This makes me happy

As of yesterday, if given a free flight home ASAP, I wouldn’t take it.  Previously when I’ve asked myself this question the answer hasn’t been quite this simple. 

Now, let me backtrack.  I like Ireland.  I really like Cork.  I’ve been here eleven weeks now, and I’ve liked this place the whole time.  My Fall—sorry, Autumn!—so far has been full of beautiful sights, brilliant music, and engaging people.  God’s blessings have been everywhere:  I both got plugged into a great church and learned how to make German pancakes pretty early.

But always, always, when I asked myself, “given the opportunity, would you go home today?” the answer was yes.  I’d been happy here, but at home were TNW, RUF large group, and FND (hehe acronyms).  At home were crazy dance parties, chocolate-covered pretzels, and Chick-fil-A.  At home were Sundays singing “Glory to Glory,” and the Appalachian mountains, and at home my brother is growing approximately an inch a day, which is terrifying!

As of yesterday, though, this has changed.  No, I’m sure George is still growing.  And I will be oh so very happy to return to all of those other things in December and January.  What’s changed is that Ireland has begun to pull my heart, a little bit, in the other direction.  As God has been showing me all semester, He’s over here too.  He’s in His creation, and in His people in this beautiful city.  And here in Cork are the English Market, Tuesday nights with the CU and worship at Calvary Cork.  In Cork are both Eddie Rockets AND the recently-discovered Hotshakes (NOT an oxymoron).  In Cork are crosswalks that say you have 99 seconds but are actually trying to kill you, a flat full of roommates who eat nutella out of the jar, and TOTALLY AWESOME friends who will sing crazy Disney songs with you (sounds like home…).

So thank God for Cork!  And here’s to my last third (haha) of my time here!  At least for now.

PS. By the way, nothing extra special happened yesterday to tip the scales or anything…that was just when I started counting my blessings.

PPS. Two posts in two days?  What?  Don’t worry, it won’t happen again.