Niall plays volleyball here in Belfast with his club team, but he also plays for the Irish national team. They have training weekends every so often in different parts of the country. This past weekend they had to be in Limerick, which worked out perfectly for me to see the Noonans! We got half of the journey overwith on Friday afternoon by heading down to Naas... we had another great night with Niall's family before driving to Limerick Sat. morning. I dropped Niall off at U.L. (University of Limerick, where we met) ... it's always fun to be back there and think "Wow, this is where it all started!" :)
I took the car from there and drove into Bruff... being back on those little country roads made me smile. I feel so at home there and everything seems so much slower once you get out of the city. It was a beautiful sunny day and the hills and fields were that typical Irish green... just what you'd imagine. It's about a half hour drive to get to the Noonan's house; I was so excited driving up the long gravel passage way that leads out to their big country home. It was so great to see Bob, Lucy and Ben. I'm so grateful that over four years later, I still feel so welcomed the moment I step in their door. Marie was gone on a work trip until Sunday afternoon, so I got to visit with John before getting my old aupair job back for the day! I took Ben and Lucy to horse riding practice, Bob to swimming, then the kids and I went and bought some groceries before making burgers for dinner (not quite the same when you don't have a BBQ, but it was still a nice little taste of home!) Some of their extended family members "called in" to say hello that night which was also special for me. Niall was staying in a hotel with the team, so I got to have a sleepover with Lucy in her room. :) Marie got back Sunday and it was great to catch up with her over a cup of coffee. Niall had a scrimmage in Croom (a town ten mins away, slightly bigger than Bruff), so I picked him up afterwards and Marie made us a lovely dinner before we made the long haul back to Belfast. Overall the weekend was a perfect opportunity for me to be with the Noonans again, I'm so grateful it worked out!
So now it's Wednesday and as usual, my weekdays are a little quieter than the busy weekends since I'm on my own. I am still learning every day more and more about being a wife and leaning on the Lord and Niall for strength. I still have my down days, that's for sure... but I've already had so many fun days & new adventures as well since being here. I've had lots of doors close on the job front-- it can be discouraging-- but I'm still waiting it out, applying, and hoping that one of these days a door will open for me. Like my mom said to me on the phone the other week... if I hadn't experienced some "closed doors" years ago, I never would have come to Ireland! So I know God has a plan and I'm trying to trust in that with a joyful heart. Please keep me in your prayers.
As always, I love you and miss you all!
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