2013 was a full year! Our trip to Europe in April that year was in celebration of my 50th birthday which had passed (Nov 16, 2012) and our upcoming 25th wedding anniversary (April 18, 2014). We knew it was likely a once in a lifetime trip because of the expense, but what we didn’t know was that a car accident lay ahead that would keep us from traveling.
I love to travel – I love to see different parts of the world. I love to eat cultural foods, meet people from different countries. I love diversity. Why? In part because the diversity and beauty of people across the earth fascinates me, and in part because I know Heaven will be filled with people from every nation, tribe and tongue – so in a very real way, meeting people from other nations allows me a glimpse of Heaven.
So an opportunity to travel to several nations in 2013 was so exciting to me! We visited Ireland, Scotland, Amsterdam, Germany, France and Switzerland and they were all so beautiful! My favorite was probably Ireland and a little community called Glendalough. Glendalough is a monastic settlement in a beautiful valley in County Wicklow. It was founded in the 6th century.
There were a few more favorites – I loved visiting Avoca Mills, also in County Wicklow, and eating a delicious lunch (meat pie, broccoli, chickpea salad and my favorite was the apple/carrot juice!), touring the mill and buying a genuine Irish wool scarf. I also loved visiting the ruins at St Andrew’s Cathedral, consecrated in 1318, while the guys played golf at St. Andrews in Scotland.
I’ve wistfully savored these memories many times over the past 7 years.
But I hold out hope that my body will continue to heal, the craziness of our world will settle, and we’ll have another opportunity for adventure!
