Three in One (kinda like the Trinity...)

I haven't been good about posting, so here are three posts in one. Don't worry I'll try to keep them short!

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT SUNDAY....

While it is not chicken and baked beans or cat napping on the porch swing as Craig Morgan sings, there is a lot I have come to love about Sunday. In fact, I have decided that Sunday is my favorite day of the week here in Belfast. Fortwilliam and Macrory Presbyterian is a place that feels like home. I have gotten use to keeping my coat on through the service, having a new minister each week, and singing hymns without any music- only words. I enjoy seeing my youth in the morning, and the other people in the congregation who I have come to know. Yesterday was the Sunday School Christmas play during the service. The kids were really cute and did a great job. I wish I had taken pictures... Then the guest minister asked for volunteers for her Epilogue. She suggested some of the other young people come up, and I looked over my shoulder at my youth, but none of them moved. So I got up. As soon as I did, I felt like momma duck because up they all came, and I decided I would call them out by name if they didn't. haha, I am so kind huh? We were given mixed up letters and had to order ourselves to spell a word. The word was Emmanuel.

After church, I tend to have the house to myself. I have started a Sunday Afternoon Cleaning that I love. I know, me loving to clean... its a HUGE shock. I guess its a sense of accomplishment, something that isn't always evident in my work here. The house looks better and I feel better. Yesterday I scrubbed the front door (it was covered in dirty and red berry stains from the kids), hoovered, organized the closet and the drawer of travel brochures, and washing my windows- which involved me hanging out of them to wash the outside... a funny site had I been seen...

Last night was the candlelight carol service. The youth lit the candles for people as they arrived. I was very excited to be part of a service where I got to hold my own candle! UPC stopped letting us hold candles when I was probably 13 or so, too many flaming hairs and carpets covered in wax. The lanterns on the ends of pews are nice, but its just not the same. The church was covered in candles, our Christmas tree that we decorated looked wonderful, and the atmosphere of the church was great.The service was full of carols, solos and full congregation renditions, and 4 Christmas readings each from a different nativity characters view point. Joesph, Mary, the Shepherd, and the Innkeeper. It was really good, three of my youth and I read the parts. After I visited with my youth and other members of the congregation. We had traditional Christmas treats: Mince Pies. I am not all that big of a fan, but the shortbread was good! Every time I leave that building, I realize how much I enjoy my time there, how great the youth I work with are, and how fun the families are. Even if they pick on me : )


CHRISTMAS TIME!


The Best way I know to tell you about Christmas thus far, or December in Belfast, is in pictures. Here we go: Our wee little 3 ft. fake Christmas tree that I love, My first selection box- a box with all different kids of chocolate packaged especially for Christmas, Our inner door with the fake snow I decorated with, a Christmas Cracker-more to come when we crack them, the elf hat we found in the house, again that I love!, an ugly bow decorated Christmas tree- blue and gold too (eww), The wreath on our front door, our three stockings hung with tape on our mantle, presents of course! Needless to say, this house is pretty festive. And I like it. Christmas Morning very early Maura has invited me over to breakfast. Then I will go to a Christmas Day service (that will be something very new!) then home with the McGrath Family for Christmas Day. I am staying with them Monday night, and on boxing day morning will be doing a polar bear type swim for charity. Yes, I am going to jump into the Irish Sea in the middle of December... Once I thaw out, I will be headed to the McCormick's for Boxing Day. Having amazing families include me in their holidays is so wonderful and I am so incredibly grateful. I am truly looking forward to both of these days!


ALL IN THE NAME OF CULTURAL IMMERSION... haha

I noticed shortly after arriving in Nireland that fashion is huge over here. I attribute this to the European location, where fashion happens here first. The clothes, the access of designer perfume in a local drugstore, the high heels always. With this comes the norm of colouring ones hair. I have needed to get my hair cut for so very long, and finally just called and made an appointment. I decided that since it was going to change length, I would just make all the changes at once. I have been debating playing with the colour of my hair for a long time and here seemed like the perfect place to do it. NOT that I fully support conformity, but all are accepted here - purple hair, badly died red, and streaky bleach blondes alike. So, needless to say, you might not recognize me if my plane home were to land tomorrow and you were waiting with insatiable anticipation to see me. My parents, mainly mom, has anxiously awaited these pictures, so I know I am filling a need by posting them. I am not sure how I feel about it still, thus the delay in posting. But it is slowly growing on me.... If you hate it, please don't tell me...



So there ya go. That's whats new around here. I just hung some lights outside today! I will have to take pictures tonight once it gets dark! I hope you are all ready for Christmas, and I am sure those who had exams are glad to be done! That is one thing I very much don't miss about Appalachian! However, App won the national football championship for the second year in a row last Friday! I was very sad to miss that! But GOOO Mountaineers! haha. (and Tarheels of course... #2 in the nation, woo woo.)
xoxo