Snapshots

Sometimes I wish I could just say a magic word and take a 10 second snapshot of my life. So I could say, “This is what I was doing at this exact time in this exact place.” These moments normally happen when it wouldn’t be possible or acceptable to pull out a camera and record or snap a picture. My snapshot includes all the senses. I want others to not only see my rosy cheeks but feel the cool wind on them. And not to see the Irish waves crashing in but to hear their might and soothing roar. I don’t want to tell how it feels to ride my bike up and down the hilly boardwalk. I want you to push the petals, tasting the crisp Irish air, as you ride up the steepest hills you’ve ever seen. Hidden by the tall grass on each side, on the boardwalk it’s just you and the sky. I want the Mountains of Mourne to reflect in your eyes as they do mine. You could smile at the old Irish couple, who walk in front of you slowly…not hearing the “excuses me’s” as you try to rush past. They are in no hurry, seeming as in love as they were on their wedding day.

I want to save and yell the magic word to relive the moment or even the whole day again later. If others could yell it too…to live the moments of wonder and love…
Maybe you and others would be able to see the creator and how he romances me so.
How he paints the coast with green moss and blue and purple rocks. How he shows great amounts of love in small seconds of life.

This is what I get to experience as I ride my bike two miles to the beach. Sometimes the tide is in and the bay is full. It seems almost like Florida… But then the cold wind almost knocks me over and I realize where I am. The other day, after being in my town house all day…sleeping, reading, writing…(Ireland is pretty relaxed) I decided to get some exercise and go on another bike ride to the beach.

The tide was out and I decided to walk and jog along the wet sand. I went way out to the edge of the bay where the ocean was meeting the beach. I stood amazed for awhile looking at the huge, cloudy, blue sky and the ocean ahead of me. The mountains beside me and the green hills all around… And then two black heads popped up about 50 feet away. Looking kind of like a deep sea diver, and then more like a puppy dog…a seal looked in my direction. Obvious of my presence…maybe because of my singing… or maybe because in my bight red running shirt I didn’t quite fit in, he looked at me for several seconds and then splashed away.

It was one of those “snap shot” moments. I seem to have them whenever I take time to soak in God’s beauty. Whether that means sitting and eating Curry with new friends in India, riding through the green, tree covered hills in Arkansas (on a road trip with my best friend Lauren), or looking at lighting above the ocean in Florida late at night, or seeing a waterfall in Ireland or a bike ride through the country.

So…maybe this is too poetic…or over the top…but it’s the closest thing to a “snapshot” that I’ve got. : )

Finally! A few pictures!

I didn't have much time, but yesterday I got about 10 minutes to upload a few pictures off my computer. The rocks and water picture is the ocean in New Castle, which is four miles from where we live. This is where I am now, in the library. The mountains and flowers picture was taken in my back yard. Pretty beautiful huh? That's also some of my team playing in our backyard, mountains to the left. There's my room and the back of our wee houses too : ) I also liked the picture of the waterfall. That was taken when we were touring the North Coast. Hopefuly more pictures and maybe a video to come if we can get internet in our homes. Love and miss you guys!

Okay...still no pictures.

Well, we don't have wireless yet. So a short 4 mile walk to and from the library is required. We got a few bikes the other day, so maybe a bike ride will help speed up the process of getting to New Castle (where the library is).

Today starts the beginning of our third week in Ireland. I think we are finally getting into the swing of things. We also will be going into Belfast every Thursday for class. So hopefully I will be able to upload pictures.

I love my classes so far. I think that I have a couple of really Godly men that will be teaching some of my classes. We are reading C.S. Lewis and Richard Foster for two of my classes. So its great to be able to read things for school and see God working and moving in my life through them.

I think God has really been teaching and showing me things this week. I also feel that this time in Ireland will really be one of growth.

We went last week to the Northern Irish Parliament. I've learned a lot. Last night Jill, Carrie, and I were sitting around talking Irish Politics. For fun. Weird. But I've learned so much in such a short amount of time. And I'm excited to be able to really meet people and build relationships.

Hadden, a dear old Irish man, teaches two of our classes. He and his wife Betty have been taking very good care of us and make all of us laugh so much. Funny little Irish, or British couple... We went to Hadden's church last night and there are many young people. I think many of us on the team would like to attend every Sunday night to build relationships with people.

Anyways...that's a wee bit of an update : ) Hope you are all doing well. Miss and love you!

oh... and p.s.

phone number :

011-44-777-238-3419

address:

3 Dundrum Bay Holiday Homes
Dundrum, Northern Ireland UK
CO. Down BT33 OLY

Ireland might just sparkle...

Well, I've been in Ireland for about a week and a half. It seems a little like a year and half... not that it's bad, but it does seem a world away. We don't have access to internet very much. We are at a library today. And other people are waiting. So, I'll try and be fast with my update.

Last week we spent the whole week around the northern coast. Who would have thought I would be walking in rainy Ireland, with Castles and the greenest grass I've ever seen.

My mind has already been overwhelmed with Irish politics. The history and fighting is so fresh. I'm also in the process of deciding a topic for a big research project that will also serve as a social/ documentary photography project. So, I'm learning lots already. Trying to process as fast as I can, since I'm living out what I'm learning.

Irish culture. I love it. Of course. I'm addicted to tea after a week. Even though they speak English...there are still things you dont say here...or most of time, things they say and I have no idea what they are talking about.

I love my Irish teachers. We met with our Irish literature teacher this morning. Derick Bingham. He wrote a biography on Amy Carmichael. He is a well known Irish author. We watched a documentary on C.S. Lewis this morning. Professor Bingham was the one in it. Yeah, I guess you could say he is a big deal.

My backyard looks like this:

straight out is the bay. The water goes in and out twice a day.

to the right are the green mountains of Ireland.

to the left are little colored houses of Dundrum.

Not quite Arkansas...

Well, I should probably go. And hopefully pictures will be up as soon as we have wireless and I can get them off my computer. I miss and love you all! Ireland is great. I have a feeling that when the work load picks up a bit it will be challenging but very inspiring.

I love stepping outside after it rains. The ocean, the green, the sheep, the sand and all the colored houses.... Ireland sparkles :)