Football and God

So, as many people know me and my family are HUGE Florida State fans.  I absolutely love that team and love football and watching them play.  Going to the games is such a huge rush and so much energy how could you NOT love it?!?!?!?
Well, as I was watching the INTENSE football game between Clemson and FSU on Saturday, when it was all said and done we won the game!  I was so excited. :)  I sat there and thought (as I saw them show an ariel view of the stadium and the FSU logo) how awesome that team is... how much pride I had for being a fan, and how much I loved that team!  I began to think.... “ya know, how come I don’t always swell with pride about being a christian and about Christ?”  I began to assess the situation.  Why was I not always feeling the same way (if not more) about Christ and the church as I feel about Florida Sate?

I’m ashamed to even admit this at all.  What kind of child of the Lord am I?  What does that say about my relationship with Him?

Thoroughly just diving into my thoughts, I was up a lot that night...couldn’t sleep.  I began to ponder the reasons why I felt this way.

I realized that I don’t swell with pride a lot about being a Christian because I feel like so many things out there and people give Christianity a bad rep.  I know so many people who have told me “you see that person right there, thats why I am not a christian.  They are no different than me, if not more worse than I am.  So why should I even bother going to church if they are no different?”  Sadly, I’m sure some people could say the same about me.  That cut me to my core.  My life has drastically not been the same lately, and my relationship with God and my heart just have been like all over the place.  I find myself watching tv rather than picking up my Bible.  I would rather sleep in than go to church.  My language sadly has gotten further from being lady like and I just sit there and wonder “what happened to me?!”..

WIth all this being said....I feel like the Church has changed so much.  I feel like more people have gotten fake, and just use church on Sunday mornings to make themselves feel better.  I don’t like “Bible bangers” and I’m ashamed when I hear people handing out tracks saying “You are going to hell!!!!”...who are YOU to determine that?!?!  I don’t like it when people act weird and use Jesus as a crutch...or just “as they need Him”.  I roll my eyes when people act like wearing jeans to Church is blasphemy..or not always listening to “christian” music.. I mean, what is that anyway?  I used to listen to it, and it was SOOO much better when I was younger.  I feel like too many times christian artists these days try to sound more rock, more secular just to reach out to the public...and I feel like it just turns out really cheesy.  I don’t get the message because I feel they are trying too hard.  I would much rather listen to the Hillsongs, Steven Curtis Chapman, and the old school stuff.  So much better.  I don’t like it when people “name it, claim it”... You can pray and trust God, but you CAN NOT tell anyone that “it is done! I prayed about it and God did it”.  You can’t tell God when things will be, when you will be healed.  You can claim your faith in Jesus and pray for His will.  Otherwise, you look ridiculous.  I remember as a kid, someone in church stood up and said “I claim that this man is healed in Jesus name.  Now we can all celebrate because he is healed!” sadly, that man passed away like the next day... to a non-christian, what does that say to them? “Wow, your God really listened” or “man you look stupid”. You cannot tell God what to do, and it seems like you are when you make statements like that.  Claim your FAITH in God and put your prayers out there to Him and claim you TRUST in Him to do what His will is, whatever that may be.

You may think I sound pretty awful, or I am being harsh.  Or “what kind of preachers kind are you?!”  But, I think people have gotten to loose with their Christianity and their “spiritualism” and what not.  All these reasons I have stated above make me NOT swell with pride about Christians and the church.

Its sort of embarrassing to tell you the truth.

I am guilty of it, too.  I am not excluding myself from this category in ANY way.  I should conduct myself better.... I should watch my thoughts and my mouth a whole lot more.  I know God has to be embarrassed and ashamed every time I do not seek Him and make christians look bad by my actions.  I am embarrassed of myself at times, no lie.

I am so guilty of a whole lot that I do not deserve forgiveness or any second chances with God, but I am so thankful that he gives them out.

I need to be working on my life, and change what I need to so that I CAN be proud and swell with pride over my Jesus.  Over the guy who should be the lead Coach in my life.  I’m on His team.  I need his leadership... He is calling my fouls and trying to lead me to Victory.  Yes, I fumble the ball a lot with my life when I make bad choices... yes, I let Satan win sometimes and score touch downs when I sin and give in to society.  Yes, I am not always a team player in praying for people and encouraging them as I should.  I need to take a time out and re evaluate life and what really matters in order to win the game.  The game of Life.  I am so glad that ultimately GOD wins, we win... but, just because we know thats what will happen in the end, doesn’t mean we get to sit by and live life and play badly because Jesus has won.  Don’t just exist.. be active in Him.

We need to not be show offy, and cocky.... don’t try to be the best or be better than everyone else.  Just be yourself.  Live by God, love by God, play by God.

Thank you Jesus for forgiveness!  I am so thankful that HE IS MY COACH!  So, thankful that He isn’t only my finish line, but my beginning and my middle.  He is cheering me on every second of every day... He is ready and waiting with open arms to love us, guide us, and be with us for all eternity.  And to all that I say: Score! :)

don't lose your YOU.

My thoughts lately have been all over the place.  I just have been thinking a lot about life... our quality of life.  Things we will accomplish.. or not accomplish.  How far will we push ourselves?  How far will we let ourselves go into not fulfilling our dreams.  What do we let get in the way?  What do we let remain?

Sometimes our biggest obstacle is ourselves.  We stop ourselves from accomplishing our dreams.... our goals.  Mostly because of fear and being comfortable.

I know for myself... there is so much I want to do.  I lack motivation because I am scared of failing.  I lack motivation because I don’t want to give myself so much that I can’t get it back and then get taken advantage of.  Too many times that has happened...and I feel like I want to keep as much of me to myself and it comes across as selfish, rude, or just plain lazy.  When in reality, I have no intention of being that way.  I feel like I get complacent and just “ok” in life because of it.

I just keep wondering... what is it that we are all looking for...searching for...waiting for..aiming for?  So many things come to my mind of what it could be.  The perfect body, the perfect happy attitude... being loved and accepted by everyone.  Obviously, we cannot please everyone... and if we try, we end up disappointing ourselves.  So, why are we going to strive for that?  This concept is probably what made me so worn out.... what made me come across as being selfish now because I gave away too much of me to please other people.  And in the end.... I still ended up alone, unhappy, and taken advantage of and for what?

We shouldn’t let things, or other people dictate how we live...how we act.

Its so hard to let our emotions get in the way of like........everything.  I see how many debates are started on Facebook... how many rumors are started by people.

I may seem like I am babbling on... rambling about random stuff... but, I just can’t help but wonder what life was like before all of this crap that we have that cause distractions and just too many ways to have the option to start so many arguments, hurting feelings, and what not.

What did we do before tv?  Cell phones?  Facebook?  What would life be like without all of these things?

I can’t seem to stop feeling like our life has been overrun and filled with things that don’t matter.... and we do that to fill a void in ourselves.. going back to what I was talking about in the beginning.  We are searching... and too many times we ignore what it is that we are searching for and fill it with things that are not even valid... that hold no real stock in our lives.  It “suffices” for now.  Filling your longing with things in the now... because the things we truly want we have to patiently wait on.... and sometimes... in the meantime... we lose ourselves...and forget our dreams.

Point is.... don’t avoid your souls longing.  Don’t avoid chasing your dreams.  Don’t let yourself hold YOU back from what you ultimately want.  But most of all, don’t lose yourself.  Don’t lose your YOU.  Don’t lose what is most dear in this world and most important in this thing we call life.  Keep your integrity, keep your head high, keep your heart open (but not abused)... keep your smile, and keep your moves going forward.

No race was ever won standing still.  No test was ever achieved not picking up the pencil.  No dream you ever had came true because you stopped dreaming.  Keep dreaming... keep running... keep keepin' on.

Iona, Scotland

 Ok, so we have been on Isle of Iona for a couple of days...it's been beautiful and amazing.... It's quite small but yet not at the same time when you have to walk everywhere :) Our bed and breakfast was the absolute best place we could have ended stay...the owner, Richard, was the best hostess...incredibly accommodating and very nice and an amazing cook.  We have definitely loved staying here.  Especially, because it's right on the water also. Our first day here we hiked up a mountain on the east side of the island...it didn't take too long but it was totally worth it...it was gorgeous.  It definitely took my breath away and I couldn't believe the beauty that God made...although, I don't put anything past Him, but He always surprises me.   We ate a at nice restaurant called the Columba.  It was amazing....it doesnt get dark here until like 1am... It was weird. Yesterday, we slept in a little...I did a devotional and then we both just explored the beach.  Mostly sun bathing and just admiring the views. Just incredibly low key.  We ate at the restaurant again and it was just as amazing. The services here are really awesome...they treat you like s celeb!!!!! As we were walking back to our b&b we hear bag pipes. We walked up on what they call a ceili... We followed the bag pipers from across the bay up to an abbey and they had a concert.  It was amazing!!!!!  The way they play is just incredible.  Other people got up and performed and sang...some older man sang about cholesterol and it was hysterical because he can't have it but he wants it hahaha..then they did some readings and then we took a break for some tea and snacks. Afterwards, they do dancing... There was this little girl in front of me during tea time who was on a bench throwing her arms back and forth like she had  sword and was yelling, "I will make you walk the plank you pirate!" omg it was hilarious.. She was so loud but I thought I would die laughing.... Well, we didn't stay for the dancing.... It was incredibly unorganized and it was funny but everyone was just genuinely having a good time...it was awesome. At midnight you are supposed to follow out the bagpipers as they get on the ferry and cross back over and they continue to play until they reach land. The main bag piper was a very talented man.  Only a people are asked to play at the tattoo military esplanade in Edinburgh and he has done so twice!!!! Anyways, some lady was talking about the sun rise and that it comes up at 4am... So, I get this awesome idea to get up to take pictures... Well, 4am until 5:30am, nothing hardly...I was absolutely freezing!!!!!!  It was just me and the rabbits and birds on the beach....But I was able to get some decent pictures but I was frozen...  Had to rub my feet and then take two hot showers at two different times on blazing hot to just thaw out my feet...man, was it painful!  But I was finally able to fall asleep. So, on 3hrs of sleep I wake up and we eat breakfast...it was awesome! The guy who cooks (Richard who owns it) is amazing... It's all solo good. Anyways, we go to the abbey and we sit thru s service there and walk the grounds. It's really, really old... It was so amazing to touch the walls of an abbey that kings walked in.  They are also in the graveyards... But you couldn't read most of them because the tomb stones are so old. Anyways, afterwards....we headed out to go hiking to see where st. Columba discovered the island. On our way out, I was dumbly texting and walking down the steps...yeah obviously not so smart...I missed the last two or three and face planted and my backpack went flying over my head onto the floor, my phone slung across the foyer, and I landed on my knee and shoulder...I just laid there...meg was like 'what the heck just happened' and obviously laughing once she knew I was ok... It was quite comical.  I am too old for this...my hips hurt, my back...hahah just too much. Well, when we were walking up the hill we passed two people and asked if we were going in the right direction... They said yes and that it was 'quite boggy'....well, that was an understatement!!!!!!!  First we were scared that the goats were gonna pummel us...they just stared and ran and then stared some more. Haha. At first it was fun....Well, after an hour of trekking in the awful poop and mud and wetness we were quite over it.... I was getting so mad I just wanted to turn around.  30mins later we finally came upon an open enough part between the mountains that seemed to be a path...but no, it didn't lead to the st. Columba shore but to the marble quarry they have here...ugh we were over trying to find his beach. But, we ended up rock climbing and hiking instead...it was awesome fun.  It was sort of dangerous given the crevices and the ocean with rocks was on the other side if we fell off...but we found a cove and stuff it was cool. By the time we finally made it back up to the top to cross over omg our muscles were killing us.... But hey it's a good work out. Anyways, we finally made it to the shore and it was totally nothing but rocks.... And there was really nothing much to it.  Idk what they hype was about. So, we started back home from there and we were already 2.5hrs in.... What a treat we were in for...all up hill...mostly boggy poo and mud. Freezing wind and lots of hills.  There is this bush that is so rough and prickly but it looks like broccoli...we joked that it was broccolis dried up ancestors.  Boy did they hurt! And then.. An hour later, we were so over it that to my shock, meg tested out an old cow patty to see if it was strong enough to hold us over some mud...I couldn't believe it..it actually did. As gross as it sounds, we used it to step on. Hahaha. Finally, we find the fences and know that the end is near...and we run up on our goat friends... It was lovely to see them again. Finally, after hours of grossness and fun adventure we made it back...frozen and a mess. Now to get some sleep for we leave for Dublin tomorrow to end our last couple of days there before we fly home!!!!!!  I can't believe it's almost here...I am sad yet excited at the same time.  Ready to see my family and my max but I will miss Europe and all that it has to offer...well, mostly just Ireland and Scotland. So, I will blog once more before we leave... But until then..cheers :)

The streams of our heart...

So.... I am walking the ocean this morning for my quiet time...and I couldn't quite find a spot just right for me...and then I noticed a stream flowing pretty strongly from up to the small dunes I guess you could say and well...if no water is flowing up from the ocean, how can such a strong, steady stream be flowing down back into it??  I investigate.  Well, as I am sure there is a scientific reason for a phantom stream coming from no where....I got a spiritual one out of it. It's like...Gods love keeps flowing.  His mercy keeps flowing.  His forgiveness...his patience.  He replenishes our strength and will to press on..always flowing.  We might not know where it comes from...how if you aren't getting waves of encouragement or love from someone...or from work or from anything..if it isnt coming into us, how then can we have a continuous flow of all that is good come from our hearts? It is almost unfair it seems to constantly give, give, and give...especially, when you get nothing back.  And when you think you've run dry...God replenishes you...when it seems like you're out, you have no more to give, God is still flowing. You aren't sure how, where, or why you are experiencing His continuous showering of love and strength...but you are thankful for it. I am thankful it never stops...I am thankful my well never runs dry.  I stumble... I make mistakes...I am so very far from perfect and yet God see's it fit to keep me flowing from a small stream into the bigger picture...the ocean. The beauty of God unveiled...in the smallest of places...Oh, how His love is not withheld...Oh, how ever flowing His grace is. Where does my help come from?  It comes from the Lord. A broken spirit and a contrite heart You will not despise, You will not despise You desire truth in the inward parts A broken spirit and a contrite heart... Lord, my heart is prone to wander Prone to leave the God I love Here’s my heart, Lord, take and seal it Seal it for Your courts above...

Budapest...Prague...Dublin...Edinburgh...

If I was able to jot down every memory and every little thing that has happened on this trip it would definitely be mind boggling. I honestly don't even remember the last thing that I blogged about was...or where I was. I don't think that I wrote about Budapest....hmmm, probably my least favorite place I went.... It was so hot there and I just didn't relate to anything that they had to offer. I mean, the architecture was pretty but it just seemed really hot and run down to me.  I thought I was going to have a heat stroke.  I mean, the hi lights of being there was probably the fact that I was able to see different cultures and lifestyles....and able to finally go around without my jacket attached to me.  People weren't incredibly friendly there and the money was very, very confusing. I was very happy to leave... On the train ride over to Prague we were first class...although, it didn't feel like it because the air in the little space wasn't really working.  But we sat with 2older couples that were really nice.  They played cards and we just chatted of random stuff...riding by tons of fields of sunflowers was incredible. Making it into Prague....it was also not what I was expecting....I was expecting amazing architecture as well and I guess since we were staying in a different district that is why.  But, Sir Toby's hostel where we stayed was amazing....the brick work and intricacy of the inside was awesome. The guy who checked us in (Richard) was really nice..he had a strong accent and spit a lot..well, I didn't really notice it but meg did.  I just kept looking at his really small mouth and tried to figure out what he was saying... He always ended with a 'yeeah' like I was supposed to understand every word.  I just shook my head, sure, and went along with it. I was really excited to be in the room.....albeit, no AC again but it was nice.  I had a skylight over my bed and I was very excited about that because it stormed so good that night.  And everyone who knows me knows that I love a I good storm with a tornado or two... I could listen to the thunder and rain all the time. Anyways, so we get up and we decided to take Richard up on his offer to do a guided tour of Prague.  I, of course, wanted to look cute being in Prague and all, I wore my new flats.  Well, earlier on in our trip like the first week I think...I dropped my suitcase on my foot and it has been giving me trouble ever since...so, the swelling that day made my pour left shoe a little tighter than I anticipated (thanks meg for the band aids!)...definitely gonna get it looked at when I get back... Anyways... So, we go on this tour and he wasn't kidding about it being off the beaten path....we hiked up hills and walked thru stone and gravel I thought I was gonna die...but it was really gorgeous.  You can definitely still see the old city vibe they have kept alive. The next day we just walked around ourselves.. We sprinted to catch the tram going into the 'old town' as they called it and as soon as we got on it stunk so bad.. I will never understand why Europeans do not where deodorant....ugh!!!!!! Anyways, at the next stop we jumped off and meg walked away gagging to death while I walked in the other direction plugging my ears and humming a tune so I wouldnt join her.  Anyways, because of all that we ended up walking what felt like was forever....but only an hour or so to get into the city.  It was a lovely walk but definitely a hot one.  More beautiful work in the buildings and bridges.. I don't quite understand the draw to Charles bridge because it looks like the others...but I guess it is a night thing. Anyways, so as we walked for hours and hours around Prague I probably took about 60 pictures and I went to delete one as we were heading out and I accidentally deleted them ALL!!!!!!!!!!!  Sad day.... I really felt sick to my stomach. So, we decided to walk around a little bit again so I could get at least a few pictures....lucky we did, because we came up on this festival thing going on in Prague square and there where this older people behind stage bouncing on yoga balls... I thought to be sure it was just a warm up exercise to their dance routine...and no. It wasn't. They literally got up on stage and rolled around on their yoga balls and what not. It was absolutely hysterical...and to think we would have missed it!!!!!!!! So, we decided to fly back to Ireland instead of taking all these dad burn trains and ferries... Thank goodness.  We made it back to Dublin and it felt like being home. The hostel we were staying in is the sister hostel to the one we stayed at in the beginning. We went to a movie that night (the amazing spiderman in 3D to be exact!) and the theaters are amazing here... They are huge.  Usually you have assigned seating because it is full but sadly the older man told us that it's never full anymore due to their economy. I think we could have fit 3theaters in the states in that one room.  Like I said...it was gorgeous.. All red velvet seating and big red curtains. Felt like the oldies. So, the next morning we get up and walk around Dublin again.... I feel like I know that place better than Raleigh haha.... We went to a wax museum and it wasnt really that good. After we went to the Jameson Distillery again for food and hot chocolate with whiskey....it came highly recommended to us so we thought we would try it out. Well, it wasn't all that it was cracked up to be...it was incredibly strong!!!!!!!!!  Anyways, we walked back in the pouring down rain.... Probably the hardest rain we have had the whole trip and my blasted umbrella flipped inside out...it was worthless...I was drenched. That night we went out with a bunch of girls from our room in the hostel...it was loads of fun!!!!!!! We met a couple of real Irish people who definitely live to drink.... Kind of sad but at the same time, that's their way of living.  Anyways, these two guys kept calling us 'yanks' and me definitely NOT being a yank, I was offended... I told them to get it straight but they just consider everyone from the states a yank....oh geez. So, after a long night, the next day we all slept in...then we went to s church since it was Sunday. It was gorgeous.  I thought it was going to be a long service because the booklet was like 5pages.  Now the choirs here are much more different (and, no offense...sound way better) than back home....I kept thinking that we were on the seventh verse only to realize we were still on the blasted first verse.  They go thru a melody and range of tunes and what not in just one word that it goes on for ages....but, no matter... I could have listened to it for hours. I so wish church's back home looked like the churches they have here.... They are so beautiful and it's definitely a holy place to go worship.  You don't have to even have a building to have worship I know, but the feel of it and the reverence that comes with it is just amazing. So, now we are in Scotland..... We started our first two days being in Edinburgh...it is absolutely amazing.... Probably my favorite city so far.... I mean, you are freezing, and getting rained on and there are people walking and you just can't help but look up in awe at everything... Really... The hostel we stayed at was also probably the nicest place we have been as well.... Everyone was really nice.  We got up the next morning and walked around... We went to the Castle of Edinburgh and it was gorgeous...the history was incredible and the things they had preserved was just wow...they had the queens crown and jewels...the birthplace of kings and important men of Scotland...war heroes and veterans...it was breath taking.  I bet back then when they made the 'castle in the air' (as they call it) they didn't realize that thousands of people would be flocking there to see it.... To them it was just a place they lived... A place to lay their head and to us its grand and magnificent. After being wowed by the castle we went to this cafe called the elephant cafe... I guess that's where the Rowling lady wrote Harry Potter...anyways, it was cool because my parents logged onto the live webcam there and saw us standing there and drinking our hot chocolates in the cafe. My parents, my sister Anna, my grand parents, and even megs parents and friends logged on to see...it was really cool...  Ok...now to the fun part.  We had to catch a bus today to get here to Oban, Scotland... Which was an amazing view (well the second half).....our two hour bus ride I thought would be the death of me.  It smelt like someone has been cooking a porter John in a steamy oven and left it sealed until we started down the road and then opened it up to let us all smell it...oh my gosh it was foul!!!!!!!!  I had to spray perfume and bury my head into my jacket for two hours.... I definitely had to pray for control because i thought I was going to se my lunch... It was awful.  I am definitely reporting them... Nobody wants to smell death for two hours...I would have rather of smelt anything else!!!!! Anyways, so now we are here...in our hostel on the coast and we are preparing for the last leg of our journey to the isle of Iona.  It is supposed to be a very spiritual place and boy do I need it.  I am very excited and hope it is all God wants it to be for me in my heart and life.  Until then... Cheers!!!!!

The gifts....

So....we are on the train to Prague...it's first class and much nicer than what we have been used to.  Thank you Jesus that we were put on the right train....I was so scared that we weren't going to make it but we did. As I am sitting here...I keep thinking of all the things that has happened in the last few weeks...and I can't believe all of the places that I have been to...but Ireland still is my favorite place....I can't wait to get back.. However, the other places have been good...Venice was probably my favorite so far aside from Ireland.  The beautiful vineyards... The sea smell.. The sunflowers..well, only a few but they were quite big.. Everything is so fresh there...the eggs were from the chickens out back, and the milk was so fresh I was looking for the cow outside too :)  Riding a bike that morning and heading to the water taxi area to wait for the boat was probably one of my favorite things. It was so simplistic and the breeze was lovely.. I really felt young again and just felt like it took me back...the simple things in life are the best.  I don't need extravagant things...just give me a bike with a basket, a good view, and lovely weather and I am happy....just being in my own place and my thoughts... Over looking the ocean and the vineyards .....it was awesome. I wish sometimes in real life, in those special moments that you have in life that there would be music playing in the background like movies.... Sometimes it might make the moments a little better and more memorable. And also, give me an ocean and I would be very happy...walking along the coast of our little Venetian island (island of San Erasmo)..the little waves trickling up to my feet and feeling the salty breeze on my skin... I love it.  Being at the beach makes me feel closer to God more than any other thing in this world.. Well, besides Ireland of course ;) Seeing everything that God has created in the world...the different parts..He really is an incredible artist.. The difference between each place and definitely different from North Carolina.. The way the mountains have come up from the ground and the way the trees are...the flowers...the smells of the flowers... The difference in the flow of water and the colors.. The sands are different.  Th way God paints the sky at night and the different times in each place.  The different faces and languages....the ways of life are different.  The things we take for granted..  Like a cup of ice for instance...not free and not freely given.  Bathrooms in places are not free and not easy to find where as in the states they are everywhere. I am so glad that God decided to make us all different...the different places.  It's an amazingly frustrating and awesome experience all wrapped in one. We need this from time to time to have our souls refreshed and to also see the differences...in Life....in ways of living.  God has ordained and designed every part of this earth and it is all so magnificent. We were born and designed to experience it all....it's good for us.  I think it is good for our relationships with Jesus and with finding your own.  I feel like I have come to realize my own things in life that I need to check.. The pressure I put on myself and the things that I do and don't do..the chances I take and the chances I don't.  How will we ever know or live if we just let opportunity after opportunity slip by.  Yes, you may be nervous...yes, you may regret...no, not you may regret it...YES you will regret it...life can be a mundane and boring one...or you could live.  Be the person that e everyone wants to be.  Stop just admiring others for what they do and seek to do what you want so you can help inspire others to admire you and do their life...live out their dreams and adventures.  Help them have the strength and courage to get out...to smell the roses in Venice... The walk the coast of France..to see the amazing green beauty and cliffs of Ireland... To touch some of the most pure waters in the world..to taste the different foods of the world..the delicacies.   Live people... Live your life.  Do it for yourself...do it for others..do it with God..he made it all for you.  Enjoy his gifts to the fullest..the ones in the world and the ones within yourself.

Night trains...need I say more.

Ok....so nothing surprises me anymore....After getting wrong directions yet again....we missed our day train to Budapest...apparently there was a station from the station we were supposed to go to that was not on our ticket.    However, there was a night train so we ended up taking that one...only that it didn't leave until 1am.  So, we had 14 extra hours to kill in Venice while we waited.  It was a long...long wait.  It was incredibly hot that day and we were carrying most of our luggage.....it was ridiculous...next time I travel I am not bringing near as much stuff.  Well, we walked around and took more pictures...picked up a few more gifts and headed back to the train station...the right train station. I was pretty much over this whole trip and didn't even want to continue...I just wanted to go back to Ireland and go to our Scotland destination.  So, after spending hours in this really nice hotel restaurant (they were kind enough to let us stay there until our train got there since it wasn't until 1am) with the help of my parents we rebooked the end of our trip to just go back to Ireland from Prague and then to Scotland. Both of us immediately felt at peace.  For some reason God kept stopping us from going to several places and we need to recognize that. Well, after our ordeal we made a few friends at the restaurant...the little puppy named Kiko and the waiter Mattia.  He was really nice and even gave us free drinks.  He was very sympathetic and let us crash there for as long as we needed...we ended up helping a little for letting us stay there...meg kept opening the door for them when they walked outside to the terrace with trays and drinks.  I offered to sweep and wipe down some tables.  But, they were very nice and thankfully we were able to just mostly relax. So, night train...good times. This was an awful one.... Every cart had 6 seats in it.... 3one wall and 3 on another...facing each other.  But before we got on, we met this nice girl headed for Austria and then another guy who was..well....not sure where he was headed....  I had some weird feeling in my stomach about sitting where we were but I chalked it up to my being paranoid.  Well, meeting this guy he was really nice but lots of stuff he kept saying wasnt really adding up....I had some red flags.  Anyways, upon getting on our train and realizing there was a whole family sprawled out all over our seats and no conductor who was helping to move them so we could sit on this 8hr train ride, we ended up finding a cart and randomly enough or not so random the guy from the platform found us and decided to sit there as well.  And also, while walking onto the train we had our own little "magic mike" moment...this really, extremely interesting man with a bad hi light job and the tightest washed out jeans I have ever seen with a small woman's 3button up vest with NO undershirt on and a really orange fake tan (either French or Italian) was walking in front of us...more like swaying his hips with his pink underwear hanging out and duck facing in the train windows...anyways, lucky us he ended up sitting beside me.  Complaining they weren't our seats but they were...and if they weren't somebody else (more like 4somebodys) were sprawled all over ours.. Anyways, as we sit down the man in question from the platform...we will call him Mr. Catch Me If You Can con man.... Anyways he was offering to put our bags here and there because they didnt fit in the cart we just put them by our door...he said 'wow you are really friendly...and trusting...somebody could steal your stuff"...well, there went my red flag....and then later asking us where were we going (he didn't really have a legit ticket) and asked us if we had phones....where we're we staying... And asking if he could put my purse somewhere for me...flags were being thrown left and right more than a nc state and Carolina football game..... Then he asked me if I was getting sleepy and did I sleep on trains.  I told him no..I was determined to stay awake for the 3hrs he was on the train to watch my stuff and protect it. He still kept making random comments so I started to question him..like where was he from. He was married so where was his wife.... What did he do.  He wasn't able to come up with answers quick enough for me and then told me he was meeting his wife somewhere and then told someone else a different place.  Wherever we went, he wasn't far behind.  I was very unnerved.. But hell bent on staying awake and alert and watching him like a hawk.  Finally, after 3long hours of no sleep he got off...I watched to make sure he didn't get back on because he looked like he was going to.  I feel like God really protected us.  Then we thought for sure we would get some sleep now that he was gone...but as soon as we sat down again some lady got in my face how I was in her seat..and I wasn't..then magic mike piped in, in his cheesy accent and duck face lips and said "I told you in Italy that wasn't your seat"....to bad she was talking to you too. I didn't move.  Still no sleep and it's in the morning waiting for our connecting train to Budapest...no bathroom and no machines...my legs and ankles are swelling up like a pregnant lady due to no elevation and tons of walking...there is no way I haven't lost weight!!!!!!!!!  Aside from complaining right now...I am thankful I have all my stuff..it's daytime.... And Lord willing we don't miss our next train we will be in budapest safe and then on to Prague and back to my little european home: Ireland. Until then... Ps. Yes we made it to Budapest and relaxing!!!!!!!!!!

Vineyards and canals...

Imagine sitting on a train.... the landscapes of France you are leaving behind and headed for Italy... sit back, and close your eyes... you hear the sound of the train tracks as you are chugging along down and out through tunnels and over bridges... its incredibly hot due to the amount of people and the big windows that surround you... its almost like being rocked to sleep in a way (minus being hot).... all the sounds and noises.

Thats how its been almost everytime I have been on a train... however, going into Italy was much more beautiful than any other arrival (aside from Ireland).  Arriving into the beautiful scenes of the ocean and the village that lives on sea.  We had a very nice older gentleman from Australia help us with our luggage and sort of guide us where we needed to be since he has been here a lot....We found our way to our hotel... much to our dismay, it was actually a lot farther than we knew.

But, upon arriving to our little island across from Murano and Venice, it seemed quite tranquil and peaceful.  However, the walk to the hotel was anything but that.  I was quite a cranky pants due to the heat, no sleep, lack of food, and yet again carrying my eye sore of luggage.

We got into our hotel and its almost like being in the movie “Under the Tuscan Sun”...  Its quite hot here, and zero air conditioning.  But, its so very peaceful with all the ocean around you and the vineyards as far as you can see..

The lady that owns and runs this hotel is Julie.. She is quite spunky and has been here for almost 30years.  We enjoyed an awesome dinner of pasta, bruchetta, and wine...

Finally, a decent nights rest!!!!  Even though it was reallly hot!!!!

Up early to head into the city for some shopping...We had a nice little bike ride up to the water taxi.  Just being on the bike, the wind at my face and blowing my hair around... I felt sort of like a kid again.  It was fun to be back on a bike and just carefree for the moment.

I immediately started thinking of praise song and random songs I used to see as a kid in VBS... it was quite fun to just belt them out.  I’m sure the people watering their gardens and dusting out their rugs out the windows thought I was quite strange... No matter.. :)
Arriving into Venice city today felt more comfortable since we sort of had our bearings. 

Walking around all day and seeing the life here... its very different.  Everyone talks to everyone.  Ciao! Was thrown around a ton and everyone was very welcoming.  The little shops that they have all over the city our quaint and some very touristy.

The pizza we had for lunch was the BIGGEST slice of pizza I had EVER seen in my whole life.  And I was able to try my first gelato.  Of course, I had to try more than one!  I had lemon, Mango, and Strawberry.  All were very good!!!!!!!

After walking around the city for what seemed an eternity... we got lost, of course.  Canals everywhere... old buildings everywhere.  Its very strange to see steps up to peoples windows and doors and it leads into the ocean... People can drive boats around here better than anyone!

After finding our way back... I quite enjoyed yet another beautiful bike ride taking in the flowers, vineyards, and simplicity of life on this little Venetian island.

I will be sort of sad to leave here... but, all these journeys lead us somewhere, and I am quite excited to get on to the next one!  I am most excited about Scotland and Ireland again I must say.  However, I’m sure there is adventure around the corner every where we will go.

I can just picture my dad belting out the song by Steven Curtis Chapman “Saddle up your horses... we got a trail to blaze!!” love it...

So, as I am finishing up this blog.. sitting on my bed, with the windows open out to my view of sunflowers and vineyards.. I will sign off for the evening and go enjoy my last legit italian dinner and some vino!  Until next time.. Ciao!

Proceed with caution...

(I just read through it and I apologize in advance for the length!  I didn't realize so much had happened in two days..)

So, proceed with caution if you dare ;) its long!

Ok... so, I thought I was going to be able to start from our day yesterday in a blog.. but I realized I haven’t even had a chance to type up about London.

So, with that being said... here goes.

We got up at 5:30 thursday to head to the ferry in Dublin to get to Holyhead to catch a train to London.  Well, it being such a dreary day and so early, no one was open at the ticket desks to find out which bus station number we needed to be at.  After 30mins of asking 5 different people and going all over with 5 different answers, this kind older gentleman who reminded me of a taller, skinnier version of the old man in the movie “Up” came over and asked if we needed help. Of COURSE we did!  We said thank you, but we have had 5 different people help us and not one person had the same answer.  He told us to wait there, and the sweet man ran (literally...as an older man in his 70s could) all over and found out exactly where we needed to be.  He was so sweet.. He just laughed and said “sounds like you’re having an irish morning” :)

So, we got to the ferry just in time... I believe we were like the last two people to get on... I was absolutely terrified that we were going to miss it.  It was my first ferry ride and I was so excited and nervous.  We FINALLY had a real breakfast...even though it was expensive, I was very happy to get my coffee and toast!

After 3hrs on the ferry we took a bus to the train station and met a sweet family... the Mom, Lisa I think.. her son was Eric and her daughter was Rachel.  They ended up saying they were headed to London as well... and that the Non stop train was leaving in 8minutes... we MIGHT make it!  We thought the non stop train was at 12:30....nope.

Anyways, so we all get off the bus and are literally running to the station... a few other guys figured out we were all going in the same direction and they ran, too.  For some reason unbeknownst to me, my suitcase keeps getting heavier even though I haven’t bought anything!  I was running as fast as my little feet with a backpack, suitcase, and over the shoulder purse would let me.  Everyone else ran ahead and I told Meg to catch it for me. As I’m running and literally am less than 200yards from the door I see the time and its leaving in 11seconds... some lady said, “Oh, train to london?” I said yes.. she pointed “Oh, well.. there it goes” and I saw it pulling out.  We JUST missed it.

So we waited for another 20mins for the next train and had to make another stop.  At least we had our little family of 3 we met to talk to.  They were so kind and found out her friend also got in A LOT of trouble for picking a flower in Ireland.  Thank goodness I am not the only one. :)

After we made it to London, we found our hostel and it was NOT what the website had said.  It was supposed to be this really cool old prison and well.. it wasn’t cool.  Our keys never worked, it was a maze to get anywhere..the travel girl was NO help.  She was “sick” and wanted to leave and not help.  Well, she gave us bad directions for a night tour.  We took the metro (loved it!) and made it to Green Park which she said we needed to walk about 2 miles to get to Piccadilly Station Circus to get the bus.  Well, when we got there nobody was helpful... and then some older gent said the night tours were at Green Park :(  Well, someone FINALLY let us get on a tour bus. And they buzzed right through it... no pictures hardly, and then it started raining.  Well, we were over it by then and just wanted to leave.  We got to our hostel and our roomates were pretty cool.  Claire from Australia, and Shannon from South Africa but she lived in Australia and was studying abroad a year in Germany.  Anyways, that night we both had some crazy migraines... I didn’t get any sleep because I literally couldn’t put my head to anything without searing pain.  Finally I fell asleep for an hour.

When we got up, we ate breakfast and headed to the station to go to Paris.  Well, turns out..even though you have the eurorail, the rules have changed and you have to have a special reservation to go from Country to Country and the Paris train was going to be over 300 euros :( Well, Megan immediately began to cry and I just told her to calm down and asked the ladies where did we need to go. We were both emotional after the night we had. Well, we made it to our only option... an 8hr bus ride and just got on it literally 4minutes before it left.

We had to do another ferry ride during our bus ride (it was docked under the ship) and we got to walk around... it was THE MOST rocky ride... I felt so nauseas and after a while Meg did too.... we just staked a post up stairs by the open deck door and waited for the hour and a half to pass. We did venture outside and boy was it windy!!!!!!  

When we finally made it to Paris it was around 10:30... we had to take a loooong metro to get to our hostel.  But some really nice young gentleman came over and while Meg was getting her ticket, he gave me his.  I was so thankful!  I also have hardly had to carry my luggage up or down steps.... I figured out the damsel in distress works every time... some guy always comes to help hahaha.... or Meg is a big help and helps me too but its just not the same ;)
Anyways, we get to our hostel in Paris and it was beautiful...the view and a nice bed...again, we could not sleep..this time change bites...hahahaha.

So we stayed up laughing about our sheets that felt like a burlap hay bag and the taxis outside the window getting into a horn honking fight... and some random guy knocking on our door at 2am... I couldn’t stop singing the song from beauty and the best “be ourrr guest, be our guest.. put our services to the test!” Obviously, in a french voice of course... for some odd reason I have been belting out random songs here and there... hahaha... I guess its a way to pass the time when crazy stuff happens.  But the tunes coming from this mouth don’t sound pretty...they aren’t on key, the words might not be right, but hey.. its incredibly humerous.

So... here we are.. we wake up in Paris.. and no lie, some random siren from a car idk what went off at 6:58.. perfect timing since we were getting up at 7.

We got up, and walked around and were searching for the Eiffel Tower.. well, we finally found it and decided to eat breakfast first since we hadn’t eaten in like... forever... 15hrs for meg and almost 24 for me!  So, we stopped off to this lovely cafe... OMG it was to die for... the orange juice was incredibly fresh squeezed and the bread... lovely.

We finally made it to the tower.. it wasn’t what I expected but it was still very beautiful.. there were thousands of people everywhere!  We didn’t get to walk up in because everyone had been waiting in line for hours, and well.. we had a train to catch to Switzerland.
Well, we raced back to the hotel to get our stuff... only to get lost.  But, it was actually totally worth it because we came upon some scene like in a movie.. there were at least 25 really, really gorgeous french fireman lifting heavy stuff and sweating and just.... well, we had to pick our mouths up off the ground... I told Meg, “Ok, well... I think the only option here is to just get hit by a car since they are right here...” hahahaha... Wow... and some guy helped us and to our dismay (NOT!) our directinos to the hotel led us to walk right between them all... “excusez moi.... excusez moi”.. and of course, they were kind enough to let us pass. ;)
Anyways... back to reality.  We raced to our hotel and grabbed our luggage only to start running again to make our train leaving at 2:23.  It was 1:30 and we still had two metros to go.  And those tunnels and south/east/west/north crap is confusing.  Well, as we are running from our hotel, I’m like wondering what the heck... my suitcase is crazy heavy.. and not rolling.. well I look down and my right wheel was completely broken in two all the way down the middle :( I wanted to cry.. but we had no time to stop.. So, meg grabbed one side, I had the other and we pulled it as we could through cobble stone and holes.

We finally made it to the metro and again.. got wrong directions.. I have learned no one in Europe truly knows where they are going.  SO, we had an amazing young lady step in and realized we were lost... She helped us all the way to the train station.  As soon as we found out where we needed to be, we started our running again (Our poor toes HATE us) and the train was leaving in 8mins... well, we get there and the train guy was like “ha no.. you have no reservation we have nothing for you” and walked off.  Here we are, back to the no reservation thing.  So, Meg loses it.. she is incredibly upset and crying and just angry.  I’m trying to keep it together and ask where we need to go and what to do.  We get to information and meet these two other girls who also have the same problem. Well, after waiting in the ticket line for an hour, they said we were all in the wrong line.. and sent us somewhere else.. after waiting in that line more than an hour they too said we were in the wrong line and sent us somewhere else.  Finally, we get to the right place and at the back of the line everyone was laying down.. we asked why... they had been waiting and the line hadn’t budged for an hour and a half.  By now, we missed both trains to Switzerland, were gonna miss our chance to get to our hostel... it was expensive.. we were supposed to go white water rafting the next day and already had that booked... we were going to be stuck in Paris.

Well, after finally talking to everyone, they had all had the same problem.  The “reservation” rules were in very small fine print and most of the people got a refund for their Eurorail pass.... Me and Meg were just going to cancel our whole trip because not making it to Switzerland was going to ruin everything... well, we were just going to go back to Dublin. My awesome dad was calling me and my family was praying... we were so stressed. I just told Meg to check hostels, plane tickets, and the info to the hostel in Switzerland to contact while I talked to the lady.... Her name was Manoubia.  She was AMAZING!  We stood in line with her for 3hrs and she rebooked our WHOLE train trips with reservations and we only paid 37 euros for the whole thing when we were supposed to have to pay 150 euros for ONE TRAIN!

She booked us an overnight train to Nice, France and booked us a nice hotel for cheaper.  She was amazing... She also talked to our hostel in Switzerland and the white water rafting company and we got a FULL refund of it all!!!!!!!

After, some lady in line complained and said we took up too much time and we needed to apologize to everyone in line. NO WAY!  We had waited for 7hours in that station when they had all just got there... and also moved aside in those 3hrs with Manoubia while she helped 3 others so no... that wasn’t happening.. I was NOT going to feel bad.

Anyways, after that was all cleared we started racing to the next train station to get to our overnight train.. as we are running I realize my luggage is pulling smoothly... I’m like Meg, hold on.. we look down, and my wheel is fine.  No rips, not one visible tear... I’m not sure HOW it happened.. when it happened..because in line the whole time it was torn completely in two.  Well, I had not cried this whole trip not through any of the bad that had happened and this made me break down.  I could not believe the miracle God had performed RIGHT INRONT OF OUR EYES!  My wheel was fine.  It was just what we needed after all of our praying for God to guide us to the right people... or they found us.  My wheel was fixed... we stopped in the middle of the Paris international train station, with tears flowing and praised and thanked God for His miracles every step of the way.

Well, we finally get food after not eating again in 12hrs.. no water, no nothing.  We sat down and ate a foot long sub each :) well, we met this lady beside us, Nichole, from the Bahamas and she was talking to us and no one told us we had to validate our tickets... well, 15mins before the train left she told us and thank you JESUS because we would have been fined.

Well, we are again racing to our train.. seriously, we are like Olympians in the running with luggage department.. don’t mess with us.

Anyways, some guy told us our train seat was at the end of the train... well, we had 5mins.. we RAN to the end, only to be told we were at the beginning... now I was pissed... I’m like you guys know NOTHING.. I was done.. I wanted to go home.  Too much running... 

We made it on the train, and we calmed down.. it wasn’t the best ride but it was ok.after I slept an hour I woke up and Meg finally fell asleep... well, while I was trying to go back to sleep she has a spastic arm reaction and back hands me in the face..... definitely woke me up. hahaha.

We made it to our hotel right around the corner in Nice, France and its beautiful... we finally have some rest, some nice beds, a nice shower... and only 20mins from the beach.

Our poor little feet are swollen and I cannot count the bruises I am sporting... but, we are trooping on believing there IS a reason we are here and not in Switzerland and white water rafting.. there IS a reason we did not get on either trains from London to Paris, and from Paris to Switzerland.  God directed our steps to the right people and gave us a new meaning for the song “Jesus Take The Wheel”.. as in our luggage wheel and make it new. ;)
Now, we are headed for a stroll on the beach and a good nights rest tonight and its off to Venice, Italy tomorrow.

Please keep us in your prayers!  There are always new things popping up, but God has a reason for it all... lets just hope we can keep it up and positive. ;)  We will surely be laughing at this in the future.. like ... next year.

Until next time...Au revoir!

The dream...

The grass is so green in Ireland....I miss it a lot already...everything over there is just beautiful. I wish I could stay there for a long time... The views that my eyes have seen will be something I can never erase or replace. I will be sad when I have to go back to the united states. Nothing or anywhere I have ever been has compared to Ireland. The way of life here is so much more different than anything I have ever experienced. Everyone is so nice...it's not a rush scene .... No, they are kind, gentle people and they are always just easy going and loving life. As Paul our tour guides grandma always said, "better to be looking down at the grass instead of up at it".. Quite true. While I am above it I want to do my very best to enjoy it as I can. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that by the time I was 25 I would be in Europe... As a kid this was just a dream...just something I always heard my dad talking about the beautiful highlands of Scotland, and the green lands of Ireland. In my mind, they were picturesque.  Being able to do this makes me feel closer to my dad because I know how much these places mean to him. And now they mean so much more to me. I can't believe that everything I remember hearing and seeing in movies and story books has al,pat finally come true. Seeing these places make me come alive inside. They give me hope. Achieving things like this ..... Now....it's something I never would have thought that I would have done. I bet the 10yr old Bekah would be going crazy in disbelief right now if she knew what she had lying ahead for her in her life.  Never giving up and perseverance is a big key in life...never giving up on the dream or closing up the wants and desires of your heart...and even the ones that you do, God is able to open the back up with even just one simple look out over the Cliffs of Moher. Some hidden dreams who have been put to sleep for years have come back alive in my heart and I see the bigger picture in this life than the small one I only allowed myself to have because of being shut off or not enough faith in myself, God, and 'the dream'.  I'm so glad that God does not give up on us...He doesn't give up on our dreams. He just allows us to go at His pace....granting us the grace and patience until He shows himself and allows us to see what He has put in us..the dreams...the desires...the wants..the things that we want to be, to do, to see.... I know for me, just having done what I have done in less than a week has just shown me how much more there is to this life than the everyday job...the everyday routine.  God never had the same routine...neither did the desciples.  God always shook them up and they never, ever knew what to expect. That's how He is. We should never want to get stuck in the ruts of life...but climb out and keep moving on...never get stuck in the routine of nothing new...newness is what keeps us alive and moving forward and learning...appreciating everything we have and who we have...otherwise, I believe we would take everything for granted... Writing this to you now...from my bus from England, looking out the window to the landscapes of France and seeing the clouds getting darker...I still can't believe I am here.  How blessed I feel. How overwhelmed I am by Gods beauty. By His grace..His mercy...His love and His desire to be part of every journey He takes us on.  I know He is just as excited as I am that I am here.... He loves to see His children learning and having a renewal of love and respect for Him.  He loves seeing our souls refreshed and our hearts.  I hope I can get as much out of the trip as I did in Ireland.  I can't wait to see what He has...

Europe.. Dublin, Ireland..the beginning.

So... as promised, I am blogging about my trip as I can :)  It has been a crazy journey so far... and its only been 3 days :)

First off... both of our flights were very, very good.  Having not ever flown that long in one single flight, I was a bit nervous.. But, it was good.  We watched 21 JumpStreet (Sarah!!!!!)... Who wouldn’t mind a little Channing Tatum on their flight to pass the time ;)
They served us some awesome dinner followed by us both taking some sleeping meds to pass out for the flight.  Poor Meg didn’t hardly sleep but I got myself a good hour or so in.

Arriving in Dublin airport it was quite different.  Already loving all the accents except for these two immature crazy girls in line behind us...way to valley girl.  When we arrived I saw these two twin boys who had the same punk haircut walking with some big guy.  I thought to myself that they looked “Famous”. Well, as soon as we got out of customs there was a swarm of young teenage girls going nuts... yes, it was the two guys.  Apparently, they are the “Justin Beiber” of the UK.  Oh, well...

We found our bus and made it to the bus stop... I was quite out of sorts being that I was carrying so much and my luggage was a bit heavy.  However, Meg was nice and stopped as I needed... and boy was it chilly!
I was kind of disappointed because it didn’t really seem that much different than America.  I remember thinking “Where are the cottages?!?!?!” but, when we got inside our hostel and met some cool people at the front desk I felt more foreign. :)

They were kind enough to let us get a locker and put our stuff there while we waited for our room to be ready.  We crashed on the couch in the theater basement for 3hrs.  BIG MISTAKE!

We went to eat dinner at this cool little pub called “O’Sheas”... it was good!!!!  The ketchup here tastes SOOO different.  But it was all lovely.

We met up with our roomates... Fanny from Canada... Teddy and Olga from Bulgaria.  They were pretty cool.  We all went pub crawling that night.. I didn’t really enjoy it as much cuz I was a cranky pants and I don’t like beer :p but it was still a good experience!

Unfortunately, that night we could not sleep a wink.... I think we both got maybe 3hrs before we had to get up again and get to our bus for Galway and the Cliffs of Moher.  

The bus ride was FREEZING but everyone on the bus was super nice. :)  We made a coffee stop (thank God...) and then on our merry way.  We stopped on the side of a road and got a new tour guide (that was a little unsettling) but he turned out to be the coolest tour guide I have ever been with anywhere!  His name was Paul.  He made it known it twice.

We then made it to Galway and it was raining and chilly.... Fiona (love it!) was our guide.  It was pretty cool listening to all the history of Galway.  Its pretty amazing how much comes from here.  We went into the church of St. Nicholas where Christopher Columbus came to pray often before he discovered America....and also the home church of Jane Eyre.  Lots of history in there...

We walked around some more and it was just all fascinating and beautiful.  We went and ate at this pub while we were waiting to go to the Cliffs... Meg was able to get in a good hour nap... but I was thinking “Sheesh you are missing out on the ride and scenery!” but I nudged her and she did not budge.  Oh, well... at least I got to see it ;)

When we were eating Meg and our little Canadian friend had a disagreement on if you should carry around cash or not.  When Meg walked away she asked me how long were we traveling together and this is why she travels alone. hahaha.... I let Meg do all the dirty work, because I’m just too nice ;)

When we got to the cliffs of Moher it took our breath away.. Seriously, seeing what all God has created in other areas of the world is completely amazing.  It really does make you think and appreciate Him all the more.  It was the most beautiful place I have ever seen in my whole life.

Thank God we got there when we did because an hour later it was so misty and rainy you couldn’t even see 100yards in front of you.  It forced us to all go into the “hobbit holes” as I call them... the gift shops built into the hills...which is where we met Mr. Kentucky.  He was being alittle nosey butting into our discussion on whether or not I would get charged if I used my phone on WiFi or not... He chatted Meg up for like 15mins about mostly himself and his adventures... of course Meg butted in alot.  Made for each other? Yes.  While I felt like the third awkward wheel standing there, the guys dad came up and said “Well, son.. who are your friends here”... and well, thats how they got our names. But he definitely didn’t care about mine haha.  We didn’t catch his name which is why he is Mr. Kentucky because that is where he was from.

From there we went to visit more sites... we went to some 1,000 yr old tombs where we were just minding our own business when I spot a flower... Meg asked if you could eat those hahahaa... Well, I picked it.  And out of no where came this guard with some stick yelling at us.  He was pointing at me saying how “Nobody can ever enjoy this flower again” because I picked it...and it was a big fine.  And he was so mad he just walked off.... Too bad he said we should have read the signs that were NOT there.  I was so ashamed :(

Then we went to the circles that were really old made by Celtic tribes and they were off the beaten path of the tour but Paul our guide knew they had just cleared it up and we were one of the firsts to see it.

On the way back it was definitely freezing.... but good.

We took another nap on the way back, and that was also another mistake... we could NOT sleep again last night.  Oh, well.... we slept in this morning and finally woke up.  We got up and our new roomies (who we don’t know their names) had left some smelllllly chinese food in here and I think I am DYING of the smell... They should be evicted.

We went to the Jameson Distillery today and the Guiness Brewery.  It was tons of fun.  The Jameson was pretty cool... Meg volunteered to be a taste tester for the end of the tour.  She did good... pouring all 3 whiskeys into her one glass of Cranberry juice and Jameson whiskey... James (our guide) said he had never seen anyone do that and everyone got a good laugh.

After, we went and ate the best Irish cheeseburgers we’ve ever had!  We just got back and are pretty tired.... we found out that our ferry might not be running tomorrow so I hope it doesn’t keep us from moving on to London!

All this being said, I LOVE IRELAND!  Its gorgeous and I would love to stay here.  Everyone (besides the flower nazi) here are the NICEST people in the world!  And their accents are incredible. :)

Alright folks.. hope you have enjoyed a little bit of this journey we have started ;) Will try to blog the day before we leave every place while its all fresh on my mind. :)

As they say here in Ireland “Thanks a million...’ ;0)

the year of changes...

It has been a long time since I have blogged....and SOOOO much has happened since my last post.  I couldn't have even imagined up all the events that have transpired so far this year and what is yet to come..
If you had told me last year that I would move into a new apartment, have a new great job, and be planning a months worth of a trip to Europe all within the same month... I probably would have told you that you were completely insane and you were thinking of someone else.  Not me.  Not me the Bekah that is scared of changes and taking that first step.  I must say, the week after I settled into my job and new place...it all hit me.  The reality of everything that just happened was very overwhelming and I had a mini melt down.  I'm thankful for the friends and family that kept encouraging me that it would all be ok..  I believe it will.. At times I am scared that I will fail and it won't all come together.. but when I'm at my lowest, God is at His highest and lifts me up.

I am sure everyone is tired of hearing about this upcoming trip ;) seeing how I talk about it all the time.  But I am just so tickled beyond belief that this is actually happening!  I get choked up just thinking about it.  I can't believe that I will be in the most beautiful places in the world in just a few short weeks.  I cannot wait for the journey that God has ahead for me.  I definitely feel Gods hand orchestrating all of my steps...He is waiting for me in Europe.. it is going to be such a spiritual journey of renewing and refreshing of my heart and soul.  I hope it is blessed and just the best possible thing for my little heart.  I hope I can find myself again and get to the root of what I need in life right now.  I want to be this happy person, who is genuine and caring and happy and confident in who I am and what I am put on this earth to do.  I want to conquer fears and LIVE.  I don't want to merely exist, and up until this last year I feel like I have had great experiences but so scared to live out what I need to.  God has definitely shaken up my world and woke me up from this sleep of just existing.

Everything and everyone in my life up to this point have all been there for a reason.. And even though it hasn't always been easy... I can see now, looking back, all the reasons for everything that has happened.  I'm so thankful for everything that it has created me to be now..and look forward to what it will guide me to in my future.

I will be blogging my journey over seas and will try to post as much as time will allow. :)  So stay tuned!  It will be exciting :0)

Pick a card... any card!

So, I'm sitting here typing out my general thoughts... and random stuff just pops into my head about life and everything in general.  And I was just wondering about the cards I had been dealt.  My cards in life.

Why did I end up with the ones I did?  Did I truly pick them out?  God threw the cards my way and I guess I did ultimately end up choosing which ones I wanted... I mean, you never know what life is gonna throw at you... and usually its a wild card... and those, you don't really pick I guess... God does.  But he knows whats going on anyways, so I guess its ok.

We have to live with what we choose.  Be it where we live, work, how we interact with others... who we surround ourselves with and who we don't.  Chances we take and chances we lose.  We mostly choose it all.... because God gave us free will.  He is the ultimate knower of all things, so He is the only one not surprised by what we do.

Simple post today just posing the question.... When God hands you a card... or lays out a whole deck.. which one will you choose?  Will you deal with that you got?  Will you trade it in?  How will you handle the wild cards thrown at you?  We all know what happens when the game of life ends... if we know Jesus, then we WIN! We get the best prize of all.  All we have to do is just get through the game and do the best with what we've got until we get to the prize!