here we are together again, dancing in the memories He began

Let's just start off this post by saying...

CLAY CUNDIFF CAME TO VISIT ME IN IRELAND!!!!!!!

Yup, I was excited about this as you can tell. Which is probably why I sprinted towards him and gave him a big hug when I picked him up at the airport. He said, "You know everyone stared at us, right?" To which I just said, "So?" ;)

Having my boyfriend come visit was such a wonderful gift from home. It was a nice comfort that made me excited to be going home in a week, but it also made me aware that I need to cherish this last week I have in Ireland.

Clay was able to go into work with me, which I thought was really cool that he got to see what the Dail and my office looked like. And he even knew that Parliament here is called the Dail! He was up on his Irish savvy before he even got off the plane.

After work, we headed off to the Aran Islands! This is one of my favorite places that I have visited in Ireland, and when I was first there I KNEW he would love it too. It captures Ireland's essence in its beauty and charm, and I knew he would appreciate seeing the countryside of Ireland more than just the city streets of Dublin.

So it was a trek alright, especially after pulling a 7 hour flight, but he went with me without one complaint and was a trooper through it all! Between bus hopping and a ferry ride, we were pooped and looking forward to our B&B.

We stayed at Kilmurvey House, which Clay picked himself before coming over here. As I have said several times to him, he did an amazing job with this selection! I absolutely loved this place. It's really more like a hotel, because it's so nice, but with a B&B charm. It was so nice to have my own room and bathroom with plenty of towels and space, instead of the cramped hostels I have stayed in while traveling here. Plus, the woman who runs the house used to cook at Buckingham Palace! So needless to say, the breakfasts were amazing. On Sunday morning she even got up early and made breakfast just for us, since we had to leave early for the ferry back. We both thought this was extremely thoughtful!

Clay in front of Kilmurvey House

While on the island, we enjoyed walking around, going to the cliffs...and bike riding. It was my idea, and in my naivete assumed that not riding a bike in, oh, 9 years, wouldn't be a big deal. I would just hop right on that bike and pedal down the streets, like I did when I was 12. After all, "it's just like riding a bike," right?

NOT. Whoever came up with this phrase is WRONG and I would like to have a word with him. I struggled to find my balance on the bike and was disappointed that what I thought would be a simple activity was turning into such a challenge.

Clay spent the next hour being a perfectly patient and supportive coach as he tried to re-teach me how to ride a bike. In 2 hours time I was successfully riding again! But I wasn't ready for the main roads yet with cars, so we just stuck with the back road.

Exploring the island

On Sunday we went back into Dublin and just spent the day in the city and he got to go to my church with me! And before I knew it, his visit was coming to a close and it was time for him to leave.

I kept saying to him during his visit, "I can't believe you're actually here!" To which he would always laugh. But it's the truth, I CAN'T believe he was here and was able to fly all of this way to see me. It was so nice to just be with one another again, to laugh with him again, and simply enjoy one another's company.

After dropping him off at the airport, I was a little sad to see him go, but I thought, I really have nothing to be sad about. I'm a blessed girl that my boyfriend can come all this way to visit me. And I know we'll be together again :)

The title for this post is part of the song that Clay wrote for me on Valentine's Day. And as you have probably figured if you have been reading my blog regularly, I like using lyrics as titles. So I knew using the song he wrote for me was perfect for this post. The lyrics have come more and more true for me as time has passed, and here are some of my favorite parts:

Here we are, together again

Dancing in the memories He began

Holding hands we're plowing through

Moving towards the truth

Together, with you

No matter where we go

Together forever

Or mutually severed

The time you were mine

Will always

Be remembered as more than just a time

Blog Post Title - Here We Are (Together Again) lyrics by Clay Cundiff and music by Robbie Forrest