The Halifax Citadel

The Citadel, formerly known as Fort George, is a famous Halifax landmark. It was established in colonial times to protect the protestant settlers against hostile forces. Over the years four different forts have occupied the summit of Citadel Hill. During the American Revolution George Washington sent a spy to Halifax to plot out a way for the American forces to capture the fort. However, he eventually concluded that it was impossible and the plans were dropped.

The first spring we were in Canada we parked at the bottom of Citadel Hill and hiked up to the fort.  The tourist season had not yet begun so we were not able to go inside but enjoyed the cannons and the sights from the hill.

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 Hiking up to the fort

Entrance to the fort

 Inside the courtyard

 View from the top

We decided then that before we left Canada we would go back and take a tour.  That finally happened the July before our return home and it was worth the wait. Our tour guide was a cute, redhead fellow with lots of personality (a theater major at a local university).  It was really interesting hearing the history of the fort and walking through some of the quarters.

 Our welcoming tour guide

 

They brought out the bagpipes for us

 and the drums!!

 Explaining the stockade area

 And the cells

 Our tour group

 A close up view of the cannons

 Changing of the guard

 Some of the many interesting displays of uniforms, badges, weapons, etc.

More displays

 Each day at noon they set off the cannon and you can hear the boom all across Halifax

 Good bye for now

 It was a great day, glad we came!

Comings and Goings

I guess that arriving and departing missionaries are just an integral part of missionary work, but change is not always easy.  It is difficult from an emotional point of view and includes a lot of work.  Every 6 weeks we have missionaries going home and we have new missionaries arriving to begin their mission.  It may involve only one or two missionaries but sometimes there are many more.

In July 2012 we had fourteen wonderful missionaries leave us and as always it was hard to say goodbye.  We become really close to these elders and sisters and they leave a hole in our hearts when they go.  We realize that we may never see them again. However, it balances out because we are also always excited to meet the new missionaries and see the great potential each of them brings to the Canada Halifax Mission.

On the physical work side, we put together a booklet for each missionary to take home with them which includes some of their mission information, their letters to the president and some pictures of different experiences they have had while serving.  There is also a place where they can write their testimonies, things they have learned while serving and set future goals.  They really enjoy these booklets and they are well worth the work.

For the missionaries arriving there is also a great deal of paperwork.  We make files for them, put together training binders, and when they arrive, we have to copy their drivers licenses, passports, etc.  We also participate in training them, although they are usually so tired and overwhelmed I am not sure how much they retain.

 Elder Heggie and Elder Redd's last transfer lunch

Elder Gibbs, Sister Rust and Sister Riddle ready for first assignments

Always good food and good coversation at the transfer lunch

 Oh how those missionaries love to be together

On the day before the missionaries go home after the transfer lunch, the missionaries attend a special temple session with President and Sister Leavitt.  That evening there is a dinner and testimony meeting for them at the mission home.  We, along with the Assistants to the President, have had the privilege of taking part in these events.  It is hard to describe the beauty of seeing these missionaries whom we love all dressed in white and sitting in the House of the Lord.  Their testimonies are so strong and they are so valiant that they have had an immense impact on us and on our testimonies.  We know they will be future leaders of the Church and will be well prepared.

 The Last Supper

 Enjoying the surprise of their Mission Remembrance Booklets

Our wonderful Assistants to the President

Elder Biddulph and Elder Tongish

 

The group that is leaving us with Sister Leavitt and the Foleys

The Whole Happy Group!!

We will sure miss them but wish them the best

The other senior missionaries become our good friends. We don't see some of them often because of their assignments but we have regular contact by phone and get to know them and love them. President and Sister Leavitt are planning regular pot luck dinners for the senior couples who live close enough to attend. The first was this past Sunday and it was truly delightful. In addition to the couples in the area they invited some friends visiting the Robinsons, the temple president and matron, and Brother and Sister Fox and Brother and Sister MacLennon, members from the Dartmouth Ward. The Foxes and the Maclennons both joined the Church in the late 70's. Their conversion stories are wonderful and very faith-building. They have been stalwarts in the Church in this area and there are now Fox and Maclennon children in leadership positions throughout the stake. It was stories like theirs that helped us to see the beautiful outcome of missionary work. We love what we are doing. We know the gospel is true and find joy in seeing others brought into the fold.

Brother and Sister Maclennan, Brother and Sister Fox and Elder Foley

President and Sister Robinson (temple president), Elder and Sister Baines (temple missionaries)

Front Row: Sister MacLennan, Sister Tiffany, Sister Leavitt, Sister Baures, Sister Fox, Sister Foley, Sister Edwards, Sister Robinson and friend

Back Row: Brother MacLennan, Elder Foley, Elder Baines, Brother Fox, President Robinson and friend, Elder Tiffany, President Leavitt, Elder Edwards

Tall Ships

The week after Heather and Miles left there was a big event in Halifax. The so called Tall Ships came into port and made quite a sight. It is an event that only occurs once every three years and we really enjoyed seeing it. They are called tall ships due to their very high masts.  They are most frequently associated with the Tall Ship Races. They were in port for several days and we were able to tour one of them and see many of the other ones. Some were especially beautiful. They came from England, America and Canada. Live music and food vendors were present in abundance.  We really had a great time.

Some good looking young Sea Scouts

 One of the beauties (Elder Foley)

An American Ship

 

            

Quite an appreciative crowd

Truly beautiful boats

 

Some great Celtic music

These girls could dance and sing and play all at once!

 

A variety of music

Some Canadian Mounties

Great Food

And we must not forget some good proselyting opportunities!!

As the ships left the harbour there was a parade of all the ships.  I only caught a couple but it was a fun thing to see.   There is a true beauty to these grand ole ships!!

Xander Grey

For months we have anticipated the visit of Miles, Heather and, of course, Xander Grey.  We couldn't wait to see them and meet our new grandson, yet we were concerned because they were arriving at the same time as our new mission president and we didn't know if we would even have time to see them.  It all turned out great and the visit could not have been more perfect.  They arrived on Monday, July 8th and we had a fun reunion at the Halifax International Airport.

Miles & Xander --- we finally see our youngest grandchild 

Pure Joy!!

Getting to know you

Love at first sight

Hi Grandpa!  I like your shoes!

We loaded up the car and drove through some back roads of beautiful Nova Scotia back to Dartmouth and then headed to Eastern Passage for lunch at one of our favorite places, Wharf Wraps.

Bright sun on the patio

Yummy fish and chips

and scrumptious shrimp!

The old folks

The boys on the pier

Walking down the pier

Lots of bright color in the boats

and on the buildings!

After leaving Eastern Passage we headed into Downtown Dartmouth to the Alderney ferry landing and a lovely view of the Halifax Harbour.

Halifax Harbour, showing one of two bridges between Dartmouth and Halifax

 Tuesday morning the Foleys headed to the office but after a quick stop to check out our working surroundings. The DelHoyos headed for the South Coast.  First stop was Peggy's Cove, then on to Mahone Bay and Lunenberg.

Janice hard at work

Grandpa teaching Xander the workings of the mission

Peggy's Cove Fishing Village

Peggy's Cove

Mahone Bay

Lunenberg

Colorful Lunenberg

Wednesday morning we piled in the car and headed to Pictou, NS to catch the ferry to Prince Edward Island.  The crossing was great and we had a beautiful drive up to Cavendish in Anne of Green Gables Country.

Ready to board the ferry

We love that sea air!

The young loves

And the old ones

Thar she lies!

Let's load up and get off of this ferry!

Heddie and her Papa @ Green Gables

Beautiful lupins in front of the house

Heddie & her Mama in the haunted woods

And the young uns in lover's lane

Waiting for Heather to shop in the bookstore

Cavendish Beach

I think he likes the water!

Goodbye beach, time to head to Summerside

Last summer we with Sean's family stayed @ Clark's Sunny Isle Motel in Summerside.  We liked it so well we returned with the DelHoyos.  This Gazebo was outside our rooms.

Thursday We drove to Cavendish stopping at the Lucy Maud Montgomery Museum.  It was really a highlight of the trip as we had not been there before and it was really interesting.  It is housed in a home of her grandparents Montgomery where she had many wonderful memories growing up.  She was married in the parlor of this house.  The drive was beautiful and the property the house is on is amazing, overlooking the "Lake of Shining Waters".  The furnishings in the house were original and there were many stories framed on the walls to tell of some of the items in the house.  The story of the blue chest was a favorite.  Her cousin, a young bride was stood up at her wedding in the house so she buried her wedding cake in the front yard and locked her bridal wardrobe in the blue chest with strict orders for no one to open it.  Forty years later Lucy Maud got permission to open the chest and the wedding clothes are on display along with the chest.

In route to the Cavendish

Hall in the town of Kensington, a lovely town along our way

One of many interesting churches we passed

A charming old swing if you don't kill yourself getting on it (as I tried to do)

The Blue chest!

Some original copies of her books

After leaving the museum we drove back by the scenic route to the Confederation Bridge.

 Beautiful fishing village

We left PEI by way of the Confederation Bridge, an 8 mile engineering feat!  Heather who has a thing about bridges was quite brave and really did well on the crossing.

Second thoughts about this bridge?

 Once back in New Brunswick we drove to Hopewell Rocks on the Bay of Fundy.  It was a beautiful day and the walk to the bottom was fun.  Miles did a lot of exploring while Heather and I wandered and Grandpa stayed above on Xander duty.

 This IS Heather on Miles back.  Obviously taken from the top.

Friday, our last day!

We had to go into work for a little while and Heather and Miles just hung out at the house.  We picked them up around noon and went to the harbour for a whale watching excursion.  It was really fun and we were able to see two whales, a 60 or so foot long mom and a 45 foot baby.  We also saw lots of neat boats and interesting things along the shore.  All in all it was a super day!

We passed 

And here we go!!

Xander delighted all the passengers

We passed several unbelievable yachts

Goodbye Halifax

George's island in the Halifax Harbour where during the Seven Years War 2000 French Sailors were imprisoned there and during the American Revolution soldiers were stationed there to guard against American privateers.

Lots of fun boats out on this beautiful day!

Xander was full of smiles

Heather was full of smiles too!

Our first whale sighting

The baby

and our 2nd
 

The Mommy

We went back to shore by way of Eastern Passage!!  The farthest red building on the left is where we enjoyed our fish on Monday

Xander has had enough!

The bird patrol

After leaving the water we headed to a cemetary in Halifax where about 100 of the Titanic survivors are buried.  It was very sobering but very interesting.

 Titanic graves




 A peaceful site



 One of many sad tales 

and very heartbreaking ones

Saturday, all good things must come to an end

 All smiles to go see his siblings and other grandparents



Precious Cargo



 Goodbye for now
We will miss you

And off they went!!

Love you guys!