November is Here...

Hello to All!

November is here - and with it the crisp air and early nights. We have been so busy lately - tons of papers, tons of research, fun day trips, and lots of random activities - such as an exciting Belfast Giants game, and a Shakespearian performance of "A Midsummer Nights Dream" (which was held in a Circus Tent!) Needless to say, we have been busy (constantly on the go!), stressed (so many assignments!), and simultaneously - enjoying ourselves greatly!

Yesterday I grabbed a bus into Belfast and did some research in the Queens University Library. It was nice to have an afternoon to myself, and I enjoyed the 'university atmosphere' as I have been missing that a little. I also did a little window shopping - seeing how Thanksgiving is not celebrated here, the Christmas spirit is already in the air, and I am really enjoying it. In a few weeks we will go into the city to watch as they 'light up Belfast'. I am really looking forward to it.

The other week some friends and I decided to get a little artsy-crafty and made some tie-dye shirts. It was really run.


I pray you are all well. I pray you are able to take silent moments throughout your day - simply to breathe in the truth that is God. I pray that you are all at ease, and able to rest in knowing 'All is Well and All will be well'. I need to go - we are going to an art exhibition, but I thought I'd post a quick update. I love you all - Very Much!

Kaitie

Digging Deep

Hello Everyone -

I woke up today and went down stairs to eat a bowl of cereal. From the window, I watched the bay fill as the tide came in, and sat there for a moment just thinking. It is pretty surreal - this whole experience I am having. I miss everyone so much, but at the same time, I do not want this time, this experience, this moment in my life to end. I am learning so many things - so many things unplanned for. I am learning so many things that do not pertain merely to 'school and university'. I am learning so many things about myself, about the world, about God, about life and living. I do not want to lose 'this'.

This whole time abroad has placed me on an island in both a literal and symbolic sense. Unlike other trips, or study abroad programs, we are not in the middle of fast paced life. We are not 'in the city' or living on a busy campus. At first, this was one aspect I was not looking forward to, but I was wrong to have my doubts. There is something deep within you that takes place when you are able to rest your soul for a time. I say soul because that is what I feel. I feel my soul is at rest in this place. There is something to be said of the opportunity to reflect in a tranquil and beautiful place - something to be said of the allowed silence as you jog down the bay with the Mourne Mountains before you.

I have learned things and seen things I will never forget. We have six weeks left and I am trying to live each moment here to the absolute fullest as the days are zooming by. I know that God has me here in this place, for this time. I know that He will ready my heart to return in December. I pray that I take with me all that I was supposed to learn, that I absorb all this place has to offer, that I am alert and attentive as this experience continues...and maybe, just maybe, I will be able to capture enough to share with you all; though obviously, unless you live it, it will only ever be a retelling - and for that, I am sorry, because I wish you could all have this experience.

Thinking of You All, Praying You are Well. Until next time!...

Love,
Kaitlyn


Oh and Mom and Dad - Remind me to tell you about the Police Headquarters we visited today!

For Mom and Dad

For Mom and Dad - Who have both taught me to reflect and contemplate -

Some times we have to go through the difficult process of removing the hindrances in our lives in order to continue as we were meant to. Just as a person who discovers they have cancer in their leg is not eager to have their leg amputated, there are times when it must be done. If the cancer is not removed, it will overpower the rest of the body, slowly weakening and killing that whom it holds captive. No one wants to lose their leg – no one wants to lose a part of themselves – but when life is dependent upon it the deed must be done. The person with the newly amputated leg will have to learn to walk again, adjusting to their new form, but they will learn to walk again with new life and a new strength. Our hindrances are our cancer, and we too must go through a process of amputation - we too must learn to walk again... and we will learn to walk again, with renewed spirits and a lightened load - For how precious is the breath of freedom? I find myself learning to walk again. It is no easy thing, but I can already feel my spirits being renewed as my load is lightened. And as I stumble through those first steps, tripping and falling along the way, I feel a hand guiding me and a whisper, which says “You are doing it, that’s the way, it is all going to be okay”.

I miss you both very very much. Mom - I taught Aidan "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" and it made me smile thinking of you getting me from Mrs. Whitley's class in kindergarten and first grade and driving down to Mamaw and Papaws. I know this wasn't really an update post, but I'm lying in bed sick, with Kaylie (having caught what I have) lying in her bed a few feet away. The rest of the team is in Belfast, so I wrote this and thought I'd post it for the both of you.

My Cup Runneth over!
Tater

Back from Paris!

Hello to Everyone!

Today Kaylie, Kevin, and I arrived back from Paris. I cannot even begin to explain to you all the time that we had. It is such an intriguing city. Versaille was breathtaking...I could live in the gardens! The Louve was a compilation of exquisite masterpieces - I am still processing all that I saw. It was surreal to be standing at the top of the Eiffel Tower looking out over the city, I am so thankful and blessed for the experience. Walking through Notre Dame is something I will never forget. You do not have to be silent, but I couldn't help it as I walked around. I sat for the longest time in there after we had 'toured' the building and just prayed. I have seen God in so many ways while on this journey abroad and it never seises to amaze me. I have some funny stories about the hostel we stayed at. Disneyland was a BLAST! I finally got to go! The metro in Paris is crazy, but I feel we handled it with expertise! We are city slickers and never knew it! Ha. Goodness, so much to say, but never enough words. I am thinking of you all and hope that you are all doing wonderfully. I know this was short, but I am exhausted from the trip. I am attaching several of the pictures...there are tons more, but this will have to do until December!

With My Love,
Kaitlyn

Face Mask Night!

I haven't done the best job as of late of posting pictures. I haven't put up our farewell to Murlough House bonfire pictures or the trip to Belfast with the elephant on the street, but tonight the girls in our house had a facemask party! I thought I'd post a few while taking a break from homework. Things have been going well, but we have been so busy with trips and homework...I have five papers due in the coming two weeks as well as fall break and my trip to Paris! I am excited about the trip, and slightly stressing the papers haha. Our trip to the Northern Ireland Assembly was amazing. We were able to interview party members and do a Q & A session. It was such a neat experience. We met them at Stormont which is a beautiful place, you should type it into google! Anyways, I need to hit the books. More later.

My Love,
Kait

Papers

Hey Everyone -

It's been a few days, but we have SO MANY PAPERS to write and books to read. Hadden said we are reading for our degree. I really don't mind though, because I love reading and writing, it's just there is a ton of it, so the updates may be a little spread our for a time. Tomorrow we are driving into Belfast wearing our best attire because we are meeting with some members of 'congress' as we would say in the US. I will make sure to update afterwards because it will be a great experience I am sure. In November we will be doing something similar only then we will be meeting with the President of the Republic of Ireland so I am sure that will be great as well. We have been at the Holiday Homes for a few days now and I love it here, though I do miss Murlough House. The Holiday Homes are beautiful and it is fun to unpack. We celebrated Kaylie's birthday on Tuesday and that was a lot of fun. We went to the movies in Belfast and then out to dinner. Paris is right around the corner so Kaylie and I are getting really excited about that, (but I am nervous about the flying part of course). Anyways, I will update again soon, I need to go fix dinner!

Love and Blessings,
Kaitie

...

Okay-

I am going to post the poem I finished for my literature class. It is not great on any plane, but I know mom wants to read it - and I want to elaborate on it.

This semester has already stretched me in ways I was not anticipating. I walked out onto the beach the first night we arrived here at Murlough House and as I was walking to the end of the sand flats - slowly chasing the tide as it moved out, I felt tears on my cheeks. It wasn't windy, and it wasn't that cold, so I knew they were my tears; tears I was crying.

I felt God in that moment (not in a cliche way)...in a simple way...a way I haven't experienced in such a long time, and so I cried. I cried because I felt ashamed, I cried because I was overcome with joy, and I cried because I knew everything was okay.

I have been struggling with wanting answers in a definite and black and white way for quite some time now. I think whenever you get into higher education and the vast spectrum of arguments and debates are laid out before you - you start to contemplate issues within yourself. I feel this is a crucial period, something that must take place, but it can also be very lonely, because at the end of the day, you have to be okay with whatever YOU conclude - not those things which are concluded for you.

How do you take knowledge and understanding, science and reasoning, spirituality and the holy world and combine them in a harmonious way? It is hard to sift through the pieces when they don't seem to fit. They do fit though, all of the pieces come together, you simply have to turn them the right way.

I realize that in my quest for ultimate understanding I forgot the simplicity and key of all relationships - communication. As I searched, as I studied, as I asked questions and weighed the various answers, I forgot to listen to that whisper, that ever present whisper that has so faithfully guided me for as long as I have been aware.

I heard it though, I heard that whisper when I was at the beach, and I remembered that one crucial element was the element I had been leaving out for far too long now.

So...I am here in Ireland, and I am realizing that this experience has already changed me in ways unexpected...and as this experience continues, I know that I will be molded and refined. Pray for me as this all takes place.

I wanted to post this, because I have been working on transparency. I want to be honest and sincere, bold in my struggles and down falls - I want to be humble.

Here is the Prayer I prayed this morning from The Common Book of Prayers (I picked it up the other day and have been using it in the mornings). I wanted to share this with you because I felt this prayer fitting and then I will attach the poem.

TO our prayers, O Lord, we join our unfeigned thanks for all thy mercies; for our being, our reason, and all other endowments and faculties of soul and body; for our health, friends, food, and raiment, and all the other comforts and conveniences of life. Above all, we adore thy mercy in sending thy only Son into the world, to redeem us from sin and eternal death, and in giving us the knowledge and sense of our duty towards thee. We bless thee for thy pa-tience with us, notwithstanding our many and great provo-cations; for all the directions, assistances, and comforts of thy Holy Spirit; for thy continual care and watchful providence over us through the whole course of our lives; and particularly for the mercies and benefits of the past day; beseeching thee to continue these thy blessings to us, and to give us grace to show our thankfulness in a sincere obedience to his laws, through whose merits and inter-cession we received them all, thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Diamonds in the Sun

I feel the pulse between my fingers
As I take the pen into my hand
My every breath is labored
How do I write what I cannot understand?
In the tranquility of this moment
As thoughts are sifted through
The only thought that does stand out
Is the thought of You
I hear the tide come in
Feel the breeze it brings about
I see the ocean before me
I see it - How do I doubt?
I have such little faith
I am a skeptic - I always sway
But even in this moment - I hear Your whisper
Constant - It does not go away
You do not speak with clarity
In the confidence that clarity brings
Such a gentle whisper - A simple reminder
Never alone throughout all things
I open my eyes a little wider
See the sand glistening like a thousand diamonds in the sun
Your presence is before me
I am not scared - I will not run
I cannot argue with the feeling that there is something more
I cannot debate my conscience
As I have done before
See - Your voice - It is within me
I did not put it there
Your voice that's growing louder
I hear you - I am aware
And tho I want to argue - Afraid of what I cannot see
Your truth has finally grasped
And claimed even the worst of me

My Love Always,
Kait