Coming Home

 Well, it’s safe to say the day didn’t kick off with a bang, but hey, we’re rolling with the punches! Woke up at the insane hour of 4 AM, only to discover that our flight home was switched to a later time, which then promptly got canceled. Rebooked for tomorrow? Not on my watch—Sawyer’s graduation is a once-in-a-lifetime event!

I dialed the airline about six times, and each call felt like a game of telephone gone wrong. Finally, I broke through the digital barricade and—ta-da!—we’re now booked on flights today. Instead of the breezy American Airlines non-stop from Dublin to Dallas, we’ll be hopping on Aer Lingus to JFK in New York, then catching AA from NY to Dallas. But hey, it’s today, not tomorrow, so crisis averted! Thank you, Lord!!!

Breakfast was delivered by this creepy little robot.

The flight looked like a game of musical chairs with all those empty seats—five right next to Kody, no less! As folks were shuffling around to find their own space, I was taken aback when this character decided to cozy up next to me. He plopped down, his posterior instantly claiming my territory. Kody, ever the sneaky photographer, captured my sheer delight at the situation. Spoiler alert: I wasn't thrilled! The moment I could, I made a tactical retreat to the row beside Kody, where personal space was once again a thing. 

Airline lunch? Let’s just say it wasn’t quite the fish and chips we’re used to—it was more like a culinary crime scene!

A wee cup of tea

In case you didn’t get a good look at this character, here’s a shot after the long flight. Btw, he coughed and hacked the whole flight. So glad I moved far away from him. 

Oh, but wait—there's more! Our AA flight from JFK is now delayed until 5:30 PM, so praying we’ll touch down in Dallas around 8:30. Then it’s a delightful hour-long drive back to Sunset, where David will swoop in to take Kody home. They’ll be driving into the wee hours, so pray for safe travel for them!

And yay! Our plane is here and we are scheduled to board in another hour. Thank you for sharing our journey with us! Until next time…

We are coming home, in more ways than one.

"Time is filled with swift transition,

None on earth unmoved can stand

Build your hopes on things eternal

And then hold, hold onto God's unchanging hand"

The only thing in this life that does not change is the principle that nothing stays the same. Even if we are deceived into thinking we do not change, the world is changing around us as we sit still. To stay grounded in this constantly shifting world, we must “hold to God’s unchanging hand.” Here I am quoting another song.

To start at the beginning is to start with God. God was here before we were, before the world even existed.  He will be here after the world is gone and all is said and done. He is the first. He is the last. He is the beginning and the end, the Alpha and Omega.

He spoke the world into existence. He created time. He created us. He created change. He is our eternal rock when our world is in upheaval and things are changing so fast our head is spinning.

Sometimes we’d like to hold on to the old, the comfortable. We’d like to keep our kids (grandkids) little just a bit longer. We would like to stay in our comfort zone forever.

Sometimes we would like an opportunity to start something over again and do it better this time because sometimes we have a knack for getting things in a mess.

Sometimes our age inspires reflection of past events and milestones. Sometimes it makes us sad to leave the past behind. If we put our trust in Him, we need not fear the future or the remainder of whatever future we have left on this earth. 

If we understand what “a new heaven and a new earth” means, we’ll look forward to it. (And if we’re not looking forward to it, we must not yet understand it.) Anticipating our homecoming will motivate us to live spotless lives here and now.

So until that final day where former things are gone and a new life on the new earth has begun…keep pressing onward and upward toward Christ.

Final Day - Camp to Dublin

Today we travel from Camp to Dublin airport by taxi, 2 trains and  a bus. We started off with a wonderful breakfast of yogurt, porridge and toast. 

It was yummy! He slow cooks the porridge for 1 1/2-2 hours adding milk until it’s super creamy. 

Leaving the Inn

The taxi took us back to Tralee, the official start of the Dingle Way, where we’ll board the first of two trains. If you remember my post from about 9 days ago when I talked about the Rose of Tralee, and not being able to find the statue in the park, we found it today. Such a sad story. 

The Kerry Protestant Hall is a19th-century building on Ashe Street in Tralee, right across from the Courthouse. Built in the 1860s by architect J.F. Fuller, this protected gem features a unique clock over its entrance. 

It’s a two-story former meeting hall made of snecked (irregular sized) limestone with a pitched slate roof. The clock at the entrance really stands out. 

Originally a meeting spot for the local Protestant community, it’s now privately owned and has been turned into offices and shops.

Since it’s such a historic spot, there have been talks about using it as an extension for the courthouse or even turning it into an art gallery.

Tralee Courthouse

The courthouse a historic 1834 neoclassical building on Ashe Street in County Kerry, designed by William Vitruvius Morrison. While celebrated for its architecture and iconic exterior—flanked by historic Crimean War cannons—the outdated, inaccessible facility faces ongoing debates over whether to build a new complex or refurbish the site.

It was a very long day of travel. We made it to the airport hotel only to find that we had booked the downtown hotel instead of the airport hotel of the same name. We were able to cancel the wrong one and they had a room available at the correct one, so we’re all good. The only option for food was in the hotel bar or we could take a taxi to another restaurant. We opted to stay here to eat since it’s raining off and on and we were ready to get repacked for the flight tomorrow and settled in for the night. 

Total trip stats:

Trail Miles - 192

Total Miles - 224

Total steps - 532,062

Total Elevation Gained - 29,160’ (Mt Everest is 29,032’)

Total Time Hiking - 72 hrs 35 min

2 planes

4 trains

4 buses

5 taxis

16 B&B’s/Inns

What will our next home be like? Many people know the joy of living in the same place for most of their lives. Others have experienced the providential adventure of moving many times. For the Christian, this question is very real and immensely practical. Whether we have lived in the same home for many years or wandered about like windswept nomads, we are all a pilgrim people. No matter where on earth we live, life slowly and effectively teaches us that this world is not our home. As the old hymn "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" goes, "the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace."

Hebrews 11:13-16 demonstrates beautifully the pilgrim perspective of God's people. "These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus  make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.” 

Even during their walks of faith here on earth, they knew they were a pilgrim people. They were "strangers and exiles" here, even while sojourning in the land that God had given them.

What is so beautiful about heaven is not simply the fact that the effects of the curse (sin, death, and misery) are no longer present; what makes heaven truly heaven is the fact that God Himself is present there. This is what Hebrews says. God's pilgrim people, even while enjoying the good gifts that God had given them, realized that the gifts paled in comparison to the God of those gifts. They were pilgrims, learning to have the eyes of their souls fixed on the things of God.

This is often our struggle—not to fix our gaze on the things that are right in front of us, whether good or bad, but to fix our eyes on Christ and the better things that are to come in Him. As the pilgrims in Hebrews fixed their eyes on heavenly things, God was not ashamed of them. He was not ashamed to be called their God, nor is He ashamed of us as we fix our eyes on our homeland. 

We are strangers here, pilgrims on a journey. So until we get home, let's live as sojourners and exiles, doing the work He has prepared for us, and with the eyes of our souls fixed on the things of God. 

DW Day 9 - Harbor House to Camp

 I can’t believe this is our final day of hiking! So bittersweet! Ready to be home with our families, yet such a privilege to see this part of God’s creation.

As I mentioned yesterday, we have added to today’s journey by shortening yesterday’s walk. We won’t really know the total distance until we arrive at our destination this afternoon.

13.6 miles

ascent 217' / descent 33'

A few shots of the Atlantic as we start out this morning. It’s still pretty angry. 

It’s very cold, windy and wet. 

And a few shots of our trails today

Red valerian, also known as: kiss-me-quick, fox’s brush, devil’s beard or Jupiter’s beard 

On the other side of the bay is the Harbor House where we stayed last night. 

Eurasian oystercatcher 

Sea sandswort 

Horses along the beach 

The snails were out enjoying the wet grass. 

When the grass turned into an obstacle course, we decided to take our stroll along the beach instead.

Holding a hagstone I found on Fermoyle beach—also known as a fairy stone—sitting among the sand. These naturally holed stones are said to bring luck, and some believe they hold magical power. I don’t believe in luck or magical power, but it still felt like a little gift from the trail.

It was a bit rocky in places and we had to scale a mini mountain of rocks to get to our trail. 

This is what you call a piece of driftwood

GO SLOW, nobody does

Our boots are a bit mucky

It is wet, wet, wet 

We were walking into the wind and rain with heads down and water dripping

A heart shaped tree tunnel for you Jo Anne 

Had to cross this little bridge 

The slats were wet and slick. So glad for the handrails 

Yellow flag iris

Loved these cliffs and this beach, clouds covering the mountain behind

It was like walking through a forest of rocks. So very unusual and interesting. 

Another bridge to get over inlets of water 

Taking a few last photos of the Atlantic before we head inland 

Talk about a rocky trail, not exactly what you want to see after walking 14 miles. 

Church of Ireland Kilgobbin 

Rhododendron 

The only original stained glass window left

Rev. Edward Day AD 1824

And yes it’s still raining

 Waterfall - a photo doesn’t even touch the beauty

Horse chestnut

One last sheep and ocean photo before the finish line. 

Killelton Stone, a fascinating artifact that takes us back to the Bronze Age around 1500 B.C. Imagine it being lost for years, just hidden away in the sand at Bunavounder Beach! This stone features 45 cupmarks, a unique form of rock art, but the true meaning behind those markings remains a mystery. Thankfully, in 1997, archaeologists rediscovered it and decided to bring it here, to Camp, ensuring it wouldn’t be buried and forgotten again. How cool is it that this piece of history is now on display for us to appreciate?

And we did it! An ussie at the end of the Dingle Way. 16 days walking complete!

We stopped at the pub before walking up the hill to our B&B. I had bangers and mash. 

Kody had the fish and chips 

And we both had the chocolate fudge cake with ice cream. Well done us!

Much of today’s hike was along the beach, with a few stretches on narrow, one-lane country roads. All of it was in wind and rain. Just another day at the beach! 🙄

After our long and final day of hiking The Dingle Way, we arrived at Camp the name of the village where we stayed at the beginning of this Dingle Way hike. John, the owner, is the one who calls Kody, Oklahoma. We can clearly show him that Oklahoma did not die in Ireland.

Today's Stats:

Miles - 14.1

Steps - 33,953

Ascent - 623’

Time - 4 hrs 56 min 

Standing on the rocks, looking out at the sea, I was completely overcome. I found myself in tears—moved not just by the beauty, but by everything that had built up over the past 22 days: the people in each village, the quiet rhythm of walking, the small kindnesses, the landscape that never gets old. Walking alongside a friend, to share the majesty of God’s creation, and gratitude for His provision, guidance and strength. This time has been so much more than I can ever put into words.

Hiking the Wicklow Way followed by the Dingle Way over 16 days—192 miles—was unforgettable. From long, empty beaches to sheep-filled pastures and cliffside paths, each day brought something new. We met locals out walking, and fellow hikers, sometimes more than once, and swapped stories. I pray that we’ve planted seeds along the way that will be watered and take root in lives . 

A pilgrim has a clear destination and purpose. The hymn asks God to guide us on our journey and expresses a desire to be with Him in heaven. Do you feel like your Christian life has a clear purpose? Sometimes, the demands on our time and energy can be so overwhelming that we might start to think our lives are pointless. I could argue that we are doing valuable things, but that's not really the main point. Our lives should be focused on getting to know God better and learning to walk with Him, even in everyday situations.

Walk in Greek is the word peripateō. The meaning is uncomplicated: it describes the action of moving along on foot. It’s not a sprint; it’s movement at a steady pace. We sure have experienced that!

Peripateō is a combination of two Greek words. Pateō means “to put your foot down, to step on something.” Scripture uses it to describe stomping on a scorpion (Luke 10:19) or treading on the grapes in a winepress (Revelation 14:20; 19:15). Adding peri to the beginning of the word changes the idea.

Peri means “around, about” and the combination pictures someone walking around. Don’t think of an athlete running a race; think of someone moving around from one activity to another during the course of a day. Classical Greeks might talk about a person walking around the marketplace, shopping at the various stalls.

Come to the New Testament and you will find frequent references to the physical act of walking, especially in the Gospels and Acts.

It is an easy step from literal walking around to peripateō as a figurative description for the pattern of daily life. “Walk” becomes a general description for living your life as you carry out all the activities that fill your day.

The spiritual walk can be a tricky business. It is easy to go astray, and God often leads us in directions that are difficult. Sometimes it is tough to know where we should be going.

However, the Lord describes a time in the future when He will reign on the earth from the amazing city, the New Jerusalem. In that day, He says, “The nations will walk by [the city’s] light,” Revelation 21:24, and you will need no more lessons in walking. Isn’t that exciting?

We can serve God faithfully through our daily tasks. Each day brings us closer to that incredible moment when we’ll see Him face to face. All Christians have a purpose and a destination.