My Irish Eyes are Smiling

Or at least my eyes are smiling upon Ireland.

Following our arrival on Wednesday, Miriam and I spent a day with the Donnellys. On Thursday they brought us to the northern coast where we saw the spectacular Giant's Causeway. This area of the coast contains thousands of natural four and six-sided stone columns that form stepping stones you can climb upon, with rising cliffs behind them and grassy pastures on the top. They then dropped us off for a two-day stay at Portrush, which you can see at the center top of the map to the left.

The weather here has been extremely unusual the locals say, as the several straight days of sunniness and temperatures in the mid-sixties are even making headlines. Today we walked along the coast to Portstewart, which a sign said was six miles from Portrush. The path wound along the top and sides of cliffs of black rock. Laying upon grassy hillocks in the warm sun watching the foamy waves break and run over the rocks below was most relaxing. When we reached Portstewart we spent the afternoon going in and out of the seaside shops.

The surprise of the day was when Miriam glanced into a small restaurant and exclaimed, "Is that not Matt Kingswood?" Indeed it was! Matt and his wife Tara and their five children are here from Canada for three months, as Matt is filling the Trinity RPC pulpit for Ted Donnelly. His family was there for the day enjoying the sites as well. We had some great fellowship with them for a while as they ate their lunch, and look forward to worshiping with them and hearing Matt preach this weekend.

This evening we walked back and stopped occasionally as Miriam took more pictures. We again saw the sun setting over Donegal, a mountainous peninsula across from these towns that is in the gray area in the map above. If you would like to see a few more pictures, go here to the Kodak Gallery and hit "View Slideshow."

Here's one more. Miriam and I are sitting in what is known as "The Wishing Chair" at the Giant's Causeway. Certainly on this trip our wish has come true! We thank the Lord for the beauty of His earth and the love of His people that has made this time possible.