Goodness, my heart is full.
My beautiful new goddaughter was born on the 22nd of May! Her name is Rosalie Hope and she weighed a whopping 9lbs 13.5oz!!
Of course, the plan was that she would be born while I was there staying with her lovely family for 9 days to be on hand to help with their 2-year-old, my other goddaughter Lily! But... babies come when they come... And instead she was born the day Charles and I were headed off to Ireland!
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| The stunning Dingle Bay County Kerry, Ireland |
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| I CANNOT get enough of the live traditional Irish music in the pubs! |
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| Oh.My.Heart. |
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| I am so captured by the beauty of Ireland |
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| ...And by this handsome man I love. |
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| Ross Castle on Lower Killarney Lake Killarney National Park, Ireland |
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| Ross Castle |
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| One of our highlights of the trip: we hired a rowboat and rowed out onto the lake surrounded by mountains on all sides and with Ross Castle in the background! It was stunning... And I had my own handsome gentleman rower :) |
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| Rowing out into Lower Killarney Lake |
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| Mmmm, the Irish beauty Killarney National Park, Ireland |
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| Ice cream made from the milk of the rare Kerry cow! Mine was Baileys flavoured :) |
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| Baileys Coffee! Mmm, mmm, good. |
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| My tall, dark, and handsome stud enjoying a Guinness in Ireland :) |
Our trip lasted effectively only 2 and half days, but it was so perfectly wonderful being back in my beloved Ireland and with my beloved man! Something about the wide open, expansive beauty of Ireland gives me a sense of God's nearness. The majesty to be seen from every vantage point points me to His majesty. Oh, I am SO thankful for Ireland! And for the precious moments spent with Charles there. I know it sounds silly, but somehow I am constantly surprised by the strength of my own love for this man. I just assume I can't feel any more love for him than I already do, and then all of a sudden, I realize that it goes deeper. We're both caught unawares by the power of this romance He's given us. So thankful...
And one final note from the week: my wonderful grandpa turned 80 back in Minnesota!! My whole extended family got together to celebrate. My farmer/carpenter grandpa from the Nebraska prairies has taught me a few things about what it means to be a good man-- from his big teddy bear heart quick to shed a tear at the tender moments to his giant, work-hardened hands quick to defend and protect his family or indeed the vulnerable of all kinds. His lasting legacy in my life has been how very protected he makes me feel, and so cherished... I love my Grandpa so!
It's amazing how refreshed I feel. It's incredible how sweet it is to feel so much happiness for an extended period of time when you've spent time in the low places. Continually, my good God teaches me about the nature of hope; the nature of trust. I return to my current state in life today and it doesn't fill me with excitement. Some things I prayed so hard and so deeply for have yet to happen so this return is not sweet like it might have been... but I know that I can trust Him. Because He is good. And his plans for me are for my very best, and for His glory. I know this, because I know He loves me, and cannot act outside of that love...
So here's to the giver of good gifts, the maker of good memories, this kind, kind King who created magical places like the wild terrain of Ireland, and who lovingly shaped my handsome man and planned our meeting from the dawning of time. This kind, kind King who safely delivered sweet baby Rosalie and brought her Mummy safely through the scares that led to a C-section birth. This kind, kind King who gave me this Grandfather who has always made me feel loved and cherished, even in his hard, farmerish way :), and has brought him through 80 years of life experience (including 60 years of loving married commitment to my Grandma!) This kind, kind King who knows so intimately the desires of this achey little heart of mine, and who knows so intimately His best for this same little heart and will move heaven and earth to bring it to that best. I am so thankful He never gives up on me...
What do you have to be thankful to Him for today?
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