Exceeding Abundantly Trip to Ireland

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Eph 3:20
We have just come back from two weeks in southern Ireland. We made the decision early on not to try to see everything, but to thoroughly enjoy what we did see. This was not a marathon, but a vacation to celebrate 30 years of marriage.
Writer Frank O’Connor said, “It would take more than one lifetime to discover the reason for all the ruins in Ireland, but it sure makes for a diverting tour of discovery trying at least to scratch the surface.”
It was a dream we had as a couple since day one.
We were met at the Dublin airport by a dear friend. John lives and works in Dublin and for the next 72 hours showed us Dublin's highlights from the Ha'penny Bridge to The Hole in the Wall. He took us to Newgrange which is over 5,000 years and to my first castle.
John lives in Phoenix Park, Europe's largest urban park - five times the size of London's Hyde Park, double the size of New York's Central Park. Aras an Uachtaráin,
the residence of the Irish president is also in Phoenix Park.
John lives in the Bailiff's Manor, an 1835 stone manor. Very grand, but at the same time simple. His job affords him this luxury. We stayed there at the beginning of the trip. it is surrounded by more than seven miles of solid stone walls, access is via the eight major gates and six smaller (pedestrian) gates. One of those gates is round to allow the ladies access with their full petticoats over a century ago. Phoenix Park was the old hunting grounds of King Charles II and was stocked with deer in the 1700's. Descendants of these deer(about 600) still make their home there. In fact, when we came home Thursday about midnight, we were surprised to see over 50 of them literally yards from the road sprawled across the lawn.
John heads up Cursillo for Dublin. It was at Cursillo that my husband met the Lord 29 years ago. So we went to his group gathering Thursday evening to share our testimony about Cursillo. It was one of the sweetest moments of trip. There was a lot of healing that night.
Over the next week, I will share more of our trip.
We just give God all of the praise and glory. We could have never put together a trip like the one He planned.
To see a a few pictures from our first three days in Dublin, go to:
http://partoftriptoireland.shutterfly.com/

The Hand of the Father

Ray and I have seen the hand of the Father in designing our travel plans for Ireland. This week he got a letter from his Aunt Anna, 83, who gave him towns and names names of ancestors to seek in the Waterford area. This will be a delightful hide and seek game.
He has given us the ability to exchange dollars into Euros at no fee.
He has given us a guide for Dublin.
The myriad of ways that He has woven this adventure together is awesome.
I am reminded daily of how much our Father god loves us.
We are trusting Him at a level we have never trusted Him before. Leaving our familial support and ways behind, we are going on an adventure with God and have no idea what each day will hold. We decided NOT to make a single reservation for lodging, but rather go where the Father leads us. We want to be a blessing to the people there and are expecting to see God's hand in it.
Can you take six minutes to listen to this Love Letter from the Father?
You see He loves you as much as He does us for He is not a respector of persons.

We've Got Our Tickets to Ireland!

We came close to buying our tickets last Saturday, but something said wait. We did and saved over $300!
We believe God is going to meet every expense perfectly and expect this to be an "exceedingly abundantly" second honeymoon. Ray is certainly God's gift to me and I am looking forward to some one on one time with him going back to his roots in Dungarvan.
Please keep us in your prayers. We are expecting Divine appointments and encounters.
Two special videos for you to watch!

Reach for the Stars

"When you reach for the stars you may not quite get one, but you won't come up with a handful of mud either." Leo Burnett

Planning for our trip to Ireland is a huge reach for the stars for us. I feel with all of my heart that it is going to a trip of a lifetime. I have such expectancy.
Because Ray found his way around South Africa and Lesotho with no problems, I have every confidence in planning a road trip with him through Ireland.

We are returning to the land of his roots and plan to visit the town his family came from, Dungarvin near Waterford. We want a simple laid back vacation, a people's holiday, if you will.

I am sure half the fun will be in the planning.

I encourage you to reach for the stars as well. When God deposits something in your heart, protect it and when times are hard, remember what He told you. Not what the circumstances tell you, but His promises to you.