You can see the flat we live in....we're on the top floor of the place marked 'property for sale.' The wee cat in the bottom of the screen is Michael's family's cat Amber...she's 14. The house to the right is the one Michael grew up in (although his family no longer lives there) and the one directly across the street with the blocked windows (if you pan around) is the one that Michael's mum was born in. You can also walk down the street or explore our neighborhood by clicking the large arrows in the road (you'll need to hover your mouse over them before they appear).


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Michael and I are married!! We are so very happy about it and we had a wonderful wedding! We are still waiting for my visa to arrive, however. Michael returned to the U.K. on the 22nd of September. I was meant to fly out today (the 24th), but am forced to wait instead.
While it's very sad to be separated, we look forward to being together again and have wonderful memories of our wedding.

wedding to send

The O'Reilly Family Christmas Letter '07

For years now I've said that 12 months pass by more quickly than they ought, yet I always find myself surprised by the approach of another holiday season when it seems we have just left the last one behind. Despite the speed at which a year seems to go by, much happens in that time. Our family has a number of changes behind us and before us, several challenges, and many blessings.

I (Kelley) returned home in September from my year of Mennonite Voluntary Service at an outdoor centre in Newcastle, Northern Ireland (U.K.). My placement was full of many challenges, but also many fantastic experiences like mountain climbing and sea kayaking. I learned many skills, including how to drive motorcycle—earning my license while there (I have quickly passed this new hobby onto my parents)! I loved the country, and will soon be returning to an office job at a Belfast mailing company. My boyfriend, Michael (a Belfast native and climbing instructor at the YMCA where I worked) was able to spend some time in the States in early October.

In July, the entire family flew to the Emerald Isle to visit me. Mom and Dad were able to stay for two weeks, Ryan and Stephanie for a week. It was a fantastic time. We traveled in the Republic of Ireland in Counties Wicklow and Galway and in Northern Ireland along the Antrim Coast, Belfast, County Armagh, and Enniskillen. We saw some truly amazing scenery and made some fantastic memories.

During the summer, Karen spent time working in the yard. She tackled some ambitious projects this year, including the building of two very professional-looking pave-stone retaining walls (I must say, I was amazed at the changes in the yard when I returned home). When fall arrived, she began her 8th year teaching Math at the local high school, responsible for 7th, 8th, 9th, and 11th graders. She has recently been spotted riding about on a small motorcycle in a local parking lot...

This past January, George took on an Intentional Interim pastorate position at Bethany Mennonite Church in Freeman, South Dakota. Freeman is a three-hour journey from Mountain Lake, so he spends several nights a week at a rented house there and returns to Mountain Lake on his days off. He was able to ride in the MCC Black Hills Bike Ride again this year where he saw some beautiful scenery. Just recently, however, he became the proud owner of a 750cc 2001 Honda Shadow and is waiting for warmer weather to enjoy it.

Ryan and Stephanie are living in Ann Arbor, MI. Ryan is working at Underground Printing, a T-shirt screening company where he manages Inventory and Shipping. He also is devoting time to his artwork and music. Stephanie graduated with her MSW in August and is awaiting a full-time opening in the Ann Arbor area. She has several part-time jobs, however: at the local library, for a social work agency monitoring supervised visits, and tutoring an Autistic student.

We have had a blessed year and hope that this letter finds you able to say the same. Have a very Happy Holidays and we hope to hear from you all soon.

Much Love,
The O'Reilly's
(George, Karen, Kelley, Ryan & Stephanie)

Oh so long a silence from my small corner of the world. I do apologize for not updating this sooner...Chalk it up to post-Christmas apathy.
Anyway, I sit in the offices of Greenhill ymca typing this, a mere 3 days away from flying back to the states for a long-awaited visit. I will be able to see my brother and sister in Ann Arbor, MI and my parents, cat, and some friends in Minnesota during the week I am stateside. I wish I could see more of you, but I am also contented to simply relax at home during this vacation.

Greenhill has been fairly uneventful these past two months. Winter is their slow season. Many days are spent in staff training or maintenance. A few highlights have been sea kayaking, mountain snow hiking, and canoeing at the centre. Outside of the centre, I said goodbye to 5 of my housemates and hello to 4 new ones. We lost individuals from Spain, Greece, Poland, Northern Ireland, and Turkey while welcoming those from Spain, Germany, Slovakia, and Australia.
One really fabulous highlight was the visit of four of my college friends in January. Jesse Nathan came on his own--we spent time relaxing in Belfast and enjoying the scenery around Newcastle. Karey French, Matt Kaiser, and Dan Regier followed him a week later. Since there were four of us, we rented a car and tooled around the North Coast, down to Dublin, Belfast and locally. We enjoyed unusually good weather and my first experience driving on the left-hand side of the road (I did quite well, if I do say so myself).
Another high point has been the few motorcycle lessons I've received recently. I'm actually considering trying to get my provisional license for a motorbike in Northern Ireland. We'll see.
I am trying to decide what will come next for me...where I want to be (U.S...Northern Ireland...) and what I might want to do. I must say, I'm not coming up with too many strong ideas at this point so if you have a suggestion, please let me know!
I enjoy hearing from any and all of you and I wish I could respond individually with great detail (internet access continues to be buggered). Know; however, that I think of you often.
All my love,
Kelley

I'm currently sitting in Karey French's flat in Bradford, England. Life has been pretty relaxing here, which feels perfect to me. I decided that a blog update would be a perfect thing to do.

Newcastle remains the same, but has become colder, windy-er, and wetter. Work at the center has slowed down with the changing season and I find myself often working maintenance in the scheduling.
So, given the lack of activity at work, our social lives contain the most activity for us these days. The house has had a few Aussie visitors of late (previous volunteers who have been traveling abroad for a couple months and are stopping in for one final hoorah). That has definitely picked up the activity (the Aussies I've met have all been full of energy and enjoy going out a lot). We were without heat and hot water again for a couple of weeks...it's gotten to the point where you can see your breath while standing in the kitchen, but Jonalyn and I decided to take a proactive stand against the cold and created some curtains for the massive, leaky kitchen windows out of old, ugly bedsheets.

I've promised my friend Julie that I would start compiling a list of phrases that I've picked up in Northern Ireland or hear a lot. So, enjoy:

1. Cheers.
2. What are you at? (what are you doing?)
3. Get this/that/yourself/those kids "sorted"
4. Aye.
5. Have a lie in (sleep in)
6. It's Tea (it's supper time)
7. Have you done your "washing up?" (your dirty dishes)
8. trouser, trainers, jumpers, vests, braces (pants, tennis shoes, sweaters, tank tops, suspenders)
9. Wee.
10.

I know there are more, but they are evading me at the moment....I'll update the list as I remember them. :)

love to all.
kelley

Jonalyn and I decided to write our 'quarterly reports' for Mennonite Voluntary Service together. Rather than writing out long descriptions of various days here, we wrote a list of 15 things we've learned since arriving in Northern Ireland....

1. Double dosing on Echinacea may just be your saving grace.
2. Service cannot be confined to our own definition, but rather it must be defined by those whom we are serving.
3. It’s healthy to be down-right ridiculous sometimes (Billygoats!!!...if you want to know, ask us).
4. Snail mail beats email hands-down.
5. True beauty is found in a friendship when you can argue face-to-face, become aware of why you value it so much, then split a bar of chocolate and some coffee.
6. Who knew discovering yourself involved conquering your fears on a rock face?
7. Coffee and Chocolate…need we say more?
8. Even 23-year-olds can enjoy getting wet, cold, and dirty during a Trust Fall in the beautiful Spinkwee River.
9. Sometimes there is nothing better than grabbing a weathered guitar and belting out some ol’ twang tunes at the top of your lungs.
10. Life can be lived in simple pleasures—like keeping a quote book.
11. Learn to live life the Irish way—laid back and relaxed. Virtue is sometimes found in not working too hard.
12. Always be sure to clarify between trousers and pants.
13. Always wear layers…many layers…at least 5…and bring spare waterproofs because the seasons will change within the course of the day. Guaranteed.
14. Fourteen people representing eleven countries, two refrigerators, three showers, three functioning toilets (and two incapacitated), no heat or hot water, and never ending dirty dishes teaches you more about yourself than you ever imagined it could (for better or worse).
15. There may be nothing better than being “adopted” by your new best friend- confidant-enemy- counselor- co-worker- peer- laughter inducer- sanity- tear jerker- coffee drinking- chocolate eating- constipated- diarrhea stricken- exhausted- exuberant- searching- discovering- beautiful- windblown- downright skuzzy- disclosing- struggling-overcoming- fear conquering- smelly- carnivorous- vegetarian- brilliant- insane- class climbing partner’s family.