Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Sorry!!!
The last post with pictures posted on its own will edit it and re post it again with more captions and more pictures!
Pictures and videos from previous post!
This is a video of the jam sessions that happen while we are on retreat!
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| Adrienne and I at Carrickfergus Castle |
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| Christ Cathedral in Down Patrick |
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| St. Patrick's Grave |
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| St. Patrick's Day Parade! |
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| Enjoying a Pint of |
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| Parents at the Guinness Factory |
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| They did not get their pot of gold but found a Leprachun |
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| New Titanic Museum |
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| Dunluce Castle |
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| Carrick-a-rede rope bridge |
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| Botanical Gardens |
Thursday, May 10, 2012
It's Been a WHILE!
So I realize I have not posted in a while.... and by a while I mean like 4 months. Oops! So might be a bit rusty at this, So here goes nothing.
There has been so much that happened in my absent four months. I have gone on a retreat to Donegal/ Derry, went to St. Patrick's day Parade, my friends Adrienne and Jackie came to visit, my parents came to visit over my birthday and Easter, I went on a trip to Galway, went with my girls group to see Legally Blonde the musical, and have just been keeping busy with work. Oh and I got accepted into graduate school. So so many blessings! I will save all the Pictures to the next blog post which will be all pictured and descriptions! Now to do the elaborating part...
Back in February the Yavs headed down south for a trip to Donegal to take a break and retreat. We stayed in a beautiful house on Lough Eske. The options for things to do were, walk the 11 mile walk around the lake, go hike one of the highest sea cliffs in Ireland, or hang out around the house. Well to say the least, we Yavs are not lazy. When I heard these options I was not to sure about being able to walk 11 miles... and it was not all flat we were told.So that even more so made me want to stay in the nice warm house and just look at the pretty lake out the window.... But... then there was the option of walking part of the lake and turning back so I decided I would do that. We all got a good breakfast and geared up. We headed out and started the walk, well by the time I got to the little walk of something like 4 miles I decided I could keep going. When push came to shove all 8 Yavs and Doug did the whole loop around the lake!!! It felt so good and was such an accomplishment. The state of my feet was awful after. I had a blister the size of the bottom of my foot...which I felt after 6 miles so the rest of the walk was a bit painful but I put mind over matter and trekked on!
Well we got back to the house and got to relax and then it hit me that the next day we were going to climb a huge sea cliff. Now Doug is great but when Doug says that its sort of flat and just a bit of a hill, he really means its a huge mountain and its a steep hike. So me thinking at that moment my feet were going to fall off I was not sure I was going to make it up a sea cliff... well little did I know we made the trip out to Slieve League to hike and it was a nasty, windy rainy, day that in the end turned out to be lovely and we ate out packed lunches and started up the mountain for this huge hike. Let's just say this was not something I would have done at home but was BEAUTIFUL and a lot of fun in the end. I cannot say my feet were happy with me.. But they made it up and back. Oh and my clothes were caked in mud from falling so many times on the way down...It was very slippery and muddy! So all in all we walked and hiked our entire trip!
One thing I truly value about our retreats is being able to have fellowship with our whole group together, we get to share meals together, worship/ devotions, communion, and relaxation time to catch up and have some good craic. Another thing I have loved is the music that goes on while away on retreat everyone sorta comes together to play and sing and have awesome jam sessions! I will post a video in my next blog! So overall, it was an amazing time and that was just the part in Donegal.
On the way home from Donegal we stopped in Derry or London Derry. This is a place that has so much history behind it. We got a tour from a guy who was a member of the IRA growing up but now has left that and does cross community work. He showed us around the town and where Bloody Sunday took place. We got to see the walls of Derry and went to the museum about Bloody Sunday and got a tour through there as well. It was so shocking and eye opening. I failed to mention that while we were in Donegal we watched the movie Bloody Sunday which set us up for our trip to Derry. This whole Retreat was so eye opening and moving. To be in a place with people who suffered from the troubles first hand and lost family was so hard to grasp and rewarding to see them still so passionate. So then we headed to meet with the Bishop of Derry who talked to us about Social entrepreneurship which shocked us all. He had a list of names up on the board and asked us if we knew any of them.... lets do a test to see if you know any of them....
Jessica Jackley
Blake Mycoskie
Linda Fuller
Those are just a few of the names that were thrown out to us. These are all people who started off projects or ideas from their homes that are now Huge non-profits. This sparked and question what can we do? What small thing can we think of that can change the world? So this was an amazing way to end our retreat and move back into our work places thinking about ways we can build and grow and how we personally were going to help change or inspire our youth to show them that it only takes and idea to become a reality.
Next on the list was St. Patrick's Day Parade. A few of the YAV'S and I decided to take a trip to Down Patrick for the parade and festivities. This was such an amazing experience and there was so much going on. We started will mass in Gaelic which was very interesting and ended in the scouts giving everyone shamrocks to wear, which I thought was a really cool tradition. After that we headed up towards Christ Cathedral for an interdenominational service. Before hand we stopped and looked at St. Patrick's grave. The service was beautifully done and after there was a huge lunch in the tent on the lawn. Then we headed down to the stage area in the square and watched some Irish dancing and then a Lady Gaga impersonator then headed to the street to watch the parade. It was a lovely parade and even better since a woman I work with at the LINK was in it! We then caught a bus home!
Third on the list was a fun and exciting visit from two of my close friends. They were able to come over their spring break which worked out very nicely. I was able to get some time off to show them around and let them see different parts of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It was wonderful to see them and I had so much fun! Pictures will be on the next post!
Next I had a set of visitors that were here for my birthday and Easter...MY PARENTS!!! It was wonderful to have them around during the holidays and nice for them to be able to see the church and things I do in full swing. We started off in Dublin for my birthday and were there for a couple of days... did the hop on hop off tour bus and got to see all the sites. Then we were in Belfast for a few days touring around, visiting with family friends, and then we hired a car and headed up to the North Coast where we stayed with my assistant minister Jonny's parents. Their house over looks all of Portrush and the ocean! It was Stunning! We also on the way up stopped at the Giants Causeway and Dunluce castle! Then the next day headed back to Belfast which was getting close to Easter festivities. We ended up going to Four church services. Thursday, Friday and two on Sunday! One of the Sunday services was at the top of Scrabo Tower at 6:30 am and I made my parents attend! Let's just say it was cold and windy. Not too pleasant. Then the rest of their time here we spent sightseeing around Belfast and then they headed back to the States. It was an amazing trip and was wonderful to have them here to show them what I have been up to!
The day my parents left I was heading down to Galway for a mini vacation with two of the other YAV'S. We stayed in a hotel for two night and went around to see the different sights. We went to the Galway City Museum, Went for long walks on the promenade along the coast, we went to Galway Cathedral, we spent a good amount of time on Shop Street, where all the restaurants, pubs, and shops were, and we went to St. Nicholas's Cathedral as well. There was plenty to do just in Galway city. We had a wonderful and peaceful time where we could just see the sites and relax! It was such a pretty place to be and so refreshing to get out of Belfast. Will post pictures!
I think last on the list is recently the girls group at the LINK did two courses one on drugs and alcohol and one on peer mentoring which they all did wonderful on so they got tickets to go see Legally Blonde the Musical at the Grand Opera House. It was a class night ad all the girls showed up and had a blast. We are still talking about it and singing the songs.
Last but not least I got an acceptance letter to Rutgers School of Social Work for my masters degree. I am so Chuffed! (excited) It should be a wonderful next endeavour and I cant wait to start! Thanks for everyone's continued prayers and blessings! Means a lot! Will be home July 22nd So not to far away. Miss and Love you all!
Liz
p.s- pictures will be put up in a bit so look out for that post!
There has been so much that happened in my absent four months. I have gone on a retreat to Donegal/ Derry, went to St. Patrick's day Parade, my friends Adrienne and Jackie came to visit, my parents came to visit over my birthday and Easter, I went on a trip to Galway, went with my girls group to see Legally Blonde the musical, and have just been keeping busy with work. Oh and I got accepted into graduate school. So so many blessings! I will save all the Pictures to the next blog post which will be all pictured and descriptions! Now to do the elaborating part...
Back in February the Yavs headed down south for a trip to Donegal to take a break and retreat. We stayed in a beautiful house on Lough Eske. The options for things to do were, walk the 11 mile walk around the lake, go hike one of the highest sea cliffs in Ireland, or hang out around the house. Well to say the least, we Yavs are not lazy. When I heard these options I was not to sure about being able to walk 11 miles... and it was not all flat we were told.So that even more so made me want to stay in the nice warm house and just look at the pretty lake out the window.... But... then there was the option of walking part of the lake and turning back so I decided I would do that. We all got a good breakfast and geared up. We headed out and started the walk, well by the time I got to the little walk of something like 4 miles I decided I could keep going. When push came to shove all 8 Yavs and Doug did the whole loop around the lake!!! It felt so good and was such an accomplishment. The state of my feet was awful after. I had a blister the size of the bottom of my foot...which I felt after 6 miles so the rest of the walk was a bit painful but I put mind over matter and trekked on!
Well we got back to the house and got to relax and then it hit me that the next day we were going to climb a huge sea cliff. Now Doug is great but when Doug says that its sort of flat and just a bit of a hill, he really means its a huge mountain and its a steep hike. So me thinking at that moment my feet were going to fall off I was not sure I was going to make it up a sea cliff... well little did I know we made the trip out to Slieve League to hike and it was a nasty, windy rainy, day that in the end turned out to be lovely and we ate out packed lunches and started up the mountain for this huge hike. Let's just say this was not something I would have done at home but was BEAUTIFUL and a lot of fun in the end. I cannot say my feet were happy with me.. But they made it up and back. Oh and my clothes were caked in mud from falling so many times on the way down...It was very slippery and muddy! So all in all we walked and hiked our entire trip!
One thing I truly value about our retreats is being able to have fellowship with our whole group together, we get to share meals together, worship/ devotions, communion, and relaxation time to catch up and have some good craic. Another thing I have loved is the music that goes on while away on retreat everyone sorta comes together to play and sing and have awesome jam sessions! I will post a video in my next blog! So overall, it was an amazing time and that was just the part in Donegal.
On the way home from Donegal we stopped in Derry or London Derry. This is a place that has so much history behind it. We got a tour from a guy who was a member of the IRA growing up but now has left that and does cross community work. He showed us around the town and where Bloody Sunday took place. We got to see the walls of Derry and went to the museum about Bloody Sunday and got a tour through there as well. It was so shocking and eye opening. I failed to mention that while we were in Donegal we watched the movie Bloody Sunday which set us up for our trip to Derry. This whole Retreat was so eye opening and moving. To be in a place with people who suffered from the troubles first hand and lost family was so hard to grasp and rewarding to see them still so passionate. So then we headed to meet with the Bishop of Derry who talked to us about Social entrepreneurship which shocked us all. He had a list of names up on the board and asked us if we knew any of them.... lets do a test to see if you know any of them....
Jessica Jackley
Blake Mycoskie
Linda Fuller
Those are just a few of the names that were thrown out to us. These are all people who started off projects or ideas from their homes that are now Huge non-profits. This sparked and question what can we do? What small thing can we think of that can change the world? So this was an amazing way to end our retreat and move back into our work places thinking about ways we can build and grow and how we personally were going to help change or inspire our youth to show them that it only takes and idea to become a reality.
Next on the list was St. Patrick's Day Parade. A few of the YAV'S and I decided to take a trip to Down Patrick for the parade and festivities. This was such an amazing experience and there was so much going on. We started will mass in Gaelic which was very interesting and ended in the scouts giving everyone shamrocks to wear, which I thought was a really cool tradition. After that we headed up towards Christ Cathedral for an interdenominational service. Before hand we stopped and looked at St. Patrick's grave. The service was beautifully done and after there was a huge lunch in the tent on the lawn. Then we headed down to the stage area in the square and watched some Irish dancing and then a Lady Gaga impersonator then headed to the street to watch the parade. It was a lovely parade and even better since a woman I work with at the LINK was in it! We then caught a bus home!
Third on the list was a fun and exciting visit from two of my close friends. They were able to come over their spring break which worked out very nicely. I was able to get some time off to show them around and let them see different parts of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It was wonderful to see them and I had so much fun! Pictures will be on the next post!
Next I had a set of visitors that were here for my birthday and Easter...MY PARENTS!!! It was wonderful to have them around during the holidays and nice for them to be able to see the church and things I do in full swing. We started off in Dublin for my birthday and were there for a couple of days... did the hop on hop off tour bus and got to see all the sites. Then we were in Belfast for a few days touring around, visiting with family friends, and then we hired a car and headed up to the North Coast where we stayed with my assistant minister Jonny's parents. Their house over looks all of Portrush and the ocean! It was Stunning! We also on the way up stopped at the Giants Causeway and Dunluce castle! Then the next day headed back to Belfast which was getting close to Easter festivities. We ended up going to Four church services. Thursday, Friday and two on Sunday! One of the Sunday services was at the top of Scrabo Tower at 6:30 am and I made my parents attend! Let's just say it was cold and windy. Not too pleasant. Then the rest of their time here we spent sightseeing around Belfast and then they headed back to the States. It was an amazing trip and was wonderful to have them here to show them what I have been up to!
The day my parents left I was heading down to Galway for a mini vacation with two of the other YAV'S. We stayed in a hotel for two night and went around to see the different sights. We went to the Galway City Museum, Went for long walks on the promenade along the coast, we went to Galway Cathedral, we spent a good amount of time on Shop Street, where all the restaurants, pubs, and shops were, and we went to St. Nicholas's Cathedral as well. There was plenty to do just in Galway city. We had a wonderful and peaceful time where we could just see the sites and relax! It was such a pretty place to be and so refreshing to get out of Belfast. Will post pictures!
I think last on the list is recently the girls group at the LINK did two courses one on drugs and alcohol and one on peer mentoring which they all did wonderful on so they got tickets to go see Legally Blonde the Musical at the Grand Opera House. It was a class night ad all the girls showed up and had a blast. We are still talking about it and singing the songs.
Last but not least I got an acceptance letter to Rutgers School of Social Work for my masters degree. I am so Chuffed! (excited) It should be a wonderful next endeavour and I cant wait to start! Thanks for everyone's continued prayers and blessings! Means a lot! Will be home July 22nd So not to far away. Miss and Love you all!
Liz
p.s- pictures will be put up in a bit so look out for that post!
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