{ He is so beautiful to me }

Tonight we went to a worship service at the Student Union. It was incredible. Exactly what I needed. Spending time with Jesus and learning to surrender.

{ mud, fireworks, and zombies }

Well, I am posting this, thoroughly exhausted. Today has been a long day. We went to a special conference this morning where Hadden was the guest speaker. It was good to go to, but took up most of the day. Then tonight some of us went out looking for adventure. We ended up going on a hike through the woods in the dark...which was kind of scary, to be truthful. But fun, nonetheless. Antony and Tripp thought it was great sport to jump out of the bushes like zombies and grab me... yeah...hilarious. Thanks guys. We hiked all the way to what's called the "Giant's Ring" which is a large grassy crater-like circle that has the ashes of famous people spread in the center of it. There were some other people there having a fireworks war with each other across the ring. We watched them for a while and tried to keep a low profile. We succeeded for a while, but we decided when they started throwing them at us that it was probably time to make a run for it. :) It was kind of fun to live a bit dangerously. haha. Oh, Ireland. So many random things have happened. I love it.

{ city adventures }

We've officially lived in Ireland for two weeks now. It feels like we've been here so much longer! I love being here. Leaving already seems too soon.

I love going into the city and having adventures...we always find something interesting. Jordan, Zac, Tripp, Antony and I walked along the river downtown - so pretty! I love watching the boats, I really want to take a boat trip. We also met a lovely old Irish man who chatted with us for quite a while telling us all about where to find the best fish & chips and Guinness. :)

Living together in the manor is so fun! The most random stuff always happens. Tonight Erin and I made brownies and had a dance party in the kitchen...complete with wooden spoon microphones. :) Love it.

God is so good, and I am so thankful for this gift he has given me.

{ First week of senior year }

Well, I've been having a hard time keeping up with this blog.

A. I wonder if anyone's really reading it?

B. We started classes this week and I've had homework...yuck.

C. There's so much to say, I don't know where to even begin!

Nevertheless, I will give it a go today. First of all, each day here seems to just get better and better. I LOVE everyone on the team, we have all bonded so quickly and I already feel like they're dear friends. We spend a lot of evenings having "tea" and being absolutely ridiculous. We have a new project...we're going to build a boat out of milk cartons...Erin (my new little sister :) ) is going to be the first one to brave a voyage on the raft. We're planning on trying it out in the lake first, then maybe taking it to the river. We've also been playing phase 10 a LOT...and having Disney movie nights. I love it.

Along with all the fun, we've of course been having class too. So far classes have been alright...pretty typical. The long syllabi are always effective in their initial intimidation. Tomorrow I am dreading Economics, but beyond excited about Irish Literature. Our classes are all three hours long, once a week...with tea breaks. :)

We're all fighting a cold, everyone's had ear aches, stuffy noses and sore throats. Sarah has us drinking several cups of airborne a day, garlic cloves, and peppermint tea. Today she even bought different flavors of airborne. Hip hip hooray.

Since my last posts we've been out and about quite a bit. We went to Giant's Causeway (one of the seven natural wonders of the world), a really cool rope bridge, and we went to the castle where the Queen stays when she visits and saw a very famous flutist, Sir Galloway play with a big orchestra and fireworks. It was cold, but fantastic. We've also been exploring Belfast every chance we get.

I love being here. It's only been a little over a week. I cannot wait to see what else this semester holds. Oh and do write...I love getting mail! - It's like a little piece of home. And we have the cutest little red post box at the end of the driveway.

{ Shankill Road. }

Today was a busy day. We went to Shankill Road, the area where Mr. Stevenson grew up. The place where a wall divided the Protestants and the Catholics. Today it is still an area of unrest and violence. Mr. Stevenson told us to become peacemakers...in our homes, in our friendships, in our church. He us horrific stories and I cried. We are so blessed. We watched a movie, Mickeybo & me...it gives a really good picture of what really happened here in Belfast, through the eyes of two young boys.

{ home sweet home. }

Today I went with a few people on a 3 hour bike ride alongside the lake and into downtown Belfast. We got lost trying to find the bank, but it was alright...we had fun! We also spent the morning having tea & scones with our professors. I am so excited about my Irish Literature class...I cannot wait. The professor is a dear man who has written many books himself and is really passionate about literature and determined to make us excellent writers - sign me up. I also can hardly wait to visit the library at Queens University. Apparently there is a special reading room located in the centre (like my use of European spelling?) of the library called the "C.S.Lewis Reading Room." The room has a special carpet woven with Aslan in it, there are glass panes with Lewis quotes, the doors are the wardrobe doors from the Chronicles of Narnia movie, and there are maps being put on the tables...to say I am excited would be an understatement.

Well, that's all for today's adventures...I'll fill you in some more tomorrow.

I love the trees in Ireland.

Downtown.

My window is the one with the light...I'm anxious to explore and find out where the stairs go...

The lake.

The greenhouse.

The flowers are one of my favorite things so far.

Fresh flowers by the sink are the ultimate luxury - and how often can you go right out your door and pick English roses?

My bed...I will post more photos of the room when I have done more decorating, it's pretty bleak right now.

Welcome home.

{ arrived. }

Well, after a few delays...and some long hours of waiting...I finally arrived in Belfast. God is so gracious and I sat next to a really sweet lady on the flight. She was English, had a lovely accent, and we spent most of the flight talking about God. It was great. She has a daughter my age and so she was very motherly and fussed over me a lot. She is also a professional make-up artist and insisted on showing me some techniques, so we had a mini-makeover party right there on the plane. :)

Ireland is very green, and rainy. It's beautiful. I got really excited when we passed by a field with sheep. It's colder here than I expected, the houses just aren't heated very well. Lakeside Manor, our new home, is really big and very traditional feeling. There is lots of exploring yet to be done. I am currently working on making my new room a cozy home...I think they call that nesting.

I thank you for the prayers and continue to covet them as I make the adjustment to living here. Sometimes I have a really hard time with change...and I know it's going to be difficult at times. I'm also extremely exhausted with the time change and all but hopefully that will clear up soon.

Photos of the house will come soon!