Tim's blog

On Monday a friend and Tim had driven a few miles from home to get a light dinner while Kathy and Sarah had a 'girls night' at our home.  It had been raining all day, which is unusual here.  We get lots of rain, but usually in fairly short doses.  Monday, however, was different.  As it turns out, there was 4" of rain in about 6 hours . . . 'No big deal' you might think. WRONG!

The shopping centre we were in closed just after we had eaten, and told us not to get our car but to evaquate the building!  Being 'Irish', we took that as a suggestion, and starting walking around the centre, in the pouring rain.  After wading through what now had become small rivers flowing into the multi-level car parks (parking lots) and making our way up 3 levels we finally got to our car and were able to make it out. The Motorway had also been closed so we made it home via back roads . . . eventually.  Our friend, Gerry, could not get home so we had a great time chatting and then he stayed in our guest room for the night.

 Here's a shot from the web to give you and idea.

'In other news . . ." Sarah will be leaving us and heading to S Asia to assist her oldest brother and family and to teach English (hopefully).  We had a going away celebration for her last Saturday and more than 55 wonderful people turned up to say 'goodbye'.  It will be very hard to watch her board a plane on halloween evening but we know God will use this greatly in her life.  Kathy & I miss her already.

Here's a few pictures from last Saturday:

              Sarah, flanked by Jen Peace (Left) holding the Hay's new baby giirl and good friend Geraldine

                            Sarah with a former child minding 'charge' as well as 'pup Silla'

               Sarah being carried by a bunch of good friends . . . a great time having them all in the house! 

Rugby:  Ireland ran into a very well tuned Wales rugby team last Saturday morning, and lost the match 22 - 10.  The disappointment could be felt all over the Isle as the hoped for run to the finals fell short early Saturday as the match began at 6:00 am in Ireland, 6:00 PM in New Zealand, where the game was played.

 Kathy:  Yesterday was Kathy's birthday, her 4th celebration since we moved to Dublin in 2008.  Sarah, Sue, Cora, Lori, Ailis and many others played a role in surprising her with gifts, 'sugar free' desserts and well wishes.  It is such a brilliant thing to see so many of our Irish family remember her on her special day.  We even enjoyed an early dinner at the Spur Steakhouse in Liffey Valley!

Sarah:  The time is getting short as Sarah now has an airline ticket booked to South Asia, leaving on the 31st.  She will be join her eldest brother, Andrew and his wonderful family for the next 5 months!  She is still waiting for her Cambridge certificate in the 4 week course she completed last Friday - Teaching English as a Second Language.  All her teacher assements were good, however, so we are confident that the offical certificate will arrive!  

Sarah was greatly challenged in this intense course, but she really liked doing it and gained a ton of great classroom experience.  Her plan is to try and find a job, at least for the summer, here in Ireland upon her return from Asia in March 2012.  If that doesn't happen she will probably have to return to the states and go from there!  Thanks for encouraging her - and let us know if you hear of a job opening!

Irish Rugby could be on the verge of making history.  For the first time, Ireland has advanced to the quarter finals of the Rugby World Cup, this time being played half a world away, in New Zeland.  Outright winners of their pool play and beating Team USA, much favored Australia, Russian and on Sunday - Italy!  

Next Sunday they face a powerful Wales team in the do-or-die quarter finals.  A sea of green jersey's are in New Zealand supporting the team as thousand of young Irish have immigrated to New Zealand and Australia to find work.  The Irish players have commented that it is almost like playing their matches in Dublin!

Stay tuned and help support Team Ireland as they have, for the first time, a genuine chance to be the 2011 Rugby World Cup winners . . . fingers crossed!

In Dublin, when a student completes his or her college course work, the actual graduation happens at the begining of the next school term.  Sarah finished her course work and her dissertation in early June, but her actually graduation was this past Saturday, 24th September.  Her degree is in Applied Theology and is issued through the University of Wales.

While this was her graduation, she is also in the middle of a VERY intense 4 week course through Cambridge Univesity to become certified to Teach English as a Second Language (TESL).  If she can complete this 12+ hour per day course she will be qualified for positions involving teaching English to non-english speaking people around the world . . . a difficult task, but she seems to like it!

Here's a few images of Sarah's graduation with friends and family . . . it was a brilliant day!

  Sarah in her cap & gown

                                                Tim with his baby girl . . .

                                  This is Sarah's dissertation advisor, Dr. Mitchell

                                  "Can it really be that I have finished college?"

        Sarah receiving her degree & honors from good friend and college president, Jacob Reynolds

                                       Sarah with her good friend Amy Gilbert

                                      L to R:  Sue Rowland, Sarah, Geraldine & Judith

                         Sarah between the Reynolds' twin 15 year olds, Orla & Niamh  

                              Tim's favorite image of the day, Kathy & Sarah together after the ceremony