Celebrating Our New House

At the end of May Matt and I traveled home to Arizona in hopes of buying a house. I got to go for four whole weeks and Matt came for two. I went a week ahead of him to start the house shopping process with our favorite realtor, Matt's dad. We saw many nice houses and put offers in on a few but finally decided on one that I saw the very first day. It was one that Matt's dad found. He suggested we look at even though I was convinced it was out of our price range. When I first saw it I thought Matt would like it even though the house was outdated and needed a lot of love. I didn't think it was a big deal that is was stuck in the 70's because Matt and I did some work to our first house and really enjoyed it. So we put an offer in on it and after a little wheelin' and dealin' by our talented realtor we got it for a good price. As of today the house is officially ours and we just finished up a bottle of champagne in celebration. Here are some pictures to give you an idea of the house. Its a 3 bedroom burnt adobe house with great mountain views and in a fantastic area of town. We have been having tons of fun over the last month planning all the things we want to do it when we move back to Arizona someday. Thanks and praise be to God who is the giver of all good things!

Dublin's Own, The Fighting

Last Friday night Matt and I headed into the city center to support a friend of ours whose band just released their first EP. The band is called The Fighting and we know the front man, Len and the lead guitar player, Chris. Both of these guys go to my church. In addition to this Len also just happens to be the beau of my good friend, Catrin the Welshie.

We saw Len play one time before this at house gig where it was just him and his acoustic guitar. This gig at the pub was much different as it was the full band and they rocked the hizzy fo shizzy! During the concert Len even gave a shout out to Matt for his recent birthday. It was really fun to see a band we actually know. They are really talented and have some great songs. To hear some good ol' Dublin rock n' roll check out their myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/thefighting. You can also go to itunes and purchase their new EP. Enjoy!

Vienna

After spending a few days in Prague with Jamie and Steven the four of us hopped a train to Austria's capital city of Vienna. Vienna is a beautiful city but sadly much more modern than I expected it to be. The experience of this city can be summed up in a few words: Mozart, music, Opera, Lipizzaner's, and Habsurgs. While here we walked around the city center via the Ringstrasse, toured the Hofburg and Schonbrunn Palaces, saw some great live outdoor music concerts, saw the Lipizzaner stables, and enjoyed many a brat and wienerschnitzel. This was all good fun but the highlight of Vienna has to be the Opera! Though I am not an opera fan my Rick Steve's guide said standing room tickets for 3 euro were available at each show for the person who wants to see what the Opera is like. I figured when in Vienna one must go to the Opera. So we dropped in on "Tosca." We stood at the very top but we could see the stage and to my surprise there were little screens above our heads which displayed the words in English which the singers were singing. Seeing the Opera live and being able to understand it was a really cool experience. We could have stayed the whole time but our feet and backs were so sore and tired that we stayed only stayed for one act- about 50 minutes. The Opera was by far my favorite experience in Vienna and is worth a try for even the most skeptical. I would have loved to see the Lipizzaners as well but they were not performing or practicing during our lightening trip to Vienna- bummer!

Prague

In April my oldest sister Jamie and her husband Steven came to visit us. This was their first trip out of the US. While they were here the four of us went to Prague and Vienna. While in Prague we visited the Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge, the Jewish Quarter, the main square with the Astronomical Clock and Cathedrals, and the Bethlehem Chapel which was the church of the great Reformer, John Hus. Prague is a beautiful city as you will see in the pictures. It was also a fun place to eat as we enjoyed lots of goulash, dumplings, and Czech beer.

2009 Ligonier Conference Pics

In March I attended my 6th annual Ligonier Ministries National conference in Orlando, Florida with my mom, my two sisters, my mother-in-law, my friend Cbass, and a new addition who is a friend of my sister's, Donna. This conference is always one of the major highlights of my year. I love the Bible teaching, the speakers and their banter, the beautiful music of the Westminster Brass, the bookstore, and of course sharing all of this with my family and friends. After the conference each night we go out to eat at our favorite restaurants and when the conference is over we relax by the pool, shop, and eat more. It is always a good time. This year's conference was extended a bit in order to celebrate the 500th anniversary of John Calvin. The pre-conference, on Calvin, started earlier in the day so we had a few more lectures to take in than usual. The actual conference, on the Holiness of God, also went a little longer than usual. It was great to have all the speakers and to hear all their awesome teaching but I have to admit my brain gave out well before it was over. I listened to all the speakers but suffice it to say I am glad I have the mp3s so I can listen again!

This years speakers were:

• Al Moler
• Ligon Duncan
• Sincalir Ferguson
• Steven J. Lawson
• R.C. Sproul Jr.
• Derek Thomas
• Alistar Beg
• D.A. Carson
• Thabiti Anyabwile
• Robert Godfrey
• R.C. Sproul

R.C. junior and senior are always among my favorite speakers at the Ligonier conferences as well as Sinclair Ferguson. This year I was surprised to be blown away by the first sermon of Steven J. Lawson on the legacy of Calvin. This lecture was so awesome the audience gave him a standing ovation. It was my favorite lecture of the conference. If I can find a way I will post it for your listening pleasure!

Bruges, Belgium

Not too long ago Matt and I went to Belgium for the weekend. We visited Bruges and Brussels. Bruges was a pretty cool city and we had quite a fun day there. We started out by walking to the edge of town to see the old windmills. Then we toured Choco Story which is museum on the history of chocolate. The museum was very interesting and ended with a chocolate making demo and tasting. After that we walked through the city square where we had some frites under the famous bell tower. Then we walked around a little more and had a Belgian waffle. After this we we toured the Blue Moon Brewery which was very entertaining. The tour guide ripped on German beer makers the entire time claiming that Belgian beer is superior. At the end of the tour we were given a Belgian beer to try. To be honest I am not a big fan of Belgian or German beers. After this we headed over to the The Flemish Pot where we had Flemish food for lunch. I had a pancake (which was really a crepe) with a huge hunk of goat cheese wrapped in bacon with apple. It was very tasty but so rich I could not finish it. Matt had Flemish beef stew which came out in a little black pot. He was given a large bowl which the waiter filled with frites and covered with the stew. Matt's dish was also very rich. After lunch we took a boat ride around the canals where we saw many beautiful views of Bruges. Then we headed over to the Famous Chocolate shop, The Chocolate Line, where we tried Cuban Cigar flavored chocolate and peanut butter chocolate. We then stumbled across a cigar bar where we settled down for a while so Matt could have a cigar and I could have a hot chocolate. The hot chocolate came with a side of amaretto and we were also given a cup of mussels already out of their shells- I can't believe people eat these! We wrapped up our day by visiting another famous chocolate shop, Dumon, where we tried more tasty Belgian chocolate. Bruges is a fun place to visit and is worth one full day of sightseeing. It is a beautiful city full of stepped-top buildings, horses clip-clopping down the cobbled streets, and some of the world's finest chocolate. Enjoy the show!

My Jane Austen Day Out

I spent this past Saturday with two of my girl friends- my Welsh friend Catrin and my friend Honor who is from Northern Ireland. Honor lives up in the beautiful seaside town of Malahide and invited us up for the day. She packed a nice picnic lunch for us which we ate while overlooking the Irish sea. Then we took a short car ride further up the coast to another seaside town called Rush where we took a long walk on the beach. The day was perfectly sunny. After the beach we stopped for tea at an Irish lady's house from our church. She showed us her garden of sunflowers which she protects from the snails by putting diced onion all around them. After this we headed back to Honor's house where we unwound with a nice dinner. It was a great day and I am so greatful God has brough these two women into my life who love the Lord and who are so fun to be with. Here are few pictures from the day. The little bundle of joy with the "ginger" hair in the buggy is Honor's son Caleb.

Crepe Night

My recent move has brought me closer to one of my friends here in Dublin who is now just a five minute walk from my flat. Her name is Sandra and she is from France. She has been working with the Christian ministry IFES along with my Welsh friend Catrin for the last year in Dublin. Last Friday night she had me over for a crepe night. How could I resist crepes made by a French woman?! The crepes were delicious and it was fun watching her flip them in the air! I was also able to spend some time with her two Irish roommates who were there, Nicola and Edwina. I really enjoyed them and hope to have finally made some Irish friends. Here are some pics from the crepe extravaganza- in top left: Nicola, Sandra, me, Edwina, & Catrin.

Everything is Mortal but...

I picked up a book a few months back while in Manchester called "The Uniqueness of Israel" by Lance Lambert. I am not familiar with Lambert but I always find anything about Israel fascinating so I got the book. It has been a very interesting read so far. It is split up into four parts- the uniqueness of the land, the uniqueness of the nation, the uniqueness of the city (Jerusalem), and the uniqueness of the Messiah. I have especially like the chapter called "All things are mortal but the Jew." This chapter details how God has preserved the Jewish people throughout all of history. There are two great quotes in this chapter I want to share. The first is from Mark Twain in 1899:

"If the statistics are right, the Jews constitute but one percent of the human race. It suggests a nebulous dim puff of star dust lost in the blaze of the Milky Way. Properly the Jew ought hardly to be heard of; but he is heard of, has always been heard of. He is as prominent on the planet as any other people. and his commercial importance is extravagantly out of proportion to the smallness of his bulk. His contributions to the world's list of great names in literature, science, art, music, finance, medicine, and abstruse learning are also way out of proportion to the weakness of his numbers. He has made a marvelous fight in this world, all the ages; and has done it with his hands tied behind him. He could be vain of himself, and be excused for it. The Egyptian, the Babylonian, and the Persian rose, filled the planet with sound and splendor, then faded to dream stuff and passed away; the Greek and the Roman followed, and made a vast noise, and they are gone; other peoples have sprung up and held their torch high for a time, but it burned out, and they sit in twilight now, or have vanished. The Jew saw them all, beat them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no decadence, no infirmities of age, no weakening of his parts, no slowing of his energies, no dulling of his alert and aggressive mind. All things are mortal but the Jew; all other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality?"

The second is from Leo Tolstoy around the same time as he wrote on "What is a Jew?":

"The question is not at all so odd as it seems. Let us see what peculiar kind of creature the Jew is, which all the rulers and all the nations, have together and separately abused and molested, oppressed and persecuted, trampled and butchered, burned and hanged, and, in spite of all this, is yet alive... the Jew is the emblem of eternity. He whom neither slaughter or torture of himself for years could destroy; he whom neither fire nor sword, nor inquisition was able to wipe from off the face of the earth; he who was the first to produce the oracles of God; he who has been for so long a time the guardian of prophecy, and who has transmitted it to the rest of the world- such a nation cannot be destroyed. The Jew is as everlasting as eternity itself."

Florence, Italy

From Venice we hopped a train to Florence which is just over 2 hours away. After seeing Venice Florence was not nearly as impressive but still a cool place to visit. To think of all the history that has happened there (birthplace of the Renaissance) and all the famous people (Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Dante, Galileo- to name just a few) who are from Florence or have spent significant time there is mind boggling! While in Florence we visited a few art museums where we saw a ton of Renaissance art, ate lots of delicious Italian food, saw the Duomo, walked across the Old Bridge, shopped in the Silk and Straw Market, visited the Science museum which holds remnants of Galileo's instruments and his finger, and saw the famous marble statue David at the Academia museum. David is by far the most impressive piece of art I have ever seen. I would say it is worth going to Florence just to see him! I didn't know where in the museum he would be and when I rounded the corner and found myself looking at him I was stunned! Stunned by his sheer size and beauty. As I stood below him I could not believe the great detail- the veins in his arms and the look on his face! Wow, what can I say but glory to God that he would create man with such skills as Michelangelo had! I enjoyed Florence though it was not as beautiful as Venice. I think it is safe to say Italy is my favorite country in Europe to visit.

Venice

Have you ever been to Venice? I didn't expect it to be so beautiful. We arrived at night and took the bus as far as we could. Upon first site of the canal- even in the dark- I was already sold. We hopped a waterbus and headed down the Grand Canal to Venice's famous Rialto Bridge where we got off. Seeing the palaces along the way was breathtaking. Venice is almost hard to commprehend at first- a city with no streets, only canals and boats, and all these big beautiful buildings sitting on top of the canals. If only they lit them up in the dark! Once off the water bus we disappeared into a maze of medieval streets. I have never been in a city so hard to navigate! I was so thankful to have Matt there or else I would have been lost the entire time. Because we got such cheap airfare we treated ourselves to a nice hotel. We stayed 2 nights and wandered around the narrow winding streets during the day, eating delicious Italian food, enjoying the sites of St. Mark's square, sitting in on a Vivladi concert in a church, and seeing all the Carnival masks and costumes while imagining what it would be like to be there during Carnival which was just a week away. If you ever have the opportunity to go to Venice don't pass it up. It is sure to be one of the most beautiful cities you will ever see.

Preparing for the Conference

These past few weeks I have been reading particular books in order to prepare myself for the Ligonier Ministries Conference which is next week. This year the theme of the main session is the holiness of God and the preconference is on John Calvin. In my preparation I recently read Sproul's book "The Holiness of God." Have you read it? It is a classic and well worth a read. Sproul is very gifted at taking ideas that are huge (like the holiness of God) or hard to understand (like predesitnation) and making them understandable and a joy to read about. He is a very intelligent man and clear communicator. If you have not read this book I highly recommend it. The other book I am just finishing up with is a short book on Calvin called "Calvin for Armchair Theologians" by Christopher Elwood. This book gives a great overview on the life and theology of John Calvin. I've really enjoyed reading the overview of his theology as it rings so true to the Bible. The bulk of the book is on his theology and is written in a clear and engaging way. Here is a short snippet from the book which I liked where the author is addressing Calvin's theology regarding order in the church:

"That is the basic aim of discipline, in Calvin's view: to hold together and strengthen the church as the body of Christ, a community that witnesses to and lives out Christ's love. So, for Calvin, discipline is not, as with the Donatists and Anabaptists, a means of creating a church of the pure. Calvin's church is a church of sinners, but it is a place where sin is being overcome through the peaching of the gospel. In his view, then, the ancient creeds that call the church "holy" are not incorrect. But instead of thinking of this holiness as an already accomplished fact, we ought to recognize it as the goal that God ultimately will achieve."

The Conference Draws Nigh

Its that time of year again- time for the Ligonier Ministries National Conference in Orlando, Florida. YIPPEE!! This conference is one of the major highlights of my year. I first went with my mom and sister, Regan back in 2003. God has been so good to let us attend each year ever since and has added to our group yet again. This time it will be my mom, my sisters, my mother-in-law, and two friends. This year the conference is lengthened in order to celebrate the 500th anniversary of John Calvin. And on top of that there will also be over twice as many speakers to bless our ears. Here is this years awesome lineup:

MINI-CONFERENCE: John Calvin (1509–2009) — Celebrating a Legacy
In 2009, we celebrate the 500th birthday of John Calvin. It is only appropriate at this time to reflect on his legacy. In the mini-conference, four participants will discuss Calvin’s impact in several aspects of the church’s life and thought. There will be four lectures followed by a Question & Answer time:
1. R. Albert Mohler – John Calvin: Preacher and Teacher
John Calvin was one of the most important figures in the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century. Today, five hundred years after his birth, his influence continues to be felt. In this message, Dr. Mohler will reflect on the life and work of Calvin, focusing in particular on his role as a preacher and teacher of the Word.
2. Ligon Duncan – Calvin and the Christian Life
John Calvin is sometimes perceived as a dry and dusty academic whose writings deal only with abstract theological topics. To read Calvin, however, is to read one who was devoted to seeing God’s Word impact the lives of Christian people everywhere. In this message, Ligon Duncan will explore some of Calvin’s most practical wisdom for those who seek to follow Christ.
3. Sinclair Ferguson – The Doctrines of Grace
Much of the significance of the Protestant Reformers such as John Calvin is found in their rediscovery of the biblical doctrines of grace. After having been buried for centuries under unbiblical doctrines and traditions, their rediscovery and proclamation turned Europe upside down. In this message, Dr. Ferguson will look at Calvin’s formulation of these crucial doctrines and explain why they are no less significant today.
4. Steven J. Lawson – The Legacy of John Calvin
The modern history of the church and of the world would be entirely different without John Calvin. The influence of his thought has been felt not only in the teaching and worship of the church, but also within politics, economics, and the wider culture. In this message, Dr. Lawson will look at the legacy of Calvin, explaining what we can learn from him today.
Questions and Answers
Dr. Sinclair Ferguson, Dr. Ligon Duncan, Dr. Steven Lawson, Dr. Al Mohler
MAIN SESSIONS: The Holiness of God
The angels declare that God is “Holy, Holy, Holy.” Without a proper grasp of God’s holiness we do not understand who He truly is, nor do we understand who we truly are. Once we begin to grasp the true meaning of God’s holiness, our lives and our worship will be forever changed. In this conference, prominent Reformed Christian teachers will expound and reflect upon what the Bible says about God’s holiness and ours. The main sessions will consist of eleven lectures:
1. R.C. Sproul – I Am the Lord, There is No Other
Before he discovered the Gospel, contemplation of God’s holiness and his own sinfulness drove Martin Luther to despair. What did he grasp about holiness that most of us do not? In this lecture, Dr. Sproul will introduce the topic of the conference by explaining the meaning of the biblical concept of holiness.
2. R.C. Sproul, Jr. – Train Up Your Children: Family Worship of the Holy God
The worship of our sovereign God is not to be relegated to a mere hour or two each Sunday. Instead, our worship of Him should pervade every aspect of our lives. In this lecture, Dr. R.C. Sproul Jr. will exhort believers to worship God as a family, providing encouragement and practical instruction.
3. Sinclair Ferguson – Hallowed Be Your Name: The Holiness of the Father
In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus instructed His disciples to acknowledge the Father’s holiness and to adore Him in their every prayer. He is the one whom the seraphim adore, singing, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts!” In this lecture, Dr. Ferguson will explore what the Bible teaches us concerning the holiness of our Father in heaven.
4. Steven J. Lawson – The Holy One of God: The Holiness of Jesus
The disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ referred to Him as “the Holy One of God.” In doing so, they said something not only about His character, but also about His relationship to the Father. In this lecture, Dr. Lawson will look at what the Bible teaches us about the purity and sinlessness of Christ.
5. Alistair Begg – The Breath of the Almighty: The Holy Spirit
The third person of the Trinity is the Holy Spirit, the one whom Job refers to as “the breath of the Almighty.” His work includes conforming believers to the holy image of Christ. In this lecture, Dr. Begg will look at the person and work of the one person of the Trinity whose very name includes the adjective “holy.”
Questions & Answers
Dr. Sinclair Ferguson, Dr. Steven Lawson, Dr. Alistair Begg, Dr. R.C. Sproul Jr. Moderated by R.C. Sproul
6. Thabiti Anyabwile – Cosmic Treason: Sin and the Holiness of God
The sinfulness of sin is not grasped in our day because the holiness of God is not grasped. Sin will only be understood for what it is when God is understood for who He is. In this lecture, Rev. Anyabwile will explain the true sinfulness of sin in the light of the holy and pure character of God.
7. D. A. Carson – A Holy Nation: The Church’s High Calling
The history of redemption reveals God calling a people out of the world to be a holy people. In this lecture, Dr. Carson will examine why God has called His people in both the old and new covenants to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation, and he will explain what this means for us as believers today.
8. Robert Godfrey – Wounded for Our Transgressions: The Holiness of God and the Cross
All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. This is the universal problem faced by all men, a problem requiring a solution man cannot provide. In this lecture, Dr. Godfrey will examine why the holiness of God required an atonement for sin and how Jesus fulfilled that requirement for us.
9. Derek Thomas – Be Ye Holy: The Necessity of Sanctification
According to Scripture, we are justified by faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. Yet our Lord calls those who have been so justified to a life of holiness. In this lecture, Dr. Thomas will explain the importance and necessity of individual sanctification as well as the means God has provided for it.
Questions & Answers
Dr. Donald Carson, Dr. Derek Thomas, Dr. Robert Godfrey, Rev. Thabiti Anyabwile Moderated by Dr. R.C. Sproul
10. R.C. Sproul – A Consuming Fire: Holiness, Wrath, and Justice
There have always been those who have argued that a truly holy God could not or would not consign anyone to eternal punishment. Such, they say, is inconsistent with God’s love. In this lecture, Dr. Sproul will explain why the holiness of God is not inconsistent with eternal punishment of sin, but in fact requires it.

I CAN'T WAIT TO GO AND HEAR!!!

Tucson Surprise Visit

Wow, I am way behind in my blogging, in fact I am three trips behind! I have been very busy these past weeks traveling, having visitors, and finding a new flat. In January Matt and I made a surprise visit to Tucson for my best friend Yunuen's 30th birthday party. It was really a last minute thing. I told myself (and many others) that I would not go back to Tucson until I moved back but upon finding cheap airfare for the day of the birthday party I could not resist! We landed in Tucson the night of the party, jumped in our rental car, and headed over to the Jankowski's who live only 5 minutes from the airport. I covered myself in bows and we rang the doorbell. Ryan opened the door and was clearly shocked and confused upon seeing us. He uttered in a most confused tone,"what the hell?" We asked for Yunuen. He closed the door and went and got her. She opened the door and was quite surprised and happy to us- as were a number of other friends from church who were at the party. It was one hug after another for a long time. By the time we arrived we had been awake 24 hours. But my excitement kept me going. We stayed awake for another 5 hours and then crashed for 3 and half hours. At 5:30 I was wide awake and ready to take on Tucson! We were out the door and at Bruegger's in no time. After this we took a little detour through the U of A to kill some time before heading up to Sandi's house. I was in my swimsuit and we were riding with the top down on our rental car. The sun was shining and the desert, mountains, and cactus were as beautiful as ever! We arrived at Sandi's house and knocked on the door. She opened the door and looked at us, and looked at us. Then she turned around and went and sat down on the couch, never saying a word. Jessica was there also and was quite surprised and so was Michael when he came walking into the living room and saw us.

Surprises are PRICELESS!

Here are some pictures from the 5 days we spent in Tucson. We had such a great time with everyone!! It was perfect. Seeing our friends and family had never been sweeter and the desert had never been more beautiful. I cannot tell you how difficult it was for me to leave...

And here is one more slideshow just for fun showing you a little more of what Tucson looks like and the fun we had while we were there.

Mexico!

It has been a while since my last blog entry and for a good reason. At the last minute I found cheap airline tickets to go home for a whirlwind visit to Tucson for my best friend Yunuen's 30th birthday party. I could barely keep this exciting news to myself and I could barely sleep the week leading up to our departure. What a perfectly wonderful time we had in Tucson! This will be the first of two slide shows detailing our trip to the desert. While there I had the pleasure of going down into Mexico for the afternoon with my personal guide and Mexican native, Yunuen. We headed down I19 toward Nogales. Just out of Tucson we stopped off at San Xavier Mission. If you live in Tucson and have not been here yet- GO! It is such a beautiful place. It is the quintessential Mexican mission. Once back on the road Yunuen gave me some Mexican history lessons. We then stopped in Nogales to see her madre and then hopped back in the car headed south for Magdalena. The scenery just gets more and more beautiful as you go down further into desert and mountains. Once in Magdelena we went straight to the Mission where we visited the carcass of Padre Kino, an Italian Jesuit missionary, who was responsible for establishing a large number of missions in southern Arizona and Northern Mexico between 1687-1711. He also discovered that Baja California was a peninsula rather than an island. We then toured the mission, drove around town, bought homemade tortillas, and then went and ate DELICIOUS Mexican food. On the way home God gave us a beautiful sunset. We had a great day. Thanks mi amiga!!!

Minnesota Trip

My husband is the best as he let me go home in early December for almost three weeks to see my family and celebrate Christmas with them. I have not celebrated Christmas with them for 10 years as I always had to work or was at least on call for work. Matt went back with me for the first week I was there. We went up to my Mom's house in northwestern Wisconsin the first weekend there to celebrate Christmas. Many of us were praying for snow but it was looking doubtful. The Sunday we celebrated on God dropped a good amount of snow on us and even gave a few more snowstorms while I was there. It was great fun as I had not seen real snow for a long time. Sharing Christmas with my family was fun and we got to enjoy all my mom's good cooking. Matt couldn't believe there was no rush to open presents as we just took it easy all morning, coloring with the kids, playing games, and grazing. After presents and h'orderves we went outside to enjoy the falling snow. Then we had our grand turkey dinner with all the fixings- stuffing, cranberries, my mom's magically silky mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, popovers and EGGNOG! We played games all night- including a game I learned over here in Dublin called "Empire" which my family loved and a game my sister Regan knew called "Telephone Pictionary which was a RIOT!

After Christmas we returned to Minnesota where my sister Regan lives. I usually spend most of my time at her house when I visit do to the fact that this is where my nephews and niece live and Regan is a stay at home mom so I am not left stranded. While I remained I did much shopping, went out to eat at all my favorite restaurants, and saw most of my extended family and a few friends from high school. It was great to see everyone and to go to my dad's side of the family Christmas party in Hastings which I haven't been to in years. Eating my Aunt Mary's delicious sloppy joes brought back memories of when I used to go as a child. It was just like the old days only now the children sitting on Santa's lap receiving presents were my sister's and all my cousin's kids instead of us- wild! I of course missed my dad being there and looked for him in my relatives- parts of him I found. It was great to see my aunts and uncles and my cousins all grown up and married with kids of their own. Its so fun to see where you come from. My dad's side of the family and is large and loud and lots of fun. Most of this side of the family believes our ancestry is English- although I had one uncle tell me he went to Ellis Island and looked up our last name on the wall and found out we were from Greece! My mom's side of the family (mostly German) is much smaller but also friendly and my Grandma on this side- what a spitfire!

This was one of the best trips to Minnesota I have had. With each year that comes we seem to get along better by the grace of God. Thanks again for letting me go, honey!

Athens

Last month Matt and I flew to Athens, Greece where he had a job interview. It was crazy how it came about. In the middle of this past summer we came to a point where we had enough of Dublin. This was because summer is the WORST season in Ireland. Never have I seen such erratic, unpredictable, and miserable weather as an Irish summer. Wind, rain, and then more wind and rain. You cannot plan for anything because the weather is constantly changing all day long. Anyway, in the midst of this we started talking about where else we thought we might like to live. Oddly enough we both felt drawn to Greece- Matt for the weather and beach and me for the biblical history. So Matt contacted a heart hospital by email just to see if they would even hire an English speaker. Low and behold they emailed him back and said they would hire an English speaker and that they were looking to hire a perfusionist right now. They wanted to meet him the following week. That wasn't going to work so for us so instead he sent them his CV and they scheduled to fly him out to Athens for an interview. I did not go with on his interview to Ireland but I thought I had better go with to Greece. We were really excited but did not know if we could handle a non-English speaking country. This seemed to be the biggest obstacle.

We did as much research on Athens as we could before we went. We heard many things about the city- mostly bad things like how crowded, noisy, and polluted it is. We arrived at night so we didn't find out too much the first night but we did go out and have some good Greek food. The next two days Matt was at the hospital for his interview. We went and explored the city at night. My first impression was that it was really big, dense, and loud. It was also dirty and run down looking. And the Acropolis was hard to see because of the height of the buildings in the city center. To begin with I wasn't too thrilled. The one thing I did like was the landscape which reminded me a lot of Turkey and even Tucson. I was leaning towards Dublin until I walked down towards the harbour at sunset and then rode the light rail along the coast out into the suburbs. Then I began to like it.

On our last full day in Athens we went to the archaeological museum where I saw many things from ancient Greece- things that were in the market place Paul walked through when he came to Athens- idols and altars. After this we went to the Areopagus where Paul preached his famous sermon in Acts 17. I sat on the Areopagus and read this sermon aloud. It was awesome!! We then ascended the Acropolis. I expected this to be an impressive site but once I was actually up on top I couldn't believe how utterly spectacular it was!! Looking out over Athens was just amazing. There are a few ancient structures left on the Acropolis but the most impressive by far is the towering and mighty Parthenon. I could have sat there all day taking turns looking at it and then out over the city to the sea. After exploring the Acropolis we headed over to the ancient agora where Paul had walked upon his arrival in Athens. It is just ruins now but an exciting place to see nonetheless.

Matt was offered the job in Athens but no decision has been made yet as we are waiting to hear back from the hospital regarding some questions we had. Whatever ends up happening will be okay with me. I think it would be an adventure to go live in Athens for a while but if that is not what God has for us then I will be content in Dublin as I have finally made a home here.

Enjoy the slide show. The pictures with me on a large white rock formation are of the Areopagus where Paul preached- SO COOL!

I Love the USA!

This post comes to you from the best country on earth- the USA! I have been here one week visiting my family in Minnesota for the holidays. I have not celebrated Christmas with them for 10 years so it was great to come home and celebrate together as we did over the weekend (and with snow!). Matt was even here for a week and just headed back to Ireland today. I have been meaning to post but I have been super busy enjoying this great country. I have been going out to eat at all my favorite restaurants, shopping at all my favorite stores, driving cars on th freeway while rocking out to my ipod, and hanging out with my family. One night we went to a hilarious comedy club and another day we went skiing (ok, I sat in the chalet while Matt and my nephew were skiing). Tomorrow I am going to see Johnny Piper. I have missed this wonderful place and forgtten how great it actually is- viva la USA!! People here are so friendly its incredible. I love coming back to Minnesota and tromping through my old stomping grounds and reminding myself of where I have come from. Yes, Minnesota is freakishly cold in the winter but it is a great state and I am proud to be from here. I even think the accent is cute :)

Paella at Home

After visiting Spain and partaking in the most delicious paella I thought I should try making it at home. Now I don't have the special paella dish that you're supposed to cook it in so I cooked it in my biggest frying pan and it turned out great. Here is the recipe I used:






4 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 red bell pepper, chopped
4 ounces chorize sausage, cut into pieces
3 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into 1 inch cubes
1 (12 ounce) package uncooked Arborio rice
5 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup white wine
1 sprig fresh thyme
1 pinch saffron
1 teaspoon paprika
salt and pepper to taste
2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1/2 cup frozen green peas
1/4 cup chopped Italian flat leaf parsley
8 slices lemon, for garnish

Heat olive oil in paella pan over medium heat. Add in onion, garlic and pepper; cook and stir for a few minutes. Add chorizo sausage, diced chicken, and rice; cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in 3 1/2 cups stock, wine, thyme leaves, paprika, and saffron. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to the boil, and simmer for 15 minutes; stir occasionally. Taste the rice, and check to see if it is cooked. If the rice is uncooked, stir in 1/2 cup more stock. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally. Stir in additional stock if necessary, up to 2 cups additional stock, 5 cups total. Cook until rice is done. Stir in tomatoes and peas. Cook for 2 minutes. Cover with foil, and leave for 3 to 5 minutes. Remove the foil, and scatter parsley over the food. Serve in paella pan, garnished with lemon wedges for squeezing.

Barcelona

Last month Matt and I took a trip to Barcelona, Spain. It was my first time to Spain and I was very excited to be going. After spending four days there I have to say I did not feel like I was in Spain but rather felt like I was in just some big European city. It was somewhat disappointing. The weather was nice and we had some good food (yay for Spanish paella and tapas!). We also got to see a Spanish guitar duo play a concert in a cathedral one night which was just amazing. Other than that I found Barcelona to be a rather mediocre city for my taste. There is endless shopping and a number of sites to see (the Gaudi cathedral being the best) but it can be frustrating as it is a very expensive city. Every attraction you go to you must pay to get in whereas every other city in Europe I have been to each have a handful of things that are free.

While in Barcelona we visited the Gaudi cathedral, the Picasso museum, Mountjuic Castle by cable car, the harbour, La Ramblas, the block of discord, and two places connected with Christopher Columbus. The first was the Royal Palace where Columbus came to greet the king and queen of Spain upon his return from the New World and the other was the Barcelona cathedral which holds the chapel and baptistery where Columbus brought the Native Americans to be baptized who had returned to Spain with him. These places were very cool to see as an American. The churches and cathedrals of Spain were architecturally beautiful but more cold and dead feeling than any others that I have been in so far.

One of my favorite things to experience in Spain was the famous Spanish rice dish, paella. Since neither Matt nor I like seafood we opted for the chicken and vegetable paella and were able to have it twice at 2 different places and it was outstanding! So even though I wasn't as crazy about Barcelona as many of the other places I have been it was worth going to just to eat the paella and tapas and to hear live Spanish guitar!