Dear Dalmatian Coast,

Though we know little about you,

hardly speak your language,

and have the least amount of per diem we've ever had,

we cannot wait to meet your acquaintance this Tuesday.

Being Italy's neighbor, we have high hopes for you.

Sincerely,

Two wanderlust stricken souls.

{ 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 }

This trip came awfully close to not happening. 

A lot of unexpected hiccups, interrupted plans and heart-checking had to go on,

among other things.

But I'll spare the dramatic details.

Simply put, the fact this trip is still on the table is a huge blessing. One that I want to soak in gratitude for over the next two weeks, really letting God show me what matters and how I can actively choose to pursue those things. Ever get to a point where you know God is asking you to trust Him, to lean into Him, to rely on Him more fully than ever to change that old persona you know so well, can't change on your own and yet... you keep resisting? Even though you know its absolutely vital, life-giving and will save you from the utmost stress and worry? Then on top of your resistance, He still blesses you? 

Schooled by that right now. 

Schooled, humbled, and amazed.

___

"Beauty requires no justification, 

no explanation; 

it simply is and transcends. 

See beauty and we know it in the marrow, 

even if we have no words for it: 

Someone is behind it, in it. 

Beauty Himself completes."

Ann Voskamp

___

Life-Giver

me, mom and cowlick.

I know this might be after the fact, but since I am not one to believe that certain celebrations are restrictive to the Julian calendar, I want to talk about my mother.

 Earlier this week I read that the millennial generation (born between 1979-2000) is statistically the most wanted generation in history, with almost 50% of births resulting from advances in fertility treatment. I had to pause and just ponder that for a moment. Not only was it mind-boggling for me to fathom, but also because the truth of that statement hit closer than I've ever realized. I grew up cloaked in the adoration of parents who constantly reminded me how much I was loved, valued, and deeply treasured. I've never known anything else. In some ways, this might contribute to my stubbornness of opinion (because I feel quite confidently that I'm always safe to share my thoughts) but in more altruistic ways, its also given me a heart that hurts deeply for those who've never experienced such value.

 Value though, by definition, also connotes a level of cost.

Dublin: Malahide Castle

Sigh. The castle.

It's what everyone dreams of when visiting the UK, right?

The aristocracy. The drama. The secrecy. 

The magic of princes and thieves. Royal maidens and forbidden love affairs.

Our last full day in Dublin was spent a few train stops away in Malahide touring one of, if not the, oldest castle that had been used as a private residence up until the 1970s. It was over 800 years old. The beauty of being kept private for so long meant that a majority of the interior had been preserved remarkably well - storing an abundance of period pieces spanning decades of war, peace and considerable amounts of other historical tidbits (aka... pretty stellar portraits of stiffly dressed white people). 

Hello, antique furniture heaven.

Grander, Grandeur

This picture is actually from a few weeks ago. Maybe even months. but I need it. The reminder of the Bigger, More Beautiful, More Awe-inspiring, More Real reality that the news channels never feature. You know what I'm talking about. This week has been hard, cold, dark. But it doesn't need to end that way.

This sunset literally made me scream out loud when I looked up from the book I was reading and saw pink symphonies being conducted outside my living room window. Our heads can be down (sometimes even forced to look down) so much. We need to remember we can also lift them up.

Here's to a weekend of looking up.