More Friends!

Here are some of our best blessings in Ireland:

Okay, so these guys are actually from the States - they arrived and leave the same time as us - but we count them still. Dennis, Afton, and Julie Ferguson and Natalie Noakes were over here working for an American company in Adare, and got to live at the fabulous villas on the Manor Property. Julie, Natalie and I hung out a lot and went to see Twilight 4 together. You know, it's kind of a girl thing.
Here's Sophie's school class; we took in homemade chocolate chip cookies to her and Maggie's classes and the girls handed out CTR rings and notes with our contact information to all their friends. We were so lucky that they got to go t0 school and make these friends in Ireland!
Here is Sophie with her teacher, Mr. Kinnerk.
Maggie handing out the cookies to her class. Maggie's four special friends Laura, Lauren, Louise and Beibhnn ("Bay-van") were so sweet; they got together and filled a bag with notes, necklaces, a stuffed animal, a cool hat, and a bunch of little trinkets for Maggie to take home to remember them by. We lucked out with those girls, I can tell you that!

Here are the Extons: Dara, Geraldine, Saoirse, Odhrin, and Chris. Saiorse ("ser-shuh") and Odhrin ("Orin") are in Sophie's and Maggie's classes at school as well. Chris is technology faculty at UL, and Geraldine is a teacher. They've been so kind to us so we had them over for dinner our third to last day here in Ireland. Here are Dara and Odhrin playing their tin whistles in our kitchen. We tried to get Maggie to clog with them but she was too shy.
Kids on Stairs: note Sophie's tear-stained face. Ever my tender one, she was bawling when it came time to say goodbye to her friends! All three of them were very teary tonight as the realization that tomorrow is their last day in Ireland sunk in.

We also got to hang out this week with Mats (also faculty from UL) and Emma (from Sweden), and their three kids and two dogs, at a farewell dinner at their house. Of course, I forgot my camera for that one which was typical but too bad. I also give a shout-out to the Kelly families from church, particularly Michael and Ann, and Alex and David. Dear, wonderful people the lot of them! We will miss them very much!