5 months!

I’ve just realised we’ve now been here 5 months. Seriously, it’s going so quickly it’s ridiculous.

So what have we learnt in the last 5 months and what has changed?

God is good, Chris got a job actually in Leitrim in spite of it being thought to be unlikely and there’s been countless other blessings.

When you feel like you can’t go on, you can.

We’ve gone from having a dirty, dusty, coaly house to one that just has normal dust and gales no longer blow actually through the house.

Electricians are difficult to pin down…

Most of the Irish services we’ve had have been brilliant and turned up on time and done the work excellently. Despite being told by a few people before we came, we would have to constantly be on people’s backs to get stuff done.

Children love being outside and will always find something to play with.

I’m less lazy than I was. It’s just harder work than where we lived before. Even getting a wash involves planning!

It doesn’t matter where you live. Material belongings or eating and drinking don’t satisfy us or make us happy. Only God does and that means we can be anywhere and be content if we live with Him and submit to Him. Put it this way, if you’re not happy in Chesterfield, you probably still won’t be happy in Ireland. Environment matters, but only to a certain extent.

I’m learning (or trying to) that I can’t have everything immediately). Also, to try and be in the moment I’m in instead of constantly thinking of what I still have to do… I find this difficult.. The house drives me nuts when I let it..

I can no longer flush anything or wash anything down the drain without thinking. Our water goes straight into the land and the toilet goes into a septic tank..I feel slightly more responsible ‘adult’ now. Fat gets scraped off, food either gets eaten or goes for composting, Bleach generally does not get used…etc etc.. still not queen of the green, but better than I was.

It is a beautiful place and I am very thankful.

God has plans for us that we don’t yet know about. I have a real sense of anticipation again. It’s exciting.