Time to get back to the real world...

Camp is over!  I get to sleep in a real bed tonight (last night, too).  My campers were amazing!  They were from the Dublin area, and participate in a sports/youth club with some friends of mine.  I'm excited about getting to hang out with them more.  There's a chance I may get to tag along when they go on a surfing/camping trip later this month.  I've never been surfing before.  It may be a disaster.

We won "tent inspection" the first two days.  The first day was a theme day.  We decorated our tent like a Justin Bieber concert.  Complete with screaming fans, security guards, and of course... Justin Bieber.  It was a big hit.  Literally.  I was blessed with clean, creative girls who will be the first to tell you that I was the messiest one in our tent.  It's true.  I was.  Luckily, I got my act together enough for us to take home the Tent-Inspection-Award for the week!

The weather was UNBELIEVABLE!  Only one night of rain at girls' camp.  The rest of the time we had clear skies and lots of sun screen.  I was thrilled to be outside in the 75 degree weather!  All the Irish girls were "roasting" in the heat.  They don't have a clue how bad it could be... right, Dallas?  I'm looking forward to catching up on my rest.  And I'm excited to go back to the forest next summer.

Today was day one of The Great Move-In.  Ikea delivered some furniture this morning.  Craig, Merschon, Denise, Davis, and Bailey crammed into my tiny living room/kitchen to help me build it.  It was good craic (pronounced crack)... that's Irish for "good times."  Here's a quick sneak peak of the mess.  Pictures of the finished product to follow.  But don't hold your breath, it could be a day or two... or nine...

Legally speaking

I spent the last 10 days or so with 40+ boys at Camp Shamrock in the Tollymore Forrest in Northern Ireland.  Three days of sun made my soul very, very happy.  Then the rain came.  It wasn't too bad.  We all stayed mostly dry.  I go back for another round of camp tomorrow.  Except this time it'll be full of girls... drama, drama, drama.  I'm sure I'll have plenty of stories to tell.  If I survive.

Today was the only full day off in between camps.  I had to go to immigration.  It wasn't nearly as horrible as I thought it'd be.  They didn't give me any grief for being here illegally while I waited on my new passport to come.  Guess the guy was right when he said it wouldn't be a big deal.  Who knew?  Since my courses at Irish Bible Institute don't start until September 5th, I only got a temporary stamp in my passport.  I have to go back before school starts to get my actual student visa.  At least now I know that I have everything I need for when I go back... again.  And I'm legal... again.  Whohoo!

If a picture's worth 1,000 words...

...then how many words are 12 pictures worth?  A lot.  The pictures are easier than the 12,000 words it'd take to match them.  Yesterday, Craig and Merschon took me on an 8 mile hike around Howth.  We had a picnic lunch by the sea.  We were blessed with warm sun, cool weather (how does 66 degrees sound?), and beautiful things to look at... as you can see...

Monday night, we celebrated the 4th of July with 3 Germans and an Englishman.  We had burgers and potato salad and chips.  I made the dessert.  Patriotism never tasted so delicious!

I just saved myself another 1,000 words.

"Wonderful!!!!"

This is the wedding quilt I made for My-Sister-Rosi and my Brother-In-Law:

Anna Maria Horner, my most favorite fabric designer ever, commented on this picture I posted on Flickr!  That's right... THE Anna Maria Horner thought one of MY quilts was "wonderful!!!!"... that's kind of a big deal!!!!!!!  Anna Maria, thanks for making my day month!