Category Archives: Travel

The Return Home

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“A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it.”

-George Moore, Irish poet

Life is ironic sometimes…you feel dissatisfied, restless, yearning to roam somewhere new and just see something different.  You save, you plan, you go to this new place.  You walk around looking at the new buildings, sceneries, faces; moved but sometimes overwhelmed by the sheer amount of newness.  You look for glimpses of familiarity in the faces and language swirling around you, and sometimes you see & hear it and it brings a modicum of comfort.  Could it be?  Do you actually miss home after all this wanting to escape it?  You face the last day of the journey, feeling nostalgic already for the place you are leaving.  But then, you make it home…the familiar bumps in the driveway feel more endearing, the rise of the house in front of you makes you happier than it has in a long time, and the love that you feel for home, for those dear to you that you left behind, becomes very clear and poignant.  You are home, and you are happy.

Slainte, Lisa

Rambles, Plans, Dreams

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It doesn’t take much reading between the lines to figure out that I love to travel.  I adore planning out new holidays, pouring over travel books and reviews, searching the internet for the best deals.  I am a frustrated would-be pilot (maybe one day!), so I love the airport/flying part, the thrill of sitting in the airplane seat, feeling the roar of the immense engines as we tear down the runway for lift-off.  I love seeing the new sights, smelling the new smells (well, sometimes)  and trying out new foods.

I found a great passage from Last of the Donkey Pilgrims by Kevin O’Hara that encapsulates many of my thoughts:

” ‘Tis the beauty of travel, isn’t it,” she looked wistfully upon her poor but scenic domain, “seeing things you’d never see if you just kicked about the old place.  And you’ll take it all home with you, won’t you, these memories, and be all the better for it.  Well, be off with your rambling, so, and I’ll keep on with my dreaming.”

“It’s only a half-door you’re standing behind,”  I told her.  “You could easily hop over it.”

“Oh, I know,” she smiled, “but could I ever hop back in again?”

Enjoy your rambles, planning, and dreaming.  Slainte, Lisa

Pass On the Tune

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Irish music is an oral tradition, passed on through the generations, learned by listening and doing.  Here is a dear man who sat outside of the Rock of Cashel in County Cork, playing his accordian joyfully for the passersby.  Joshua was fascinated, and this generous soul invited him to sit down and play awhile with him.  It didn’t matter that Joshua had never played an accordian in his life; this man’s open and sharing spirit encouraged Joshua to feel as if he could.  As my little guy pushed keys and squeezed away, the man nodded in time and tapped his foot.  What a wonderful thing, and what a wonderful memory.

Share what you love to do with some little soul today, and watch their sweet face.  Pass on your tune.  Slainte, Lisa

The Impulse to Soar, Part Two

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This is a reprint of an older blog about Fungi, the amazing Fungi dolphin.  I saw a beautiful video of him today that I had to share with you.  He has lived 30 years in Dingle Bay now, and he’s so friendly.  Please take the time to watch…he will make you wonder all over again at the marvel of God’s creations.  Slainte, Lisa

“One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar.” -Helen Keller

Fungi, the Dingle dolphin, feel the impulse to soar, and he does so magnificently.

I have days when I just go through the motions: get up, make breakfast, walk the dog, etc.  I don’t see the small beautiful things that God is putting all around me to show me that He’s there, that He cares, that He loves me.  But some days, I wake up and I still do all those things, but by the grace of God, He somehow awakens me to those small wonders.  I feel the impulse to soar.  I have that sense that God is right there beside me and that He will help me to be more like Him, little by little.  We are made in the image of God, and a little of His awesome creativity has been put into each of us.

As I have gotten older, I am slowly learning not to really trust my ups and downs of emotions (this is extremely hard for me).  But still, it is an amazing feeling when I do feel and sense God’s reality, that there is more to life than what I see right in front of me.  And that reality is that if I love and trust Him, I will soar and fly and have strength for the road ahead.

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”  (Isaiah 40:31)

Slainte, Lisa