danke shoen, darling danke shoen

I am back from a whirlwind weekend trip to Berlin for my good friend Andrea's wedding. It's crazy that it's easier (and cheaper) to travel to Germany from here on a 2-hour flight than it was to get from Atlanta to Houston in the states! I took Joanna, one of the young people from Fitzroy who is also close to Andrea, and we had a fantastic time. I went a little crazy taking pictures--I hope you enjoy them!

-Experiencing the joy of a German wedding as Andrea and Tilman got married. The reception lasted for hours and hours and was comprised of speeches, food every couple of hours, skits by friends of Andrea and Tilman, live music, a video made by the bride and groom and lots and lots of dancing. People take time celebrating in Germany, and instead of rushing through it, take the time to really honor the couple and what they have together.

-Andrea and I were good friends in Belfast when we both last lived here, and seeing her again was surreal and wonderful. It was so great to be a part of such a special day and to slip into our old patterns of humor after such a long time apart.

-Seeing Larissa again, who was also in Belfast when I was last here. Her, Joanna and I had the most fun exploring the city together, eating Haagen Dazs ice cream and dancing at the wedding.

-Rainbow-colored light splashing the walls with vibrant hues.

-A tiny Villeroy & Boch logo on the tiles of the subway. I have no idea why it was there, but think it might mean the tiles are made by them. I immediately thought of my Mother and Grandmother, who love Villeroy & Boch china. If they were with me, they might have tried to take a tile home with them! :)


-Walking the streets and playing on a huge water pump (which was thankfully dry).

-Going to Checkpoint Charlie and seeing remnants of the Berlin wall and art, stories and acts of bravery inspired by resistance against it.

-Reading amazing stories about courageous everyday people who resisted the division of Germany. One story was written above this bag explaining that a woman whose child was not permitted on her side of the wall smuggled him across in this actual bag covered with a cloth. The picture of the two of them smiling once they reached the other side taught me of how resisting division is a joyful act. Every picture of families using homemade hot air balloons, tunnels and crates to cross the wall showed people smiling brightly and facing daunting odds bravely because they were driven by love and family.

-The lovely sights of Berlin sweeping past me as I rode the train.

-Lovely domed buildings with warm sunlight shining on them.

-I always find that trees look differently in each country I've been to, and German trees have really dark, smooth trunks with shimmery sage green leaves. So beautiful.

-The ceiling of a church entrance covered in intricate and holy carvings.

-Seeing the famous gate of Berlin that used to be such a symbol of oppression and now has people freely flowing through it.

-Fall is in full bloom already in Berlin, and everywhere walls were adorned with bright leafy vines.
-A swirly and whimsical staircase with beautiful daffodils (I think) decorating it.

-It's wierd, but buildings actually seem taller in Berlin than anywhere I've been. I loved the layered walls with narrow paths between them.

-Going to a tiny Anne Frank museum that was hidden away down a graffiti-covered alley. It was painful to see the images and hear the stories, but so important.

-Seeing the first baby picture of Anne Frank.

-Looking at what I think is a facsimile of Anne Frank's diary. There is such power in words--especially hers.

-Reading old newspapers proclaiming the end of the Nazi regime and trying to understand the feeling they captured and the hugeness of that moment.

-Walking through bricked pathways with Joanna and looking at all of the lovely scarves and what is called "bric a brac" in Ireland. I ended up bartering with a man selling all sorts of random things in the street for a lovely little bright green wind-up clock. It's exactly what I was looking for, keeps perfect time, ticks soothingly and even says "made in Germany" in tiny print on the face.



-Shopping in a bead shop with Joanna and finding a gorgeous large sunflower bead which I had attached to a clasp to make it a pin for my coat. I also found a couple of beautiful beads for my friend Jessi who makes jewelry (you'll get them in a couple of weeks, Jessi!).

I'm off to Berlin for the weekend for my friend Andrea's wedding, so I'll be sure to blog when I'm back on Monday with pics from Berlin. Have a great week! Whit

my wee house

Hello! Here are a few pictures of my house in Belfast. I really love it. Miss you all. :) Whitney

Front door

My little reading area in my room :)

Dressers/closety-thing

My bed/table

The bathroom

The kitchen (where all the magic happens)

look after

-Edward in the charity shop asking about my call (female ministers are a new thing for him) and listening respectfully as I shared my story. Then, when we finally got around to why I was in the shop, he found two lamps that were exactly what I was looking for and gave them to me for only 5 pounds, saying "we have to look after each other in ministry."

-An ice-cream cone from a 105-year-old ice cream shop.

-The thrill of receiving a call from Ash and Clay on Skype (while I had brief internet) and hearing their voices and Natalie's enthusiastic musings in the background.

hands on

-Having hands layed on me and hearing the whole congregation singing "The Lord Bless You and Keep You" behind me as I was commissioned for my work at Fitzroy.

-How leading youth in a discussion or activity just makes me feel like myself.

-Being greeted as I left the church by Gemma, a girl I worked with at Mornington years ago. She came up and said, "Aren't you called Whitney? Didn't you used to work at Mornington?"

-Mom saying she missed and loved me.

old and new

-The sights, smells, sounds and tastes of St. George's Market. It was also nice to be there with a good friend and run into old ones.

-Having a barbecue with Jonee and Jason and including our neighbors and some of their friends. Everything from buying a grill for 5 pounds to eating was full of laughter, banter and "good craic."

-Watching the Romanian children dance at Frenzy (the children's club on a Friday) and thinking that this was part of why I was called here. I even saw three of them on the street the next day and they were so excited to see me and asked when they could come back to Fitzroy.

and so it begins...

-Enjoying my first day of work, especially the part where Chris and I went for coffee to discuss Bible studies and the youth.

-Going to the Queen's Film Theatre with Jonee to see The Duchess. I love British period films because they often remind me of buildings and scenery here. It was a great feeling to recognize a building style and know that as soon as I left the theater I would see it in the buildings of Belfast. I also really enjoyed coming out of the cold into cozy, oversized red theater chairs with a warm cup of creamy hot chocolate in my hand.

-Being given a fantastic little portable bike by a member of the church so I can make my way around town quicker. It's really fun and quirky.

wireless wonder

By some miracle, I seem to get sporadic wireless access in my room! So, here's some glimpses from the last wee while:





-The first glimpse of Ireland from the plane.



-Walking along the rocky seashore and feeling the crisp air and looking out on the ocean with the surreal notion of which side of it I'm on.

-Vibrant yellow lichen-covered rocks.
-A lovely sunny day spent catching up with Jonee and Jason.

-Staying with Heather and enjoying her hospitality and family. Standing in the kitchen, washing mud off of potatoes and watching the soothing rain, I felt very much a part of the place.

-Watercolor-hued hydrangeas dotted with fresh rain.

i'm here!

hello blog friends,
i'm here in belfast and loving getting settled and used to my house and the way everything's new and different. i'll be posting pictures and glimpses soon, but i don't have readily available internet yet. you'll see and hear more soon!
peace,
whitney

belfast bound

There's been a lot of grace around, but I have very little time to tell you about it! I leave tomorrow for Belfast, and have been busy spending time with friends and family and packing (and packing...and packing...). I'll be sure to resume my glimpses once I cross the pond as often as possible. Thank you for all of your kind words and support. In the words of Lord of the Rings, "I think I'm quite ready for another adventure."
Peace,
Whitney

the secret garden

-My Aunt Karen coming for a visit. We all had so much fun. She tells stories with hilarious sound effects, and is just somehow organic. I remember visiting her as a self-conscious teenager and how it was just customary to go without makeup for the whole time--organic. This morning, as I sat outside drinking my coffee, I shunned the muddy dog a bit and didn't want to get my hands dirty. Well, she came outside to sit and talk and immediately gave the dog a generous pat, not caring at all about getting her hands dirty--organic. So, I also gave him a friendly pet when he placed his head in my lap and didn't shoo him away. At lunch, when Aunt Karen didn't have a spoon for to stir her tea, she just used her fork without a thought--organic.

-Waking up before anyone else, at barely daylight, and feeling completely refreshed and awake. It's rare to be up first in such an early-rising family, and so making the coffee, tiptoeing out the door to get the paper and sitting on the porch watching the sun grow strong felt like seeing the morning at home with fresh eyes.


-Going to a local plant sale and garden with my Mom and Aunt. It's difficult to describe the beauty of the colors and textures and the feel of the hot Texas sun, so I'll let my pictures speak for themselves.

habits hatching hospitality

-The little friendly (we think) dog who always follows my Mom and me every time we ride our bikes past his house. We've been bike riding every morning, and every morning he's there, waiting to run alongside us.

-Buying fresh organic eggs from my Mom's friend Lola. She has lots of chickens in her spacious backyard, and I enjoyed watching them prance their way through a sprinkler while a large rooster watched. The eggs always come in many colors and sizes, and we used them to make open-faced fried egg, tomato and arugula sandwiches for lunch. Delicious.

-Getting an email from Chris in Belfast letting me know that I was welcome to stay and eat at Heather's (my boss) house for the first night I'm there, "just so you can ease yourself in gently." I also got a second email saying, "If there is anything you need to ask or anything you think you'll need when you get here please just ask, we want to make this as good/comfortable/easy for you as possible! Nothing is too trivial!" There really is nothing like Northern Irish hospitality, and just the offer (which I'll take them up on) already makes me feel more comfortable with the journey and transition ahead.

whistle while you work

(Hello blog friends--I wanted to let you know that this is my 400th post! I look forward to the next 400.)

-My kettle whistling jovially to tell me the water was boiled. I've never had one that does whistles, but I love the sound, and the little straight puff of steam that it sends out.

-Getting a sweet congratulatory card from my friend and former co-worker Paula in the mail.

-A bright pink chair in the backyard, shaded by a bright pink crepe myrtle tree. They matched so perfectly that I smiled as I peered out the window at them.

all warmed up

-The gift of a tea kettle from my family to celebrate my ordination. It's not just any tea kettle...it's a (sigh) Le Creuset one with turquoise blue enamel that fades from a rich caribbean blue to a softer, paler blue. I've been drooling over them for a while now, and if I have pack clothes inside it to make it fit in my suitcase to Belfast, it's coming with me.

-Sunlight shimmering through trees and a warm breeze that lulled me into an impromptu nap.

-A wonderful email that praised me for "being an adventurer." I hope I always earn that sort of praise.

talkin' bout a REVolution

-A yummy dinner of steak, potatoes and grilled zucchini with tomatoes. Can you tell I'm trying to fill up on traditional Texas fare before going to Belfast?

-Being ordained as a PCUSA Minister of Word and Sacrament. The service was perfect, from Kyle's Lord of the Rings themed sermon, to Bob Leslie (the pastor who baptized me in that very church) holding my hand to pronounce that I was ordained and having to stop because he was overwhelmed with emotion, and then choking out "I used to hold her" before continuing, to hands layed upon me in blessing, including my parents and Grandmother, to Marie charging me to be guided by my inner joy and the constant presence of God to so many more things. It's difficult to convey in words the peace and tangible hand of God felt in this day.

-Being with so many wonderful friends and family. It was so great and suprising to see friends like Heather, Stuart and Allison who I haven't seen in years. In one room, I had pastors who have guided and supported me, a great deal of caring family, old college friends, a friend from elementary school and dozens of people who took very seriously their promise made to me and God at my baptism there.

rosie and frodo

-Eating delicious Mexican food--the best I've had in a long time. I loved the overcrowded restaurant packed with football fans ready for the first game of the season, chattering to each other and laughing. I glanced up and made accidental eye contact with one of the cooks from behind the window to the kitchen. We both smiled briefly and then he went back to cooking and I went back to devouring his fantastic spicy enchiladas.

-A Friday night spent curled up on the couch reading Lord of the Rings, and getting completely engrossed in that magical, whimsical tale once again.

-The first melodious notes of the opening song on my Out of Africa record.

sharing stories and soup

-The man next to me at the deli counter of the grocery store who ordered a half-pound of "the most rare roast beef you have." The woman at the counter made a face and then smiled, saying she wasn't a fan of rare meat. The man turned to me and explained, "My Grandfather taught me to like rare meat a long time ago."

-Going antique shopping with my Mom and enjoying all of the varied odds and ends, like old hats, jewelry, furniture and clothing. I love that each thing has a story and a history behind it. I ended up buying a gorgeous carpetbag clutch (for only $3!), and I love it. You know how I love antique bags.

-Cooking ribbolita (an Italian soup) and savoring the flavors of creamy white beans, salty pancetta, earthy herbs de Provence and tangy parmigiano reggiano cheese.

time well spent

-Spending time with my Nana and Grandmother. Sitting on the carpet in my Nana's house playing solitare and listening to the conversation while the rain poured outside was such a familiar, comfortable way to spend the afternoon. I also enjoyed being curled up on my Grandmother's couch with a hot cup of coffee to warm me up after being drenched in the aforementioned rain.

-Little yellow veins in a bright colored leaf that, when looked at sideways, looked like a line of thin, winter trees.

-The feel of the peach-hued early evening sun on my back.

dreams coming true

-Delicious sliced nectarines drizzled with tangy lemon juice and crunchy turbinado sugar.

-Reading James Joyce and bike riding. Let me explain: this might sound bizarre, but I often have very vivid dreams, and while they don't necessarily tell me what I should do, they do sometimes give me great ideas. I don't know if it's a reflection of my own desires or from God, but the other night when I was feeling anxious about moving to Ireland, I had a dream in which I was told to read James Joyce books to feed my imagination about Ireland and to ride a bike more often because that will be my primary means of transportation there. Well yesterday, I did both, and felt a little proud at making my dreams come true.

-Sitting outside just to listen to the birds, feel the breeze and think.

preach, sleep, wake, pray

-Attending presbytery to preach and be examined for ordination. I was a little nervous, but having my parents, sister and niece there helped a lot, as did having members of my CPM (Committee on Preparation for Ministry) there to encourage me. Two women from my CPM were especially kind, and told me they were excited about me returning to Ireland and my call. It was comforting to have one of them sit by me to tell me how much this blog meant to her right before I went up to preach.

-Lying in bed last night and trying to wrap my head around my being finished with the ordination process (other than my ordination service next Sunday). It has been such a long and demanding process and I can't believe I'm done. Needless to say, I slept beautifully.

-Grating fresh cinnamon into my coffee.

-Receiving a beatiful rosary and set of cards from my friend Amy. Amy used to be Catholic, and her family still is and we've had many conversations about the power of praying a rosary. I told her that I was wanting to give it a try because I have so many Catholic friends and family and really appreciate their faith. The card she sent with it had one really beautiful line:

"This little box is just another piece of equipment for the journey--and I know that journey is taking you to where your heart has been for a while."

Kermit meets David the Gnome

-Watching a tiny frog jump bravely through a torrent of rain and letting the raindrops splash on my toes.

-The teenage girl working at Target who helped me find some old boxes that I could use to ship things to Belfast. She was so helpful and took her time carefully sorting through and picking good boxes.

-The torrent of rain caused an entire family of mushrooms to sprout up. These are red on top with yellow stems, and range in size from a quarter to a softball. I half expect David the Gnome to inhabit them soon!

spectacles and a spectacular scarf

-Passing my Dad as I drove away to run some errands. We both stopped in the middle of the street for a good five minutes to catch up and chat through our open windows. It's nice to live on such a quiet street that this causes no disruption at all.

-Receiving a lovely green fair-trade scarf from my wonderful friend Karen. She sent a note (addressed to: "Missionary Extraordinare" with "Ireland or Bust!" under it) and explained that the greens in the scarf reminded her of Irish green hills and that she knew I would appreciate it being fair-trade. It was a very thoughtful gift.

-Getting new glasses that are quirky and classy at the same time. I went much bolder than my last pair, and I'm so glad I did. I love the chocolate brown molded plastic frames with an orange interior.