happy new year belfast

we had plans to go spend the new year down in city center only to find out it had been cancelled. Earlier this month there was a riot during the tree lighting that they had to call in the military to break up. they since decided to cancel any other holiday events at the city hall. we are back at the flat and rung in the new year together. the sound of church bells and fireworks has been background noise to our conversations for the last hour... today i also took quite a few pictures...here are some of them...

             city hall...the site of where the would be new years festivities were to take place...

                                    an espresso macchiato from belfast coffee company.

                                             donegall and royal from a double decker bus

                                               the shankill (our neighborhood) from up above

the shankill graveyard is now a city park. there are graves there that date back to 455 AD.  i love the stonework on this one...

                                                                   a walk in the park

                                                   on a walk to buy more bread

                                                                the last sunset of 2009

new years

belfast...it is strange mark certain holidays here in a city that seems like time stands still. this is a city where every pint comes with a history lesson, every brick paved road has a story, every piece of  architecture is significant. here the passing of a decade seems unremarkable. decades come and go and much of life here looks the same. its hard to believe that we are coming up on another decade. it doesnt seem like it has been that long since the Y2k scare. i look forward to celebrating the new year in belfast and my prayer is that i will not only have dreams for the future, and learn and remember my past but also that i will learn to be utterly present. to be here now. and not to miss what is set in front of me everyday.

from ireland with love

we have been here for a week now and there is already a lot to write about. this is the first night we have had internet in our house so i will write and catch everyone up but until then here are some photos

this is some of the team at the woodvale house. we are staying in two different houses in the Shankil area of Belfast. the rest of the girls and i have a flat down the street
this is one of the hundreds of murals throughout Belfast. We are staying on the Protestant side of the peace wall. most murals are more propaganda than art, but they are everywhere. 

today we walked the peace wall. there is a whole section that people have written there own wishes, prayers, or encouragement for peace.

the stretch of the wall by our flat. they built the cement wall, that wasnt enough to keep people out, so they added8 more feet of sheet metal. then they would throw things over the wall so they built 8 more feet of chain link.
kelley's on christmas eve. this is the oldest pub in Belfast. It was built in 1728. the guys on the back wall are men who began the IRA back in the 1700's who frequented this place. 

drew hanging out with a local guy. he was speaking english but i couldnt understand a word he said.

the sign outside the presbyterian church where the YWAM Belfast offices are.

more murals from the Shankil. this is the area during the Troubles that saw some of the worst violence.

shankil road

packing up heading out

so we leave tomorrow. im over at the base getting lunch ready for the team to pack tomorrow and thought id send this out to let everyone know whats going on. we head out tomorrow at 730 to DIA. Flying from here to Philly and Philly to Dublin. Once in Dublin we take a bus up to Belfast and will be there around 1030 Monday morning. Ill update as soon as we can once there. we have some open mike nights set up in area pubs for the week as well as a children's workers saftey class we are taking as a prerequisite to be working with the kids there. there are a few other things on the agenda that i'll hit on in the next update.  

to my dad on his five year re-birthday

i am from white caddilacs with red interiors and orange trees in grandmas backyard.

i am from eight puppies andthe artist/poet/car part salesman living in our basement

i am from "cubba jubbies" and "bodysam".

i am from easter dresses under the crab apple tree and roller skating to "heart in motion" in  the garage.

i am from hot summer afternoons in the above ground pool and dot-dog-mac-n-cheese lunches and playing rainbow brite before TGIF.

i am from road trips to akron and fishing with grandpa.

i am from oscar de la renta and motor oil.

i am from "leaving on a jet plane" and "sunshine on my shoulders".

i am from g.i. joes attack the barbie townhouse and weeping willow trees. 

i am from twinkle lights and home made ornaments.

i am from race car drivers and folk singers.

i wonder if five years feels the same in heaven as does here on earth. it seems like it has been forever. the hole doesn't hurt as much as the years go on, but it is still there. it's days like today that remind me of that. dad, i love you and miss you.

two years

this was an article done about our base last year. it has been two years today since the shooting here. Its amazing how much this is still a part of us.

my parents were awesome

something fun for the day... this website is awesome. im sure i have some photos i could have added to it.

my parents were awesome.

tis the season

i went home last week and did the whole family thanksgiving thing. since i will be in ireland over the holiday we tried to fit in some christmas tradition at the same time, putting up the tree and decorating the house. with that said i thought it was time to roll out a bit of a christmas tradition i started a few years ago known as the "christmas mix tape" . being far away from friends and family this year i decided to go digital with the mix. Here it is. Hope you like it.

(to download click on the link, it takes you to the site the music is uploaded to)

1. I Heard the Bells- Pedro the Lion - I love David Bazan. Anyone who knows me knows this is no secret. For years he has put out 7" vinyl singles of Christmas songs. This is one of my favorite. His extra verses turn what can be somewhat cheesy Christmas songs into something else entirely.

2. O Holy Night- Seven Day Jesus- This is by far my favorite Christmas songs and this is the best version I have ever heard. 

3. Carol of the Bells- The Bird and the Bee- This is a cute version of this song by a band I have just begun to really get into.

4.  Silent Night- Over the Rhine-  Being from Ohio it would seem almost necessary to include Over the Rhine. for years they have put on a Christmas show in Cincinnati that is one of the best parts of the Christmas season in Ohio. 

5. Christmas Don't Be Late- Rosie Thomas- Rosie is one of those Seattle treasures. If you haven't heard her music go out and buy it now! She put this album out last year and it was by far the best Christmas album of the Season.

6. O Come O Come Emmanuel- Joshua James-  Joshua put out a Christmas EP a few years ago called fields and flood. it is a really solid 4 songs. this was by far my favorite of his.

7. All I Want for Christmas- Pedro the Lion- Another one by David Bazan....love it.