[masterpiece]

The reason I had always wanted to go to Ireland was to see the Cliffs of Moher (along with the accents, rolling green hills, and music...but mostly the cliffs).

The morning our tour was scheduled to go to the cliffs, it was pouring down rain (and our room in the hostel had a nice leak in the ceiling right above my clothes- that was fun). My friends and I rolled out of our bunks with nerves with the unfortunate weather as we prepared to run to the bus.

However, every time the bus made a stop, the rain stopped as well. I held on to this hope, praying that the same would happen when we reached the cliffs.


And it did.

Since there were wind advisory warnings all day, we were the only visitors. We rushed off the bus and into the sunshine, anxious to see the view over the edge. When I reached the stone wall and peeked over, I was in awe. Below me was a magnificently high drop with strong sea swells crashing against the wall.
Every time another wave crashed, the mist of the sea sprayed us.We ran up to the higher cliff to get a better view, all the while I am shocked that there are no boundaries set to protect people from falling off the edge. The view at the top was breathtaking. What was so incredible to me was how huge the cliffs themselves were, they towered over everything. I stood there trying to process just how grand they were.

This view made me realize how small I really am. I don't mean in stature and weight, but in a humbling way. I think traveling is important because the more I see of the world, the more I realize how big the world really is and how small I seem in it. 

I'm thankful that God created breathtaking views and incredible sights like the Cliffs of Moher, because despite the beauty we are still his greatest creation. He looks at us and says we are his prized possession. 

That's what was humbling that day; while I felt small next to those cliffs, it reminded me that God looks at me with joy that is far greater than my awe with the cliffs. And the best thing is, God made these beautiful sights for us, to show us how great his love is for you and me.

I got back on the bus feeling overwhelmed with God's love for me, that he would create something as breathtaking as the cliffs for me, and yet still call me his masterpiece.

[new friends]

I had always dreamed of going to Ireland. Of all the places in the world, the rolling green hills, towering cliffs, and the beautiful culture was what I longed to see and experience.

Haley and I arrived in Dublin around 6:00 p.m. After a long day of delays at the airport, we were literally leaping with giddiness as we made our way to customs. 

(Side Note: McDonalds in Ireland is hands-down the best McDonalds meal I've ever had, don't judge that we ate it for two meals in one day.)

Anyways, we took a bus through Dublin to a town just south of it on the coast called Greystones. Haley had contacted a mutual friend who just moved there from America. Jen was more than eager to let us crash at her place. We had no idea what to expect.

The night turned out to be one of our favorite nights of the trip. Jen opened her home to us and stayed at her boyfriend's (Josh) family home next door. She had chickens in her backyard that provided eggs for breakfast, and the ocean just one street over. (Insert more squeals from Haley and I). 

Once we dropped off our bags, we went to a pub called Miss. Robinson's. Our first Irish pub experience, and it was everything we expected and more. Everyone is incredibly friendly, strangers become friends instantly. A highlight was the group of 4 wrinkly, gray-hair men who stood up and began singing the classic "I Can't Help Falling in Love With You" and people began to join in on the singing. I had to check myself to make sure I wasn't in a movie.

After the pub, we walked along the road by the ocean to Josh's home. The stars were out and we could see shadows of the waves crashing on the cliffs below us. I had not seen Greystones in the daylight yet but I had already fallen in love with it.

We made it to the home and were welcomed by a small group of Josh's family. They were building a fireplace, no...I mean they literally knocked a hole in the wall, built a mantle and constructed a cast iron stove out of scraps. I watched in complete amazement as they handled it with ease, all while laughing and sharing stories. I had never met strangers that instantly made you feel like family. They asked Haley and I intentional questions and made us feel comfortable despite being in a different country. By the time Haley and I made it to bed that night, we could not believe we had only been in Ireland for 6 hours and experienced such simple, sweet moments.

That was my favorite part about the trip. Not the planned excursions, bus tours, and tourist sights (although those were great)- it was the times we got to relax and truly experience the culture and lifestyle of the place we were in. We learned so much that night from Jen and Josh's family. We learned about Ireland, Greystones, the culture, and their love for one another. There, we experienced undeserving love. They did not know us, they had no reason to love us as well as they did. I can't tell you how refreshing it was to feel at home after a week of traveling around England.

Yepp, Ireland was already a dream. And it was only day 1. While I should have gone to bed that night exhausted and drained from the flight, I felt refreshed and incredibly loved in Greystones.