We arrived safely in Dublin this afternoon, and spent a very fun afternoon downtown shopping/touring. So much fun! We fly out tomorrow at 2:00pm. Kinda sad... I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here! Well, it's nearly 3am here, and I better get some sleep. I will update more soon.

- Ryan

Tags: Ireland, fun, Friends

I write this as I sit in a train station in Northern Ireland. It's our last day it this beautiful country. We are now headed down to Dublin, and one more service before flying out tomorrow morning. We're all a little sad. It was hard to leave all of our friends here. I can't remember a time when I've had more fun than these past eight days. I certainly took a lot of pictures, but you really can't capture the beauty here. It's something you have to experience yourself. But it's not only the sights, it's the people. They are some of the friendliest that I've ever met.

Tags: fun, Photography, Friends, Ireland

I can't believe I'm leaving for Ireland tomorrow! It's really crept up on me. In fact, it crept up so fast that I'm just now starting to pack Oh well, it'll get done. I'm trying to stay up late tonight so I will sleep on the plane tomorrow, and thus reduce some jet lag. The flight leaves at 4:00pm tomorrow, and it will be 8:00am when we arrive. Fun stuff! I'm really looking forward to it. I'm going to take a ton of pictures, that's for sure. I will try and update when I'm over there. We'll see how it goes. Well, back to packing.

- Ryan

Tags: Ireland, fun, Friends

Ladies and Gentlemen, another school year has come and gone. I turned in my final project for this semester 20 min. before the first Camp Meeting service started tonight, and thus put the finishing touches on my Junior year of college. In retrospect, it's been an interesting year. Lot's of good, some bad, but permeated throughout with the grace of God. All honor and glory to Him, and Him alone!

I'm afraid my mind is too fried to think up something witty, so I did something I should never do, I pulled up a past blog. I wrote this at the end of my freshman year, and it is still very appropriate indeed! Enjoy

"Well my fellow comrades in arms, and various onlookers, we are on the brink of victory! Long have we parried with our exasperating antagonist (school work), but alas, we have emerged victorious! We shall soon be lifted from the murky depths of despair and despondent deportment to a loftier level of lighthearted leisure. We shall make good our escape effective at 1130 hours. And then, with the suffocation of the semester subdued for a season, we shall sinuously slither our way homeward. Lest you think me a laggard for my lack of updates, I shall be unable to update this blog for an undetermined period of time due to my departure. But hope is not lost! For I shall return with renewed vigor, and a greater vitality for virtuosic blogging. Farewell my fellow compatriots and onlookers! I bid thee, adieu."

Ryan (the amateur alliterator)

Tags: Finals, End, Exams, Break

I can definitely tell it's finals week. This is the only time of the year that I find myself living in squalor (thanks, Mel, for the good word). If I can just hold out two more days, it will all be over, and I will have time to detox my room. Just to make it clear (and those who know me can verify) this is definitely not my norm

Pray that I can make it through these next few days. On top of trying to finish everything up I've been very sick, which definitely complicates things! I'm leaving Ireland in 8 days as well, so pray that I'm healthy by then also. Trying to fly with an ear infection would not be...pleasant...

- Ryan

Tags: Finals

Yeah, so I pretty much have the most awesome family ever. I got a letter in my mailbox yesterday saying that I had a package to pick up. I wasn't expecting anything, so with a slightly quizzical countenance I headed towards the Dean of Women's Office to pick up my mysterious package. Leanna slightly groaned as she picked it up off the floor and handed it to me over the counter. Now I'm really curious. I first check the return address and see it's from my Aunt and cousins. "Care package!" Ahh, the very thought of it.... Unless you've been a college student you simply could not understand this. I actually opened it right there. The first words out of my mouth were, "That, is a lot of food!" And Life cereal none the less, which I had just ran out of! I was slightly overjoyed. I could definitely use the encouragement this week with finals beginning Thursday (ughh...). So, my belief that I have the greatest family ever has been greatly strengthened. No, not simply because they were nice and sent me cool stuff, but because I know that the care and thought that went into putting this package together is evidence that I am loved and supported by my family. I never want to take this for granted because I realize just how much of a blessing it is to have them! So, to my Aunt Kathie, cousins, Travis, Olivia, Jacynda, and Heidi, "THANK YOU!" It definitely made my day! (it also made people jealous )

- Ryan
P.S. Yes, indeed, Heidi, we need to go ice skating again!
P.S.S. The toilet paper was a nice touch It definitely got some looks when I first opened the package. I also like your suggestion Can't you see me running around tee-peeing peoples rooms!

Tags: Family, Care