Pic from here.
May 31, 2009
May 30, 2009
It's Moving Day!
This is the hard day, the day of packing up everything, the seemingly endless cleaning, the getting rid of stuff, throwing stuff away, etc.. Moving day is always a long day, but its not too bad this time since we don't have furniture, etc. Its an absolutely beautiful sunny day here in Ireland (go figure, we leave and it gets nice!). Anyway, we're off to Italy tomorrow, will blog when I can...but for now, gotta get moving! Happy weekend everyone!
P.S. This is my 500th post! (too bad its an anti-climactic post!) :)
P.S. This is my 500th post! (too bad its an anti-climactic post!) :)
May 29, 2009
May 28, 2009
i heart outdoor markets
Another thing I will really miss about Limerick is the outdoor market that takes place on Sunday afternoons. I typically grab a nutella crepe as I'm walking around but the other day I couldn't resist this bread (yes, in addition to my nutella crepe). It tasted as good as it looks, it didn't last long.
May 27, 2009
I really don't like January
Its pretty crazy that we are leaving Ireland in 4 days, where did these 9 months go?! Its so weird to me, I've been living life in 4-9 month increments for a while now and it always starts off a little daunting and then before I know it -its over. We've had some long days over here in Ireland, but I'd say the weeks have gone by fast, and the months, really fast. It's always bittersweet to leave, but I'm constantly amazed at how quickly it all goes by.
January is my least favorite month of the year, I just don't like it. Its after all the holidays, relatives leave to go home, there isn't anything to look forward to for a while other than rain and cold weather and a long, long month. Every year January feels like 5 months to me and I'm always so relieved when its over. Well, I feel like May is becoming my second least favorite month. May is starting to mean goodbyes, transition, and change, and for me - I'm not a huge fan of those things either. As weird/unlike me as it sounds, I've intentionally not made many friends over here. After leaving Pasadena and then shortly after that, Bass Lake, I decided I was all "goodbyed out." I've gone to a play group on a fairly regular basis here but kept it all very surfacy so as to not have to say goodbye (which, if you know me at all, is so not how I work). The 2 girlfriends I've made are both Americans and I know I will see them again, so that helps a lot. Tom Nelly (as we call him in this house) is Irish to the core but I know we'll see him again -since he's getting his Phd in New Testament studies he'll be at the conference that Adam goes to every year (for theology dorks...er I mean, theology folks) and so, we'll see him. So really, the goodbyes will be minimal which I'm so thankful for, its just easier this way.
Now..its on to laundry and packing, which will pretty much consume my week. I CANNOT wait to go on vacation! (for you loyal readers I'm sure its seemed like these past 9 months I've been on vacation :)). We're meeting Adam's parents in Rome on 5/31 and we are so excited! For all the folks wondering "What's next?" that's a great question -we don't know. All we know for now is that we are going to Rome for 5 days, then onto Norway for 7 days, then back to Ireland for 2 days (to get all of our stuff) and then to Oregon for the summer! As of right now its looking like Oregon will be our home for the next year but, anything can happen between now and August so...we wait and see. Clearly, this isn't what we were hoping for, but God's ways our higher than ours and so we trust him and blindly move along until he reveals whats next. To be real, super duper, uber honest.. I miss my stuff. I'm ready to settle and have my things back and set up Brennan's room and sleep in my own bed -that's what I long for and pray for. I don't want it to come across that I'm okay with all of this not knowing (crap) and am at total peace b/c I'm not, not even by a mile. But, its where we are right now so...theres that. It will be weird to be living back in the northwest since I haven't since 1996, crazy! Neat to be by family for the first time in ages and for B to spend some quality time w/ the grandparents and aunts/uncles/cousins. This is the good stuff, the stuff that makes all of this uncertainty somewhat okay in my mind. We'll get thru this, its not going to look how I wanted it to or how I envisioned but I'm confident that in the end, there will be a story and a purpose and for that -I can't wait! Thanks for sharing in the journey.
(This pic might seem random but we've been having weekly movie nights w/ Tom since we moved here, we always eat m&ms. Movie night is one of the things that I will miss the most).
January is my least favorite month of the year, I just don't like it. Its after all the holidays, relatives leave to go home, there isn't anything to look forward to for a while other than rain and cold weather and a long, long month. Every year January feels like 5 months to me and I'm always so relieved when its over. Well, I feel like May is becoming my second least favorite month. May is starting to mean goodbyes, transition, and change, and for me - I'm not a huge fan of those things either. As weird/unlike me as it sounds, I've intentionally not made many friends over here. After leaving Pasadena and then shortly after that, Bass Lake, I decided I was all "goodbyed out." I've gone to a play group on a fairly regular basis here but kept it all very surfacy so as to not have to say goodbye (which, if you know me at all, is so not how I work). The 2 girlfriends I've made are both Americans and I know I will see them again, so that helps a lot. Tom Nelly (as we call him in this house) is Irish to the core but I know we'll see him again -since he's getting his Phd in New Testament studies he'll be at the conference that Adam goes to every year (for theology dorks...er I mean, theology folks) and so, we'll see him. So really, the goodbyes will be minimal which I'm so thankful for, its just easier this way.
Now..its on to laundry and packing, which will pretty much consume my week. I CANNOT wait to go on vacation! (for you loyal readers I'm sure its seemed like these past 9 months I've been on vacation :)). We're meeting Adam's parents in Rome on 5/31 and we are so excited! For all the folks wondering "What's next?" that's a great question -we don't know. All we know for now is that we are going to Rome for 5 days, then onto Norway for 7 days, then back to Ireland for 2 days (to get all of our stuff) and then to Oregon for the summer! As of right now its looking like Oregon will be our home for the next year but, anything can happen between now and August so...we wait and see. Clearly, this isn't what we were hoping for, but God's ways our higher than ours and so we trust him and blindly move along until he reveals whats next. To be real, super duper, uber honest.. I miss my stuff. I'm ready to settle and have my things back and set up Brennan's room and sleep in my own bed -that's what I long for and pray for. I don't want it to come across that I'm okay with all of this not knowing (crap) and am at total peace b/c I'm not, not even by a mile. But, its where we are right now so...theres that. It will be weird to be living back in the northwest since I haven't since 1996, crazy! Neat to be by family for the first time in ages and for B to spend some quality time w/ the grandparents and aunts/uncles/cousins. This is the good stuff, the stuff that makes all of this uncertainty somewhat okay in my mind. We'll get thru this, its not going to look how I wanted it to or how I envisioned but I'm confident that in the end, there will be a story and a purpose and for that -I can't wait! Thanks for sharing in the journey.
(This pic might seem random but we've been having weekly movie nights w/ Tom since we moved here, we always eat m&ms. Movie night is one of the things that I will miss the most).
May 25, 2009
BBQ Irish Style (or just a BBQ IN Ireland)
This past Saturday our little group was going to go to the Cliffs of Moher and then follow that up with a BBQ at John and Grace's house. Well, when we woke up on Saturday morning it was pouring down rain -BOO! So, we decided to forgo the cliffs and just do the BBQ. As luck would have it, later in the day the sun came out and it was gorgeous and really...we should've just gone to the cliffs (you know what they said about hindsight). Anyway, even though we didn't get to see the cliffs we still had a great day hanging out w/ our friends and eating great food. Gonna miss these guys.
Thanks for a great day, Sheltons!
Thanks for a great day, Sheltons!
May 24, 2009
awareness
A topic that is near and dear to my heart is that of preeclampsia. Not only did it threaten my life and that of my daughter's but also my sister's, and her two kids (in addition to preeclampsia we also had HELLP syndrome.) No one seems to know why preeclamsia happens, and there is currently no cure other than delivery of the baby. Once you have preeclampsia that doesn't mean that you are doomed to have it again, and thankfully it is most common with your first so, thats good news! My sister had it twice but it wasn't as serious the second time, so, definitely hope.
My whole point in this post is that May is "Preeclampsia Awareness Month" and since preeclampsia affects 1 in 12 women, it deserves attention. My sister and I are the fortunate ones who not only survived but whose babies did as well, there are many who aren't so fortunate. This is my (very) little way of doing something to spread awareness. So, to all women out there, be aware, be informed, be sensitive, and hopefully one day there will be a cure.
Globally, preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a leading cause of maternal and infant illness and death. By conservative estimates, these disorders are responsible for 76,000 maternal and 500,000 infant deaths each year. -taken from preeclampsia.org
My whole point in this post is that May is "Preeclampsia Awareness Month" and since preeclampsia affects 1 in 12 women, it deserves attention. My sister and I are the fortunate ones who not only survived but whose babies did as well, there are many who aren't so fortunate. This is my (very) little way of doing something to spread awareness. So, to all women out there, be aware, be informed, be sensitive, and hopefully one day there will be a cure.
Globally, preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a leading cause of maternal and infant illness and death. By conservative estimates, these disorders are responsible for 76,000 maternal and 500,000 infant deaths each year. -taken from preeclampsia.org
May 22, 2009
Azur
Ever since we moved here I've wanted to go to this seafood restaurant, Azur. Needless to say, Adam doesn't love seafood so when he came home 2 nights ago and said "we have reservations at Azur on Thursday night and Tom is gonna watch B, date night!" it made it all the sweeter. It was very thoughtful of him to make this happen since our time here is quickly coming to an end. Our food was yummy, I had salmon, he had chicken pasta - just g.r.e.a.t. I love date night.
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