Another Castle Pic...

This little castle (named Carrickkildavnet) once served as a hideout for the infamous sea-pirate - Grace O'Malley.

Irish History...

The Irish landscape is dotted with castles. The most common style is the Norman Tower castle (like the one in the picture). It seems like every major city and town (and even randomly in the country-side)has one or has the remnants of one. The Norman invaders built these small castles as defensive headquarters as they tried to subdue the unruly Irish. Until the building of these castles the Irish were very spread out and still nomadic in many places. In many ways these tower-castles helped to create centers of trade and thus centralized Irish communities. Today, these castles (like the one in the picture) are mostly in ruins. There are a lot that have been preserved or restored and now are used as museums.

The Removal Of The "L".....

That is right.... The giant red and white 'L' is off our car now.... We had to have two of them on our car because we were a 'learner' and didn't have our full driving license. We had to wait six months for our turn to take the Irish driving test but we have now taken (and passed) the driving test!!! We were absolutely amazed at how hard the test was... According to the internet there is a 60% pass rate at our local testing center... and the test is designed in a way that you pretty much have to take several driving lessons just to know what the testers are looking for. It wasn't hard to find a teacher... all of the driving schools are based in the parking lot of the driving exam office.... It is all over now... Our insurance rates drop and we are official. No more "L's".

For Jack...

A while back we made a little video for our family. It was not anything elaborate... but we did give a tour of our apartment. My nephew Jack only had one complaint. He said that I didn't show where my computer was set up... so we wanted to post this pic to show you my make shift desk. It is a little inconvenient around dinner time... but what a view.

Still Learning....

And I thought that it was great not having to worry about snakes in these fields.....!

A Year And Counting....

Yep... It is hard to believe... One year ago today we and all of our family went to the airport... I remember the long wait to go back past the security check... that inevitable moment of saying good-bye was almost too much to bare. I don't remember much about the actual moment of saying good-bye or going through the security check but I do remember very clearly how hard it was to have the security guards check my laptop case because I could hardly see through all my tears............ We passed the seven hour layover in Chicago by reading the notes and cards that our family had sent with us... I remember how we sat there at a table recovering from one note and trying to prepare ourselves for the next one over and over again... I think that it took us the whole seven hours to make our way through them all... We eventually made it on the plane and then over to Ireland. Our co-workers picked us up from the airport and helped us get to our new apartment. They took us out to eat for a good hot meal and took us to our new apartment so we could crash. They were a great help those first few days and weeks as we settled into a new country......


Reflection

Our first year mark is a good time for reflection and counting of blessings. The past year has really gone by quickly but as I sit here and reflect on how the past year has gone I can't help but be grateful for how God has taken care of us. We didn't know anyone in our village but God has provided instant friends in our village and has placed people in our lives that we can count on and turn to if we have had an emergency. We didn't know where we would live or how much it would cost to live here, but God has blessed us with an amazing place to live and has met every need financially that we have had. It was incredibly hard to leave our family and friends in the states... but we knew that moving here was a part of God's plan and God has continually reconfirmed this to us while we have been here... His grace and patience with us has really been evident over the past year and I am really excited about all the future things that He has for us here!

Irish Proverbs

Ní Scéal ruin é ó tá a fhios ag triúr é!
It is not a secret if three know it!

…Éist le fuaim na habhann agus gheobhaidh tú breac.
Listen to the sound of the river and you will get a trout.

A Picture For Tuesday

In the woods by our home...

Ok.... A Funny On Wallace

Our landlord bought and installed a new washing machine today (our old one died). The machine is really nice and quiet with a door that opens on the side... but is a little different from our old one. I read through the little instruction booklet... popped some towels in (Yes, I do all the laundry) and started the load. Deedra and I went on working around the house and then got ready for an important meeting with the police officer in charge of alien registration. I had all the documents that we needed in hand as I went to check on the finished load of towels. I looked through the little side window (everything looked good) and opened the side door. It took me a split second to realize the washer was not finished. How did I realize this? It was full of water that spilled out onto my feet and flooded our kitchen! After Deedra stopped laughing, she came to my rescue with some clean (dry) towels and we started cleaning the floors.... ugh.... I guess sometimes you just have to learn things the hard way. But, hey, we've been laughing about it all day.

A Funny On Deedra

Ok... imagine this... here we are standing at the foot of Big Ben in London. Deedra kneels down and snaps this picture of me. We stood there for a while looking at this massive clock & at the British Parliament... and then started talking:
Wallace: "Well, where would you like to go next?"
Deedra: "I don't know... What time is it?"
Of all the places - standing in the shadow of this massive clock - She asked the most obvious question possible. We got a great kick out of it.

On Our Way Back Home...

"Dee In Front Of The British Parliament"

After our time in Brittany we had a small lay over in London. Some very good friends, The Gayles, who live in the city offered for us to stay with them for a few days. We spent a few days in the museums and seeing the sights in London, but best of all, it was good to spend time playing games and catching up with our friends.

"Playing With Our Friends"



"In Trafalgar's Square"

The German Cemetery....

There is not much that I can say about the Germany cemetery near Omaha Beach. The whole place had a very different feel to it. It was also very quiet but quiet in a dark way. The small dark crosses were huddled together in groups of five, and the grave markers listed several soldiers names. There were no flags but there were flowers on some graves... We only stayed a few minutes.......

The American Cemetery

We were also able to hop over to Normandy for a quick visit to the D-Day beach "Omaha". The morning that we went was very warm and sunny (A nice change to the rainy cool days that we were having). We only had a couple of hours to drive along the shore, see the roadside museums (filled with landing craft, giant guns, and other remnants of that fateful day), and visit the two cemeteries. The American cemetery was very quiet and still. The parking lots didn't have many cars and the only sounds were that of birds, the ocean, and men cutting grass in the distance. The sun hit the rows and rows of brilliant white crosses in such a way that the whole field seemed to reflect the sun's light and energy. To visit this place and walk among those white crosses of the brave men (that were my age) that died in and around that place was overwhelming. I suddenly felt like I didn't want to be around anyone and struck off walking through the rows of crosses by myself. The sensations that I felt were truly overwhelming. I was filled with a great sense of sadness, pride, and gratitude for what was so sacrificially given. There is something about that place that helped me to see and appreciate all the blessings that God has given me... We were so thankful for having the opportunity to visit this place...