Giddy

Home.

The countdown is in the single digits. 

(!)

Life full of Love and Schedule full of Life

Over the past few weeks, my sister got engaged, my younger brother started courting a sweet girl, and my older brother and his wife gave birth to a darling son.

I hear it's kind of crazy on the farm right now.
Oh yeah- it's asparagus season too. (Anyone want to do a farm internship??)

Over here in Ireland things have been gaining momentum. The weekends usually include plenty of time with the youth at church and the weekdays have the usual: exercise class, supper club, counseling, and office work. Oh yeah- the laundry, dishes, and cooking gets done too.

I'm at that stage of blogging where there is so much that I could write about but have no idea of where to begin. My heart truly is filled to overflowing. And so is my schedule. Maybe I'll just share a few pictures and go from there. :)

 Hudson Elijah- Don't I have the most handsome nephew??

 Spring time in Ireland is pretty much the best thing ever. This little stream is in the woods by my village. They have a great little set of trails back there! 

Ross Castle at Killarney. We got to do some exploring on Easter Sunday. 

If you come to Ireland---> Killarney is a must! 

Last Sunday was the physical fitness test for the Pathfinders. 

Jared demonstrates how to fly, uh-- I mean how to do the long jump. ;)

Have you ever played crab soccer? Yeah, me neither.

Here's how: Assume the crab position. Play soccer. Laugh hard.

Ode to Facetime

Oh, how I love thee.

 

That is all.

Bloom

"Bloom where you are planted."

It's almost too cliche for me to even want to say. It is something that would be on a bulletin board in a classroom, or maybe a pep talk for teenage girls.

And yet, there is so much in that statement that I actually like. It speaks to me.

Last week I took this picture while on a walk. From this photo, you'd think there would be a field of flowers with some sort of grand old manor in the background. In reality, these small flowers are in a giant flowerpot tub that serves as a roadblock in the back road of a nursing home facility. These flowers don't get a lot of glory or credit.

If I could personify these bachelor buttons, they would probably prefer to welcome admiring guests into a manicured English garden, or perhaps to bear the honor of being in a bouquet of a beautiful bride; not blocking roads in a back alley of a nursing home (all due respect to nursing homes, by the way). 

This evening as I was quickly scrolling through some of my pictures from that day, I stopped and looked at this picture for a few seconds longer... those blooms: reaching for the sun, full of life, full of vibrancy, full of beauty. 

I'll end with all the metaphors already! I was just thinking how my attitude and response to situations and circumstances will help determine my life projectory. I notice a few things about these flowers: 

1. They are looking up.
2. They get the sunshine and the rain: both make them stronger.
3. Their existence brings joy to other people. 

Whether I am a surprising sunflower seed that started growing and blooming beautifully in the decomposing debris and grain in the back of Neighbor Calvin's old truck bed in Oklahoma (true story!), a lonely heather bush in the highlands of Scotland, or a prim and proper orchid on display in a botanical garden: I have the opportunity to bloom. 

If no one sees me blooming and applauds me beauty and sweet fragrace, will this affect my actions? 

If no one chooses me for the Best Flower Award, will this discourage me from being the best I can be? 

Point being? I want to be like a blooming flower: A blessing to others, without the applause. A beautiful bloom, but without the pride. Strong enough and mature enough to grow during the rainy seasons of life. And most importantly? To keep looking up. 

Wicklow Mountains

This weekend I went to a women's retreat in Co. Wicklow, Ireland. The weekend was a great get-a-away, but was filled to the brim with meetings. I squeezed in a few hikes- how could you not? Ireland's beauty never ceases to amaze me!