happy birthday

Today is my brothers birthday!! I can remember it so clear, 7 years ago at 9:02pm you were born! And after being stuck with 2 sisters I wanted a brother. I guess God heard me! :)

Have a great party tomorrow! love you so much!!

Graduation!!!

We had our graduation on Friday, the 22nd of May (My Dads birthday!!!). It was a brilliant night! The day started off with me lazing around the house Ha! I went to the hairdressers at 2 and got curls in my hair, then make up at half 4. Then as usual a rush to get to the restaurant before 6pm! We made it on time anyway and Mam, Dad and I had a lovely meal.

The graduation ceremony started at around quarter past 7 (nothing starts on time here) and it started with giving out of fáinne's (irish for rings) these are little gold, silver or bronze rings given to you according to your level of spoken irish. In april we had to have a conversation with an examiner and that measured one's level. It took a while for the examiner to present all the pins (he talked really slow!) but it was lovely.

Then various musicians from out year played music or sung for us. Then awards were given out for various categories, not the usual awards we had fun ones such as "most colourful hair" and "best couple" it was fun!

Chicken and I surprised all our friends and teachers, as we are usually seen in jeans and hoodies or tracksuits or going training. Everyone was amazed at how dressed up we were. I must say we looked smashing!

Then came the fun part... going out! All our class went to a local pub where there was a big hall and a DJ. we all danced the night away. After that I stayed at Chickens house, we didn't get home till 2am (oops ha!). It was really a great night out, can't wait to go out again.

Saturday was spent cleaning, trying to study, on the computer, listening to music...oh and trying to make myself better- i caught a cold.

Sunday- I didn't get to mass :( but I had the whole day with the house to myself. I TRIED to study but I couldn't really concentrate. Chicken and I spent about 5 hours straight on the phone- what an achievement! (the phone calls are free for an hour so we just hang up when the hour comes and ring back- if they weren't free my parents would go mad).

Today, Monday- I finally got some decent study done in biology and maths :) only a week and a half until the exams but on the flip side only 3 weeks until they are over and I cannot wait until that day.

Thank you God for everything you have given me.

A Graduates Prayer

Father I have knowledge
So you will show me now
How to use it wisely
And find find a way somehow.
To make the world I live in
A little better place
And make life with its problems
A bit easier to face.
Grant me faith and courage
And put purpose in my days
And show me how to serve thee
In the most effective ways.
So all my education
My knowledge and my skill
May find their true fulfillment
As I learn to do thy will.
And may I ever be aware
In everything I do
That knowledge comes from learning
And wisdom comes from you.
Amen

Irish Potato Famine Part 3: Governments Response

Part 3: Governments Response 

Since Ireland was under English rule, Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel purchased £100,000 worth of indian corn secretly from America. Due to weather conditions the first shipment of indian corn did not arrive in Ireland until February 1846.

The corn was sold for a penny a pound. This corn, when it arrived was inedible and had to be ground twice before consumption and had to be cooked for a very, very long time. If not people would have suffered with  severe bowel problems.

Sir Robert Peel then introduced Corn laws or tariffs to keep the cost of grain relatively high. The situation worsened in 1946 and the repeal of the Corn laws did little to help the staving Irish. It spilt the Conservative party (a British Political party) and lead to the fall of Peels ministry.

 Peels successor Lord John Russell provided inadequate help to the Irish. He started public works, which didn't help in any way. He had starving men digging holes and breaking up roads which done no service.

I cannot find information on how else the government helped but I read that charities helped and many, many people emigrated - I will post this soon

Nearing the end of school!

This week went OK. I didn't get as much study done as I planned :(. But I did have a great day on Friday with Chicken. We went looking for shoes for her, for the graduation but we couldn't find any she liked!! We walked around the shops and then met up with her Mother and friends and went for something to eat. It was a fun day :)

Only 3 official days left in school. I am starting to panic over how little study I have done, but if worst comes to worst, if I don't get into ANY college I can always wait until I am 23 and apply as a mature student, so there is always a second option. It will be so weird not seeing everyone everyday, not having the "guarantee" of seeing all my friends and all the students in the school. Once the leaving certificate is over, thats it, we won't be all together again :(. It is kind of funny though because Chicken and I say "it will be odd not seeing everyone everyday" but we never say "it will be odd not seeing each other". I think this is down to the fact that we are such good friends we just know we will see each other most days of the week. I thank God for giving me such an amazing friend! I am kind of nervous though about leaving. I am not the type of person who likes the uncertainty of the future.

The graduation mass is on Monday and the Graduation (in the school) is on Friday. I am in the Choir for both (even though I don't sing I mime ;)). It is fun "singing" with everyone! I can't wait to go out on Friday after the graduation, it should be fun. I haven't gone out before (yes I know you are probably thinking I'm weird) without my family, haven't gone out on a night that isn't organized by the Red Cross or the Camogie club so this should be an interesting experience. I will be sure to write about it.

YAY!! I will get to Mass tomorrow! I am reading. The times I read, these are the only times I am guaranteed to go to Mass, apart from Christmas and Easter. I will never "deprive" my family of regular, and especially Sunday Mass.

I will keep you updated on the Graduation and my final days in school :)

Inspiration

I am blessed to meet the people I  do. Back in January 2009 I was looking for people to talk to about Catholicism and related topics. God blessed me to find 2 great chat rooms all based on Catholicism and thats really where my journey began. All the people there have been a real inspiration to me.

I remember it was the day before my birthday I was talking to a certain New Yorker and He gave me courage to start asking to go to mass (yes I know I shouldn't have to), and low and behold the day of my birthday (which was a Sunday) I got to go to mass, where, for the first time, I was interested in the mass, the Gospels and didn't fall into a daydream.

I also happened to be fortunate to meet "R", who, as I think, is my online priest (He is not, may I add). Any question I have He can answer it, and if its not in his head He will look up books etc. until He finds the answer. He also recommended The Bible and prayer book I bought (I will write on these layer). 

There are also numerous others, each with their own individual story, all an inspiration  and all make us proud to be Catholic.

But there is one woman, Anne (and I'm not being mean to the others :)) who has inspired me the most, made me happy when I was a real mess, helped me when I was sad, laughed with me when I was laughing and provided advise and information any time I wanted. When I felt useless she told me stories of hope and made me feel better. Her love for her family is amazing and her love for God is the same. We have shared life stories, even though my life is short! ha! She is great and I hope we can meet some day :). Her kids and grandkids are blessed to have a mother and grandmother like her!!

Thank you God for leading me to these people, they are all great!

Studying

OK I really have to start studying. It is now less than 4 weeks to the exams! I am planning some kind of time table where I will spend "quality time" with each of my 7 subjects. Since I have never made a study plan before does anyone have and hints or ideas to make it a bit interesting?? :)

These few days have been really great. I have kept good relationships with everyone!  I also made it to mass most days, and I woke really late today so I couldn't go. The L.C.V.P exam went OK. The questions that we had planned didn't come up, the questions were very weird!!! 

God bless

God is amazing

You know I picked the title for my blog for a reason. God works in so many, wonderful and mysterious ways. It is sad so many people cannot see this. God created this wonderful world, and everything works in harmony in it. God sends people into our lives to show us the good and bad in us, to bring love and happiness when we need it most. 

But equally God can make life hard, or the decisions people make, make life hard, but you know no matter how tough things are God makes them right. I have used this phrase a lot in the past week "God knows what He's doing.... yup He knows" and its true. When going through hard times you may say "God why are you doing this to me" but really when you look back you are usually glad that it happened because, eventually, good came out of it.

This happened recently with Chicken and I. We were having fights almost every day of the week. I was not nice to her at all, and I didn't notice until one day she just exploded and it all came out. I hurt her so much, she didn't even want to look at me. She told me we would never be best friends again, never go to see each other, nothing. I thought it was all over.

I asked God why would He take away someone that I cared about so much (even though it was my fault she was gone in the first place). I knew I had to change, change my mood swings, watched what I said and I had to become more independent. I prayed firstly that I  would change, not completely, but change my "clingy" attitude, then I prayed that my friendship with Chicken would not end. A good friend of mine, a one I met online actually ;) (you know who you are) told me to say 3 Hail Mary's a day, and I did.

A few weeks later I am a way better person. I have realized jealousy pushes people away, fighting is no use and giving people a bit of space and freedom does not mean they forget about you, in fact it was the best thing I've done. Chicken and I are now the best of friends and loving every minute of it!! 

So even though it may have not seemed like God was doing any good by "making" - not the right word to use- fight, He knew I would become a better person at the end of it all.

OK you are probably sick of hearing about Chicken and I but we have went through a lot. I know I depend on her for a lot and probably sound immature but still God is my rock! :)

Sunday

This Sunday has been a brilliant one. As  I posted earlier Chicken and I were arguing yesterday, well what I thought was an argument but it was not at all, anyway we've sorted it all out and are back to the way we were- happy, delighted, best of friends. I really don't like the way I worry so much although I am learning day by day that God knows what is planned for my life, so worrying is no use. Chicken played a match with the county team and the Coach was very impressed, this gives her a good chance of being on the senior team!! I'm so proud of her :)

We didn't get to mass AGAIN. I cannot wait until I can drive or move out so I can go to mass whenever I feel like it and especially on Sundays. I watched a little mass on TV though but it's not the same. 

I have a day off from school tomorrow so it's only 4 days of school this week woohoo! Hopefully I will get lots of study done this week because time is running out. 

I don't know why but this weekend I've been thinking a lot about marriage and family life. I really can't wait to find the right guy, get married and have a family. I feel this is what God is calling me to do. Ever since I was 13 or 14 I've dreamed about having a family of my own.

 I know some people say that that age is too young to be thinking about things like that, but I was. And ever since then all I want in life is a Husband and kids (obviously when I'm older), I can't wait for my wedding day, kids birthdays, schooling-just basically watching them grow. Reading blogs here has also made me more excited about my life and the future. Hopefully God will provide me with everything I need to be a good wife, mother and person in the future. For now though its back to the books!!

This week

This week has been good. Things have gone a bit pear- shaped between Chicken and I and I don't know what I've done!! I am going to try to ring her tonight, hopefully she will answer and be in a good mood.

Studying has also gone badly this week. Only 4 weeks to the leaving Cart so I better get my skates on! I done well in my Irish test (that I didn't study for) so I am proud of that :) although I really need to start studying! 

Its the Month of May, the month dedicated to Our Lady. What a lovely month!! This month I will try my best to say 3 Hail Mary's a day, and try to say the Rosary when I can. For me Mary is such a good example of kindness, happiness, peace and love. The love she showed for God is just amazing! I don't know how other religions don't regard her as someone special because for me Mary is a person who we can all model our lives on, especially women. 

If we all show the same dedication to God and to our families as Mary did the world will be such a better place. If the women model their lives on Mary there would be no need for cruel abortions and women would work on their marriage instead of taking the easy option- divorce (although I know sometimes its the only option to protect other family members). Mary is an excellent Saint, Queen of Heaven, Mother of God and this May we should all pray to her and acknowledge her very important role in the life of Jesus