Oh Jessica I'm sobbing over here. This was exactly what I needed to read. I'm a homebody too, selling my safe little house for so many unknowns but know it's my path....back to my marriage and back to Jesus. God is good.
Beautiful Jess. My grandma and grandpa brought 7 of their children to America from Scotland when my mom, the youngest then, was 4. My grandma was pregnant with my aunt Gail. I think often of her courage. To leave everyone she ever knew and loved for hope and a future, here with my Grandpa. It is amazing to know where you came from, where your people are. Both the ones that grew up around your kitchen table and the ones that had the courage to build a life and legacy that we get to be a part of.
Beautifully written and I know that pull. The very best vacation of my life was when my husband and I changed our plans of driving around the Lake District in England and instead followed our own path around the country by seeing sites from the first season of Outlander, when it was still young and no one was touring all the places. We had Scotland to ourselves and stayed where we wanted to stay each night and took roads less traveled and I was so wooed as you call it. I felt such an emotional pull when I we were in the Highlands and the heater was in bloom. My heart ached seeing it all and I felt like I was home. We visited a castle my relatives had owned on the eastern coast and sent photos home to my uncle, our family geneologist, who had always wanted to travel there but now was too ill to travel and he was so grateful. I was awed by the role in the Scottish history my ancestors had been a part of. My husband asked me when it was all over if I would ever want to go back and I said, “Yes! Let’s turn around and go back now!”
Scotland is one magical country that can place a hold on you like no other country I ever visited. So very excited you are getting to experience yourself and can write the words my heart has felt since I was there 10 years ago!
As a long-time mere on-looker - viewer and reader - this makes SO much sense. The entire cadence of your speech and thought is deeply imbued with a Scots heritage. So glad you're getting to know it more closely! Incredible how much your ancestors enriched South Carolina now and in the past!
Oh, Jess, you write so beautifully!! I would love to be able to sit with you with a cup of tea and some yarn and just chat till there is nothing else to say and then just quietly watch the life in the garden!!
Jess, your words never fail to make me feel so deeply. Your writing is absolutely beautiful and I am ecstatic you started writing again in this online space. Looking forward to reading whatever you feel led to share. Thank you for all you do! 💛
You were born to tell stories. They come alive with your pen. Thank you. Your path is much the same as mine but I was born in northern England and we immigrated to settle my Moms heart. She despised post was England but I spent my summers there with family and absolutely love it.
Thank you for sharing your life and your heritage. I too have a longing for Scotland. My ancestors are from the Argyle region of Scotland back in the 1700s. They primarily lived on Islay. I still have more digging to do with my family history. My ancestors came over from Scotland and settled in North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and finally settled in central Texas. Im in my early 30s. I have a young family to care for, but I hope one day I can visit Scotland where my grandfather's family came from. One more thing. Those gardens on Iona are beautiful! Thank you again for sharing 😊
Sometimes I read something and can feel my synapses fire up all at the same time. This was it: “I feel that when I imagine my inner world, it looks like Scotland.”
My family came to American in the 1600 and so many were pioneers that settled in southern Colorado. I am still related to so many people in that area. When we buried my grandma, my last grandparent, I remember feeling a strength come from the ground. These were my people. They were tough. They had traveled for religious freedom after leaving states where is was legal to exterminate them. Their suffering only made them better and more faithful and they passed that to me in my DNA. I am forever grateful. There is something so powerful in our connectedness to our ancestors.
My husband’s family come from Norway and Scotland and it calls to him as well.
Thank you for sharing your heart and the courage you have to do so!
Oh Jessica I'm sobbing over here. This was exactly what I needed to read. I'm a homebody too, selling my safe little house for so many unknowns but know it's my path....back to my marriage and back to Jesus. God is good.
Beautiful Jess. My grandma and grandpa brought 7 of their children to America from Scotland when my mom, the youngest then, was 4. My grandma was pregnant with my aunt Gail. I think often of her courage. To leave everyone she ever knew and loved for hope and a future, here with my Grandpa. It is amazing to know where you came from, where your people are. Both the ones that grew up around your kitchen table and the ones that had the courage to build a life and legacy that we get to be a part of.
Beautifully written and I know that pull. The very best vacation of my life was when my husband and I changed our plans of driving around the Lake District in England and instead followed our own path around the country by seeing sites from the first season of Outlander, when it was still young and no one was touring all the places. We had Scotland to ourselves and stayed where we wanted to stay each night and took roads less traveled and I was so wooed as you call it. I felt such an emotional pull when I we were in the Highlands and the heater was in bloom. My heart ached seeing it all and I felt like I was home. We visited a castle my relatives had owned on the eastern coast and sent photos home to my uncle, our family geneologist, who had always wanted to travel there but now was too ill to travel and he was so grateful. I was awed by the role in the Scottish history my ancestors had been a part of. My husband asked me when it was all over if I would ever want to go back and I said, “Yes! Let’s turn around and go back now!”
Scotland is one magical country that can place a hold on you like no other country I ever visited. So very excited you are getting to experience yourself and can write the words my heart has felt since I was there 10 years ago!
As a long-time mere on-looker - viewer and reader - this makes SO much sense. The entire cadence of your speech and thought is deeply imbued with a Scots heritage. So glad you're getting to know it more closely! Incredible how much your ancestors enriched South Carolina now and in the past!
You have inspired me to share my story and journal my thoughts. Thank you for being such an inspiration.
Oh, Jess, you write so beautifully!! I would love to be able to sit with you with a cup of tea and some yarn and just chat till there is nothing else to say and then just quietly watch the life in the garden!!
Jess, your words never fail to make me feel so deeply. Your writing is absolutely beautiful and I am ecstatic you started writing again in this online space. Looking forward to reading whatever you feel led to share. Thank you for all you do! 💛
You were born to tell stories. They come alive with your pen. Thank you. Your path is much the same as mine but I was born in northern England and we immigrated to settle my Moms heart. She despised post was England but I spent my summers there with family and absolutely love it.
Thank you for sharing your life and your heritage. I too have a longing for Scotland. My ancestors are from the Argyle region of Scotland back in the 1700s. They primarily lived on Islay. I still have more digging to do with my family history. My ancestors came over from Scotland and settled in North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and finally settled in central Texas. Im in my early 30s. I have a young family to care for, but I hope one day I can visit Scotland where my grandfather's family came from. One more thing. Those gardens on Iona are beautiful! Thank you again for sharing 😊
Sometimes I read something and can feel my synapses fire up all at the same time. This was it: “I feel that when I imagine my inner world, it looks like Scotland.”
Oh, Jess. This made cry as I understood and felt every word you wrote. You should always write. You touch the soul of the reader.
Blessings,
Deborah
Incredibly moving, Jess.
I am so glad that you are thoroughly enjoying your trip.
Thank you for sharing with us ❤️
"part of me feared I might be wooed to the point of my own ruin."
I've felt that.
Oh, Jess. This made cry as I understood and felt every word you wrote. You should always write. You touch the soul of the reader.
Blessings,
Deborah
Chills…
I, too, have deep dived on ancestry.com,
My family came to American in the 1600 and so many were pioneers that settled in southern Colorado. I am still related to so many people in that area. When we buried my grandma, my last grandparent, I remember feeling a strength come from the ground. These were my people. They were tough. They had traveled for religious freedom after leaving states where is was legal to exterminate them. Their suffering only made them better and more faithful and they passed that to me in my DNA. I am forever grateful. There is something so powerful in our connectedness to our ancestors.
My husband’s family come from Norway and Scotland and it calls to him as well.
Thank you for sharing your heart and the courage you have to do so!
Whimsy in pen and picture. How proud your ancestors would be to know all that you are, Jess!!!