Strong Tower

The name of the Lord is a strong tower;

the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

Proverbs 18:10

Hard to Believe

I keep having these “I can’t believe that I’m actually here” moments. One of the first times that I had to blink a few times and just soak my Irish reality in, was when I was overlooking the cliffs of Courtmacsherry. It is a lovely little seaside town. There is a trail that goes up a hillside, through a forest (I hear it blooms of wild garlic and bluebells in the spring) and onto open green field that overlooks the clearest water that I’ve ever seen in my life. It was a perfectly sunny day, it was breezy, although there wasn’t the autumn nip in the air that I often feel now. It was one of summer’s last warm embraces.

I stood on the cliff and looked at the yellow sailboats, the aquamarine water, and the neon-green colored moss on the rocks below. It was so much beauty to take in at once.  I had to remind myself. I am here. I cannot believe it!

Another time, when our team drove up to Northern Ireland for some meetings, we came to the crest of a hill in a small village. The view opened up into a panorama of Ireland. Hills. Fields. Sheep. Milk cows. White houses with chimneys. Hedges along the narrow roads. Rock-pile fences between fields. It was perfect. My breath caught and I got butterflies in my stomach. I’m heeereee? For a year? Too good to be true.

This time last year, I had no clue what was in store. I knew it was a possibility, but more of an unlikely reality. And now, here I am… typing this up.

Just the other day, Wendy (one of the other interns) and I were driving into one of the local villages to meet up with one of  our friends to go running. It was normal. Routine. But somehow, the routine-y-normalness of it broadsided me. What? I’m going running with an Irish lady? Down Irish lanes? Whatttt? How did I even get here?

And then I remembered why I am here.

And I still can hardly believe it.

Written in response to the inspiration of Friend Heather, in effort to help me document my precious moments here. Thank you! 

Pumpkin Pie?

I've been commissioned to bring pumpkin pie to a supper club next week. They've only heard of this weird American pie... and they really want to try it. The problem at hand: I haven't seen Libbey's brand of pumpkin puree... Or pumpkins. I thought I was stuck. But no! I baked a few sweet potatoes, mashed em up and was quite pleased with the outcome, and so were my taste testers. 

Vegan, gluten-free, oil-free, refined-sugar-free. 

Here is what it DOES have:

2 cups mashed sweet potatoes/1 can pumpkin 

1 box silken tofu 

1/2-3/4 cup unrefined brown sugar

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp pumpkin pie spice 

1 crust for a 9-inch pie ( I made my fave GF one that is also oil free and super easy!)

Bake at 425 F for 15 min then at 350 for 40 min. 

Ok. This isn't a food blog, but since I spent my afternoon testing recipes I couldn't resist! 

Forward

Thanks to this week's health topic at supper club, I now have an exercise accountability friend. She's to hold me to my (at least) 7+ miles per week goal. That's a reasonable goal, right? I've realized that it is easy to be so busy helping others to be healthy that I don't take the time to practice what I preach.

Here is to more walks, runs, hikes, and trots in Ireland! Rain or shine.

Also, my hiking boots arrived from the US of A today. I guess the postal service is still working in America. That is good to know.