No change..Big Lesson

 
* Note:  I did not explain the Irish pudding very well in yesterday's post.  I actually called it by the wrong name. NOT Chocolate pudding.....it is "Black Pudding!"  Black Pudding is made out of Pigs blood, barley, seasonings and sometimes mountain oysters.  Not at all anything I would eat.  

When "No change" turns into a Big Lesson....💛💛

We all make mistakes.  Little ones....big ones...and then there are those moments that leave us sitting there thinking....well...what just happened.

Sunday evening, Sam and I went into town to grab a bite to eat.  Nothing fancy...just one of those easy, comfortable meals where the conversation is good and the atmosphere is LOUD. (The Loud was definitely NOT planned)  We honestly did not know that the restaurant was going to be as loud as it was.  

We had the sweetest young lady waiting on us.  She was very attentive, kind and just one of those people who checked on us several times throughout the meal. She made sure we had everything we needed, and she kept our iced tea glasses full throughout the meal.    

As we were finishing up, Sam stepped away to the restroom, and I stayed at the table waiting on the ticket.  I had a $100 dollar bill in my hand and, when the waitress came back, I asked her: 

"Do you have change for a hundred?"

Well....

What she heard was:

"NO CHANGE"

She paused....looked at me...and her eyes got big.

"Oh my goodness," she said, "thank you!!! This is such a sweet blessing...y0u have no idea how much I needed this."

"👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀"

Y'all...I just sat there.  

FROZEN.....

STUNNED...

Somewhere between wanting to clarify and not wanting to crush that beautiful moment for her, my brain completely short-circuited. I didn't know what to say...so..I said nothing. 

And just like that, our $36.21 dollar meal turned into a $36.21 plus a VERY NICE TIP meal.  ($63.79 tip)

I met Sam out at the car and I told him what had happened...I'm sure I still had that "Did that just happen" look on my face.  

With a smile and his calm wisdom that he carries so well, he said...

"God sure has ways of putting us on the spot when He plans to bless others."

Well....that will preach, won't it?

I'm thankful for the beauty in our blunders!!  Sometimes our awkward moments become God's perfect timing and sometimes....what feels like "oh no" turns into "oh wow."

Sometimes, God uses our mistakes to make something meaningful.  

Shug...💛💛💛

** Lesson Learned:  Do Not Dine in Loud Places!!

A Taste of Ireland

 If you love potatoes, then Ireland is the place you need to visit.  There was some type of potatoes served with almost every meal.....

Every meal we had felt like a warm hug, and I will say that the warmth lingered long after we left the table.  Our tummies were full.  I enjoyed the experience that went along with the visit to our different country.  

Our meals were filled with hearty beef stew.  Beef stew was served at every restaurant we ate at.  Rich, slow-cooked beef, tender carrots and a thick savory gravy.  YUM!  A big bowl of stew and in the middle was a huge spoon full of mashed potatoes. 

Other meals were full of beef pot pie...very similar to the beef stew with the exception of having a crispy crust surrounding the stew.  One thing that I thought was very interesting was that our breakfast meals were all served with baked beans!!  Never, have I heard of baked beans being a breakfast food.  

SWEET TREATS and BAKERY WINDOWS...

I could have stood in front of those windows all day.  Rows and rows of beautiful donuts...chocolate covered, cream filled, topped with crumbs, drizzle and all kinds of pure goodness.  They all looked like a piece of art!!  I did indulge in a Blueberry donut and it was delicious!!  

Then came the HOT TEA and lots of Cozy Moments.  We all enjoyed the hot comforting tea...along with sweet cream and a sugar cube OR TWO!!  And the scones were like a little slice of heaven.  They were soft, crumbly, slightly sweet, and perfect with a touch of butter and jam.  Ours had berries tucked inside and every single bite was bursting with flavor.  

Goodness... a warm scone paired with the Hot Tea....these were moments that we never rushed.  We had several opportunities to just sit and talk while soaking up all of the goodness.  

I cannot leave off the bread pudding...It was so warm and rich and drizzled with a buttery sauce that left my tummy full of love.  It was indulgent in the best way and was the kind of dessert that you do not want to go away.  

Every meal seemed to invite us to sit longer and we took advantage of this many times.  The only food that I did not like was "Chocolate Pudding" which is a breakfast food. If you've never heard of it, you must google this and take a look at the ingredients included in a slice of chocolate pudding.  It was not for me!! 

These foods are still lingering in my mind and I am sure that I will attempt to make the beef stew in the days ahead.  I enjoyed discovering a culture through its food...it for sure opens your eyes and warms your heart and it reminded me just how wonderfully diverse this world truly is.  

I'll leave you all with this short video.  Enjoy...

* Yesterday was filled with Doctor appointments and today is test day for Sam.  I will be away from my computer again today.  Hope to catch up on reading post this evening.  Thank you for understanding.  

My Own March Madness

 The madness of March doesn't only apply to Basketball.  Yesterday, I felt what I would consider March Madness in my own life.  

It all started late Saturday night.  I had been asleep, but for some unknown reason, I was awakened by thoughts racing through my mind about Passports.  Yes... I had placed Mylee's passport as well as mine in a zipper pocket of my purse.  But when I went to look for them, they were not there.  

What did I do with these passports?  I prayed several times yesterday morning for God to please lead me to where I had placed them.  A couple hours later of looking and praying, I remembered where I had put them.  

On Wednesday after our trip, I had to run in to town to see my chiropractor.  Why? I do not know why.... but before I went in for my appointment, I took the passports out of my purse and placed them in the console of my car.  YEP!!!  This is where I found them.  Thank you Lord.

AND THEN...  I remembered receiving a check in the mail for an overpayment on insurance.  (I know...hard to believe) .... but I could not find it anywhere.  I spent a good few hours searching for it and I even ask my girls to be in prayer with me as to where I had placed it.  

A few hours later I found it!!  I even told the Lord that if He would help me find this check, then I would give it all to the church.  Thank you Lord again for you favor.  

Our TV has been tuned in to Basketball MM.....but I already feel like I am the winner of the madness of March....  I think jet lag still has me in a fog. 

Shug...💛

St. Patricks Catherdral.

 Before I began writing about St. Patricks Cathedral, I want to point out what I consider to be a BIG thing.

I did not wear my Apple watch on this trip, but my daughter (Shanda) did.  We walked a LOT on this trip and I'm not quiet sure how I was able to keep up, but I DID.  

Shanda calculated all of our steps and would you believe that we walked over 35 miles on this trip to Ireland.  Of course, this includes the airports as well and a long walk over to visit St. Patricks Cathedral. 

 It was incredible to see the cathedral.  From the moment we stepped inside, it felt so peaceful.  The high, arching ceilings seemed to stretch all the way to heaven, and the light pouring through the stained glass windows was so gentle with a sacred glow. 

Walking along those beautifully patterned floors, I couldn't help but think about all the footsteps that came before mine.  Generations of prayers, tears, hope and gratitude have filled that space. 

The details were breathtaking.  Every tile, all of the carvings and every banner told a story.  There was a lot to take in and even with others all around, I felt a reverence in the air. 

 Ireland has it's own way of touching your heart and it simply did touch mine, but this place.....this cathedral...felt like a holy pause in the middle of it all.  It was a place to breath and a place to reflect.  

This cathedral....the very place where many of my steps were taken, has stood for more than 830 years.  This is amazing to think about.  The very floors that I walked on, the arches I looked at.....have witnessed centuries of history changes as well as details that tell of stories past. 

I am so very thankful to have had this opportunity to visit this place...even if I did have to do a lot of walking!!

Happy Sunday Friends..

Shug...💛