I'm Here: Naas, Ireland by Boundless Community on 12/17/2009 at 11:21 AM

I began reading Boundless more than six years ago when I was a 20 year old who had never been on a date. I appreciated so much that I had found a place that published interesting and thought provoking articles and reinforced my own beliefs about singleness, marriage, and family.  

Now, I have been married for two years and we have two little boys!  I met my husband on a short-term missions trip to Ireland. He is a missionary kid who never left the field where his parent brought him. He has a full-time secular job, and we work together in many support roles in his parent's church plant.

The picture is of two of the lads preparing for the worship service in one of the rooms we rent in our local Gaelic Athletic Association building.

I still visit Boundless and the Line nearly every day. Keep up the good work. God is good, life is sweet, and marriage heavenly.

Thank you Boundless!

Holly

* * *

Want to share a bit about yourself with fellow Boundless readers? Send your photo and narrative to editor@boundless.org. Please note that all stories that are selected for publication may be edited for clarity and privacy and become the property of Focus on the Family.

I'm Here: Naas, Ireland by Boundless Community on 12/17/2009 at 11:21 AM

I began reading Boundless more than six years ago when I was a 20 year old who had never been on a date. I appreciated so much that I had found a place that published interesting and thought provoking articles and reinforced my own beliefs about singleness, marriage, and family.  

Now, I have been married for two years and we have two little boys!  I met my husband on a short-term missions trip to Ireland. He is a missionary kid who never left the field where his parent brought him. He has a full-time secular job, and we work together in many support roles in his parent's church plant.

The picture is of two of the lads preparing for the worship service in one of the rooms we rent in our local Gaelic Athletic Association building.

I still visit Boundless and the Line nearly every day. Keep up the good work. God is good, life is sweet, and marriage heavenly.

Thank you Boundless!

Holly

* * *

Want to share a bit about yourself with fellow Boundless readers? Send your photo and narrative to editor@boundless.org. Please note that all stories that are selected for publication may be edited for clarity and privacy and become the property of Focus on the Family.

Comments

[1. V.V. said the following at 1:31 PM on Dec 17:]

1

Just got married and we honeymooned in Ireland. I loved it! beautiful country.

[2. jobie said the following at 2:16 PM on Dec 17:]

2

Holly,

Just thought I'd say a quick "hello". A few years ago, I spent about six months in Ireland (primarily in the Dublin area) after college for a vocational missions trip. In February, I was able to go back for a visit and spent a weekend at the Killashee House in Naas.

I love the Irish culture, wit, and hospitable nature. And I am excited to see that the Lord is moving in the hearts of those who claim, but do not know, Him. :)

Cheers!

[3. Keith said the following at 3:34 PM on Dec 17:]

3

I would love to visit Ireland.

My grandmother is Irish, so I got just a quarter in me...

It's such a beautiful land....

[4. Grammy Bonnie in WV said the following at 9:37 PM on Dec 18:]

4

Holly
Glad to see your article in Boundless.
We are proud of you and your desire to walk and keep your faith.
We miss you but your paps and I hope to visit you, your family and church family someday soon. From all of your picture and updates,Ireland and it's people are Beautiful.
We Love You

[5. VV said the following at 11:41 PM on Dec 18:]

5

It would be nice if Christians didn't emphasize marriage as the ultimate goal of our lives, and flaunt that they are married because we all wait for what seems like soooo long. Marriage is beautiful, but not something to idolize or taunt. My heart hurts from hearing so much, how "heavenly" marriage is.

[6. Holly said the following at 3:06 AM on Dec 19:]

6

1# V.V., We honeymooned in Ireland too! :) We stayed in B&B's on the West Coast and my husband showed me around some of his favourite places. It is indeed and beautiful country!

2# jobie, that is awesome! My husband commutes to Dublin everyday for work, it is a needy city. We have been to the Killashee House once for dinner on Valentines Day. Wow! I hope if you are ever in Naas on a Sunday you will stop in on our worship service in the GAA.

Did I mention the lads are single? haha, now they are going to kill me!!

[7. Holly said the following at 3:14 AM on Dec 19:]

7

3# Keith, I hope you do get to visit one day! It is a funny thing but as far as I know I don't have a shred of Irish ancestry! My complexion and style of clothing fits in well, and people always suppose I'm Irish until I open my mouth!

#4 Grammy, Love you too! We will miss you this Christmas, but hope to visit WV sometime next year. OXOX

[8. Ruth said the following at 8:26 AM on Dec 21:]

8

Hi Holly,
I think I may know your in-laws! My dad is a missionary/pastor in Blanchardstown, Dublin.

Congratulations on your marriage. It encourages me to hear how you met your husband on a missions trip.

Ruth

[9. Holly said the following at 9:39 AM on Dec 21:]

9

#5 VV, I'm sorry if my post has hurt you. I did marry young and met my husband in an unusual way.
'God is good, Life is sweet, and Marriage heavenly' is a way I have choosen to sign-off most of my correspondence. My own parents are divorced, so I spent much of my teen years not idolizing marriage, but terrified of it and distrustful of men in general. That is why I have such a love and appreciation for Boundless.

[10. Holly said the following at 10:15 AM on Dec 21:]

10

#8 Ruth, it would not surprise me at all if you did know my in-laws! They have a huge circle of friends and aquaintances.

Do you still live near Blanchardstown?

[11. jobie said the following at 10:32 AM on Dec 22:]

11

Holly,

I will definitely try to visit! I'm hoping to get another trip to Ireland together this summer. I'd love to see what's happening in Naas.

Nollaig Shona Duit
~jobie

[12. VV - not real name. :) said the following at 10:04 PM on Dec 22:]

12

Holly, I think I was wrong to speak the way i did. My parents are divorced also, and seeing such conflicting views of marriage, between the way the world views it (a trap for men, that people aren't made for monogamy, etc) and the way Christianity can idolize marriage, or flaunt it or make singles feel like they are not real people unless the are married, that conflict makes the whole thing very stressful and painful.

I am only 18 years old, and should not be worried about singleness, at any age, but especially right now.

In a few weeks I will be attending a Christian college, and I have heard all about the rush to get married at christian colleges, and it scares me, because a part of me is completely cynical towards it, and another part is hoping desperately that I won't have to wait for much longer for a husband.

There is so much more that God has to give us, besides just a marriage. I want to be able to rejoice in all of his blessings, and opportunities to serve him, and the relationship that is growing with Him, instead of believing I can only rejoice when God gives me a husband. Which will be beautiful, I'm sure. But i am worn out and tired of strategizing in this area, whether it is, how to be marriable, or trying to not think about marriage at all.

I want to be content, and I am finding that hard, because there are people who are married. ha. so I apologize, for that.

Can I ask how you met your husband?

[13. Holly said the following at 3:12 AM on Dec 24:]

13

VV, I feel for you! You sound so much like me at 18! I had an intense desire to have an intimate connection (romantic or not) with a man... coupled with loads of fear of becoming vulernable with a man. It is a very confusing place to be.(I think this is one of the main causes of females joining the hooking-up culture.) I realized VERY early in my teen years that I wasn't emotionally heathy enough to spend much time one-on-one with guys close to my age. So I didn't, in order to protect myself from myself, so to speak, until I could get heathly. My first date turned out to be with my husband when I was 23.

Going to Bible college is going to be very challenging, because like you said, there is so much pressure to pair off and Christian guys are everywhere, but I want to challenge you to wait until you're healthy to begin a relationship.

This might sound silly, but I'm introverted so professional counselling was not an option for me. Instead I surrounded myself with happily married young couples by volunteering to babysit and do chores. A few of these women took a mentoring role in my life, and as I got to know their husbands in a healthy way, my whole view of men changed. I also began reading books on marriage and communication in marriage as a teenager. I had probably read 2 dozen books and listened to every Focus broadcast series on marriage by the time I was 21!

The important thing to remember is that if God said it is good, then it is good. No matter what mistakes people in our lives have made.

I could write a book, if I tried to include all of the circumstances surrounding how my husband and I met and married. I don't think hearing my 'fairy tale' would be appropriate in light of everything else I've just written! But know that I went on a trip to Ireland as a chaperone for a teenage aquaintance, and fell in love with the country, ministry, and man all at once. He had no interest in me what so ever until he saw that I was truly willing to move to Ireland permanently. Then, he flew over to meet my family, my mom flew over to meet his....Lots of prayers and tears... and we were married 14 months after a two week last-minute missions trip! Have faith, God is still writing love stories.

[1. V.V. said the following at 1:31 PM on Dec 17:]

1

Just got married and we honeymooned in Ireland. I loved it! beautiful country.

[2. jobie said the following at 2:16 PM on Dec 17:]

2

Holly,

Just thought I'd say a quick "hello". A few years ago, I spent about six months in Ireland (primarily in the Dublin area) after college for a vocational missions trip. In February, I was able to go back for a visit and spent a weekend at the Killashee House in Naas.

I love the Irish culture, wit, and hospitable nature. And I am excited to see that the Lord is moving in the hearts of those who claim, but do not know, Him. :)

Cheers!

[3. Keith said the following at 3:34 PM on Dec 17:]

3

I would love to visit Ireland.

My grandmother is Irish, so I got just a quarter in me...

It's such a beautiful land....

[4. Grammy Bonnie in WV said the following at 9:37 PM on Dec 18:]

4

Holly
Glad to see your article in Boundless.
We are proud of you and your desire to walk and keep your faith.
We miss you but your paps and I hope to visit you, your family and church family someday soon. From all of your picture and updates,Ireland and it's people are Beautiful.
We Love You

[5. VV said the following at 11:41 PM on Dec 18:]

5

It would be nice if Christians didn't emphasize marriage as the ultimate goal of our lives, and flaunt that they are married because we all wait for what seems like soooo long. Marriage is beautiful, but not something to idolize or taunt. My heart hurts from hearing so much, how "heavenly" marriage is.

[6. Holly said the following at 3:06 AM on Dec 19:]

6

1# V.V., We honeymooned in Ireland too! :) We stayed in B&B's on the West Coast and my husband showed me around some of his favourite places. It is indeed and beautiful country!

2# jobie, that is awesome! My husband commutes to Dublin everyday for work, it is a needy city. We have been to the Killashee House once for dinner on Valentines Day. Wow! I hope if you are ever in Naas on a Sunday you will stop in on our worship service in the GAA.

Did I mention the lads are single? haha, now they are going to kill me!!

[7. Holly said the following at 3:14 AM on Dec 19:]

7

3# Keith, I hope you do get to visit one day! It is a funny thing but as far as I know I don't have a shred of Irish ancestry! My complexion and style of clothing fits in well, and people always suppose I'm Irish until I open my mouth!

#4 Grammy, Love you too! We will miss you this Christmas, but hope to visit WV sometime next year. OXOX

[8. Ruth said the following at 8:26 AM on Dec 21:]

8

Hi Holly,
I think I may know your in-laws! My dad is a missionary/pastor in Blanchardstown, Dublin.

Congratulations on your marriage. It encourages me to hear how you met your husband on a missions trip.

Ruth

[9. Holly said the following at 9:39 AM on Dec 21:]

9

#5 VV, I'm sorry if my post has hurt you. I did marry young and met my husband in an unusual way.
'God is good, Life is sweet, and Marriage heavenly' is a way I have choosen to sign-off most of my correspondence. My own parents are divorced, so I spent much of my teen years not idolizing marriage, but terrified of it and distrustful of men in general. That is why I have such a love and appreciation for Boundless.

[10. Holly said the following at 10:15 AM on Dec 21:]

10

#8 Ruth, it would not surprise me at all if you did know my in-laws! They have a huge circle of friends and aquaintances.

Do you still live near Blanchardstown?

[11. jobie said the following at 10:32 AM on Dec 22:]

11

Holly,

I will definitely try to visit! I'm hoping to get another trip to Ireland together this summer. I'd love to see what's happening in Naas.

Nollaig Shona Duit
~jobie

[12. VV - not real name. :) said the following at 10:04 PM on Dec 22:]

12

Holly, I think I was wrong to speak the way i did. My parents are divorced also, and seeing such conflicting views of marriage, between the way the world views it (a trap for men, that people aren't made for monogamy, etc) and the way Christianity can idolize marriage, or flaunt it or make singles feel like they are not real people unless the are married, that conflict makes the whole thing very stressful and painful.

I am only 18 years old, and should not be worried about singleness, at any age, but especially right now.

In a few weeks I will be attending a Christian college, and I have heard all about the rush to get married at christian colleges, and it scares me, because a part of me is completely cynical towards it, and another part is hoping desperately that I won't have to wait for much longer for a husband.

There is so much more that God has to give us, besides just a marriage. I want to be able to rejoice in all of his blessings, and opportunities to serve him, and the relationship that is growing with Him, instead of believing I can only rejoice when God gives me a husband. Which will be beautiful, I'm sure. But i am worn out and tired of strategizing in this area, whether it is, how to be marriable, or trying to not think about marriage at all.

I want to be content, and I am finding that hard, because there are people who are married. ha. so I apologize, for that.

Can I ask how you met your husband?

[13. Holly said the following at 3:12 AM on Dec 24:]

13

VV, I feel for you! You sound so much like me at 18! I had an intense desire to have an intimate connection (romantic or not) with a man... coupled with loads of fear of becoming vulernable with a man. It is a very confusing place to be.(I think this is one of the main causes of females joining the hooking-up culture.) I realized VERY early in my teen years that I wasn't emotionally heathy enough to spend much time one-on-one with guys close to my age. So I didn't, in order to protect myself from myself, so to speak, until I could get heathly. My first date turned out to be with my husband when I was 23.

Going to Bible college is going to be very challenging, because like you said, there is so much pressure to pair off and Christian guys are everywhere, but I want to challenge you to wait until you're healthy to begin a relationship.

This might sound silly, but I'm introverted so professional counselling was not an option for me. Instead I surrounded myself with happily married young couples by volunteering to babysit and do chores. A few of these women took a mentoring role in my life, and as I got to know their husbands in a healthy way, my whole view of men changed. I also began reading books on marriage and communication in marriage as a teenager. I had probably read 2 dozen books and listened to every Focus broadcast series on marriage by the time I was 21!

The important thing to remember is that if God said it is good, then it is good. No matter what mistakes people in our lives have made.

I could write a book, if I tried to include all of the circumstances surrounding how my husband and I met and married. I don't think hearing my 'fairy tale' would be appropriate in light of everything else I've just written! But know that I went on a trip to Ireland as a chaperone for a teenage aquaintance, and fell in love with the country, ministry, and man all at once. He had no interest in me what so ever until he saw that I was truly willing to move to Ireland permanently. Then, he flew over to meet my family, my mom flew over to meet his....Lots of prayers and tears... and we were married 14 months after a two week last-minute missions trip! Have faith, God is still writing love stories.