Bath, Cardiff and Bristol Weekend

In March Matt and I took a whirlwind trip over to Bath, Cardiff, and Bristol in the U.K.  We have been to England before but not these cities and it was our first time to Wales.  Cardiff was a nice little city, very clean and friendly people.  My favorite thing about Wales was the Welshcakes.  I mean I figured they would be good but they surprised me with how good they were.  They taste like a cross between a minnie doughnut and a sugar cookie!  We also had great fun eating Cornish pasties everyday and partaking in cream tea with scones and clotted cream and Bath buns at the Jane Austen house.  My husband is such a good man to put up with going to such places!  Jane Austen is my favorite fiction writer so it was cool to visit her museum in Bath.  I also really enjoyed visiting the John Wesley chapel in Bristol.  It housed a very nice museum on his life. What an amazing man of God!  Anyway, here are some pictures from the trip.  Do you recognize the song?

Things in Tucson

As I have been getting ready for my upcoming visit to Tucson I have been busy scouring the internet for all things Tucson.  I have come across a few things I wanted to share with you.  First of all there is a great band out of Tucson called Ryanhood.  They are an acoustic guitar duo.  I would liken their sound to that of Caedmon's Call or the Indigo Girls (a few of my favorites).  I downloaded their latest album "The World Awaits" from my favorite site for new music called Noisetrade, last month.  I can't stop listening to it and dreaming of Tucson.  If you love acoustic guitars and harmony this band is definitely for you. They recently released a live album which you and all your friends can download for free at: Ryanhood- "The World Awaits" Live in Tucson

Second, I came across another Tucson artist named Leila Lopez.  She is a folky, jazzy type who has the voice of Fionna Apple and guitar skills of Ani Difranco.  She is also giving away her album called "The Roots and The Crops" on another site for new music called New Groove Music.  Follow this link to get her album: Leila Lopez "The Roots and The Crops"

Third, I came across a great blog called "Tucson Daily Photo."  The author is New York import to Tucson but she loves the Old Pueblo so much that she posts a photo taken from somewhere in Tucson each day.  Follow this link: Tucson Daily Photo

And fourthly, this blog will benefit all my Tucson mates. "Tucson on the Cheap" describes itself as a bargain hunters guide to inexpensive fun in Tucson. Can't wait til I can use this blog myself!  Follow this link: Tucson on the Cheap

From Under the Ash Cloud

Greetings from under the ash cloud.  Unless you've been living under a rock you've probably heard about the volcano that erupted in Iceland which is causing all kinds of havoc in the European skies.  Flights have been grounded since last Thursday when it happened.  I am extremely thankful to God that we were home when it happened and not off on one of our little holidays.  We returned from Italy just 2 days before the eruption and Sandi left us just one day before this volcano was awakened by the Lord. There are no traces of it in the skies above but we know its still hanging around up there as there are no planes in sky. I am praying for this ash cloud to be blown far away as Matt and I are supposed to be flying out to the U.S. next week.  Matt is to leave on Tuesday and I am off on Friday.  I am so excited to go to Tucson that the thought of not getting to go is just not an option.  I have already started packing and have made many plans for when I am there.  We have a bit of work to do on the house as well as other more pressing appointments such as Matt's lunch meeting with his future boss in Tucson to discuss any up coming jobs in Tucson and, depending on how that meeting goes, my meeting with my old boss to discuss the possibility of getting rehired before my peace officer certification runs out in August.  Matt and I were discussing this last night.  In order for me to be able to go back to police work before my certification is up he would have to find at least part time perfusion work in Tucson.  His job requires him to keep up his certification by doing a certain amount of cases each year so we are hoping for and I am praying for God to provide in this way.  I am also praying for wisdom as this is a big decision for me.  When I left the PD I didn't plan on returning but the nearer my certification draws to expiration the more I miss police work.  So, these next few weeks will be decisive in regards to our future.  The biggest obstacle is a job opening for Matt in Tucson.  Please pray with me for God to work providentially to this end so we can come home!

The Lighter Side of Johnny Mac

I've been raised in my Christian life on the Bible teaching of the great John MacArthur. If you're familiar with him you know what a serious and in depth Bible teacher he is. Click on the link below to see a side of him you've probably never seen or even imagined before!

Johnny Mac Celebrates 25 Years at the Masters College

Malta

Matt and I took a trip to the Mediterranean island of Malta a few months ago.  We rented a car and drove all around the island which is only about 17 miles long and 8 miles wide.  While there we saw St. Paul's Bay where St. Paul shipwrecked in Acts 27-28.  I love visiting Biblical places so this was my favorite place to see on the island.  My next favorite place to see was the old city of Birgu, also known as Vittoriossa.  Birgu is a really beautiful old harbor where one of my favorite movies, The Count of Monte Cristo, was filmed.  This harbor also houses the most beautiful vessel I have ever seen called the Maltese Falcon. When we came around the corner and saw it our mouths just dropped open.  Who could own such a ship?!  We had a great time in Malta, eating lots of pizza and pasta, Maltese pastizzis which are ricotta filled puff pastries, and drinking local Maltese wine.  It is a beautiful island covered in forts and overflowing with natural beauty.  Malta also has more churches than I have ever seen in one place.  The day after we left was the annual festival of St. Paul's shipwreck.  It would have been fun to be part of that!

(Song "These Times" by The Normals)

The Hat that Brings Out the Mountain Lion

Matt got me this cute hat for Christmas last year.  The funny thing is whenever one of us puts it on in the house it drives our Bengal cat crazy.  She turns into a miniature killer mountain lion and puffs all out and makes this scary guttural warning noise that I have never heard before.  Even after we take the hat off she is stressed out for the next few hours and carefully scours the flat to make sure that big gray cat is nowhere to be found.  What can I say except that not only do cats make the best house pets but they also provide great entertainment!

McMom is Here!

Matt's Mom is here visiting us in Dublin for the third time.  It is so nice to have a visitor from home, especially when we are so homesick!  Today I invited over a few friends- Catrin, Edwina, and Lois- to experience McMom's famous "monkey bread" which is small bread dough balls rolled in cinnamon sugar, covered in melted butter and brown sugar, and then baked in the oven.  This is one of our favorite things she makes and we always insist on having it when we see her.  Needless to say it was hit.  Here is a picture of it straight of the oven.