Peoria, IL
Nov 21-24 Carmel, IN (Thanksgiving)
Dec 1-4 Carmel, IN (Sophie Blessing)
Dec 20-Jan 4 Sundance (Christmas)
Mar 18-29 Kauai & Maui

January-March Trips to Indy, Texas, Arizona and Utah (To be determined) We are open for suggestions.

Seeking for the simple things of life...

As we strive for that which truly matters in life, we find joy! Joy is not found in the complexities of the world, nor is it found in the contentions of the society in which we live, but in the simple truths of eternity. In seeking for simplicity, ridding ourselves of contention and complexity; and in experiencing joy, we don't necessarily find it as we might hope, even so it is joy none the less.

In 1987 when we felt compelled to simplify our lives, we found joy amid the sorrows of travail and tribulation in cancer. The greater lesson of perspective was a tender mercy and blessing that came thereby. Recently, whether borne of the stress of it all, we again have felt a need to seek for more joy in our lives, and have thus sought again to simplify. Who knows what may be in store. Even so, after the challenges of 2005, we have sought to simplify in 2006. We are progressing!

In January we closed a chapter in our lives with the unwinding of a great and profitable partnership in SRS, and the creation of sole ownership of SRS Capital Partners. In August, we closed another chapter in the sale of Moneyline. In September, we will close another with the sale of the Sunchase Apartments and dissolution of Comco III. We also completed the funding of Oxford Media and related acquisition of SVI Hotel Corporation. Although purchasing a new company may not seem a part of simplification, it stabilizes Oxford and thus provides for less complexity in our lives. By year end we will have recapitalized Strawberry Farms and sold our interests in Ruby’s (maybe), and re-created Kilravock Holdings, Inc. as a partnership. All in all, the simplification continues, thus affording time, energy and resource to those things that truly matter in life, thus JOY! More time with our children and grandchildren; more time at the Temple; more time in church service; more time in worthy causes…Care For Life and Mitt Romney’s presidential pursuits. All in all, 2006 is becoming the year we had hoped, more joy!