Andrea Finally Finishes this Series–Galway and Dublin

Sunday, Easter Morning, April 21, 2014 we woke up and checked out (I think?) and set off in search of Church.  We found it in a random strip mall of shops and offices.  When Brennan had served there there were two members.  There was Veronica and her sister, Michelle.  They were the only two active members back then.   He baptized a couple of women to join the ranks, but had lost track of all of them.  We walked into a Sacrament meeting full of probably about 25-30 people.  That little branch had come a long way.  Brennan spoke to several people asking about his converts, but most of them had come to this area after Brennan’s time and no one seemed to know much, but one couple recognized some names and new some of the missionaries Brennan had served with.  They were excited to tell him Michelle was still a member there and would be there today.  When Michelle walked in they instantly recognized each other and both burst into tears, which in turn made my parents, Davis, Melissa and me all burst into tears.  I can’t do the sweetness of that moment justice:





It was such a sweet, sweet moment in a sweet, sweet branch.  The highlight was definitely seeing Brennan and Michelle reunited.  She had fond and some funny memories of him.  She emailed us some photos and this is an excerpt from her email:
“I was also looking back through old journals and read a few lines here and there about you...... lots of it included the words crazy!!!
There was one time you actually cut Bryans hair.....and i was so annoyed with you....(i dont remember that at all!!!)....but mostly it mentions how Bryan adored you and followed you around with his backpack on on his trike....just like the picture!
i was a bit of a head-wreck back then....i have some-what normalized now...thankfully!!!   I dont know how you put up with me!!!!
The temple has calmed me and centred me in the gospel over the years...and all my rough edges has been smoothed out with time and lots of prayer!!
i know this church is true!! I love being a member and raising my kids in truth!!  We all do our best and Heavenly Father makes up the rest. I have been blessed beyond anything i deserve. Im grateful that Heavenly father is foremost a patient father. He has been incredibly merciful and patient with me. I would be nothing without him.
Thank you for being such a wonderful missionary...faults and all .........and for loving my son like you did....
it means so much to members in a small branch to have missionaries to look up to and learn from.
.....and im so delighted to have seen you today and got hugs!!!!!!
Im so happy to know you and to have met your lovely wife......
im hoping you deserve her and make her feel special and wonderful. Theres nothing you can tell your children about love that they wont see for   themselves  in how you treat your wife. you will be the type of husband your girls aim for.
Keep strong and keep smiling .
love and hugs
Michelle”

Michelle sent this of her and my cousin, Sarah, who also went to Ireland on a mission!

Elder Wright and Michelle’s son Bryan

Isn't that just a perfectly beautiful testimony of the Temple and Gospel?  I love it!  Pretty great way to spend Easter Sunday, don’t you think?
Unfortunately, we had to kind of hurry so we couldn’t stay for the other meetings, we had to hustle back into the minivan and drive to Dublin (I think about an hour or so?).  We got to Dublin that afternoon and only had a little time before having to fly back to London.  We decided to head to Trinity College.  It was beautiful.  This was the first time we had rain the whole trip!  What a blessing!  This rain wasn’t too bad and we still got to walk around and enjoy the beautiful campus for a quick little visit.

Some beautiful blossoms and Mom and Dad at Trinity College

From there, Davis and Brennan made an important oreo shake run and we headed to the airport.  Oh, I feel like this would be a good time to show you the real star of the whole trip:

I would like to tell you all those packages lasted us the whole trip, I would be lying.

From Trinity College, oreo shakes to the airport and back to London.  By this time, as you can imagine, we were really travel weary.  I was really ready to get home and on US soil and mostly to see my kids!  I’m not complaining, I loved every minute of this trip, but by Sunday night I wanted to be home in the worst way.  That night we all crashed at Davis and Melissa’s and enjoyed our final night together.  I think we ordered pizza and it took like 3 hours for them to deliver it.  It was fine, no matter what we did we couldn’t seem to eat dinner before 9 or 10 pm. 
The next morning we were up and at em packing up and saying goodbye, a little heartbroken to leave Davis, Melissa and Bea behind so far away for another few months.  We were all completely addicted to Bea by then and knew we’d have some serious withdrawals.  But it helped to be going home to our own crew!  It was a really, really long flight, and this time it wasn’t direct, but I can’t remember where our stop was.  The last leg was kind of brutal, we were exhausted and couldn’t sleep and this plane wasn’t nearly as equipped with the comforts that our direct flight had been.  We just kept thinking about getting home and finally we landed in good old Salt Lake City, Utah!!!!  It was around 9 pm I think and my parents’ friend kindly picked us up.  It was around 10 or 10:30 by the time we finally pulled up to our house.  Exhausted but thrilled to be home and that our kids were all still up we happily reunited with them and with Jamie.  Sadly, right before we got there Ben started throwing up.  Josh had gotten sick for poor Eliza and Josh.  Now it was Ben’s turn.  I spent a really miserable night on the couch with him and it took us about a week to feel like we weren’t jet lagged anymore.  Anyway, all of that was a small price to pay for this amazing adventure.  We felt so incredibly blessed.  There were so many tender mercies that all came together to make it happen and then to make it such a memorable, special trip. 
Jamie’s generosity was huge and was ultimately what made it possible.  Davis and Melissa’s hospitality was huge too and what made us take that leap.  Mom and Dad were so generous all along the way, and were the most delightful, good-natured, solicitous travel companions we could ever have.  Honestly, just the opportunity we had to spend such quality time with them was such a priceless blessing.  We will always treasure that unique time to be with them.  We all got along so well, it was just pure dessert, the whole time.  Lauren was so competent and sweet and made the first part of separating so much easier on our kids.  Josh and Eliza sacrificed so much to come take the biggest brunt of taking care of our kids.  Having to uproot their own family and run kids back and forth to school, a longer commute for Josh and Eliza mothering 8 children while pregnant!  It really just takes my breath away when I think about such a selfless gift they gave us.  We could not have gone had it not been for them.  Lastly, Jamie again coming to be with the kids for the homestretch.  She spoiled them and entertained them for those long, last few days.  Sometimes Heavenly Father gives us trials because he loves us and knows we need to be stretched, but then sometimes he just gives us beautiful gifts just because he loves us.  That was what this trip was for us and we are so grateful!  We will treasure it forever!

Andrea Finally Goes to Europe–Galway, Ireland

Saturday, April 20, 2014

After checking out of our beloved Fitzwilliam Hotel, we once again piled into the minivan for another full day of driving.  We drove south from Belfast, headed towards Galway.  At some point along the way we passed into Ireland.  It was kind of weird to have Northern Ireland use the pound currency and then suddenly we had to switch pack to the Euro in Ireland.  There really wasn’t a very noticeable boundary.  Before going to Galway, we drove South and and West to the West Coast of the island to see the Cliffs of Moher also known as the Cliffs of Insanity .

It was another long day of driving, but again it was so much fun to be together and chat and laugh along with some spectacular scenery, it was most pleasant.  I think we drove 3 or 4 hours before arriving at the Cliffs.  Again, there was a visitor center with some shops.  It was a huge expanse of land all along the coast line with sheer cliffs dropping into the ocean.  It was breathtaking.  We walked around to several vantage points, hiking for several miles. 

After taking in all of that scenery, we loaded back up to finish our drive to Galway.  We checked in our gigantic, crowded hotel.  Evidently, there was a rugby team staying there too and it was a big deal.  We drive around the very confusing, very congested city looking for somewhere to eat for our late night dinner when we finally settled good old American McDonald’s.  Sometimes you just need a burger and fries.

We made it back to our crazy hotel and crashed.

Andrea Finally Goes to Europe–Belfast, Northern Ireland

On Friday morning, April 19, 2014, we struck out for out for our last destination (sort of), Ireland.  I kind of forced Brennan to go, he was sad because he hadn’t been able to contact any of his old Mission contacts and felt some weird pressure to wow all of us.  Davis and Melissa were reconnecting with us since they had not yet explored Ireland.  That Friday morning we flew from Manchester, UK to Belfast, Northern Ireland and park of the UK.  We caught a cab, had the cutest, friendliest driver ever, who drove us to our hotel (and gave us a great dinner recommendation).  Besides the Oxford hotel, this, the Fitzwilliam Hotel was our nicest hotel, it was so nice and the staff were all the friendliest people on earth.  The rooms were so colorful and modern and fun, we loved it.  We met Davis and Melissa at the hotel, they had picked up the rental minivan and we headed out to Giant’s Causeway.  As I recall it was a several hour drive.  Bea was such a trouper, she blew us away at how patient and good-natured she was.  It was so fun to sit and chat with the 6 of us as we drove through some of the most scenic countryside we’d ever seen.  It’s everything you imagine Ireland to be, green rolling hills, old stone fences crumbling a bit, with perfect white dots of sheep adding the perfect touch to the scene.  There were little rustic houses, small and not updated at all.  There were some narrow roads, but Davis drove and managed nicely, despite Brennan’s frequent panic and passenger-seat driving .  We finally made it to Giant’s Causeway.  One of our ancestors, Mary Cunnachy, describes this as her beloved birthplace.  It was so neat to read her words about the very place we were.  When we got there, there was a visitor’s center and  then there are nice paved roads we could walk down to the Causeway on.  Giant’s Causeway is really hard to explain, we took the recorded audio tour, but I still don’t get it.  It’s a natural phenomenon that looks man made.  The legend has it that a giant was starting to build a bridge to Scotland.  Here we are on these naturally carved steps of Giant’s Causeway. 

That goes on and on and has varying heights.

It’s pretty amazing.  Here’s another angle.
 


Instead of going back up the nice paved roads, Brennan insisted we hike up the scenic non-paved trail with about a million steps, with a stroller.

Going up the Shepherd’s Steps

Davis and Melissa were up for it and Brennan and Davis carried the stroller the whole way up.

Here is the view looking down.

When we made it to the top

Next, about a half hour away was a rope bridge that Brennan made us go do.  I really dislike heights, and I really dislike bridges above heights, especially shakey, old rope ones!

Here is the bridge, but this does not give you a feel for the terrifying depth below us.

You can see a little better here, but still not how deep the distance below us goes.  You can, however see the terrifying reality of Davis carrying Bea while trying to maintain his balance and grip on the bridge.  Yikes!
On our drive back to Belfast, I managed to catch this very bad picture of the coolest tree-lined street, with branches completely entangled.  It looked like something out of a fantasy novel.
We arrived back in Belfast and dropped Davis off for a business call while the rest of us set out to find Brennan’s old mission apartment.  Not just any apartment, the apartment he had talked about his experience there for years.  He and his companion were out working and a member asked them for a ride somewhere.  They almost did it, but realized if they did they would miss their mission curfew.  They decided to be obedient and made other arrangements for the person and hurried home in time for curfew.  About 15-30 minutes after they settled into their apartment, the building they parked their car in front of blew up.  A bomb had been set in the window well of that building blowing out the windows of their car and would have most certainly injured them had they been pulling up right then.  They were safe because of their obedience.  The bombing had been in retaliation to a shooting in a bookie shop right next to their apartment. 
Brennan thought he remembered the apartment being on Shankill Road, the famous divisive road that Catholics were on one side and Protestants the other, and were not allowed to cross.  We drove up and down Shankill Rd again and again and could not find the apartment.  Brennan was frustrated, it was all familiar but something was different.  We felt badly for dragging everyone on a wild goose chase after an already long day in the car.  I said a quick prayer that we would be able to find it and then had the thought to google the name of the bookie shop where the shooting happened.  I did so and saw that the street was Ormeau Road.  We quickly looked it up and found it in a few minutes.  Here it is, his apartment was above where he is standing:

Here is the bookie shop next door with a monument to those shot

And for some stupid reason I didn’t take a picture of the building the bomb had been in.  It was so thrilling to be there to see this site that was so significant.  Brennan was emotional and so grateful for the chance to revisit it.
We went back to the hotel and finally headed to Howard Street Restaurant for another late dinner.  It was really good, and overall Belfast left a very happy impression on us.  The people were the friendliest we had encountered.   All in all a great day in Belfast!

Andrea Finally Goes to Europe–Cotswolds

 

On Thursday, April 17, 2014 we awoke nice and rested and ready to explore the Cotswolds.  Once again, we’ll go to Wikipedia, which has to say this about the Cotswolds:

The Cotswolds is an area in south central England containing the Cotswold Hills, a range of rolling hills which rise from the meadows of the upper Thames to an escarpment, known as the Cotswold Edge, above the Severn Valley and Evesham Vale. The area is defined by the bedrock of Jurassic limestone that creates a type of grassland habitat rare in the U.K. and that is quarried for the golden coloured Cotswold stone.^[1] The area, designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1966, is considered to have unique features derived from the local Cotswold stone; the predominantly rural landscape contains stone-built villages, historical towns, and stately homes and gardens.

I believe we first stopped at Lower Slaughter where there was the most charming little old mill now converted into a little shop.  The town is so beautiful and so completely a step back in time, it makes you feel like you’re living the life of all of the characters in every old English book you’ve ever read.  I thought I took pictures of the Mill, but apparently I didn’t, here is the little surrounding village though:

After wandering Lower Slaughter, we found a path leading to Upper Slaughter.  By path, I mean a few little gates leading you through the prettiest pastures full of sweet little sheep. 

 

Obviously, I should have gotten a million more pictures!  Upper Slaughter is much more upscale than Lower Slaughter.  It has the same old structures, and lovely scenery, but the houses are much bigger and fancier.  We saw wealthy families about the yards and walking through the scenic roads.  My Dad took this picture of this particularly fancy home in Upper Slaughter:

It is the most serenely beautiful place I have ever seen, there’s no traffic or rushing around, it was so peaceful and no matter you looked it was perfectly picturesque.

Some manicured hedges

We forced ourselves to leave this paradise and get back on the road where we got stuck in some pretty major traffic.  It was quite a contrast, but we didn’t really mind since we were in good company.  We were worried about trying to get our car back to the Manchester airport by our 7 pm deadline.  We were late, but it worked out.  We were shuttled to our nearby hotel and settled in and met downstairs in the hotel for a nice, late dinner.  It always seemed to be about 9 before we ate dinner each night despite our best efforts.  It was a fun way to cap off each day though sitting and enjoying each other’s company and good food.  That was actually one of my favorite meals, but I can’t remember what I had.  It was good though, mostly it was good not to be in the car.  We had got another sound sleep for our travel-weary bodies and woke up ready for our next leg of our journey.  By now I am sure you are wondering if this trip will ever end!

Andrea Finally Goes to Europe–Windsor and Oxford

 

April 16, 2014

Wednesday morning, the 16th, Brennan and I and my parents got up and said goodbye to Davis and Melissa and Bea for a few days and loaded into the rental car and drove about an hour, hour and a half outside of London to Windsor Castle.   This was definitely one of my favorites and one of the few things we took the time to go inside.

Here we are at Windsor, looking pretty cool with our recorded guided tour headphones

We must not have been allowed to take pictures inside, because I don’t have any.  It was amazing.  It was like a museum of incredible works of art, and architecture and history.  I loved every room and every minute we spent there. 

After loving every thing about Windsor Castle, we stopped in the charming little town around the castle at a little pub for a very English lunch

 

Fish and Chips

After lunch we drove another hour or so to Oxford University where they take their education very seriously and tourism…not so seriously.  I think we arrived around 2 and everything was pretty much closed.  We walked around the lovely town and admired the stunning and imposing buildings from the outside.  When we came to Christ Church, we realized they were allowing people in so we got in line, when the lady asked us if we were here for the concert, Brennan quickly said we were and we were in!  Each college has it’s own courtyard and surrounding smaller buildings.  Christ Church is one of the most distinguished colleges in Oxford.  It was incredible.  We walked through the courtyard and entered the stunning cathedral where we found some seats for a baroque Haydn Easter Concert.  Wow!  What a treat.  My Mom, especially was in heaven.

I think we left a little early, as it was getting late.  We found a restaurant in Oxford and enjoyed a nice meal, (but it took a while because we once again had a miscommunication on our order), but our waitress was so sweet.  She tried to pay for the meal that got ordered mistakenly with her own money.  We didn’t let her.  As we ate, we tried to find a hotel in the Cotswolds to stay in that evening, but because it was late, and we wouldn’t be there before 10, we couldn’t.  Things work differently there than in the US, I learned that .  What we lack in culture and old things, we make up for in customer service!  Anyway, whooped and getting a little discouraged, my Dad surprised us and booked us each beautiful rooms at an Oxford hotel.  We were thrilled to be able to drive across the street and have luxurious lodgings in that historic place.    

Here are Mom and Dad in front of Magdalen College where CS Lewis taught

Andrea Finally Goes to Europe, Brennan’s Golf Adventure

April 14-15, 2014

As I mentioned Brennan left us Monday morning and as we headed to England, he flew into Scotland.  I think he flew into Edinburgh, Scotland where he rented a car and drove up to St. Andrews.  Apparently, if you are any kind of golf enthusiast, you know all about St. Andrews.  Well, evidently, to play it is worth all kinds of trouble .   I need to ask him the details, but if I recall correctly, as I said he flew in to Edinburgh where he rented a car and drove a couple of hours to St. Andrews.  We planned this trip so quickly, he had called ahead to find out what his chances were of getting on.  Fortunately because he was alone, there was a shot.  He would have to be there at 5 am and wait in line, then if there was a group less than a threesome, they could decide whether or not to let him join them.  He was worried that since he had to rent clubs he would look like a hack and no one would let him play with them.  He got to St. Andrews around 9 or 10 pm, I believe where he “slept” in his tiny rental car and nearly froze (about 30 degrees)  to death about 20 yards from the first tee.  I’m not sure what the biggest factor in not sleeping was, the cold, the discomfort or the anticipation.  He got in line at 3:45 am and teed off at 7:20 and in his own words, “well worth it!”  He ended up playing with two guys from Philadelphia, wealthy soccer Dad’s there for a soccer tournament for their kids.  They were impressed and a little more than surprised by this unassuming, janitorial salesman from Utah with rented clubs.  I love that.   He had a great game checking off yet another “once in a lifetime opportunity”. 

Living the dream at St. Andrew’s Golf Course

After a long, but amazing day and a sleepless night, he started the drive to London.  We had planned to meet up with him Wednesday morning, perhaps in the Cotswolds, but he decided to keep going and drive straight through to London Tuesday night.  As I mentioned in my last post, it was kind of a harrowing journey.  It actually went fairly smoothly until he hit London and had no idea how to get to Davis’s.  He made it eventually though and it was so good to be together again.  He was thrilled with his little detour.

Andrea Finally Goes to Europe, London II

April 15, 2014

Day two in London!  We woke up and I think enjoyed doing a little laundry in Davis and Melissa’s tiny little washing machine and no dryer, but it was a welcome opportunity to clean our clothes.  Mom and Dad and I headed out to do the tour bus again.  It was a perfect day and so much fun to see the incredible and enormous city of London.  I think we got off early near the Thames and walked down to see Big Ben and the incredible Parliament Building. 



My statesman Dad was dying to take a tour of that magnificent and historic building, so Mom and I left him there while we  explored around Westminster Abbey, it was closed to go in, but we loved walking around and enjoying the beautiful grounds and views of so many incredible buildings and statues everywhere we looked. 

A statue of Abraham Lincoln!

We made our way down to Buckingham Palace where we saw the famous guards, didn’t get any great pictures, boo.

We walked around the extensive and beautiful grounds around the palace, grabbed some lunch and then met up with my Dad.  We got back on the bus and after that  I don’t think we got out of the bus for quite a while.   Most of the time the buses had a recorded tour you listened too on headphones, but at one point that day we had a real live Londoner tour guide full of British charm and knowledge.  We got to see the incredible architecture spanning centuries all mixed in to the lovely City.  So many historic and amazing sites.  We finally got off the bus at Herod’s to explore what felt like city within a city. 

A view of the Thames and the London Eye

My favorite part of Herod’s

I think we spent a couple of hours in that store, mostly the toy department.  It was incredible.   Mom and Dad bought some things for the grandkids and I bought some darling lollipops for my kiddos.  After shopping, we met Davis and Melissa and Bea for dinner at Wagamama’s.  I thought it was yummy, everyone else thought it was ok, but it was fun to be together.  We parted with Mom and Dad again and went back to Davis’s apartment.  Brennan called and was driving into London.  After a very long two days mostly driving and sleeping in his car, he was lost trying to find Davis and Melissa’s apartment.  Davis sweetly talked him down from the figurative ledge, and waited outside talking to him to get him safely to their apartment.  We were so happy to be reunited!

This little girl, was our very favorite London attraction