one thing i have learned to love about ireland is that, there are no all-in-one stores, no one-size-fits-all places...no walmart. publix. target. lowe's. nothing of the sorts.
i need to make hula-hoops. i will be leaving the country in a few days, and i'm here at least on a hoop mission. right?
well, because you make hoops out of irrigation plumbing, where else would you go except a plumbing store. instead of having these all inclusion stores...there are several stores for each specific area of need. if you need hoops. you see a plumber.
so i walk in to the local plumbing shop, and head straight towards the check out desk. i am greeted by a lovely gentleman who gives me that "you are the wrong the place" look. little does he know what i need or that i actually know what i'm talking about.
i say, "sir, i'm about to ask you a crazy question. do you have any irrigation plumbing?"
he says, "are you making hula-hoops?"
um. yes. sir. i. am.
weird.
okay.
so this is what he says next.
all you need to get is a square piece of wood and cut a circle out of it, and then a circle around the border....yes, friends. he said wood. can you imagine hooping with a circle of wood?
apparently, he said that you would wrap rubber around the circle or melt rubber or something completely strange.
so, i asked him again about the irrigation plumbing. he went upstairs. brought down exactly what i use in america, just a tad bit smaller. he said this would be too heavy. i'm thinking light plastic is heavier than wood??? okay. he then goes back upstairs and brings down some gold plated plumbing for something or another and proceeds to tell me this wouldn't work either. thanks for showing me, i guess.
at this point i realize, this man does not want me to make hoops. it was almost like he was refusing to sell me plumbing.
who knew hoops could be so controversial?
Friday, July 10, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
kilmainham gaol. irish museum of modern art. avoca.
as my final days are fast approaching i was quick to make a list of things i truly wanted to see before i left ireland.
kilmainham gaol was on the list.
it's a jail. well not anymore. but it held the several irish men who would lead a revolution against the british, who at that time, were trying to take over their land. okay, history buffs, feel free to give more details in the comments sections...
the stone walls were a bit frightening. yet completely breathtaking.
the tour guide even told a story of one of the rebels who was waiting to be executed. his last request was to marry his lady. they were married the night before with only 10 minutes alone together. and when i say alone...there were two guards in his cell at all times. i'm not exactly what went down in that 10 minutes, but all i will say is that he must have been ridiculously in love with that woman...and she must have been crazy!
here are photos from the gaol.
next, was the IMMA (irish museum of modern art)
i feel it's true what they say about modern art, or it's true what I say about modern art...you either love it or hate it. and well there was much to love and much to well hate. i know i'm an art teacher, but i have an opinion too. right?
no pictures. it's a museum.
on to avoca. this place is a force to reckoned with.
it's a coffee house/best scones in ireland/boutique of amazingness...
and not to mention apparently the best looking guy in dublin. sadly, he was off the day i went. figures.
i had a double latte with a berry scone and whipped cream with jam. yum.
then headed to the boutique, and well desired much but bought little.
lovely day ireland...thank you! this adventure ended with a walk through trinity college.
kilmainham gaol was on the list.
it's a jail. well not anymore. but it held the several irish men who would lead a revolution against the british, who at that time, were trying to take over their land. okay, history buffs, feel free to give more details in the comments sections...
the stone walls were a bit frightening. yet completely breathtaking.
the tour guide even told a story of one of the rebels who was waiting to be executed. his last request was to marry his lady. they were married the night before with only 10 minutes alone together. and when i say alone...there were two guards in his cell at all times. i'm not exactly what went down in that 10 minutes, but all i will say is that he must have been ridiculously in love with that woman...and she must have been crazy!
here are photos from the gaol.
next, was the IMMA (irish museum of modern art)
i feel it's true what they say about modern art, or it's true what I say about modern art...you either love it or hate it. and well there was much to love and much to well hate. i know i'm an art teacher, but i have an opinion too. right?
no pictures. it's a museum.
on to avoca. this place is a force to reckoned with.
it's a coffee house/best scones in ireland/boutique of amazingness...
and not to mention apparently the best looking guy in dublin. sadly, he was off the day i went. figures.
i had a double latte with a berry scone and whipped cream with jam. yum.
then headed to the boutique, and well desired much but bought little.
lovely day ireland...thank you! this adventure ended with a walk through trinity college.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
from a friend to a friend.
sometimes you need a reminder. a reminder of God's goodness and promises. or just a reminder you are loved. and not forsaken.
these were my reminders...
no eye has seen, no ear has heard. no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.
1 corinthians 2:9
forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. see, I am doing a new thing! now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.
isaiah 43:18-19
these were my reminders...
no eye has seen, no ear has heard. no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.
1 corinthians 2:9
forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. see, I am doing a new thing! now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.
isaiah 43:18-19
galway. ireland.
went to galway on monday. wow.
galway is on the west coast of ireland. i went to visit the cliffs of moher and the burren.
i finally felt like i was seeing the ireland of my dreams. and in fact i did have a dream about ireland...
i was dreaming about school. and in this dream, we were picking places to go on a class trip with the high school. there were several options, which is never the case. ironically, one of the options was ireland. weird. not sure what that means. if you do, let me know.
so back to galway. the girls...as in christy, paige, alex, and stephanie (new friend) drove to galway.
yes, i said drove. we hired a car (rented).
details of the car...manual, everything was on the right side, and i was the only licensed and willing driver.
so, i learned to drive on the left side of the road, right side of the car, and shift gears with my left hand. i won't lie. i don't think i have ever been this nervous.
the girls were great. everytime i had to change roads or drive through a small town they would shout..."LEFT SIDE! drive on the left side!"
the shouting was so i would remember...i did run into some curbs and maybe hit some bushes but other than that all was well.
and there are roads in ireland that are the size of a small driveway with a charter bus passing you in the right lane with you on the left. and there were times i screamed at cars and cussed a lot. but overall it was grand!
i will leave you with a short video...
galway is on the west coast of ireland. i went to visit the cliffs of moher and the burren.
i finally felt like i was seeing the ireland of my dreams. and in fact i did have a dream about ireland...
i was dreaming about school. and in this dream, we were picking places to go on a class trip with the high school. there were several options, which is never the case. ironically, one of the options was ireland. weird. not sure what that means. if you do, let me know.
so back to galway. the girls...as in christy, paige, alex, and stephanie (new friend) drove to galway.
yes, i said drove. we hired a car (rented).
details of the car...manual, everything was on the right side, and i was the only licensed and willing driver.
so, i learned to drive on the left side of the road, right side of the car, and shift gears with my left hand. i won't lie. i don't think i have ever been this nervous.
the girls were great. everytime i had to change roads or drive through a small town they would shout..."LEFT SIDE! drive on the left side!"
the shouting was so i would remember...i did run into some curbs and maybe hit some bushes but other than that all was well.
and there are roads in ireland that are the size of a small driveway with a charter bus passing you in the right lane with you on the left. and there were times i screamed at cars and cussed a lot. but overall it was grand!
i will leave you with a short video...
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
brandon heath. check it.
this may be the song that has significantly impacted my life.
No better word than from your lips
No perfect life than what you lived
No greater gift, no not one
No brighter star has ever shined
No better hope for all mankind
No higher mind, no not one
No one has ever known
This kind of love you’ve shown
There has never been a greater love
Than your son
No. Not one
And there’ll never be a name above
No, Not one
With his life you have forgiven us
Hope has come
Hope has come
And there will never be a greater love
No, Not one
No image true or sweeter frame
No simple word can match your name
No greater fame
No not one
No one has ever seen
The depth of your majesty
No greater call
You gave us all a reason to live
No greater love
You gave us all a reason to give
No greater life
You gave us all a reason to shine
No greater love
Forever mine
brandon heath. no not one.
No better word than from your lips
No perfect life than what you lived
No greater gift, no not one
No brighter star has ever shined
No better hope for all mankind
No higher mind, no not one
No one has ever known
This kind of love you’ve shown
There has never been a greater love
Than your son
No. Not one
And there’ll never be a name above
No, Not one
With his life you have forgiven us
Hope has come
Hope has come
And there will never be a greater love
No, Not one
No image true or sweeter frame
No simple word can match your name
No greater fame
No not one
No one has ever seen
The depth of your majesty
No greater call
You gave us all a reason to live
No greater love
You gave us all a reason to give
No greater life
You gave us all a reason to shine
No greater love
Forever mine
brandon heath. no not one.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
what are you doing God?
pretty sure this might have been a little more than i have bargained for.
sometimes you think you know what you are getting yourself into. well this time i didn't.
i was pretty sure things would happen to me in ireland that i never expected. it's been quite interesting really. yes, i have been able to see some amazing sites of this beautiful country, meet some beautiful people, and i've fallen in love with broken children in a broken city. but, i don't think i was at all prepared for God's intense pressure on my heart.
how do i explain.
things have been happening all at once. overwhelming feelings. fear. sadness. happiness. doubt. despair. delight. it's almost like i'm drinking bipolar tea. each day could be different. now, i not going around throwing things, or screaming at people. i'm just extra intentional about listening to what my heart is saying each moment.
i guess it might help to be a little more specific.
i read Haggai 2:6-9. ironically this is a tiny, little book in the bible that is quite hidden. it might be one of those lost books that never gets the attention it deserves. this is where God lead me. haggai describes how the people in jerusalem where supposed to be building God's house first, and then finishing their own. guess i have a habit of this as well. i'm pretty sure i'm focused on me, and then maybe how God might fit into that.
a book i'm reading described the verse this way:
pay attention because important things are happening- God is shaking things up.
now, i know this to be true.
i don't know what will happen when i leave ireland. and in fact i don't think i want to leave. my heart has grown quite large and heavy for the little ones at the two community centres i've been able to work at. there is a disco party on friday, and some of the children were calling it my going away party since i will be leaving on monday. so sad i am. the irony is that i have not even been here that long.
as you can see in one week many things have happened.
i can't go into all of my heart strings that have been pulled. but just know that as i will turning 29 this year. God is making some things quite clear. and then again they are still pretty fuzzy. He has a way of doing that. He may open you up to new possibility or option, but then with open doors, change will happen.
my life in nashville is all about transition. i'm just used to it. i don't really know how else to live.
i long for constant. i long for a place to plant my feet and my garden. i long for a opportunity to share this constant.
it might be awhile before that happens. as i've realized God gave me a really big heart. one that grows quite fast. one that loves seriously. intentionally. and i'm pretty sure if your heart is big like mine you have to share it.
i guess my life will be changing again. not sure the details. but just sure of the change.
pray.
sometimes you think you know what you are getting yourself into. well this time i didn't.
i was pretty sure things would happen to me in ireland that i never expected. it's been quite interesting really. yes, i have been able to see some amazing sites of this beautiful country, meet some beautiful people, and i've fallen in love with broken children in a broken city. but, i don't think i was at all prepared for God's intense pressure on my heart.
how do i explain.
things have been happening all at once. overwhelming feelings. fear. sadness. happiness. doubt. despair. delight. it's almost like i'm drinking bipolar tea. each day could be different. now, i not going around throwing things, or screaming at people. i'm just extra intentional about listening to what my heart is saying each moment.
i guess it might help to be a little more specific.
i read Haggai 2:6-9. ironically this is a tiny, little book in the bible that is quite hidden. it might be one of those lost books that never gets the attention it deserves. this is where God lead me. haggai describes how the people in jerusalem where supposed to be building God's house first, and then finishing their own. guess i have a habit of this as well. i'm pretty sure i'm focused on me, and then maybe how God might fit into that.
a book i'm reading described the verse this way:
pay attention because important things are happening- God is shaking things up.
now, i know this to be true.
i don't know what will happen when i leave ireland. and in fact i don't think i want to leave. my heart has grown quite large and heavy for the little ones at the two community centres i've been able to work at. there is a disco party on friday, and some of the children were calling it my going away party since i will be leaving on monday. so sad i am. the irony is that i have not even been here that long.
as you can see in one week many things have happened.
i can't go into all of my heart strings that have been pulled. but just know that as i will turning 29 this year. God is making some things quite clear. and then again they are still pretty fuzzy. He has a way of doing that. He may open you up to new possibility or option, but then with open doors, change will happen.
my life in nashville is all about transition. i'm just used to it. i don't really know how else to live.
i long for constant. i long for a place to plant my feet and my garden. i long for a opportunity to share this constant.
it might be awhile before that happens. as i've realized God gave me a really big heart. one that grows quite fast. one that loves seriously. intentionally. and i'm pretty sure if your heart is big like mine you have to share it.
i guess my life will be changing again. not sure the details. but just sure of the change.
pray.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
a week in the life of an irish...me.
so it's been a week since i left america and traveled to ireland.
WOW!! a lot has happened...
and i wanted to kinda journal my daily events. now, this may be a bit boring to you, but part of this is so i won't forget.
friday, june 26.
finally arrive in dublin at 10:03 am. only 2+ hours late. yuck.
i was greeted by my sweet flatmates: christy, paige, and alex. lovely, lovely women.
lunch was at 7wonders...it was a bagel joint with delicious lattes too!
i had my first meeting with alan (pastor of abbey- the church i am working with) and marc (works at abbey)
apparently the usual friday night routine is dinner at alan and ruth's (pastor and wife)
it was a great, exhausting first day, and at this point i felt God continuing to give me peace about being here. in dublin.
saturday, june 27.
LOTS of coffee. i wanted to try and trick myself into not having jetlag. sometimes it would work, sometimes not.
we (roommates and i) journeyed to greystones, just a DART away. we ate at the happy pear and had delicious pita with feta and butternut ginger soup. yum!
then a visit to the irish sea. brrr.
sunday, june 28.
church at abbey, with tea and coffee afterward. wish america would pick up on this great tradition.
lunch at an asian buffet with new friends.
later in the afternoon was my first experience at penny's. you might be thinking j.c. penny's but you my friend are completely wrong...this is one of the greatest things since sliced bread and maybe even bread itself. okay. that's a little too far. anyways, it's like a forever 21 but bigger, better, and cheaper. yeah, that good.
on my way to penny's was my first run-in with a northern irish man, raurie (pronounced rory). he was delightful, heading to the ac/dc concert. think he wanted me to go with him. i didn't.
monday, june 29.
this was my first experience with the hardwicke community centre. LOVE these children!
and this night i tasted my first guinness in ireland and grand central (pub). two words. oh yeah.
before the guinness and actually the need for the guinness, we all went ice-skating. i know. ice-skating in ireland. big mistake. it was cured by a guinness.
tuesday, june 30.
i wrote a little blog about this earlier, but we went to the st. georges community centre to work with the kids. my oh my! i was stabbed with a straight pin, cussed at, and pretty sure i received some death threats. oh well i didn't die. we would be back on thursday.
this night i went to george of jungle's home and meet some of his friends. you would think great! irish boys...key word here is "boys." i have yet to meet any boys that are my age or remotely resemble being old enough to flirt with. grand.
after hanging with george and young ones...we headed to the palace bar. which by far has been one of my favorite places so far. it's a tiny little pub with traditional irish music. this was my favorite part. the gentleman who was singing was brillant, and on our way out...he was like, "who told you could leave?" love him. he was older. but it would be pushing it with a 60 year old.
wednesday, july 1.
my sweet flatmate, alex's bday. she turned 21 today.
donking can to visit and work with the kids at hardwicke. he taught us all hip-hop. he was unbelievable!!
alex found this great flyer about free salsa lessons...we were like, why not? free salsa lessons in ireland. duh. so we went. i learned some serious moves, and l.o.v.e.d. our salsa instructor. he was from cuba. muy deliciouso.
after some dancing we headed to a friend's cook-out and then off to grab a drink for alex's bday. the night became a monumental experience in that alex received her first kiss by a irishman. okay well an old irishman. not exactly or really at all what she wanted. he tricked her. sneaky little leprechaun...
thursday, july 2.
back to the centre where i feared for my life. st. georges. praying on the way for God to do something big today with these kids. we realized art was out, and high energy activities was the only way to go.
well God showed up. the kids were excited to be there and not near as terrible as before. i think they might have enjoyed themselves. we will see next week for sure.
on thursdays, we help out at "the lighthouse." which is a soup kitchen for homeless. i was able to serve dinner to several dulin folks who were in need of some food and lots of smiles. my heart definitely grew from this experience. why am i not doing this in nashville? i was pretty convicted. but God used my smile and love to give a little hope for the night.
okay one week down...i'll fill in the rest later.
WOW!! a lot has happened...
and i wanted to kinda journal my daily events. now, this may be a bit boring to you, but part of this is so i won't forget.
friday, june 26.
finally arrive in dublin at 10:03 am. only 2+ hours late. yuck.
i was greeted by my sweet flatmates: christy, paige, and alex. lovely, lovely women.
lunch was at 7wonders...it was a bagel joint with delicious lattes too!
i had my first meeting with alan (pastor of abbey- the church i am working with) and marc (works at abbey)
apparently the usual friday night routine is dinner at alan and ruth's (pastor and wife)
it was a great, exhausting first day, and at this point i felt God continuing to give me peace about being here. in dublin.
saturday, june 27.
LOTS of coffee. i wanted to try and trick myself into not having jetlag. sometimes it would work, sometimes not.
we (roommates and i) journeyed to greystones, just a DART away. we ate at the happy pear and had delicious pita with feta and butternut ginger soup. yum!
then a visit to the irish sea. brrr.
sunday, june 28.
church at abbey, with tea and coffee afterward. wish america would pick up on this great tradition.
lunch at an asian buffet with new friends.
later in the afternoon was my first experience at penny's. you might be thinking j.c. penny's but you my friend are completely wrong...this is one of the greatest things since sliced bread and maybe even bread itself. okay. that's a little too far. anyways, it's like a forever 21 but bigger, better, and cheaper. yeah, that good.
on my way to penny's was my first run-in with a northern irish man, raurie (pronounced rory). he was delightful, heading to the ac/dc concert. think he wanted me to go with him. i didn't.
monday, june 29.
this was my first experience with the hardwicke community centre. LOVE these children!
and this night i tasted my first guinness in ireland and grand central (pub). two words. oh yeah.
before the guinness and actually the need for the guinness, we all went ice-skating. i know. ice-skating in ireland. big mistake. it was cured by a guinness.
tuesday, june 30.
i wrote a little blog about this earlier, but we went to the st. georges community centre to work with the kids. my oh my! i was stabbed with a straight pin, cussed at, and pretty sure i received some death threats. oh well i didn't die. we would be back on thursday.
this night i went to george of jungle's home and meet some of his friends. you would think great! irish boys...key word here is "boys." i have yet to meet any boys that are my age or remotely resemble being old enough to flirt with. grand.
after hanging with george and young ones...we headed to the palace bar. which by far has been one of my favorite places so far. it's a tiny little pub with traditional irish music. this was my favorite part. the gentleman who was singing was brillant, and on our way out...he was like, "who told you could leave?" love him. he was older. but it would be pushing it with a 60 year old.
wednesday, july 1.
my sweet flatmate, alex's bday. she turned 21 today.
donking can to visit and work with the kids at hardwicke. he taught us all hip-hop. he was unbelievable!!
alex found this great flyer about free salsa lessons...we were like, why not? free salsa lessons in ireland. duh. so we went. i learned some serious moves, and l.o.v.e.d. our salsa instructor. he was from cuba. muy deliciouso.
after some dancing we headed to a friend's cook-out and then off to grab a drink for alex's bday. the night became a monumental experience in that alex received her first kiss by a irishman. okay well an old irishman. not exactly or really at all what she wanted. he tricked her. sneaky little leprechaun...
thursday, july 2.
back to the centre where i feared for my life. st. georges. praying on the way for God to do something big today with these kids. we realized art was out, and high energy activities was the only way to go.
well God showed up. the kids were excited to be there and not near as terrible as before. i think they might have enjoyed themselves. we will see next week for sure.
on thursdays, we help out at "the lighthouse." which is a soup kitchen for homeless. i was able to serve dinner to several dulin folks who were in need of some food and lots of smiles. my heart definitely grew from this experience. why am i not doing this in nashville? i was pretty convicted. but God used my smile and love to give a little hope for the night.
okay one week down...i'll fill in the rest later.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
saint georges youth centre...day 1. oh my.
these are photos from our first experience with the kids at st. georges...
the photos might be a bit deceiving, and it may look like we are actually having fun playing futbol, which we kinda are...well i guess i should say this first. from the moment we began working with these kids it was t-r-o-u-b-l-e. severe ADHD is only one way to describe them, but throw in an irish accent, a sailor's vocabulary, and desire to punch others as a regular form of communicating.
needless to say...i was thinking. this might be the longest 2 hours of my life. God, why are we here? the kids don't care, they don't respect me, i've been cussed at, sharp objects have been thrown at my face, and i had to play futbol in flipflops...
we left leaving the centre feeling defeated, frustrated, and just plain exhausted emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
don't fret...things have a way of working themselves out. more to come.
the photos might be a bit deceiving, and it may look like we are actually having fun playing futbol, which we kinda are...well i guess i should say this first. from the moment we began working with these kids it was t-r-o-u-b-l-e. severe ADHD is only one way to describe them, but throw in an irish accent, a sailor's vocabulary, and desire to punch others as a regular form of communicating.
needless to say...i was thinking. this might be the longest 2 hours of my life. God, why are we here? the kids don't care, they don't respect me, i've been cussed at, sharp objects have been thrown at my face, and i had to play futbol in flipflops...
we left leaving the centre feeling defeated, frustrated, and just plain exhausted emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
don't fret...things have a way of working themselves out. more to come.
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