Belfast

We wound up our round-the-world trip in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Irvines, who are long-time friends of the Youssef's, were so kind to host us during our short time there. Wilma fixed us our second home cooked meal in a month and it was fantastic. We toured the murals from the conflict between Loyalists and Republicans which only officially ended in 1998 in what is known as the Good Friday Peace Agreement. The murals become kind of memorials to those who had fought on each side (Catholics and Protestants) . After touring the murals, we took a hike along the Irish coast to a famous fisherman's spot where a rope bridge carries you from one side of the cliffs to the other (I had to give myself a pep talk before crossing...while Josh was laughing at me and snapping photos). We then traveled to the Giant's Causeway where we witnessed the hexagonal rock formations that were fomred many years ago by volcanic lava . On our way to dinner we popped our head in a local castle, Dunluce. Afterwards we shared a meal and ice cream by the seaside.

We have had an unbelievable time abroad touring and hearing the amazing stories of how Leading the Way, and ultimately the Lord, is impacting the lives of so many. We look forward to the flight home to Atlanta and are thankful for the incredible memories and relationships we have formed from our trip overseas.

Paris

Josh and I had a romantic, fast-paced trip through Paris. We had a lovely time touring and visiting with one of the Leading the Way partnership teams outside of the city. We also spent time visiting the Palace of Versailles where Josh and I rented bicycles and rode through the beautiful French countryside touring Marie Antoinette's Petit Trianon and the various gardens that surround the estate. Our last day we ate baguette sandwiches on the steps in front of the Eiffel Tower and took a water ferry through the city catching glimpses of Notre Dame, the Louvre, and Champs-Élysées. We had a blast walking up the Champs-Élysées to find a good bowl of French onion soup before we headed back to our hotel.

while walking we found a really silly cupcake display that we thought we would share with you

Next up....Belfast,Northern Ireland

Happy Birthday Joshie

We have spent the last few days in London before we head to Paris. We stopped in to visit with Sarah, Christain and the boys yesterday to celebrate Josh's birthday. We had such a great time playing with Aidan and Oliver and we were so thankful for Sarah who made birthday cupcakes and a special birthday dinner (the famous Wright family mac-n-cheese!). We spent the evening swapping travel stories and laughing . We had such a lovely visit and a great birthday celebration with the Wright family.

For Safety's Sake: Fun With Translation

On a walk to catch a tram we started noticing some of the English signs around HK. We are posting the best one's here. Em was laughing so hard she couldn't hold the camera properly.

Typhoon #8 -Hong Kong

We had three days in Hong Kong where I met up with a fellow who might assist us in setting up a branch office to help manage our Asia media as well as development. We were there over a weekend so Em and I had time to explore. We went to the Ladies Market. Em discovered "purse heaven" and so did I because these purses were 1/10th the cost of purses in Europe or the US (think its real Gucci?). We walked the streets until we were worn out. While in the market we heard Michael Jackson, "You Are Not Alone", blaring. We turned to look and there was a sea of Asians staring at TV screen at an appliance store. We snapped a photo.

The next day we had lunch with friends at the peak of Hong Kong Island. That afternoon a Typhoon came ashore and our flight to London was touch and go. We ended up taking off in a Typhoon #8 (I am told the categories only go up to ten). One person told us not to worry if we see the plane's wings flapping like a bird as we take off. I was so proud of Em. If she can take off in a Typhoon then I think she can fly in just about any condition.

Sydney, Australia

Josh and I had a fabulous time in Sydney. The pictures above display a brief synopsis of our 10-day trip. When we first arrived in Sydney, it was late at night and I was only able to see bits and pieces of the Sydney Harbor. The next day, I awoke early and excitedly peeled back the curtains only to be stunned by what I saw (The first few pictures were taken at that very moment). We spent the next day at the Toronga Zoo learning about the different wildlife of Australia. We learned that the Wallaby is in the family of the Kangaroo, with the only difference being the size. We also learned that for many years it was taught that Koalas were lazy animals because it was believed that they got drunk off of fermented eucalyptus leaves (now they have found that it takes a longer period of time to digest the leaves which leaves the Koala in a constant state of lethargy ). The Zoo sits on a cliff that overlooks the harbor and the views are incredible... The next days were spent visiting and catching up with friends. Some days while Josh was in meetings I would take walks down to the harbor and peek my head into the various shops, bookstores and cafes. It is such a safe and clean city and all of the people are so friendly... The day before we left Josh took me to one of his favorite places in Sydney (now mine too), Watson's Bay. We spent the afternoon walking along the coastal pathways snapping pictures of the unbelievable landscape (we even spotted a whale off in the distance). It was so perfect and picturesque I had Josh re-propose to me... We ended the night walking through the South Heads National park. It was surreal to see the points where the military had carved out barracks and placed their cannons in order to protect the harbor of any unexpected attacks. After our hike up to the South Heads park , we ate at a historic beach front restaurant named Doyle's...Our time in Australia was such a blessing to both Josh and I. It was truly a spectacular trip and we are thankful for the experience. It truly is the most beautiful place I have ever seen.

Next stop.....Hong Kong