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Blog, Faith, Parenting, prayer, Travel, Writing

The ferry in Kerry County

This is post #9 of a blog series I’m writing including pictures of the recent amazing trip I took with our precious, beautiful daughter Leah. Here are posts:

#1, My daughter Leah and I went to Ireland,

#2, Ireland: Dreams Come True,

#3, We visited Bunratty Castle in Ireland,

#4, Bunratty Folk Park: the waterfall, the lamb, and the fairy village,

#5, The Gorgeous Cliffs of Moher,

#6, Galway Girl,

#7, Galway Girl, Part 2, and

#8, Treacherous Corkscrew Hill.

We took so many pictures with our phones that I need to break up the posts, to make it easier for you to read, as I know you live a busy, hectic life like mine and you don’t have lots of spare time!

I hope these blogs inspire and bless you. I thank my Lord Jesus Christ, who made this amazing opportunity and prayer possible.

“I’ve only been to Ireland once, and I felt I would wake up with voices in my head, almost like music, and that if I were a songwriter, I would be very inspired.”–Morrissey

Ferry going to Killarney National Park

Ferry going to Killarney National Park

During our pleasant stay at the Riverdale Farmhouse B & B near Doolin, the owner Mary told Leah and me to take the ferry to get to Kerry County so we could visit the Killarney National Park, which would cut off about 45 minutes of our driving time. 

Car GPS

Car GPS

During this drive, Leah and I butted heads because sometimes the GPS and the road signs didn’t match each other. By this time, although the Waze app for GPS on my iPhone was a God-send help and I’d never have tried driving there without it, I was tired of driving down tiny “R” roads, as it can be stressful.

There are five types of highways/roads in Ireland:

  • “M” are the motorways with two or three lanes in each direction, that are between cities and have the highest speeds. 
  • “N” highways which are the national primary roads linking larger towns together that are good, wide roads. 
  • “N” highways that are the National Secondary Roads link smaller towns to each other or to larger towns. 
  • “R” which are regional roads–the rural, winding roads with much lower speeds. On these narrow roads, hedges and walls encroach on the road and if a bus or big truck is coming toward you, it is scary!
  • Unclassified roads that often lead to a dead end, like a road to a beach, pier, or isolated farms. These are an adventure; you never know what to expect! On one road like this, I wondered if we had somehow gotten off a road and were on someone’s driveway! It was barely wide enough for one car, much less two. Eventually, we got off this road, such as it was, onto a bigger highway; what a relief!

Leah would tell me to listen to the GPS directions, but when a road sign indicated something different, I’d want to follow the road because I was afraid of getting lost in Ireland, so we’d argue and things got a little loud! Later we apologized to each other!

I finally decided that I was just “going with my gut” instead of the GPS, as God and my gut have never led me wrong in my life!

If we had followed the GPS directions to go on a rural road, we would have missed one of the most amazing views we had in Ireland–a gorgeous coastal area. My gut was right. Pictures don’t do it justice! 

Are you listening to God’s “directions,” the enemy Satan’s, or the world’s? Let God be your GPS each day, and enjoy the view as you travel this adventurous life!

This pic doesn't do the view justice

This pic doesn’t do the view justice

 

Beautiful mountain view

Beautiful mountain view

 

Kerry County coastal town

Kerry County coastal town

Along the way in this area of Kerry County, we saw a lot of windmills and factories.

windmill

windmill

 

windmills and factories

windmills and factories

I’d watched videos prior to traveling to Ireland and knew that you have to watch for sheep, goats, and cows as you are driving there. Leah and I were both amused when we had to stop the car for cows crossing the highway. Leah was delighted to see a sheepdog in action helping to herd the cows.

cows crossing the road

cows crossing the road

 

sheepdog herding cows

sheepdog herding cows

 

Pretty clouds in Kerry County

Pretty clouds in Kerry County

 

pretty blue-purple clouds

pretty blue-purple clouds

 

pretty blue mountains

pretty blue mountains

Leah had never been on a ferry before, and she thought it was interesting.

Leah by our car on the ferry in Kerry County

Leah by our car on the ferry in Kerry County

This is a GREAT pic of Leah on the ferry! Our beautiful daughter!

Leah on ferry

Leah on ferry

I thought it was funny that the ferry had a little store offering ice cream and other snacks. No, this time I actually did NOT get ice cream ~ I restrained myself!

The ferry staff were very nice to us. Overall, I found Ireland to be an extremely welcoming, warm country. I can’t wait to go back!

store on ferry and ferry staff

store on ferry and ferry staff

We saw what looked like to be a lighthouse from the ferry. I love lighthouses.

“The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.” (Psalm 119:130)

lighthouse seen from ferry

lighthouse seen from ferry

 

back of ferry

back of ferry

We saw a boat while on the ferry. This was a relaxing time for us both, not having to drive and just enjoying the view.

boat on the water, seen from ferry

boat on the water, seen from ferry

In my next post in this Ireland Blog Series, I’ll share pics of the Killarney National Park, including the beautiful Torc Waterfalls–and how Leah discovered the bigger waterfalls through a pretty, red-headed Irish woman playing the violin in the woods!

Torc Waterfalls, Killarney National Park

Torc Waterfalls, Killarney National Park

Blog, Faith, Marriage, Parenting, prayer, Spiritual Gifts, Travel

Walk free

Have you ever gone somewhere new and found out that the directions you had didn’t work or the highway you were taking was closed due to construction? Or that your smart phone’s GPS didn’t work right?

This happened to my husband Ray and me this year in January when we were going to a marriage retreat in Kansas City, Kansas. I had signed us up for the retreat as a surprise for some much needed R & R for Ray and me at the nice hotel Chateau Avalon, where the retreat was held. They deliver breakfast to your hotel door and each room has a big jacuzzi tub.

road

I had the correct address, had printed off the directions to the hotel from Mapquest online, and was using my iPhone’s GPS to get us there. Ray was tired from having worked several shifts, so I drove. For some reason the GPS didn’t work and the printed directions didn’t help.

I had to depend on God and Ray to get us safely there. As a paramedic, Ray often drives the ambulance to Kansas City hospitals, so he knew the area better than I did. The Holy Spirit led us the right way, but we’d never been this way before. 

Maybe something like this has happened to you, too. Maybe this year you’re going a way you haven’t gone before. It can be scary and uncertain.

Ray and I are there right now with our housing situation. Our lease at the rental house where we live is up on April 30, 2016. We’re not sure what’s going to happen yet or where we will live. Our faith is being tested. We’re having to trust God.

Karen Wells, Doreen Penner, Beth Jones

Speakers Karen Wells, Doreen Penner, and Beth Jones

If this situation resonates with you, I invite you to join me and my anointed speaker friends Doreen Penner and Karen Wells for our exciting virtual event on Thursday, April 7, 2016,  Walk Free Summit. There are three different speakers’ sessions and it will begin 10 a.m. Central Time.

Hiker

The event is free, and at the end of each speaker’s session we’re opening the phone lines for you to share your heart: comments, questions, or prayer requests. 

It’s time for you to walk free in Jesus Christ’s authority. 

You can find out more information and sign up right now by clicking here.

Please share with your family, friends, and peers.