View from my window

 Downtown Greystones (our main land)

 Dublin

 My roommate Alli and her fiance Jordan!  they are super fun to be around

 Me in Dublin with my soup

 View outside my window this morning!  That is the Irish Sea

 Downtown Dublin

 Temple Bar area in Dublin

My dinner... pretty good!

Breaking away.
Today we gather as a group in the morning then had the afternoon free to take the DART (train) into Dublin or hang out... but I chose to get out!  Being a part of a group is fun but I also don't also want to look like an American tourist all the time.  Dublin was different than I imagined but I think once I know where to go it will be better.

Besides that I am doing well :) Last night I woke up at 3am, along with my roommates, because we could not sleep... jet lag is NOT a myth!

I am working on meeting the Irish!  One of my main goals.  Tonight we met James.  The bartender of the places we occupied tonight in Dublin!  It's so great. I start class tomorrow, Celtic Christianity at 9am!

Goodnight.  Ireland is a great craic (pronounced crack, meaning fun)

Photos

Last minute pics before my departure!

Ireland

Due to the extreme lack of sleep I am feeling very spacy.  The directors are keeping us awake for the whole day here because it helps jet lag.  So that means I haven't slept for over 25 hours or so... I have no idea.  But the group is great!  Roommates, friends, everyone, well you know ;)  talk soon!  I am super excited for what is to come, when I am well rested!

Morning-

This morn I revisited a passage I read on my birthday from my One Year Bible.  
Psalm 18:16-36.  I found much comfort and strength in the details.


"You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn." Psalm 18: 36 NIV


"You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip." ESV


How creative is that to remind us in a simple, small analogy how much he cares for us!  I love it!  I think this is speaking to me in a very real way because I will physically be traveling a lot in the next few days and I get such a realistic picture of God not wanting or needing us to go down a path that is easy to slip or twist your ankle :) but that it is wide enough and he is carrying us through!

I also have been:
-eating lots of Mexican food because I have a feeling that won't be easily available
-loving my dogs and feline

My checked luggage weighs exactly 50 pounds according to the sketchy scale; me weighing myself then weighing myself while holding the bag... quite the picture.  My mom last night goes "Make sure to hold it really close to your body.  Like it's part of you."  hahaha let's hope it goes through because I don't know what I would take out.

Well I love you all and today I begin my journey.

If you think of it I would love prayers for smooth travel, good health, and lovely airplane conversations ;)

Saying Goodbye and Packing up!

I am soaking in my last few days in sunny California.  Let's see the weather here today is 75 degrees, I need to get used to 35!!! I have been packing, weighing the luggage, taking out much needed clothes, repacking, weighing, kind of a vicious cycle but is going to be so worth it!  Today I was thinking, I can be extremely sad about saying bye or be so thankful knowing I am blessed with wonderful friends and family! (I am choosing the later)  So I am very new at this blog stuff but I will give it a try and attempt to make better posts :)