Grandma comes to Ireland!

With Bret away at work, and additional meetings popping up that would keep him away in October, I called my mom. I am loving Ireland, but worried I might be getting worn down with the stress of the move, moving boxes, new school schedules and such. Within 5 days of my call, I picked up my amazing mom from the Dublin airport and determined to keep her awake that first day by taking her out shopping!

The kids and I were SO thrilled when she arrived! We have the greatest time when my mom comes. She helps with homework, loves to take walks, listens as the kids read to her, makes fabulous drawings I steal from her and later frame, is happy to spend the day lounging around the house and equally happy to jump in the car and run to the local hardware store with me to get new parts for the shower. She is easy, helpful, fun and my best friend. What a blessing to have her with us for three weeks.

 

One weekend, when the kids were home I talked everyone into a walk. I have a terrible sense of direction and apparently no awareness of distance. Our target location was a park near two villages down... I didn't realize just how far it was. The kids barely made it and we took the subway back (it was three stops away!)  The kids ran between us playing "midgit attack" and other nonsense games and I kept checking my phone and saying the park was just around the corner. Or the next corner. Or the next...



We took her to Weston's soccer practice, the Pet Stop (where she witnessed Shaynie pleading for a hamster, we made bread, ran kids to birthday parties,we watched Downton Abbey, we arranged my paintings and furniture, we hiked along the coast, and we ate yummy food!



Homemade French onion soup for two!



Shaynie's best friend had a birthday party where all the girls got to have horse riding lessons--Shaynie was in HEAVEN!



Bret came home for a few days and we all took a hike up the coast.

Dalkey and our LDS Branch

I am loving Dalkey. The village is so small and friendly. We wave at most of the shopkeepers and I almost feel badly when I don't go in to eat at the local cafes. They have been so nice and welcoming to us as part of the community. Especially the few little spots around Bret's office as we see them so often. The weather has been gorgeous. It is cold when it's windy, but most days a scarf and light jacket are fine and the sun has been frequent and warm. I am sure we will get more rain, it will rain often in the day, but will clear up shortly after so I don't mind it at all. I'm trying to talk Bret into getting a dog. I miss having little Cozette and the parks and views afford the most delightful walks. I've been swimming in the Irish sea now 4 times. Its very cold when you first get in, but soon it becomes tolerable and sends a real surge of energy that seems to last the rest of the day.

The branch is great. It is small and lacks many Priesthood members, but the Sunday School teacher is a young guy who worked at FARMS under Nibley and is absolutely first rate. I enjoy his classes immensely. They are a lovely Irish family that live quite far south on the border of our branch in the countryside and have four young kids, the oldest is our only Young Man--I think he is 12.

The branch president is a lovely Irish Catholic convert who is a gardener by trade and as humble and kind as you imagine. His wife is my favorite. She's likely in her late 50's and also the only member in her Irish family. She served a mission to Japan years ago. Wait, I lied. I think my favorite lady is a tiny, white haired, spunky Irish widow who must be mid-80's-ish and tells the most wonderful stories in her strong accent. She reminds me of my grandmother and shares the same name, Jean. I told her that I'd adopted her and she smiled while folding her arms across her chest and said, "Well, that's lovely lass. We'll see if you don't change your mind 'bout that as you get to know be better." LOL. There also happen to be two other American families who just moved into the ward. All three of the women are originally from Washington state! I thought that a crazy coincidence! Both the other families are working for Microsoft. One is a couple with children grown, and the other a mother and her 4 young children whose husband has been inactive for 9 years. We are looking forward to having them over.

The missionary work is fabulous. My sweet daughter has already been asked about the chruch by her Religious Studies teacher. Apparently Shaynie is the only one who knew any of the answers about Christ's life and works as they reviewed some of the New Testament. I was amazed to hear that Shayne was able to recall the miracle at the Pool of Bethesda (She told the story as the man who couldn't get to the water in time to be healed because others were faster when the angels had stirred the water. So Christ came and healed him. I had shared that story for FHE when I was teaching New Testament in Sunday School early last year--that's a long time ago!) As well as other examples of Christ's healing the blind, raising Lazarus from the dead, walking on the water.... The teacher asked Shayne if she had a website for her church and Shaynie told her www.pleasantview5thward.com (this was the name of our ward in Provo). As that link didn't work, Shayne remembered and suggested they try "www.lds.com." (the actual website is www.lds.org, so I'm wondering if the woman is still confused.) I told Shayne we can write a note in a Book of Mormon and give it to her teacher this next week when they return to school. Exciting!

We had the Elders for dinner the day my mom left and the night before we took off here to Cyprus for a vacation. They are a great set of Elders and we're excited to help them with the work. There are many members who have gone a bit inactive, and we've not had Elders in our branch for a while, so we have lots of opportunities to keep them busy. I've also met a few women at school and I was going to start a weekly hike and a book club to get some of these women into my home and familiar with what we believe. It'll be great.



I loved General Conference. I think my favorite talk was Elder Holland's on the Sunday morning session. He spoke about the early disciples of Christ. He spoke with such clarity and conviction. I notice that in the last few years Elder Holland seems to be quite clear that his role as an apostle is to bear a solemn witness of truth. I'm inspired and amazed at it's power and invitation. I also liked Bednar, Uchdorf, and especially Eyring.

The island is calling!

We never seem to tire of taking pictures of Dalkey island... now we just need to find a way to get out there and explore... We could swim, as some people do, but with the cold water and strong currents, we have not summoned enough courage. Right now we will just enjoy the fishing, the view, and patiently wait for our kayaks to arrive!

Nice Walk

Nancy is in town, so we are trying to do some exploring. the other day we woke to sunshine and calm weather, so we decided to explore our surroundings with a walk up Killiney hill.  It was great.  We even discovered a new swimming spot in Killiney bay. In the picture above you can just make out a few brave souls warming in the sun after a chilly dip.  We were not sure if they were fully dressed as many people swim in the nude. We kept our distance.

This is a view looking back at Dalkey island. From here we ascended the hill up a long flight of stone stairs. Soon we were in a park, surrounded by dogs and their owners. Rebekah was in Heaven.  It seems almost everyone here wants to talk, and all the dogs enjoy a good scratch.

We ended our walk in the village, admiring the charming houses, gardens and doors. They enjoying painting them bright colors  which adds some falir to the otherwise monotonous brick.

In Ireland, when you get  a nice sunny day, I think it is best to drop whatever you are doing and go enjoy it, You are never sure when another will roll around!

Kids settling in

The kids are just about to finish thier first term at Castle Park.  They seem to be doing okay. Both are constantly gettign invited to birthday parties, and kept active with after school hobbies and activities.  Weston is involved in rugby, and soccer.  Shayne is doing swimming and field hockey.

Both are enjoying a 'superstars' class where they learn and preform songs from Bradway muscicals. Right now they are working on "you've got to pick a pocket or two' from Oliver.  We practice singing on our walk from school to my office. Weston even practices picking my pocket?

This last Saturday, we watched Wes play in a soccer tournament. It was a beautiful day, but the bitting cold wind made it rough on the parents. We decided to end the event with a nice cup of hot chocolate at Maud's in the village. Weston decided he may like rugby better, because of the 'contact'. That helped explain a few of his 'tackles' in soccer earlier that day! We will have to work on that. Then again the Irish love Hurling and Gaelic football, so they seem to have no issues with rough play.

I love the smell of fresh bread in the morning!

Ever since Rebekah was given a batch of sour dough start this summer, she has been a baking machine. Since our move to Dublin, things have only improved. It seems the kitchen island is forever covered in flour, and the house full of the warm, comfortable and inviting smell of fresh bread.  She has been experimenting with small loaves, and each one seems to look and tast better then the last. It is a nice time to be in the Jackson household. The only one at risk is the butter.

Gone Fishin'

The street in front of our house is often packed with fishermen, regardless of the day or weather conditions ( and for some reason, most seem to be from the Philippines).  We figured they knew something we didn't. So we bought a reel and tackle, and made our way to the rocks.  We had no idea what we were doing.  However, after a few attempts, Weston hauled in a line of fish (we think they are mackerel?).  After throwing them back, we tried a few more times, and found more successes. It was addictive. And then, Weston cast close to shore, and our line got stuck in the rocks. We had to cut the line. Our day of fishing was done, almost before it began. Now I remember why I found this sport frustrating  Regardless it was a beautiful day, and great to be out there with Wes!