Happy St. Patrick's Day (a little late)

We have always loved this day in our family....not just because St. Patrick is an amazing Saint to read and learn about and celebrate....but also because we have a wonderful Irish heritage to celebrate. My Mamasan (whose maiden name was Collier and where the Irish heritage comes from) gave all of my sisters and I an Irish name. I was the Irish Shamrock and with a name like Erin...she always would send a special present to Her Irish Shamrock on St. Patty's Day....I miss her and those memories on this special day. I will forever be grateful to her for finding our Irish relatives and making that connection for us. One of our cousins, Father Val, married my parents and he and his brother Christor have made several trips to visit us here in the states. When I graduated from college, my Meme and Pepe took me on a trip to Ireland and Scotland and at the end of it we met up with my family and stayed on the original family farm for several days. I treasure those relationships I made and memories forever. It was so neat to go stand in the exact spot at the old train station where my (great +) grandfather left Ireland for America...the only family member that left.
One day I hope to go back and visit again. So on this day I also enjoy looking at the pictures from that fabulous trip (slide below) and reading my journal of our adventures....I laugh when I read about the foods I ate, the sayings I heard, the things I saw...so fun being part of a different culture! Enjoy.

We did at least manage to wear green, enjoy some time outside (Emma LOVES looking and finding birds) and did have a traditional corn beef and potato Irish dinner!! Can't wait until next year to hopefully include more of the Irish ideas I was planning. Happy St. Patrick's Day to you!!!