Thankfulness

     Last weekend I ventured up to Dublin to visit my friends . This was a big deal for 2 reason, firstly it was the first weekend I was not going home from college, which made me very sad indeed - being a complete home bird this was so strange- getting on a bus to Dublin rather then a bus home was weird....but I did it ! Secondly I have not seen these friends in rather a long time so it was more then fabulous to go and visit them for a weekend and catch up on life events since we last spoke. So mixed emotions were felt last Friday night but I immediately felt much better about being away from home when my friend Sarah came to get me from the bus and I got my first hug from her in a couple of months.
     I was welcomed when I walked in the front door by a very big hug from a lovely little boy . Mr.Cillian. and an equally warming hug from a slightly bigger boy Mr.Adam.  I must admit that I was looking forward to seeing these little kiddies, they have grown so much since I have seen them last but they are still young enough and lovely enough to give cuddles ...which I love. Sarah being a wonderful mommy knew that ,  it being my first weekend away from home that I would need some serious mothering , and mothering I got ! She showered me with food and warmth and comfort and I loved it .
     It is so fantastic to see old friends ! I was in Dublin particularly to see the choir Sarah sings in Perform , Contando were fantastic and the music was heavenly - but I also got to see other music friends that I usually only get to see once a Year, so that was also fantastic....But my favorite part of the weekend was probably sitting on the couch with a little Cillian giving me cuddles while we watched the TV with the family, or playing junior scrabble with the boys, simplicity at its best but super fantastic . Such a beautiful weekend with beautiful people

     Something else that I decided to do this week was to be a tourist in the town that I know (technically) live in .  I have now been going to college in Galway for about 10 weeks .  Before I decided to go to college there I had no recollection of ever being there. Now I live here the majority of the time therefore there seemed like no other logical thing to do then to get to know this place a little bit better , and get to fall in love with it a little bit more then I already am.
     So I ventured into the City snapping photographs of the Cathedral , the river, the streams , the little shops , the swans, Shop Street anything that I liked , anything that I thought was beautiful ....anything . I don't claim to be a photographer , but I do love taking photos - so being a photographer in Galway was fantastic , I loved it , but there are still many more places for me to discover in this beautiful City....good thing I am here for the next 4 years then ?!?

      But now I am home, I sit here typing this from the comfort of my own bed , in my own house and it is purely blissful . They joy in the familiar , the pictures on my wall, the books on my shelf ,the quilt , the smell of home - nothing is more perfect in my eyes .  Recently I find myself walking and suddenly a random smile will creep across my face, a proper full on smile...sometimes I even let out a little giggle. This is because I am so blessed to have things to smile about , people in my life that love me , and I love them , experiences that will stay in my heart forever , and good days just because . On the day after Thanks Giving  I realize I have so much to be thankful for - I am thankful that God has chosen to be part of me heart...to be my heart and that he has blessed me with wonder in my life. I am eternally Thankful.

Aoife Marie Elizabeth ♪ 

This is my winter song to you....!

I love seasons like this. Truth be told two of my favorite seasons are Autumn and Winter, as much as I love Summer and Spring also , there is something about red/orange leaves falling from the trees to the ground , bare trees , crinkling leaves and a chill in the air.

We have officially made the transition into winter , the air has started to get that little bit colder , when you can see your breath escape from your mouth and travel into the air you know that it is extra cold...to be honest I love that.  Few things make me happier then fluffy socks, big hoodies , jumpers, hats , scarves , boots , pjs,candles, hot water bottles and plenty of hot chocolate and tea ♥.

Something I love to do now is sit on the window sill with a cup of tea and look out at the world . Looking up at the stars that I only really get to see when I am home , without the street lights and glow from the city it is much easier to see them here, and I love it. I also love watching the rain fall from the sky , especially when I am not outside in it . The sound of it beat off the window and the roof is very harmonic and beautiful.

Last night I got to spend some well needed time with two of my dearest and oldest best friends. These girlies have been around with me for a very long time , since we were wee little things , but since they did an extra year in school , I don't get to see them as much any more because I am in college and they are still in school- so I miss them very much . So last night we got to eat lots of goodies, and they caught me up with all the goings on in our little town that I have missed out on . It's amazing the things that can happen when I go off to college for a few weeks. Spending the night relaxing with my two Lanes was much needed and I thank God that we have remained such good friends even with the distance between us.

So since I have been gone to college I have missed out on Christmas choir practice , so tonight for the first time I got to rejoin the choir and hear a few wonderful pieces of Christmas music for this year- This has just heightened the Christmas feeling in me, which to be honest I really didn't think was possible as I am already on a Christmas high. I have already started wearing Christmas cardigans , and have my cranberry chutney candle lighting ( which is good all year round but especially near Christmas ) . It was also really nice to get stuck back into music again, I had kinda forgotten what it was like to look at music on paper . Since I am no longer studying music in school ( which saddens me deeply) I had forgotten what it felt like to get stuck into sheet music again ....I love it - I got tangled in minims and crotchets and rest and it was beautiful ♪.

So winter is creeping upon us , Christmas time is coming , frost is near , cold is outside and fires are inside . So I hope you all are enjoying this fresh and cozy time of the year as much as I am . ...oh 'Have yourself a Merry little Christmas' just came on....bliss !!!

Aoife Marie Elizabeth ♪

P.S. I have a personal favor to  ask of everyone who read or even just comes across this blog. One my oldest and dearest friends is ill at the moment. She told me today that she got results from some tests and things weren't quiet right - she will be fine and in a couple of years things will be back to normal again. She is in fantastic spirits and I thank God for that. But if you could pray for her I would appreciate that so much - she is a very special person and I love her so much ♥