Catching Up

Well, if you're reading this, it's a wonder that you ever check this site! In all my good intentions, it seems blogging gets last priority. Sometimes I'm amazed that people read this stuff...the everyday details (or in my case really, every month or so details) of what's going on in the Patterson family. I think that's part of the reason why I don't blog so much any more. Our life, at least to us, can be often times very mundane. I'm sure many of you are thinking, "what????, these guys just moved to Northern Ireland." It's true though. I think life anywhere in the world, no matter the destination can have a tendency to get mundane in the details. The grass is not always greener elsewhere...em, unless you come to Ireland, but the sky is not any bluer, that's for sure...

Here's a good example of mundane...I bleached 3 out of my 4 JCrew long sleeve t-shirts. Now these are the staples of my wardrobe, ruined! Not only are they ruined, but they're irreplaceable, at least until my next trip to The States, in which case, it will surely be a different season with different colors. Hmph! So that's the type of excitement that happens in the Patterson household, even though we happen to be living on an island a third of the way around the world (or somewhere thereabouts).

We've got a "whirlie" clothesline, you know those things that stick out of a post and then fold out with clothesline wrapped about it so you can get loads of clothes hung in a relatively small space, and then as the wind blows it spins it around a bit? Well, we've got one of those. It's one of the practical things that I really wanted to get as soon as we arrived here. Although I hate all other parts that involve laundry (the sorting, washing, folding, ironing, etc.), I just LOVE hanging laundry outside and then taking it in. It feels so organic, so healthy. Wes and I are having difficulty guessing when rain will arrive or not. Really it's for the most part cloudy here all the time. Certainly there are times when it's cloudier than others, but I don't ever remember seeing a completely clear blue sky. It for the most part looks like the clouds are threatening to release their moisture in a downpour at any moment, so hanging laundry outside is pretty risky business. We've had a few load of almost dry laundry get soaked, but we'll get better at it I'm sure.

Oh, and another organic feeling thing. We got a big 'ol compost bin for only five pounds! That's quite a deal, and it even came with a kitchen bucket with lid to store your day's worth of compost until you bring it to the bin! Sweet. I was so excited about this, and then calling the waste management facility in our area and purchasing it. It was a little victory in a place where sometimes getting the smallest thing accomplished seems to take quite a bit longer than I'm used to. So, in the end, we have a place that we can pitch our compost-worthy waste, other than the garbage. That in itself is a really good thing, because we can only fill one "wheelie" bin and it's collected every two weeks.

I'm trying to get all the existing beds of weeds cleared out so that come next spring, I can turn in all the compost and have a lovely fruit and veg. garden. It's a bit of a process, but I think it will be worth it in the end. I'm hoping that, we'll end up saving a bit of cash, and also enjoy the benefit of organic produce from our own labors. I can hardly wait until spring, but will have to use the winter to plan out the garden layout and determine when things need to be planted. This is really all new to me, but I've dreamed about this for a long time!

Other news about why we're really here:

The internship is going well. It's just started actually and will be a great experience for both Wes and I, especially as we gear up to church plant. To be able to see the intricate details of church workings, will be so helpful for us. Doing this sort of thing with a child is going to make it extra complicated, but we have no doubt that Gwyneth being here is all part of the grand plan.

We also wouldn't even be able to speak highly enough of our new church home, The Belfast City Vineyard. It's really an amazing church. We have felt so welcomed here by the people and are starting to recognize a number of familiar faces as we head into Sunday mornings. It's been a warm, inviting and comfortable place for us, and although we miss our dear Duluth Vineyard, I think where we're at is quickly feeling like home.

Late in September, I begin my pre-registration classes for becoming a registered childminder (daycare provider). I'm really excited to get started with that. Taking care of Gwyneth on a daily basis is wonderful, but I know that she would desperately like more interaction with other children, not just mom and dad (maybe she's already entering her 16 yr. old stage early when she thinks we're so boring). I'm also looking forward to taking on some kids and just loving them to bits and helping them grow and develop into their potential. I think about when I was working full time, how important it was for me to be able to leave my child in a place where I knew they were being loved and taught positive behaviors, not just kept safe, fed, and changed. I'm excited to help give parents peace of mind while they leave their child as they go to work. Please pray that God would bring the right children into our home.

Wes is looking for jobs currently. There seems to be opportunity out there, but he may run into difficulty proving that he has the credentials for what he applies to since the US system is a bit different than the British one (obviously). We're praying though that God would bless him with a job that will give him the type of hours and pay, to allow him to give a lot to this internship as well.

Really, that's about the news. Oh, and Gwyneth is doing well. She seems to be suffering through some of the Irish bugs here, especially after Sunday morning when she's around kids her own age. I wonder what type of American illnesses she's passing on to them. Apart from that though, she's just been lovely.

I'll have to put of pictures next time...after I charge the camera and then take the pictures. It's on my to-do list.

Cheerio!