Last of 2013

After the party tonight I will cook and I will eat only healthy, fresh, green, locally grown food.
I promise.  We have been eating a lot of kale, really we have.

This is the last day of 2013.  I hope everything that was suppose to get done got done, because the hours are going.  It doesn't help that it gets dark just after 4 pm and it is very cold, down around freezing.

We have had a great year with many visitors.  Jerem and Conor came in January along with Jennifer and Vicki.  Jon Kennedy moved into The Loom in March.  We went home and renewed visas in April.  We've been to Northumbria in June with Lane, and deepened the relationships with the local Belfast based Northumbria Community by regular meetings and going on retreat to Kilbrony Centre Rostrevor.  Then six sets of visitors came in September and October.  We've deepened the relationships with the North Belfast clergy through the 174 Trust clergy forum.  I learned a few words of Irish.  We sang in the Together Stronger community choir.  We lost Jeff and Kenny.  We met challenges with grace and we prayed together most every day.  Praise God at all times.

A remarkable month

We are thank full.  Our month has been very full of serendipity and fun.  Last night we greeted Os Guinness at The Hub, a gathering place near Queen's University, where he delivered a public lecture and said this was his first visit to Northern Ireland since 1981.  We last saw him in St Louis when he said we were crazy to move to Ireland but provided a nice contact.

The day before we addressed 35 social workers on how the disease affects the person and the carer.  Next week Ward will be part of the Parkinson's UK media campaign.

Several weeks ago the highlight posted on our Facebook page. We met the Republic of Ireland President Michael Higgins, himself a poet.  Our minister Jack Lamb called Marda the night before and asked do you know who the president of Ireland is?  A person named Higgins?  Yes and do you know what he did before he became president?  I have no clue.  He was a poet and you and Ward are going to meet him as my representative.  Oh happy day!  Make sure we don't get turned away at the door.  (this isn't China where we had equal access to the Chan Family Academy along with Bertie Ahern then Prime Minister of Ireland).  Ward intended to give him the poem he wrote entitled Armagh and Mr. Higgins asked him to read it, and when he couldn't because he couldn't properly see it in 12 pt type, the President offered to finish it for him.  Such grace!  You can see the video on Youtube.  Ward's recitation is 10 minutes in.

Autumn Flowers

We were in the Royal Botanical Gardens in Dublin last Saturday and the Dalias are blooming.  This emerald island has flowers all year round.

We have had a marvelous week.  Connecting with people all around town and some far away.  Around town many are recognizing us and greeting us.  Vicki is coming at the end of the month to discuss a home stay project with her students.  Roger and Inge are coming in a few weeks with Sabina and Rose. This week we are going to Portrush with Pat and Daphne for three days at the Ramada Hotel discussing Parkinson's Disease and relaxing.