Good Morning From Northern Ireland

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Good Morning from Northern Ireland. How are you all today and what are you up to? This is how I normally start my tweeting day. It’s a great way to engage with regular followers and initiate conversations with new people. It’s a gateway to new online friendships and fascinating discussions as I learn more about other cultures, beliefs and ways of thinking. It’s also friendly and we need more of that in the land of social media during these dark, disturbing times.

I tend to reserve my more serious online writing for WordPress. Here, where it all began, I write about mental health, faith, and occasionally even dabble with current affairs such as the ongoing COVID pandemic and the US elections. This is serious Stephen. Silly Stephen resides more on Twitter where he rambles on about all manner of nonsense. Follow me on both accounts and you get to see the best, or worst, of both worlds.

But today I thought I’d try the Twitter approach on WordPress. I’d like to know what you are all up to, both those who comment regularly and first time readers. We are a community and interaction is key to that. Life is tough enough without us checking in with one another from time to time. You might be having a lazy day around the house or setting out on the adventure of your life. Either way, I’d like to know.

As for me, well I’m up, and that’s a start. This morning will be spent writing this blog and working on the first draft of my first novel. I’ll have CNN on in the background. This afternoon I’m planning to run the country roads around my village. The evening will probably be spent watching Netflix with Fionnuala. A quiet day, an ordinary day, but I cherish such days. I need normal in my life. I’ve no time for the drama anymore.

Published by Fractured Faith Blog

We are Stephen and Fionnuala and this is our story. We live in Northern Ireland, have been married for 17 years and have three kids - Adam, Hannah and Rebecca. We hope that our story will inspire and encourage others. We have walked a rocky road yet here we are today, together and stronger than ever. We are far from perfect and our faith has been battered and bruised. But an untested faith is a pointless faith. Just as a fractured faith is better than none at all. We hope you enjoy the blog.

41 thoughts on “Good Morning From Northern Ireland”

  1. Good morning, Stephen. I’m well. A little fatigued by the US election news, but I’ll survive. Also keeping up with writing and researching tips on storytelling. Going very well so far.

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  2. Good morning from sunny Switzerland… Like you, I’m having a pretty ‘ordinary’, but relaxing day… I’m sorting out my photos from a walk Jude and I did yesterday up the Lotschental valley and I’ll be posting the best of those later. I have to go to the shops in a mo to get the weekend groceries (as the shop is shut on Sundays at this time of year – remember when that was the norm?) And later I’ll be tracking the FA cup scores to see if my beloved Tigers can get the better of the Cod Army (that’s my mate, Martin’s team – so there’s a bit of bragging rights at stake).

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  3. Good morning Stephen! I gave up on Twitter a while ago – too much social media in my life. 😆 Today is going to be mostly study for my diploma course since I have an assignment due. I also need to fit in some cleaning and washing and ironing. This evening we have friends joining us in the garden for dinner round the fire pit. Have a good day.

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  6. Hi Stephen, I was up wicked early, around 3:30 a.m. & I had three cups of coffee & a bowl of oatmeal & around 5:30, after a hot bath, I stretched out on the couch with Radar the cat & slept for about an hour … now I’m up & dressed & having a nice cup of tea. In about an hour, I’ll do a bit of shopping. It’s very warm here for this time of year.

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  8. Good Morning from Upstate New York Stephen! We are in he middle of a beautiful Spring-like stretch of weather here. Lots of sun with temperatures topping out in the low 70s (Fahrenheit, of course). Today Betsy and I are going to one of the local nature trails for a leisurely stroll then back home for some more yard work. Hopefully I will find some time blogging (the nice weather has kept me from my computer!)
    Blessings to all the Blacks,
    Chuck
    PS: I should finish New Jerusalem today and will be posting my review on Amazon

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  9. Today I woke to the sound of rain! (A rare pleasure here in San Diego.) It’s the first rain storm of the season and oh, so welcome! On my docket today is 1. checking email, which led me to your blog. 2. preparing for a class I will lead tomorrow. 3. Reading the first draft of a novel my friend has written. (Starting it… I won’t get it all read today.) 4. Serving on a panel at an event celebrating 50 years since the first woman was ordained in our denomination, 40 years since the first woman of color was ordained and 10 years since the first woman in the LGBTQ community was ordained. We will be celebrating that we are all ordained, but lamenting that it took so long for non-white, non-cisgendered leaders to be accepted. We will be telling our stories, what got us into ministry and what has kept us here. My answers to both could be short: the grace of God, but the specifics are more interesting. After that, I will be making osso bucco for the first time. I am an adventurous cook, but it will be a good rainy day dish, assuming it turns out like it should!

    There… How’s that for a day!?!?
    blessings to all,
    Karla

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    1. So much for you to do. I wish you all the best with your to-do list.

      I love your attitude of gratitude. The Bible says we should give thanks in all things. There are so many blessings around us that we need to focus on.

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      1. Thank you. I have accomplished a lot. It has been a lovely day of honoring the stories of others who have gone before and the talents of those who serve now. Life is good. (And the Osso Bucco is simmering on the stove, smelling delicious.)

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  10. Hi Stephen, how kind of you to ask. I’m self isolating so I woke up today, posted on my blog, treated myself and hubby to a cooked breakfast, cleaned the house (again)!, made some fudge with youngest daughter and now waiting for a curry to be delivered for tea 😊

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  12. Just tired of being tired. The focus to do more is gone for now, but it will return and be stronger than it was before. Times like these test us, harden us, make us better than we were before – that I do believe. I have to, otherwise why invest so much into the battle. Runnings keeps going and as long as I am not too stoopid I plan on doing a 74 day streak of at least a mile a day. I have a feeling that it will be necessary to get through the next 74 days. Then I will get back to whatever the new normal will be. 🙂 Glad you are moving along nicely on your next book and look forward to your antics on Twitter 🙂 Be well Steve.

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  13. It’s afternoon here as I write. Saturdays are dialysis days for hubby. We get up early and drive to the hospital where I drop him off and return home. I went back to bed this morning and got up again to hear the news of President Biden’s election. Congratulations to the new president. But I am more excited by the election of the Vice President, Kamala Harris, it’s great to see a woman in this seat, and a woman of color to boot! Congratulations to her as well I am praying for a peaceful transfer of power and for guidance as the nation wrangles with covid, among other things.

    We are not doing much, our lives are pretty quiet, with hubby’s health being what it is. I plan to do a bit of writing. I started what I thought would be a short story, but then the characters took over. It’s always an adventure to see where they lead me. Nothing too exciting in our neck of the woods. Enjoy your day and your weekend. Stay healthy and stay safe.

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  15. Couple days late… and at the moment I am doing Excel work for my regular job while listening to Loreena McKennitt…. and reading my emails in between to keep from losing my mind utterly.

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  16. Amen to no drama. Today I worked in my job as a case manager for kiddos with disabilities and it was a good day most of the day. Now I’m snuggled up with my husband and cats watching American Football. Not a bad Monday at all 😊

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  17. I should be grading essays, but they were particularly bad this time around. Hmmmm. Actually, I’m in a dilemma these days. My daughter lives in Germany. She hasn’t been home in 1 1/2 years. She wants to come home from Christmas. Not sure what to tell her about that. I miss her like crazy, but ……

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