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 ♪