Old school

Everytime Im back home in Ireland, I feel the urge to go see my sweet elementary school teacher, Sister Catherine.  She and Sister Mary were my elementary school teachers for four years.  During that time so much happened and changed in my life.  My parents separated and Dad moved out.  I had a lot of weight on my shoulders as the eldest child at home and in 1988 when I was 10 years old we joined the LDS church.  Both teachers are Catholic Nuns in the Salesian Order.  These ladies were so influential in my life.  I always felt love and concern from them.  They were fun and made learning fun.  I remember doing the musical "Oliver" when I was in 5th class and just remembered while I visited with Sister Catherine this last time, a production of John Bosco, a catholic saint that we had learned about when I was at school.  Such fond memories.    Seriously these beautiful ladies have not aged.  They live a clean life of service and any students that come in contact with them, feel important, loved and that they matter.  One of the things that I appreciated so much was when I was baptized a member of  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I would sit outside the classroom door and read the Book of Mormon during "religion" time, I never felt judged or treated differently by these sisters.  It was great, as always, to catch up with Sister Catherine at her house across from the school.  I have such a love for these ladies. 
I took this picture walking home as memories of my childhood ran through my mind. 
The bottom picture was a random student at Colaiste Chillian, where I attended secondary school (like HS).  This is the same uniform I wore when I was a student there.  She thought I was nuts and my Dad wasn't too happy that I was stopping random kids for pictures, but I couldn't help myself. 

Irish Saints

Since we left Ireland, the church has grown so much.  They've gotten their own building in Clondalkin and the branch has grown so big that they meet in the Relief Society room as an overflow from the chapel.  Its really cool to see the diversity in the ward.  Ireland has a lot of Philippinos and Africans so there are lots of cultures within the branch.  There was a great feeling there and it felt good to be back where we first found the church.  Really cool to see a lot of the old faces and to know they were still our "brethren in the gospel".  One of the most touching things to me was when we sang the hymns, how the Irish voices mixed with the foreign voices were loud and beautiful.  Its wonderful that no matter where you go in the world, the church is the same.  Its like having family anywhere in the world. 

My beautiful Ireland

De ants....

My entire childhood I remember sitting around the kitchen table at Nana Devine's and listening to "de ants" chatting and laughing.  Collette, Dolores & Loretta have never changed, any time I go back home, I find them doing the same thing.  Saturday afternoon at 4 Gurteen Park, sitting around Nanas table.  One makes the tea, one makes the Ham sandwiches and one puts out the cake and cookies. 
It's so fun that this never changes and I always feel back at home when I visit with them.  They are so funny when they talk, I can do much but laugh with them.  They tease each other, and everyone else and catch up on the gossip of the people they know.  It warms my heart that the tradition of meeting at Nanas has not changed and now their kids and grandkids always know where to come on a Saturday for some family time. 
Toward the end of my quick stay in Dublin, Loretta and Dolores came salsa dancing with me in Dublin City.  I really wanted to see what the salsa scene was like in Dublin so these two "wild women" came out with me.  Hard to believe Aunt Dolores is almost 70??  They were awesome and we had so much fun, laughing and dancing of course!  Great memories, good times.....

Irish food YUM!!!!

In Ireland

In Dublins Fair City....