I'M NO INFLUENCER

Influencer:  /'inflūense/  an influencer is someone who is able to persuade their followers to do, buy, or live the same that they do.  Influencer status is typically achieved by posting daily content on social media platforms.  Nano influencers have between 1K and 10K followers. Micro-influencers have between 10K and 100K followers.  And if an influencer reaches a million followers, they are considered a Mega influencer -- think 'movie star status'.

Well, SHOOT!  According to the above description, I'm not even a nano influencer.  That is not my goal or even a desire, but I do wish I was more faithful in keeping up with these blog posts.  The guilt sits heavy as a reminder of my neglect.  The gap feels simply too wide to bridge. 

At this point, I don't even know if I could go back six weeks and try to remember everything that has happened and everything we've discovered.  It's been a rich time of discovery.  We've found new beaches, new towns, new restaurants, fun new Irish friends, and we've had cherished visits from precious family & friends--each adding another brushstroke to our beautiful painting here in Ireland. 

Obviously, these bullet points are more for my record than for anyone else, but they summarize our favorite memories from the past few weeks:

              -Candle Making Workshop
                  -Volunteering at the Brain Injury Clinic

                  -Temple Trips to England
                  -Discovering Brittas Bay

                  -Hiking the Bré Cliff's with Real Life Movie Stars

                  -Sumner's Visit

                  -First Snow in Ireland in Six Years

                  -Shannon/Shannon Share the Cold Plunge (you heard me right) 
                  -Return to Missouri - and the Half Marathon
                  -The Comical Removal of Emma's Wisdom Teeth

                  -The VERY Tipsy Travelers (Escorted off the Plane in Dublin) 

                  -St. Patrick's Day Sunday
                  -Eating a Gory Meal in a Town Called Gorey
                  -The Long Walk on Good Friday
                  -The EPIC Trip to the Cliffs of Moher with Laura
                  -Discovering Where the Fairies Live

It's clear that some of these are going to need their own posts, but until then, photos will have to suffice.  Here are a few highlights of the past 6 weeks:

CANDLE MAKING WORKSHOP IN DUN LAOGHAIRE 

Another tip of the hat to Jane. Thank you again Jane.

 

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AMAZING PEOPLE WITH AMAZING STORIES

I'm loving my volunteer work at the Brain Injury Clinic

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Each month, we have the privilege of serving in

the Preston, England Temple.  This was the group we traveled with last month.  

Each one has been a transforming force for good in our lives.

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We thought we 'discovered' Brittas Bay   But come to find out, its a popular vacation spot for many Dubliners during the summer. When we were fortunate enough to stumble upon it, there wasn't another soul walking on the beach that day...except Mr. Ed and his keeper.

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Meet Sinead!  She is my Irish movie star friend.  She and her man are avid hikers and they invited (more like dragged) us on one of their cliff hikes in search of Seal Beach.  

I'm not going to lie,  I was dang proud of myself for accomplishing this feat. It was completely out of my comfort zone, but it was totally worth the muddy escapade. We saw nearly 20 seals, and no, I didn't get a photo of that! You just have to trust me.  I'm not lion.

   

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SUM CAME TO IRELAND

What a whirlwind trip we had.  I'll have to make a separate post just for Sumner's visit. He got to experience the biggest snowstorm Ireland has had in over six years.  The next day, he and Shan walked down to the sea and...DUH DUH DUHN... THEY JUMPED IN!!!  Now, before you get too excited, I have to admit that I film it, but I've made an oath that I would never post it online.  Sorry guys! Did I jump in with them, you ask?  Well, I was willing, but  someone needed to hold the towels (wink wink). Sum also had the chance to meet a small group of his fans from the Philippines.  Because of his involvement with  The Hey Joe Show , the group has a worldwide following of Filipinos.   

  

 

BYU Interview with THJS

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THE HAPPY PEAR

Shortly after moving here, Sum started sending me 'homework assignments'.  He often sends me instructions on how to get to certain locations and then tells me what to buy once I have arrived.  The Happy Pear was one of those assignments. He has been following these brothers and using their recipes for over a year now and it has been his dream to someday meet them.  Low and behold, one of the brothers was there the day we took the train to Greystones to eat at their restaurant.  Sumner got to meet one of the brothers, Dave.  He was charming and he loved Sumner's name and decided to rechristen him 'The Chosen One'-- I laughed out loud and exclaimed, "YOU TOOK THE WORDS RIGHT OUT OF MY MOUTH!"

 

During the FOUR days he was here, we hiked, ate, and shopped at some of our favorite spots.  Then he and I flew back to St. Louis together.  It was a short-lived adventure, but as they say--"Sometimes the shortest adventures are the sweetest!"                                                                                                                     ________________________

 Returning to St. Louis

     ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI TEMPLE

(this photo represents the feeling of returning home)

Though a threatening storm looms in the world around us,  our gaze is drawn to the light and love of the Savior and the sure promise of peace. His peace.

After hours of travel in crowded buses, planes, and airports, I stepped through our front door and exhaled a breath I didn't realize I was holding.  PEACE!  Moving through the house, I was greeted with a familiar and comforting scent, like memories held within the woodwork. And I knew I was home. 

 

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TWO DAYS AFTER WE ARRIVED in ST.  LOUIS,  SOME OF THE MAHAFFEY SIBS RAN A HALF MARATHON! 

There were so many powerful metaphors, rich with symbolism that accompanied this race. 

One of my favorite memories of my entire trip, was sitting together the next day and hearing everyone share their own experience and analogy of preparing for, running, and finishing the race.  It was, for this mother, one of those moments--you know--a true reward of motherhood.  It was a feeling that whispered, it doesn't get better than this! 

 

 

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The week I spent at home was filled with laughter, love, and LUNCH.  I was so grateful to be able to have lunch at Claymont Elementary with two granddaughters.  It's no small thing to note that our children all attended Claymont, and now our grandchildren are students there. Two of these girlies have had the great pleasure of being taught by the renowned Laura Rocklage (who was Emma's Kindergarten angel teacher 14 years ago).

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BEST PART OF THE TRIP...

It's another girl... because that's what we do!

Jaina and Caleb will welcome their first child in early August.  

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As I flew back to Ireland, a wave of melancholy washed over me.  I thought of our grown children, and felt a flood of emotions as I thought of how they have rallied around each other through life's inevitable hurdles.  It was a soft melody where pride harmonized with relief, then faded softly into bittersweet nostalgia.  

I drifted off to sleep pondering on the great influence our children had on me.