Happy Mother's Day, USA!

Here, it's just like any other day. It's always weird to think about what people are doing back home, back in Minnesota, and about how different the weather looks and how different the people look and sound and walk and joke and everything. Like today, the papers were probably filled with ads this week for different Mother's Day deals and specials at the florist, the department stores, the restaurants, everything. Whereas here, Mother's Day has come and gone. Mums here have already been celebrated. I had to buy my card to mail home at the end of March because otherwise I never would've found one this time of year here.

But today, I've got a Skype time with my own mum. It's definitely not going to be the same as being at home to tell her, but it'll suit for the time being.

Happy Mother's Day!

We haven't talked much this week, I see...

It really was a strange sort of week. I don't feel I got much of anything accomplished.

The KFC program on Tuesday went well, except for the fact that I got a headache during the end of it--a rare occurrence for me. (Oh, and here they don't call it a headache, they'd call it a "sore head".) I guess I need to work on my sleep and hydration patterns. Time to invest in an aluminum watter bottle or something.

Following the program, because of Holy Week, we went down to a special youth event at the Church of Ireland and just kind of hung out with the kids. I laughed along with a couple girls after one dropped her ice cream cone in the bathroom--oh, to be 15 again! And I stayed up much too late that night with all my thoughts pooling up and then running around once the lights were off in my bedroom.

Wednesday, Ben's car went out of commission. Now he's been demoted to bicyclist, and we've been demoted to bumming rides/working from home today. There's so much to get done before next Wednesday (as that's when our 4-day long StreetReach event begins, which I'll inform you of later), plus next Tuesday's KFC lesson, plus we have Monday off as a holiday...AY YAI YAI. Lord, give me patience...and speed when Tuesday comes.

Yesterday was just kind of depressing. But the intern from the Church of Ireland came in with a gaggle of teens, so that brightened my day for the 20 minutes they were in the Centre.

I really shouldn't be so down. I've got so much to be thankful for.

I'm starting to get back into the Word again.

I get to sing and lead worship during StreetReach, something I've always wanted to do.

I got to Skype with girls on Wednesday, and get to do so again tonight.

I received a package from one girl on Wednesday with Bananagrams and a card inside.

I received another package from my mom this morning with a load of Easter stuff inside!

I have fantastic friends, even if they are just as stranded as I am at the minute.

I got into the best housing possible at Crown next year, which will keep me sane after leaving NI.

And to top it all off, I'm in stinking EUROPE. Living in Northern Ireland. Every single day.

So, today, I'm going to enjoy my day off. I should take it as a work-from-home day, but I doubt I will. I'll take advantage of the sun, of the time to knit and watch some garbage on TV, of the time and space to deal with some of the thoughts rushing through my head of late. It'll be a good day.

Oh, and a shout-out:

Aunt Kathy, next time I go to the store I'm going to be looking for the ingredients for all those fab recipes. :)

Saturday, a.k.a. a day of soup, tea, and laundry

No plans today, and that's swell. I didn't even set an alarm to wake up this morning, which meant my day didn't start until 11:30am (something I would've hated when I was back in the States, but something I'm growing used to now that I'm here and the days are much calmer). I've been listening to this song all day thus far, and will continue to do so until the lyrics are swimming around in my head.

This evening:

Playing my worship music as loud as I can stand, and spending a chill night at home by myself, as Lexie is going to a youth event at a church in Belfast with a group of friends. (I would go, but I think I need a night alone. Always having a shadow/being a shadow is not a way to live.)

Skype date with Dianne and Becca from Crown, YES. Love these girls. And simply cannot wait to see their faces and hear their voices.

Cleaning the bathroom, perhaps. I know, not exactly a fun task...but I always feel refreshed after it's done. Hopefully tonight will have the same effect.

Taking it easy with soup and tea. I will get rid of this sinus cold. I will, I will.