An adventure awaits us.

This time next week we will be in Ireland, and I will be saying Merry Christmas Belfast!  I haven't written anything about our trip to Ireland for fear that me putting words to this adventure would simply jinx it or something.  Remember what happened last year?

I can't believe it's nearly been a year since we were told we wouldn't be venturing to Ireland.  I will never forget that day - we had both signed off at work, and we had one last appointment with the midwife before we depearted on a plane for the motherland.  And guess what the midwife told us after she had already signed the Drs. note for the airlines?  She told us that we wouldn't be going to Ireland. The emotions are still there - ugh - I was SO mad!  Mad that Jack wasn't growing as he should, mad that didn't have control over it all, mad that our plans were thwarted, mad that we wouldn't be in Ireland for Christmas.  I was so angry - at the midwife, at my husband (what did he do?? absolutely nothing!), at God, at the entire situation.  And I was such a mess - the husband couldn't console me, the tears were streaming, and the snot was smeared all over my face.  It was bad, so bad.  And it was sad, so sad. I mean it had been 2 years since we were there.  Anyhow, you can read the whole story here if you would like.

Anyhow, it looks like nothing is going to stop us from getting on a plane next Wednesday and trying for round 2!  We didn't buy our tickets so early this time, and part of me feels like it's not really happening.  It just feels so surreal - it has been so long - nearly THREE years since we were there. And last time we were there it snowed ALOT.

Last year I wrote a blog post about the things I was looking forward to...let's just say not much of that has changed.

Things I am looking forward to this year...

Getting to travel with Peter and our little man Jack!  Can't wait to see how Jack does on his first airplane ride.  And can't wait to see how I do on my first plane ride with Jack.  Will I be able to rest at all?  Read a book?  Watch a movie?  My hope is that the little man will charm everyone next to him with his little smile and that he will sleep alot. And I can't wait for Jack to get his first stamp in his passport - his passport picture is the one on the bottom left. 

Seeing family - in-laws, siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc.  I can't wait for Jack to meet his Uncle Stuart...ahhh, I can't even wait to see Stuart's face as he squeezes his nephew and snuggles him.  I can't even wait. And I can't wait for Gillian, Jack, and Ruth to see just how much Jack has grown since they last saw him. And I can't wait for the little man to meet his great grandmas and his extended family.

Going to the Christmas market - everything about it just feels like Christmas!  Can't wait to get some food from the stalls and drink some hot cider and/or beer.

Visiting some of our favorite places - Queens, Botanic Gardens, Portballintrae, Cave Hill, the Lagan Towpath, Fisherwick, and the list could go on.

Many games of Wizard.  I think we only played it once last time we were there and oh what a memorable night that was.  Can't wait for all the laughter and all the love that fills that household.  

And much, much more!!  We are also going to visit the Titanic Museum in Belfast.  Anyhow, I love this place and I can't wait to share this place with Jack!  Crazy to think he hasn't experienced Ireland yet, the place where his dad grew up.  So much to show him and so little he will actually remember!

Please pray for us - for the long flight there, for patience for Peter and I and all the passengers, for grace, for our time with family and friends.  Thanks in advance!

xoxo,

Malia

Posts from our last time in Ireland ...

We have Arrived

Let it snow

Sweaty Palms

California.

So I traveled to the desert for my 30th Birthday.  And let's just say it was HOT!  I mean it's the desert, so I should have expected that right?  But it's also October, so I guess it shouldn't have been as hot as it was?  Either way, I love the sun and I love the heat, and I treasured every single moment in it!  I think I even came back with a bit of a tan.

Anyhow, my parents treated me to a trip to California, which included time by the pool, lots of sleep, a day at the spa, and great food and great company!  And I even had a special visit from my dear friend Bekah, who lives in San Diego.

So I thought I would share some little bits from our time.  Click here if you want to see photos of the house!

Here we are at the spa!  We went to this place called The Spring, and they have hot springs on the same grounds as the spa.  So you can get your massage and hang out in the springs or vice versa.  It was great - a little interesting, considering I now get pregnancy massages I guess?  But let's be honest, the massage therapist actually had me lie on my stomach, which I can do considering I'm not that big, but let's just say it was a little uncomfortable, probably because I had to go to the bathroom, and it wasn't the best position for a full bladder or a pregnant belly!

Here we are starting off on our 7 mile hike that we thought was only going to be 5!  Guess we misread the map?  We started off a little too late and it was exceptionally hot, but the pregnant lady marched on. I was pretty pleased with my accomplishment at the end of it all - the photo on the left was at the beginning of the hike.  I look a little too pleased and energetic for it to be at the end.  And I was lucky enough to get at least one photo with Bekah!

And this was the night we went out to dinner for my birthday!  We went to a great steakhouse and had some really yummy food and some delicious dessert!  I ordered steak, which may not have been the best idea considering they had to take it back THREE times to make sure it was cooked enough for me to eat.  Oh all those pregnancy rules that I actually abide by!

It was so great to get away - even if it was just for a weekend.  But it was pretty strange not waking up to Peter on my actual birthday and I missed that man immensely.  Life just isn't the same without him there - let's be honest!  Thanks mom and dad for a great birthday weekend - I am beyond blessed.

xoxo,

Malia

Vacations.

There truly is something so beautiful about vacations isn't there?  I enjoy every single bit of it - pre-trip and post trip.  I love planning for a trip and the anticipation that goes along with it.  I love staying up late to pack and getting up early to venture to the airport - I love airports and as much as I hate having to take all my layers off to go through security, it's all part of the travel experience! 



This past weekend, I had the privilege of vacationing with 4 lovely ladies in Newport Beach, California..and it was truly delightful, especially since it was my first official girls weekend away...EVER.  And these aren't just any ladies...these are some of my oldest friends.  I have written about these ladies a few times before - see HERE and HERE to read more about our monthly gatherings.  And to save you the trouble, I will just say that I have known the majority of these ladies for longer than 15 years, which is CRAZY to think about.  And we get together once a month in Seattle at someones home, and this month we decided to change things up a bit and venture to California to celebrate Ms. Carly Jean's birthday! Isn't she just lovely?

Anyhow, we truly had so much fun together - we laughed so much while speaking about first kisses, first boyfriends, first heartbreaks (not so funny, but funny to look back on!!).  We spent a lot of our time simply catching up and laughing…ALOT!!  There was so much laughter this past weekend and I smile as I think about it!  We have so much history.  Some of those girls I have known since elementary school.  I have seen them all through their awkward phases, braces, insecurities, puberty, you name it, I have seen it all!  I have walked alongside them through death, family tragedies, broken relationships, and so much joy.  I know their families, immediate and extended.  I know their spouses and even their children (well for one of us!).  I know what makes them laugh and what makes them ache.  I know them.  History is a beautiful thing, but friendships within that history are even more beautiful. 

Within the weekend there was a time to mourn, a time to laugh, a time to weep, a time to be real and true to who we are and who God has created each of us to be.  And it was simply beautiful.  And come Tuesday morning…when I was utterly exhausted due to lack of sleep, I found myself truly missing them - their joy, their laughter, their love. 

I feel so blessed by the beautiful friendships in my life, and I am simply in awe of the transformation that has occurred in the lives of these 4 women in the 15 plus years that I have known them.  THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE PRIVILEGE TO WITNESS YOUR LIVES AND TO WALK ALONGSIDE YOU THROUGH IT!!  You inspire me and encourage me to be a better person, and the world is simply made more beautiful because you are in it!! 

Here's to a fabulous time away...and many more beautiful moments together in the future!!

  

xoxo, 

Malia