A Big Announcement {a.k.a., Holy #*@&, is this real life?!}

Seriously, y'all. Is this my life??

I'm moving to Dublin, Ireland, for six months. I'm moving to Ireland. Holy. Cannoli.

How did this come about, you ask? Well, I can thank my husband for this one. He works for a company that provides professional services to other companies, and it just so happens that a new project is in Ireland. Long story short, Mark volunteered himself to be a part of the team on this project, and off we go!

I'm still trying to wrap my brain around the fact that this is happening {thus the radio silence on the blog for much of last week} but it really is wonderfully exciting. I've had that Disneyland/"I'm too excited to sleep!" feeling for days now. Traveling somewhere for an extended period of time has been on my Life List since its inception, but I had considered "extended time" to be anything more than two weeks-- I certainly wasn't expecting six months! An international trip was also on my goal worksheet for the year in the Adventure category, and-- KABLAM!-- we are getting an adventure for sure. Until now, my international travel experience has been limited to a trip to Costa Rica in 2009 and a 2-week study abroad tour during college through France, Germany, Belgium, and Austria-- and I quickly learned that two weeks for four countries was nowhere near enough time to really satisfy my wanderlust and desire to truly experience a new place.

We'll be set up with an apartment just outside of Dublin, and Mark's company seems to be working very hard to make the transition easy. And by the luck o' the Blarney Stone, the apartment *will* have internet, so get ready for far too many pictures of rolling hills, old buildings and wandering sheep :)

Weekend trips around the emerald isle and to London and Edinburgh are in the schedule. And just putting it out there: It's also on my Life List to see an Olympics game-- c'mon Universe! :) To top that off-- since we'll already be on that side of the pond-- we're planning an extended vacation at the conclusion of Mark's project to at least Spain and Germany {and Scandinavia, if at all possible. Or Italy! Or Amsterdam!}.

There are still a few details to iron out, and I've been spending hours researching extended travel visas, work permits {for Mark} and spousal requirements {for me}. It has all happened so fast-- Mark found out just a week ago and leaves this Saturday, whoa nelly. Hopefully, I'll be able to follow him there within a month. When I first received the news I was a Sad Panda because I thought I'd be at home and husband-less for four months due to 3-month maximum time limits for staying in Ireland, but I believe that will be remedied for me through Mark's Irish work permit. Fingers crossed.

I feel incredibly blessed and grateful that Mark and I get to share this experience. It will be my first time in the country {Mark and both of our parents have been there before}, and I'm excited to see a bit of my heritage. I will have to take a peek at the family tree before I go since I believe we have roots in a town north of Dublin. 

Any tips, advice, or must-sees for Ireland? Anything I should remember to pack for a half-year stay in another country?

{Image Credits: Photo - Ireland by k.babineau // Typography - Yours truly}

PS- I fully intended to post the Art from the Heart journal pages and the new prompt today, but I couldn't keep this news a secret any longer! Check back on Wednesday or Thursday for an AFTH gallery post and the next prompt.