First Easter in Texas

Happy Easter

 

The last week in March had been a bit CRAZY and stressful for me.

I haven't had one of those week as the days goes on it gets progressively worse.

I guess I was due

At the beginning of the week I told my husband that when the rain comes

the sunshine will come out as I was trying hard to be positive.

He smile and replied "You can drown in the rain"

 

My husband brought this home for me a week before Easter.

It had a very strong fragrance and excited to plant it for the enjoyment of coming years.

 

By Wednesday evening I felt as though I was drowning

Then I realized I should be preparing for Easter

and remembering the true meaning of Easter

and not the Easter Bunny.

 

When I usually want to switch gears I bake and cook

It's very therapeudic for me.

I haven't really figured out the art of baking bread

but I made a attempt and it wasn't bad.

I want our family to start eating more fresh fruits and vegetables

and less processed foods

So this summer my goal is to figure the tricks to making breads

and filling our table with healthly choices.

I even made some fresh salsa

 

 

 

So even though this was a hard week we had so many wonderful things happen

Our friends went to Mexico and brought us back a beautiful gift.

 

 

I can't even describe the wonderful feelings I have realizing our friends went

on vacation and thought of us.

Our friends here take such good care of us and have become family.

During holidays celebrations they always make sure to invite us over.

We've discover in Texas Easter is huge.

All the grocery stores are packed and people camp out in the park for a week

to make sure they have the perfect spot to celebrate Easter.

 

On Saturday I checked our mail box and waiting for me was a package from

my grandma and a card  from my mom.

 

Hand written letters are the best...

 

 

I just sat and looked at the package and letter feeling so grateful for my family

and realizing everything else doesn't matter.

 

I love Easter and Spring time.

All the trees and flowers in bloom with the different shades of color.

Grateful to have the freedom of religion

To go to church, be around good people and have the blessings of working with the little children.

Each week I never know what the children are going to say

which usually makes me smile and laugh

I love that they want to sit on my lap, tell me about their dresses/toys and siblings and that they want to hold my hand and even take time for potty breaks.

I can really understand why Jesus loves the little children.

 

I love that I have a hard working husband and is really good to me.

Today he came home and surprised me with tulips, he really knows me so well.

 

 

While making my red potato salad, I just had to dye some eggs

it just wouldn't feel like Easter if I didn't.

 

 

 

 

 

I love giving gifts and putting my heart into the outer presentation of the gift

 

My husband Easter basket.

 

 

I feel the same way about my dinner table

I love decorating and making it feel warm and inviting

The dinner table is so important it's where the bonding and talking

of relationships form.

Some of the best deep felt conversations have happened over

a warm plate of food.

 

 

 

Just as we started a conversation about how blessed we are

a HUGE thunderstrom came by.

I joked wouldn't it be fitting if on a day of

celebrating the Resurrection of Christ

what if he decided to come

and bring Universal PEACE...

 

 

 

HAPPY EASTER!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

The last few weeks I've been thinking about St. Patrick's Day

 

Ireland and her people

 

Land of pristine lakes, Verdant valleys and pastoral country side.
Sea swept coastlines, cliffs that climb up and skyward from the ocean waves.
Sun that warms both heart and summer air, casting long
Shadows upon the mist that lingers in the sweet meadow.
Music that delights the ear, while settings one’s heart a-flutter.

“Danny Boy” not just a song, but a nations "anthem"
Brilliant minds, scholars, poets, playwright, authors and men
of letters. Great universities and halls of higher learning.

Great statesman and parliamentarians.
St. Patrick her holy patron.
The harsh famines that gave way to the tidal wave of immigration that
never diminished the Irish spirit and gift of laughter of her great

People who contributed resource and talent to their newly adopted home-lands.

 

In 2004, I lived in Ireland for nine months serving a mission for my church.

 

I've begun writing about the journey to Ireland and maybe one day I'll have the courage

to press the publish button on that entry.



Lately I've been spending quite a few hours in my craft room which is filled with all my books, scrapbooking supples and fabrics that one day I hope I'll have organized.

My husband has often found me sitting on the floor surrounded by piles of pictures from my precious time in Ireland. Al will peek his head in and ask "what are you doing?"



Looking back during that time I was so full of happiness for the future and fullfilling my dreams.

 

The view from our apartment in Galway



Some of those dreams still have not been fullfilled due to circumstances beyond my control and this week I've come to realize I can make new dreams to accomplish and that my world will and can be full of happiness.



Before I left Ireland I wrote down some goals and one of those goals was to volunteer in a Children's Hospital. Finally eight years later I'm volunteering in a local Children's Hospital. I'm loving the time I have with all the children and families. It gives me clarity and perspective which is exactly what I need.

 

 

Once again got caught playing with the kids.

So this St. Patrick's Day I'm reminding myself that anything is possible because that's what my time in Ireland taught me.



JUST KEEP MOVING...

An important lesson that I learned when it's pouring rain, getting chased by dogs or you're about to miss the bus. You move and you move fast.

 Went for a hike in Bray, Ireland

 Discovered a swing.

I've never been very graceful:)
Yep, I slid all the way down!

Often times you get knocked down and you just get up and try again.

 Our view after our hike

 

Sometimes I'll have current experiences that give me anxiety and chest pains. Having doubts that I'm not strong enough and having feelings of wanting to give up. Then I'll think of experiences I had in Ireland and think well I endured that back then so I can do this and off I go.

Church of Ireland: I would marvel

at the beautiful churches.

Ireland is such a beautiful place and I wanted to share some of that beauty. It's hard to pick and choose certain photos so in the next few weeks I'll work on posting more and sharing experiences from my perspective of Ireland.

My dad picked me up from Ireland and I had the opporunity to show him around Dublin and we traveled to London, Paris, Sweden, and Denmark. When we boarded our final flight back to the States I honestly remember thinking I'm coming back and in my mind I thought it would be soon...

I've been wanting to go back since our plane landed in Seattle and hoping I can go back to Ireland with my husband and show him the land that began filling my heart with endless possabilities...

So today I wanted to have a little celebration

 Irish Soda Bread

Homemade Lime Green Punch

 Irish Green Potato Soup

Hard Work pays off in the FUTURE
Luck pays off now!